2) “The Ash-Tree” by M. R. James

In describing the country estate of Castringham Hall in Suffolk, the narrator remarks, “The one feature that marked out the house from a score of others is gone. As you looked at it from the park, you saw [in times past] on the right a great old ash-tree growing within half a dozen yards of the wall, and almost or quite touching the building with its branches…. At any rate, it had well-nigh attained its full dimension in the year 1690.”

That year, the owner of the hall, Sir Mathew Fell, who was also the deputy sheriff, testified against Mrs. Mothersole as a witch. He said he saw her gather sprigs from the ash tree. At her execution, she told Sir Mathew, “There will be guests at the Hall.”

The Vicar visited Sir Matthew one evening shortly after Mrs. Mothersole’s death. They saw something run up the ash tree. Sir Matthew complained of squirrels. Could it be a squirrel? Squirrels should be in their nests by nightfall.

The Vicar said nothing, but he could have sworn whatever was running up the tree had more than four legs.

The next morning, Sir Matthew was found dead, his body blackened as if he were poisoned. People blamed the Catholics.

The story continues into the time of Sir Mathew’s grandson, Sir Richard, who removes the graves of the less fortunate when he expands the chapel to make for a great family pew. One of those less fortunate is Mrs. Mothersole.

Thoughts:

Part of the creepiness of this story lies in its delivery. An old friend could be talking about an odd occurrence that other day, not a growing horror and a witch’s revenge from beyond the grave over a century or so. One character, a clergyman from Ireland, says that none of his parishioners would stand an ash tree on his land.

James ratchets up the tension nicely. Things get quietly creepier. He leaves the ultimate horror for the end (which has nothing to do with Catholics, BTW) but drops little hints along the way. People stop using the room Sir Matthew died in, but what do you do if you have a house full of guests?

While this may not be one of James’ best stories, it works. I rather like it.

The story can be read here.

Bio: M. R. James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar at Cambridge who told ghost stories to his fellow dons at Christmas. His stories tend to find the supernatural in the everyday rather than gothic tales, which focus on atmosphere—graveyards, abandoned houses, weather, etc. Among his most well-known is “Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad.”

Title: The Ash-Tree
Author: M. R. James (1862-1936)
First published: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, 1904