It is commonly believed in Germany that on St. Andrew's night, St. Thomas' night, and Christmas and New Year's nights, a girl has the power of inviting and seeing her future lover. A table is to be laid for two persons, taking care, however, that there are no forks upon it. Whatever the lover leaves behind him must be carefully preserved, for he then returns to her who has it, and loves her passionately. The article must, however, be kept carefully concealed from his sight, for he would otherwise remember the torture of superhuman power exercised over him which he that night endured, become conscious of the charms employed, and this would lead to fatal consequences. A fair maiden in Austria once sought at midnight, after performing the necessary ceremonies, to obtain a sight of her lover, whereupon a shoemaker appeared having a dagger in his hand, which he threw at her and then disappeared. She picked up the dagger which he had thrown at her and concealed it in a trunk. "'Twas you, then, that caused me that night of dreadful misery?" With that he thrust the dagger into her heart. Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty, Transcriber's Note: Hyphenation has been made consistent. Archaic and variable spelling is preserved as printed. The advertising material has been moved to follow the title page. The last two stories were omitted from the Table of Contents in the original. These have been added. |