_Suffolk Legend._--In the little village of Acton, Suffolk, a legend was
current not many years ago, that on certain occasions, which, by the
way, were never accurately defined, the park gates were wont to fly
open at midnight "withouten hands," and a carriage drawn by four
spectral horses, and accompanied by headless grooms and outriders,
proceeded with great rapidity from the park to a spot called "the
nursery corner." What became of the ghostly _cortège_ at this spot, I
have never been able to learn; but though the sight has not been seen by
any of the present inhabitants, yet some of them have heard the noise of
the head-long race. The "Corner," tradition says, is the spot where a
very bloody engagement took place in olden time, when the Romans were
governors of England. A few coins have I believe been found, but nothing
else confirmatory of the tale. Does history in any way support the story
of the battle? Whilst writing on this subject, I may as well note, that
near this haunted corner is a pool called Wimbell Pond, in which
tradition says an iron chest of money is concealed: if any daring person
ventures to approach the pond, and throw a stone into the water, it will
ring against the chest and a small white figure has been heard to cry in
accents of distress, "That's mine!"
I send you these legends as I have heard them from the lips of my nurse,
a native of the village.