The Chinese, ages before the Westerns knew them, had their magic rods, and generally cut them from fruit-trees, the peach being often chosen. But in Europe, the hazel or cob-nut tree stands at the head of the list of the trees favoured. German farmers formerly cut a hazel rod in spring, and when the first thunder-shower came, they waved it over the corn that was stored up, believing that this would make it keep sound till it was wanted. Next to the hazel in importance was the rowan or mountain ash, a tree always associated with the pixies and fairies; magic rods were frequently made from it, and also little crosses, which, if put over the door, were supposed to bring good fortune into a house. Another tree furnishing such rods was the willow, and another was the apple; one carefully avoided was the elder.
J. R. S. C.
OUR PUSS.
he came with the evening shades,
At the close of a winter day,
And her manner implied,
As she trotted inside,
'I am here, and have come to stay.'
Where she came from nobody knows,
And no one has claimed her yet;
But she made so free,
It was easy to see
That she had been somebody's pet.
Now the homeless waif on our hearth
Gives a homelike look to the place;
With her warm grey fur,
And her satisfied purr,
And content in her comely face.
She has all the craft of her race,
Though she does not look like a thief,
For she climbed of late
Up to Charlie's plate,
And calmly ate some of his beef!
But we all have our little faults,
And well will it be with us
If, when ruin impends,
We can win new friends,
Like our gentle and brave stray puss.