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Down to a very recent date, it was an invariable custom, some 

 weeks before a child was expected to be born, that a large china 

 basin which was called the sweet-butter basin, (which was generally 

 an heirloom in every family) was filled, to be in readiness; and 

 as soon as the important event was safely over, this basin was 

 brought out, and all in attendance invited to partake of its contents, 

 the doctor being usually honoured with the first cut. It was afterwards 

 offered, with oat-bread and ale, to every one without exception who 

 called during the ensuing month. At the end of the month there was 

 what was called an "Old Wife do." All the married women within a 

 certain radius, which was termed the " Laatin," were invited to go and 

 drink tea, eat sweet-butter, and rejoice with the mother for her safe 

 deliverance. It was the custom, too, on that occasion for each guest to 

 bring a gift — a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, or a shilling, was the 

 usual offering. There was also another curious custom connected with 

 the old wife do's, which was termed "Stealing the Sweet-Butter." A 

 number of young men of the neighbourhood, assembled in the evening, 

 and waited outside the house, until the table was spread and the women 

 all seated round it, when two or three of the boldest youths rushed in, 

 and seized, or attempted to seize the basin and carry it off to his com- 

 panions; but as many of the old wives were prepared to make a desperate 

 fight for it, it was frequently no easy matter to secure the prize, and get 

 out again ; and it often happened that some silly pilgarlick was glad to 

 escape minus his coat-tails, or perhaps some more important part of his 

 habilaments. When they succeeded in getting the basin of sweet-butter, 

 a basket of oat-bread was handed out to them, and they went to some 

 neighbour's house to eat it, after which each put a few coppers into the 

 empty basin and returned it to the owners. Another curious custom 

 connected with the old wife do's remains to be described. This was, 

 "Jumping the Can." A large milking pail was placed on the middle of 

 the floor, and in it was stuck a birch broom without the handle. Over 

 this each of the women was expected to jump. It was no great height, 

 and those who were young and active went over easily enough, but there 

 were others who did not succeed so well, and that constituted the fun of 



