This with the loudest bounce me sore amazed, Priority of time as to marriage is frequently determined by means of the "merrythought" bone of a fowl. Two persons take hold of it with their smallest fingers, holding the bone the forked side downwards; and the one who breaks the largest piece from the bone will be the first to be married. It is considered to be highly improper for lovers to see each other on a Friday evening. When a couple are found transgressing this rule, they are followed home by a crowd beating frying-pans, shovels, tongs, or any implements that will make a discordant noise when struck, whilst the leader of the gang loudly proclaims the crime they have been committing. Great care ought to be taken when the day of the marriage is selected. The popular dictum is-" As the day of the wedding so will be the married life of the couple." The sun ought to shine on every wedding party, for, "Happy is the bride that the sun shines on." On no account refuse to relieve a beggar on that day, lest you be subjected to crosses, denials, and disappointments through life. Sunday is considered to be a very improper day for marriages, and hence they are seldom celebrated on that day, especially in country churches. In East Lancashire Thursday appears to be the favoured day; and this is in accordance with the practice of our Scandinavian ancestors, although it is somewhat at variance with the following metrical regulations: "Monday for health-Tuesday for wealth- Thursday for losses-Friday for crosses- FISH AND BACON ARE included in the same category of superstitions, and various rules have been laid down for the guidance of family purveyors. Shell-fish are not considered to be wholesome in any month whose name does not contain the letter R. There is, however, one exception : "Cockles and ray, Come in in May." Pigs are popularly said to be able to see the wind," in consequence of their restlessness before and during stormy weather. We are advised never to kill domestic pigs during the waning of the moon; for then their flesh is unwholesome, and will not absorb the salt. The following caution is also current throughout the county : "Unless your bacon you would mar, Kill not your pig without the R." - HAIR. THE folk-lore of hair contains several curious items. We are told that if a horse-hair be placed in a stream of running water it will soon become alive; but those who are only very slightly acquainted with natural history will be able to correct and also to explain the origin of this mistake. If a hair be placed on a schoolboy's hand, it is expected to split the cane with which the schoolmaster is punishing him. When the splitting does not take place, the hair will so deaden the pain as to make it scarcely felt. Youths generally pluck hairs from the heads of their playmates on each return of their birth ous year. days. They also pull the hair upwards at the back of the head, in order to ensure them a lucky and prosperThis is locally termed "randling." When a child is bitten by a dog, the bite is said to be effectually cured by binding a few hairs from the dog over the wound. As "like cures like," no hydrophobia can possibly result. During 1872 an assault case was heard before two of our county magistrates, which arose from the owner of a dog refusing to give some of its hairs to the mother of a child that had been bitten. Red-haired persons, we are told, do not soon turn grey; their passions are more intense than those whose hair is of a different colour; and they are not unfrequently reproached with having descended from the Scots and Danes. Red-haired children are supposed to indicate infidelity on the part of the mother; they are consequently looked upon as unlucky, and are not wanted in a neighbour's house on the morning of New Year's Day. Hair on the arms is considered to betoken coming riches; for "When hairy mich, you'll soon be rich;" and when the hair of the eyebrows meets over the bridge of the nose, it is taken as an indication that the person who possesses this peculiarity will certainly be hanged MEDICINE. MEDICAL properties enter largely into the common notions of our peasantry. Most heads of families possess a knowledge of herbs and roots sufficient to enable them to treat ordinary diseases with considerable success; and at the proper seasons they never fail to lay in an ample stock of these simples for future use. Herbals are in much request; and herb doctors are met with in Р every town and village, who profess not only to know what herbs to prescribe for any given disease, but also to gather them "when their proper planets are ruling.” There is, however, much to be added to this medical folk-wisdom which is purely superstitious. Thus, in order to cure warts, we are instructed to put the same number of small pebbles into a bag as there are warts; then to drop the bag where three or four roads meet, and the person who picks it up will obtain the warts in addition. Warts will also disappear soon after they are rubbed with a black snail; but it must afterwards be impaled on a spike of the hawthorn, or no effect will be produced. A farmer, lately resident in Cliviger, found one of his visitors suffering from toothache; and after exhorting him to have more faith in Jesus, gave him the following charm, written on paper, which he was to wear suspended from his neck, and over his heart, in full assurance that he would never again suffer from pain in his teeth. "As St John sat on a stone weeping, Jesus passed by, and saw him, and said, 'Why weepest thou?' And John answered and said, 'Because my tooth doth ache.' Jesus answered and said, 'Whosoever keepeth this charm for the sake of me, his teeth shall never ache again.' The same is good and for ever." Placing a cold iron key on the nape of the neck is frequently practised in order to stop bleeding at the nose. When persons are afflicted with tumours of any kind, they are advised to rub them with a dead man's hand. kiln, the fumes from ammonia, or liquor from a gas-manufactory, are remedies for whooping-cough. This disease is also supposed to be cured by passing the patient nine times round the body of an ass. Those who suffer from rheumatic pains are advised to carry small potatoes in their pockets, which are held not only to cure, but to Smoke from a lime prevent a return of the disease. Consumption is believed to be produced, in many cases, by drinking water which has been boiled too long; and it is frequently sought to be cured by digging a hole into the earth and causing the patient to lie down and breathe into it. This remedy is supposed to be effectual in cases of ordinary coughs, asthmas, whooping-cough, low spirits, and hysteria. Twin children are said to be sympathetic; when one is suffering the other is more or less affected. The same medicines cure both. When one dies the other is expected to increase in strength, and to enjoy more vigorous health. In the vegetable kingdom, the bane and the antidote always grow near each other. The common dock is the antidote to the nettle; and hence we are told from childhood that when we are stung by a nettle we must rub the leaf of the dock over the part, repeating the words "Nettle come out, dock go in ;" and the smarting will gradually cease. MONEY. THERE are several curious aphorisms current in the county respecting money. When we obtain possession of a piece of gold, we are sometimes advised to rub it over both eyelids, and we shall, in consequence, soon see more. When a rainbow appears we must mark the spot where it touches the earth, and we shall there find a pot of gold by digging. Bad luck soon follows the finding of a sixpence, unless it happens to be crooked. This notion has passed into a proverb, since "A coin that's crook Brings more to t' rook [heap]." |