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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
232
"If
you
sweep
the
house
with
blossomed
broom
in
May,
You
are
sure
to
sweep
the
head
of
the
house
away."
And
there
is
the
common
superstition
that
where
roses
and
violets
bloom
in
autumn,
it
is
indicative
of
some
epidemic
in
the
following
year;
whereas,
if
a
white
rose
put
forth
unexpectedly,
it
is
believed
in
Germany
to
be
a
sign
of
death
in
the
nearest
house;
and
in
some
parts
of
Essex
there
is
a
current
belief
that
sickness
or
death
will
inevitably
ensue
if
blossoms
of
the
whitethorn
be
brought
into
a
house;
the
idea
in
Norfolk
being
that
no
one
will
be
married
from
the
house
during
the
year.
Another
ominous
sign
is
that
of
plants
shedding
their
leaves,
or
of
their
blossoms
falling
to
pieces.
Thus
the
peasantry
in
some
places
affirm
that
the
dropping
of
the
leaves
of
a
peach-tree
betokens
a
murrain;
and
in
Italy
it
is
held
unlucky
for
a
rose
to
do
so.
A
well-known
illustration
of
this
superstition
occurred
many
years
ago
in
the
case
of
the
unfortunate
Miss
Bay,
who
was
murdered
at
the
piazza
entrance
of
Covent
Garden
by
Hackman
(April
1779),
the
following
account
of
which
we
quote
from
the
"Life
and
Correspondence
of
M.
G.
Lewis":--
"When
the
carriage
was
announced,
and
she
was
adjusting
her
dress,
Mr.
Lewis
happened
to
make
some
remark
on
a
beautiful
rose
which
Miss
Kay
wore
in
her
bosom.
Just
as
the
words
were
uttered
the
flower
fell
to
the
ground.
She
immediately
stooped
to
regain
it,
but
as
she
picked
it
up,
the
red
leaves
scattered
themselves
on
the
carpet,
and
the
stalk
alone
remained
in
her
hand.
The
poor
girl,
who
had
been
depressed
in
spirits
before,
was
evidently
affected
by
this
incident,
and
said,
in
a
slightly
faltering
voice,
'I
trust
I
am
not
to
consider
this
as
an
evil
omen!'
But
soon
rallying,
she
expressed
to
Mr.
Lewis,
in
a
cheerful
tone,
her
hope
that
they
would
meet
again
after
the
theatre--a
hope,
alas!
which
it
was
decreed
should
not
be
realised."
According
to
a
German
belief,
one
who
throws
a
rose
into
a
grave
will
waste
away.
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