As leaves are seldom gathered till they change colour and begin to fall, nor made into bouquets and wreaths till brilliant colours begin to show themselves in their dying beauties so, all the world over, folk-lore stories are but little noticed by the cultured world until they begin to assume romantic lines of association, nor are they gathered till they have fallen, so to speak, from the lofty trees of religion, and lie on the, ground, or are driven about by the playful wind, as mere legends or nursery tales. It is in this state when prettiest — but unfortunately driest-that the relics of tradi tion are most admired by children or the general reader and there are indeed too many folk-lorists who care to go no further.