Show i iI I 1 I k J Er Cd yv h v y y X i y JEh JE- JE h 7 k C X C XA X X EK y ai aiO O- O c Fri Simple Old Method of Evading Penalty of Sin LI rv one unacquainted with old h customs Is 13 Interested ted by the story of the Sin Sm eater In Mary Webb s novel Precious Bane Sin eaters did not constitute a religious sect They were employed ell in some coon coun counties ties of ot England Englund and In Wales Vales In con connection with funeral rites Their ot of office lice flee ss was as to eat bread breid and drink ate w 11 hid been pi III iced on the bier and thus thul s symbolically take ta upon them ieh es the sins SIUS committed by the do de Cel l II person Having In done this the sin In eater pater pronounced the ease case und and andrest andrest rest of the dead II per person son and asserted that to procure this tills he had hall pl hIs 0 own n soul There lucre 1 here were not want wantIng wantIng In Ing men to perform tins tillS rash office but It was al not so M rash h as might ap appear appear pear for the sin eater enter could see lee to It that the sane same mean means of acquiring im was as Jm ins Invoked for him at nt his de- de decease de decease cease Sl so tint that no matter mutter whit what t h lotion of sin be he had hod made himself re- re |