In the Siebenbürgen of Saxony, the belief exists that at the moment when an infant dies in the house, Death passes like a shadow into the garden, and there plucks a flower. In Italy, the red Rose is considered to be an emblem of an early death, and it is thought to be an evil omen if its leaves are perchance scattered on the ground. An apt illustration of this belief is found in the tragic story of poor Miss Ray, who was murdered at the Piazza entrance of Covent Garden Theatre, by a man named Hackman, on April 7th, 1779. Just prior to starting with her friend Mrs. Lewis for the theatre, a beautiful Rose fell from her bosom to the ground. She stooped to regain it, but at her touch the red leaves scattered themselves on the carpet, leaving the bare stalk in her hand. The unfortunate girl, who had been depressed in spirits before, was evidently affected by the incident, and said nervously, “I trust I am not to consider this as an evil omen!” Soon rallying, however, she cheerfully asked Mrs. Lewis to be sure and meet her after the theatre--a request the fulfilment of which was prevented by her untimely fate. Shakspeare has recorded that the withering of the Bay was looked upon as a certain omen of death; and it is an old fancy that if a Fir-tree be struck, withered, or burnt with lightning, the owner will soon after be seized with a mortal illness. Herrick, in his ‘Hesperides,’ alludes to the Daffodil as being under certain circumstances a death portent. “When a Daffodill I see Hanging down her head t’wards me, Guess I may what I must be: First, I shall decline my head; Secondly, I shall be dead; Lastly, safely buried.” In Northamptonshire, a belief exists that if an Apple-tree blooms after the fruit is ripe, it surely portends death:-- “A bloom upon the Apple-tree when the Apples are ripe, Is a sure termination to somebody’s life.” In Devonshire, it is considered very unlucky to plant a bed of Lilies of the Valley, as the person who does this will in all probability die before twelve months have expired; and in the same county, a plentiful season for Hazel-nuts is believed to portend unusual mortality: hence the saying-- “Many Nits [Nuts], Many pits [graves].” Sloes are also sometimes associated with this portent, as another version of the rhyme runs-- “Many Slones [Sloes], many groans, Many Nits, many pits.” It is thought very unlucky in Sussex to use green brooms in May, and an old saying is current in the same county that-- “If you sweep the house with Broom in May, You’ll sweep the head of that house away.” In West Sussex, there exists the strange idea that if anyone eats a Blackberry after Old Michaelmas Day (October 10th), death or disaster will alight either on the eater or his kinsfolk before the year is out. In some parts of England a superstition exists that if in a row of Beans one should chance to come up white, instead of green, a death will occur in the family within the year.