Part 6 (2/2)
You should always wish when on strange ground.
If you s.h.i.+ver someone is walking over your grave. This means someone is talking of your death.
If you have a toothache you don't love true.
Wounds and corns aching are signs of rain or frost.
Left cheek burning someone is speaking well of you, Right cheek burning someone is speaking ill of you.
But if you bite your finger when your cheek burns the person speaking ill of you will bite his or her tongue.
Right cheek, left friend, Left cheek, right friend.
It is unlucky for a man to meet a cross-eyed woman, but the ill-luck is broken if he spits on the opposite side to that by which he pa.s.ses her.
To lay an umbrella on a bed is to bring disappointment to the occupant.
If a s.h.i.+rt, or any other garment, is put on inside out, it must remain so all day and so avoid bad luck.
A Caul or Kell is the thin membrane which sometimes covers the face of an infant at its birth, and is supposed to betoken good fortune.
Sometimes they are sold, and the general price used to be about three guineas. Seafaring men would buy them as preservatives from drowning, and also for good luck. In 1862 a poor woman wanted to sell one to my mother for my welfare, and all sorts of good luck and fortune were to belong to the possessor, but my mother would not speculate, so I lost the chance.
When p.r.i.c.ked by a thorn, and to prevent the wound from festing, the following verse should be repeated:
Our Saviour was of a Virgin born, His head was crowned with a crown of thorn, It never cankered or festered at all, And I hope in Christ Jesus this never shall.
When a wise woman, or anyone, is called in to attend and charm anyone, the person to be operated upon must have an earnest belief that a cure will be effected, and the words ”Please” and ”Thank you” must not be used or the charm fails. In some cases the charmer blesses or hallows cords or leather thongs which the patient wore tied round the neck.
WHOOPING COUGH.
On the 22nd January, 1908, two women were talking together in Long Causeway. One asked the other how her child was? (It was suffering from whooping cough). The mother replied, ”No better. The other day Mrs. ---- told me to steal a bit of raw meat from a butcher's and cut a hole in it, and put a lock of my hair in the hole and give it to a dog to eat. I did it, but it is no better.” I had previously heard this, but with the difference that it should be a lock of the child's hair.
WAs.h.i.+NG.
They who wash on a Monday have all the week to dry, They who wash on a Tuesday are not so much awry, They who wash on a Wednesday not so much to blame, They who wash on a Thursday wash for shame, They who wash on a Friday wash in need, But they who wash on Sat.u.r.day are s.l.u.ts indeed.
It is unlucky to wash on ”Good Friday.” The legend says:--”A woman who was was.h.i.+ng when Our Lord was pa.s.sing on his way to be crucified threw some dirty water over him.”
Two persons was.h.i.+ng together in the same basin or bowl, or drying themselves with the same towel, will very soon quarrel, but this may be prevented by each making the sign of a cross with their finger-tips on the surface of the water.
If, when was.h.i.+ng, the soap slips from your hands and falls on the ground you will hear of a death before the week is out.
If a woman has a fine day for was.h.i.+ng the first time after Michaelmas Day, she will have fine was.h.i.+ng days all the year.
SNEEZING.
Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger, sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger, sneeze on Wednesday get a letter, sneeze on Thursday, something better, sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow, Sat.u.r.day, see your true love to-morrow.
To sneeze three times in succession, is a sign of a gift.
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