THIS

THE PISKIES' CHANGELING.

HIS story is told by Mr T. Q. Couch, as an example of the folk-lore of a Cornish village in "Notes and Queries," under the name of "Coleman Gray :”

"There is a farm-house of some antiquity with which my family have a close connexion; and it is this circumstance, more than any other, that has rendered this tradition concerning it more interesting to us, and better remembered than many other equally romantic and authentic. Close to this house, one day, a little miserable-looking bantling was discovered alone, unknown, and incapable of making its wants understood. It was instantly remembered, by the finder, that this was the way in which the piskies were accustomed to deal with those infants of their race for whom they sought human protection; and it would have been an awful circumstance if such a one were not received by the individual so visited. The anger of the piskies would be certain, and some direful calamity must be the result; whereas a kind welcome would probably be attended with great good fortune. The miserable plight of this stranger, therefore, attracted attention and sympathy. The little unconscious one was admitted as one of the family. Its health was speedily restored, and its renewed strength, activity, intelligence, and good humour, caused it to become a general favourite. It is true the stranger was often found to indulge in odd freaks; but this was accounted for by a recollection of its pedigree, which was not doubted to be of the piskie order. So, the family prospered, and had banished the thought that the foundling would ever leave them. There was to the front door of this house, a hatch, which is a half-door, that is kept closed when the whole door behind it is open, and it then serves as a guard against the intrusion of dogs, hogs, and ducks, while

air and light are freely admitted. This little being was one day leaning over the top of this hatch, and looking wistfully outward, when a clear voice was heard to proceed from a neighbouring part of the townplace, calling, 'Coleman Gray, Coleman Gray!' The piskie immediately started up, and with a sudden laugh, clapped its hands, exclaiming, 'Aha, my daddy is come!' It was gone in a moment, never to be

seen again."

THE PIXIES OF DARTMOOR.

HERE is a celebrated piskie haunt at Costellas in Cornwall, (says Mrs Bray,) where they have been seen sitting in a ring-the men smoking after the most approved fashion of the Dutch burgomaster, and the women spinning, perhaps in emulation of the frugal vrow.

I never heard of this place. Like the rest of the "good people," piskies are fond of music, and the sound of their "harp and pipe and symphony," is occasionally heard at nightfall. It is said that a man once passing one of the piskie rings, and hearing them dancing and singing within it, threw a large stone into the midst of the circle, when the music at once ceased and a dreadful shriek arose.

The appearance of the pixies of Dartmoor is said to resemble that of a bale or bundle of rags. In this shape they decoy children to their unreal pleasure. A woman, on the northern borders of the moor, was returning home late on a dark evening, accompanied by two children, and carrying a third in her arms, when, on arriving at her own door, she found one missing. Her neighbours, with lanthorns, immediately set out in quest of the lost child; whom they found sitting under a large oak-tree, well-known to be a favourite haunt of the pixies. He declared that he had been

led away by two large bundles of rags, which had remained with him until the lights appeared, when they immediately vanished.*

The pixies of Dartmoor, notwithstanding their darker character, aided occasionally in household work. A washerwoman was one morning greatly surprised on coming down stairs to find all her clothes neatly washed and folded. She watched the next evening, and observed a pixie in the act of performing this kind office for her: but she was ragged and mean in appearance, and Betty's gratitude was sufficiently great to induce her to prepare a yellow petticoat and a red cap for the obliging pixie.

THE FAIRY FAIR IN GERMOE.

AL LANE in Germoe was a notorious place for piskies.

BAL One night Daniel Champion and his comrade came to

Godolphin Bridge, they were a little bit "over-took" with liquor. They said that when they came to "Bal Lane," they found it covered all over from end to end, and the Small People holding a fair there with all sorts of merchandise the prettiest sight they ever met with. Champion was sure he saw his child there; for a few nights before, his child in the evening, was as beautiful a one as could be seen anywhere, but in the morning was changed for one as ugly and wizened as could be; and he was sure the Small People had done it. Next day, telling the story at Croft Gothal, his comrade was knocked backward, thrown into the bob-pit, and just killed. Obliged to be carried to his home, Champion followed, and was telling of their adventure with

*

For additional information respecting the pixies of the banks of the Tamar and the Tavy, the reader is referred to Mrs Bray's "Traditions, Legends, Superstitions, and Sketches of Devonshire."

the Small People, when one said, "Don't speak about them; they're wicked spiteful devils." No sooner were the words uttered than the speaker was thrown clean over stairs and bruised dreadfully,-a convincing proof to all present of the reality of the existence of the Small Folks.

W

ST MARGERY AND THE PISKIES.

E have no reliable information of the birth, parentage, or education of Margery Daw, but we have a nursery rhyme which clearly indicates that she must have been a sloven-perhaps an ancient picture of a literary lady, who was by her sad habit reduced to extreme necessity. See saw, Margery Daw,

clearly indicates a lazy woman rocking herself, either in deep thought, or for want of thought.

Sold her bed and lay on the straw;

this was stage the first of her degradation.

She sold her straw and lay in the smut,

the second and final stage, which may well induce the poet to inquire

Was not she a dirty slut?

Another version of Margery's story is more distinct as to her end:

See saw,
Margery Daw,
Sold her bed

And lay on the straw;

She sold her straw,

And lay upon hay,

So piskies came

And carried her away.

A friend, in writing to me on this dirty Cornish saint, is disposed to regard St Margery Daw as a very devout Roman Catholic, and to refer the version of her story which I have

given first, to the strong feeling shewn by many Protestants against those pious women who rejected the finery of the world, and submitted for the sake of their souls to those privations which formed at one time the severe rule of conventual life. Margery and the fairies are supposed to have left England together at the time of the Reformation, but she has left her name to several Cornish mines.

L

THE FAIRY REVELS ON THE "GUMP," ST JUST.

ONG has the Gump been the reputed playground of the Small People. Many of the good old people were permitted to witness their revels, and for years they have delighted their grandchildren with tales of the songs they have heard, and of the sights they have seen. To many of their friends those fairies have given small but valuable presents; but woe to the man or woman who would dare to intrude upon the ground occupied by them at the time of their high festivals. There was a covetous old hunks in St Just-never mind his name, he was severely punished, let that suffice-well, this old fellow had heard so much of the riches displayed by the little people, when holding holiday on the Gump, that he resolved to get some of the treaHe learned all he could learn from his neighbours, but kept his intention to himself. It was during the harvest moon-the night was a softened day—and everything abroad on such a night should have been in harmony with its quiet brilliancy. But here was a dark soul passing along, making a small eclipse with his black shadow. The old man stole towards the rendezvous of the "good people," as some were fond of calling them, anxiously looking out for the treasures which he coveted. At length, when he had not advanced far on the Gump, he heard music of the most ravishing kind. Its

sures.