“The times are yet good, but they shall change much. After many years a frightful war shall break out. The signs shall be: When in Spring the cowslips appear early in the hedges, and disturbances prevail everywhere; in that year the explosion does not take place. But when, after a short winter, the cowslips bloom very early, and all appears quiet, let no man believe in peace. “When great wisps of straw stand on the Bärenwiese, (Bear’s meadow,) then shall the war break out.” The Bärenwiese is a large common meadow at Scheidingen. Soon after the French and Polish revolutions of 1830 it was divided, and on that account wisps of straw were set up. The people believed the great war was then at hand. Now there are once more wisps of straw set up, to mark the line of the railway to Cassel, which is in progress. “When you then hear cannon from the side of Münster, then hasten to cross the Ruhr, and take bread (a loaf) with you sufficient for three days. He who only puts his foot in the water shall be safe from harm. Then you may return, but whether you shall find your posts (or poles) again, I cannot say. (Probably marks of agricultural subdivisions.) After a short contest shall follow peace and quiet. The peace shall be announced at Christmas from all the pulpits.” Numberless traditions speak of the burning of the town of Unna, round which, and not through it, the armies will march, on account of the conflagration. Others speak of the burning of Dortmund, on the east side. Others, again, describe how the remains of the enemy fly to Erwitte and Salzkotten, and are there totally cut to pieces. All the towns and villages from Paderborn to the Rhine have similar traditions. There is a very old one concerning the Marienheide, (a heath,)—namely, that there the Whites shall drive the Blues before them, and through the Lippe, in which many shall be drowned. Traditions concerning the years 1846–1850:— “1846, I would not be a vine.” “1847, I would not be an apple-tree.” “1848, I would not be a king.” “1849, I would not be a hare, a soldier, or a gravedigger.” “1850, I would not be a priest.” In 1846, the crop of grapes was too heavy for the vines. In 1847, the apple-trees broke under the weight of their fruit. In 1848, as we know, kings were at a discount. In 1849, the hares suffered from the suspension or abolition of the game laws in Germany; the soldiers had much to suffer; and the gravediggers, in consequence of war and cholera, were overwhelmed with work in many places.