Download Ebook - Free History Ebooks

146 Symbolism of the East and \\^est
ploughed field. That they call the Sunday acre ;
it is unfruitful.
It belonged at one time to a peasant, who, notwithstanding
the warnings of the priest, would work his land on Sundays.
One harvest-time his entire crop disappeared, and since then
it has never been possible to grow anything in that field. The
peasants, even now, are wont to point out this spot to their
children, saying :
" See !
up
there is the Sunday acre, the
fruit of Sunday work." Another legend they have is, that
when Eve was somewhat old, God asked her how many
children she had had. Not exactly remembering, she gave a
number 2000 or 3000 too few, and in consequence these
latter became bewitched men—apes—and it is still believed
there that apes are exiled men. What would Darwin have
said to this theory ?
The Tyrolese also hold that whoever sees a four-leaved
clover has much happiness in store for him ;
not pluck it, for the rhyme says :
—
" Selig das Atige das ihm sieht,
Verflucht die Hand, die ism bricht."
" Blessed is the eye which sees it,
Cursed is the hand that plucks it."
but
he should
They say that teeth which have fallen out should be
placed in a wall, or where they can most easily be found at
the day of judgment, for then all the parts of the body must
be collected together. Again, when it thunders, these
people say
—
" Der Herr Gott leert steine ab."
(" God is clearing away stones.")