Part 31 (1/2)
835. The most powerful charm is a piece of printed paper called ”the letter of Jesus Christ.” This, in addition to the well-known letter of Lentulus to the Senate, contains many absurd superst.i.tions, such as the promise of safe delivery in child-bed, and freedom from bodily hurt to those who may possess a copy of it.
_Newfoundland._
WATER.
836. Rub the hands with the first snow that falls and you'll not have sore hands all winter.
_Winn, Me._
837. On Ash Wednesday before sunrise dip a pail of water in a running brook (up stream), bottle it, and keep as a cure for anything.
_Maine._
838. Catch the last snow of the season (_e.g._, in April), melt and put into a bottle. It will cure sore eyes.
_Chestertown, Md._
839. Water made from snow that falls in the month of May will cure sore eyes.
_Prince Edward Island._
840. Rain-water caught the first of June will cure freckles. It will not putrefy.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
841. An Indian doctor used for inflammation of the eyes rain-water caught on the third, fourth, and fifth of June. It is said that this will not putrefy.
_New Hamps.h.i.+re._
842. The first water that falls in June is supposed to cure all skin diseases; and I am informed ”it is dretful good for the insides, too.”
_Westford, Ma.s.s._
843. Water in which a blacksmith has cooled his iron is a cure for freckles.
_Malden, Ma.s.s._
MISCELLANEOUS.
844. It is believed that ”piercing the ear” will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose.
_Northern Ohio._
845. To cure hiccoughs repeat in one breath the words,--
There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone.
One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground a man there lay, And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out.
_Boston, Ma.s.s._
846. A variant,--
There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone.
One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground there lay a man.
And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out.
The woman to the parson said: ”Shall I be so when I am dead?”
The parson he said ”yes.”
_Portland, Me., Brookline and Deerfield, Ma.s.s._