Notes and Queries, Number 82, May 24, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 82, May 24, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
1. _Storms from Conjuring_.--A common Devonshire remark on the rising of a
storm is, "Ah! there is a conjuring going on somewhere." The following
illustration was told me by an old inhabitant of this parish. In the parish
of St. Mary Tavy is a spot called "Steven's grave," from a suicide said to
have been buried there. His spirit proving troublesome to the
neighbourhood, was laid by a former curate on Sunday after afternoon
service. A man who accompanied the clergyman on the way was told by him to
make haste home, as a storm was coming. The man hurried away home; but
though the afternoon had previously been very fine, he had scarcely reached
his door before a violent thunderstorm came to verify the clergyman's
words.
2. _The Heath-hounds_.--The _brutende heer_ are sometimes heard near
Dartmoor, and are known by the appellation of "Heath-hounds." They were
heard in the parish of St. Mary Tavy several years ago by an old man called
Roger Burn: he was working in the fields, when he suddenly heard the baying
of the hounds, the shouts and horn of the huntsman, and the smacking of his
whip. This last point the old man quoted as at once settling the question.
"How could I be mistaken? why I heard the very smacking of his whip."
3. _Cock scares the Fiend_.--Mr. N. was a Devonshire squire who had been so
unfortunate as to sell his soul to the devil, with the condition that after
his funeral the fiend should take possession of his skin. He had also
persuaded a neighbour to undertake to be present on the occasion of the
flaying. On the death of Mr. N., this man went in a state of great alarm to
the parson of the parish, and asked his advice. By him he was told to
fulfil his engagement, but he must be sure and carry a cock into the church
with him. On the night after the funeral, the man proceeded to the church
armed with the cock; and, as an additional security, took up his position
in the parson's pew. At twelve o'clock the devil arrived, opened the grave,
took the corpse from the coffin and flayed it. When the operation was
concluded, he held the skin up before him, and remarked: "Well! 'twas not
worth coming for after all, for it is all full of holes!" As he said this,
the cock crew; whereupon the fiend, turning round to the man, exclaimed:
"If it had not been for the bird you have got there under your arm, I would
have your skin too." But, thanks to the cock, the man got home safe again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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