Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-10

n small black dog swan after the boat the
noor creature seemed exhausted and about
TO sink the monk, plying 1t, TOOK " inso
the boat. II remained quiet Tor awnile'
then suddenly springing up. IL bit It's SYM
pathetic friend and plunged again
into the water. The poor monk
soon grew i'll; in his meiancnoiS
he wandered out into the fields TO lowell
alone the sad mishap that threatened MS
vonno lite with a terrible death. Casting
his eyes YEARLY around. he saw BOOK
living before him IN the grass; taking ~ up
and opening il, he found therein q charm
for the fell contagion. The charm became
hereditary. When dying he bequeathed II
10 one Of his nearest relatives, VINO pc
oueathed it to another; and thus II was
handed down through the lapse OF cen,
turies. saw the last of the race that had
the gift of tho supposed charml anu CIR tha
weird appearance of those who are thought
10 be connected by some link with the
mystic world.
But ali the children Of the air were not
enually benevolent There was one re-
markable only for mischieyous pranks ana
the nightly annoyance he gave TO quiet
industrious family. This troublesome gem
tleman was known as the = Buck o the
Milln The mill was small rickety con,
Germ and was owned or tenanted by Michaei
Cornville. The miller. too, was remarkac
BILE man. His head was a lumber-rooin OF
miscellaneous items of history and nctloh,
strancely and anonymously mixed: Inc
history of Ireland and England. know
ledge Of mechanics, a harmless snatterine
Of tho black art. q taste Tor meui-
cine. and for profane and renglous
controversial found a place IN Mich
roomy head. But the Buck o the Mill did
not indulge in learned discussions with
Mick. He was a oowardly fellow; he never
ventured his molestatiOns IN the open day,
hut alyavs waited for the night, when ne
would tear the mortar of the walls ana
hurl il at tho members OF his inohensiVe
family. Nothing was "too hot or TOO
heavy" for him: every night jugs, sauce;
pans. glasses. kettles, and pots. tables, ana
chairs. doors, and windows, were c2shsu
and banged. Still Mick, 10 his credit DO
n snoken. did not give in: he stuck brave
" to his mill; and the Buck. wearied with
lis fruitless efforts at eviction, at last DIS
With the exception Of little lingering
,v;tchcraft there is now but scant token OF
the marvellous creations OF long ago. Inc
blacksmiths anvil IS the most potent spell
worker now. About twenty years since y
! blacksmith went through the cere mony Oh
Turning the anvil" and there cnmo q
l ~.
trees bv the roots. and made strong men
/ grow pale aud pray. With the calm or the
next day fear disappeared and men laughed
at the passing folly Of believing that any
| son of Vulcan. even if aided by all Inc
/ Cvclops. could raise such storm. Inc
ceremony of turning the anvil IS, ac-
| cording 10 an old smith. who may pave
| been drawing on his Imagination, perform
cd as follows: The smith rises before the
I T. 4 -, thr. fFrUp furnC the mn
| vii. and strikes it four or five territc blows
with his slcdge. This he repeats for pine
mornincs. and thon tho desired result ~
produced. Happily, a strict last OF nine
| DAYS il a c0nditiO sine qua non. so there y
nothing cheering or inyigoratlng enough
/ 10 make The performance OF the ceremony
/ easy OF agreeable.
Taking oaths upon q skull used to be
/ dreadfully solemn affair. Iremember only
| one instance. a very fearless out very
| honest woman was accused ot steallng.
/ She was SO Indignant at the charge she
/ produced a skull. brought 1t with her 10
/ the cbnuel. and when the congregation
/ cana ont she produced the skull and
/ cleared" herself. What gives SANCTION
/ TO this strange oath is the belief that the
spirit TO whom the skull belongs Will hannt
not only the perjurer but the family OF the
! periurer for generations. A..
] Other strange llluSS are oVuN ~ u
western peasantry, but should rather cal
them by the simple name Of custom than
by the less agreeable name Of superstition,
/ When o cow gets unwell IT Is by no means
an uncommon practice to devote II 70 ~
Martin. Tho ceremony is performed by
letting few drops OF blood from the poor
creature in honor OF the saint; The COW 50
devoted cannot be sold or killed; II 1t re-
cover. it would be dishonoring the SAINT
to suGerit to die any but q natural death ,;il.
A custom that attends the laSt agohltes
Of tho diving is the straDgest Of all. In inc
moment of dissolution the dying person Is
lifted from the bed and laid on little
straw spread over coyerlet on the moor
7 This is. believe. still very generally done
have been unable to ascertain why IL
done.
The western peasantry may have ha az
strange wavs. the disuse Of which may O'
mo- disalvai,ta,e a state, however. Of on
rinal simplicity is not % be lamented
since 10 be- m keeping with tins age OF en-
lightenment sooltenmeans TO have Learned
] lf9 VICES.