h the intention of joining
their matachin, and soon had his desire gratified, for there they kept
him, dancing away, night and day, without intermission. His relatives
at home were at a loss to know what had become of him, and immediately
concluded that he had terminated his existence, or had gone on a
journey; but days, weeks, and months rolled on, and no farmer appeared,
nor were any tidings heard respecting him, until it chanced one day that
a man passing by the lonely spot, saw him knocking his legs about as if
he was bereft of his reason; and going up to him, inquired what caused
him to be so merry, which broke the spell; and the farmer, as if waking
out of a dream, exclaimed, "O dear! where are my horses?" and stepping
out of the magical circle, fell down, and mingled his dust with the
earth: no wonder, for he had been dancing without nourishment or food
for more than a twelvemonth. If every fair dancer joined the Tylwyth
teg's dance, how many beings would be danced out of the world?

This is credited, he informs me, in some parts of North Wales, at the
present day. Two men travelling together, happened to be benighted soon
after entering a wood, and one of them being fatigued, sat down and
slept, but when he awoke could no where discover his companion; thinking
he had travelled on, he proceeded, but when he arrived at home, was
astonished at the inquiries respecting his fellow, and related that he
had lost him while he slept. As there seemed to be a mystery in the
case, the relatives of the absent individual went to the village wizard,
who informed them that he was in the power and hands of the fairies, but
if they would go to the place where he was missed by his companion, just
a year after that time, they would see him dancing with them, when they
were to rescue him. After the year had elapsed, they went and found it
as the conjuror had said;--whereupon one of them dragged the man out of
the ring, who immediately asked if it was not better to proceed home,
imagining it was the same night, and that he was with his companion.
One of the people presented him with some victuals, which he began
to eat, but had no sooner done so, than he mouldered away.

Wishing the juvenile author all success in his future essays, we commend
his present work to the lovers of superstitious lore, and to the
substantial notice of the very reverend personage already alluded to.

* * * * *

THE GAT