Page:A book of folk-lore (1913).djvu/173

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170
A BOOK OF FOLK-LORE

and that a great trouble menaces, invoke your guardian, your teacher, your helper. In difficulties, in tribulation, in any circumstances, in any hard pressure, have respect to your angel. Never venture, in his presence, to do that which you would not do before me.’ Cæsarius of Heisterbach says that to every man pertains a good, but also a bad angel. Although the fetch or doppelgänger, as the Germans call him, has been melted into the Guardian Angel, he has for all that, in many cases, retained his identity; and stories are not uncommon of his appearance.

Some years ago I was walking through the cloister at Hurstpierpoint College, when I saw coming towards me the bursar. I spoke to him. He turned and looked at me, but passed on without a word. I went on to the matron’s apartment, and there the identical man was. I exclaimed: ‘Hallo, P., I have just passed you and spoken to you in the cloister!’ He turned very pale and said, ‘I have not left this room.’ ‘Well,’ said I, ‘I could swear to an alibi any day.’

A Mr. Macnish, quoted by Mrs. Crowe, tells the following story: Mr. H. was one day walking along the street, apparently in good health, when he saw, or supposed he saw, his acquaintance, Mr. C., walking before him.