A Book of Exmoor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 Excerpt: ...fruit trees or broad beans blossom twice, or if bees pitch on dry wood during swarming. If a corpse is put out at a window, as sure as fate another member of the family will die before the year is out. At a funeral all should walk in couples. If an odd person follow, it is a sign of bad luck. It is an ill omen to return to the house after setting forth on a journey, but the individual may ward off the effects by sitting down again. If a white bean is found growing in the garden, or the bees suddenly die, you may know by this that some member of the family is dead. Of all signs, however, the most fatal is that which is described par excellence as the death token. This consists of three raps, given at intervals of a few seconds, at your bed's head in the stillness of the night. To be awakened by such sounds is a presage of impending bereavement, which no forethought can avert. There are other signs of imminent misfortune--not necessarily death or loss of relatives--and among them are dreams. It is, for instance, uncommonly bad luck to dream about eggs, copper pence, or the parson in church with his surplice on. That reminds one of the ghastly and horrible custom of spirit-watching. This custom is observed on Midsummer Eve, when churches are narrowly watched. In the case of some the ghosts of all in the parish, not excluding the parson and the clerk, have been seen to enter, but it does not follow that evil consequences will ensue, except as regards those whose apparitions remain in the building. Such luckless wights will, it is believed, most certainly die, and one instance is recorded where a father became insane on remarking that his daughter's phantom stayed behind in the sacred edifice. THE SOUND OF THE BELL 211 When the bel...