boy in the service of the father of the present lady of
Castelnau, who almost always resided at Alais, for the castle was
thought to be too lonely for her, I went out as I often did, to shoot
hares: It was towards evening and a storm like that of to-day overtook
me, I sought shelter under the great ash to escape getting wet through,
but scarcely had I leaned against the trunk, gracious sir, than I was
seized with indescribable agitation and fear, my heart began to beat, a
tremor came over me, I was terrified--I was compelled to quit my
shelter--I was wet through--I returned, and again the same sensations
under the tree; it was not permitted to me to remain there, I was
obliged to go into the open space while the rain was falling as if
heaven and earth would come together. The next morning it was bright
midday and summer weather, said I to myself, dolt! wert thou frightened
because it was dark, perhaps thou wert terrified at the claps of
thunder; wilt thou become a noble huntsman if thou hast such little
heart,--so I went half laughing under the tree, I fancied myself
sleeping under its shade,--but no such thing! I was seized with greater
terror and agitation than ever, my teeth chattered and an icy coldness
chilled me, I fled from the spot.--I mentioned the circumstance to an
old forester: 'Fool!' said he, 'have not the huntsmen told you that the
tree permits no one to stand under it?' It is an old story. He could
not tell me the reason of this, but warned me not to play any tricks
with it. However, I did not follow his advice, but returned to it with
a young lad. To him it was productive of evil, for he became sick unto
death with the fright; since that time, I avoid the tree and so does
every one who knows it. It must have been bewitched some time or
other."

"Heaven only knows, what may be the meaning of all this," began the
priest, "we live at least in times when events occur, which formerly
would have been deemed impossible. Now there is something
incomprehensible in these prophecying children. It was said, some years
ago, that here, and there, in the Cevennes, in Dauphine, and in the
neighbouring Beauvarais that such things were practised, and people
travelled to hear and see them. At present whole villages are full of
them, they are to be seen in the market-places, in the public houses
and like the diseases, incidental to childhood formerly, it seems that
all children must undergo the gift of prophecy. Government