44 



tail, which was too long, and was just about to do it for her, when 

 she interposed with, " No, no, I won't have it done to-day ; this is 

 Friday, and it would not he lucky /" 



Did you ever know that it was extremely unlucky to sweep the 

 house before going away anywhere ? How we came to recognise 

 such a superstition as this, it would be difficult to find out ; but 

 one can imagine its having been handed down to posterity by some 

 housewife who invented the unluckiness said to follow the event to 

 excuse her own laziness. 



Then how should the event of a timid hare crossing our path 

 interfere with our luck ? Yet the angler coming home with a light 

 creel and a heavy step, invariably construes the above accident 

 into the cause of such. 



Then you know the rhyme of the magpies : — 



One's sorrow, two's mirth, 

 Three's a wedding, four's death, 

 Five's heaven, six's hell, 

 And seven is the deil's ainsel'. 



It is amusing to think how easily sorrow could be changed to 

 mirth. Why should not the appearance of as many sparrows 

 presage similar things ? and why should superstition cling to these 

 birds ? 



The Cuckoo visits us in spring. But it is said the year will be 

 an unlucky one to us if, when for the first time in the season we 

 hear his melodious cry, we do not have money in our pocket. 



The belief — very strong in our neighbourhood at one time — that 

 if it rained on St. Swithin's Day, it would rain for six weeks, has 

 long ago exploded, and reference need only be made to it. 



That a child should never see its own shadow in the looking-glass 

 before it is a year old, is a well known-superstition. Many a time 

 have I seen a servant girl scolded for having recourse to this 

 method of pacifying a noisy child. For the same length of time 

 the hands must not be washed. 



When going away, it is unlucky to have to turn back for any- 

 thing. I suggest that this may have its origin in this : Lot's wife 

 turned, and was changed into a pillar of salt. 



