46 



A great many incidents indicate the coming of strangers or 

 friends. If the cock crows near the door, it is a sure sign that a 

 stranger is coming. A stranger may mean almost anybody ; and 

 if that stranger comes on the same day that the cock crew, or on 

 the next, or even on the third day, the crowing of the cock, all the 

 same, foretold it ! I know a good many people who have almost 

 impUcit faith in this. If a stranger happens to come once when 

 one is expected, the reputation of the cock that foretold the event 

 is established; thereafter he is known as a "true cock." 



A piece of soot blowing backwards and forwards on the bar of 

 the grate betokened the coming of a stranger. The hands were 

 clapped in front of it ; and if it was blown into the fire he was 

 coming in, if it fell below the grate, he was going by. 



Who has not seen a spark in the wick of the candle ? It is 

 believed to foretell the coming of a letter to the person who sees 

 it first. It is beautifully described by J. J. Lonsdale, one of our 

 Cumberland poets. The words are put into the mouth of a 

 girl :— 



" Here's a letter from Robin, father, 



A letter from over the sea ; 

 I was sure that the spark i' the wick last night 



Meant there was one for me ; 

 And I laughed to see the postman's face 



Look in at the dairy park, 

 For you said it was so woman-like, 



To put my trust in a spark." 



These last two superstitions are very transparent, which, doubtless, 

 has a great deal to do with our hearing so little about them in 

 these matter-of-fact times. 



As "every cloud has a silver lining," so the omens of ill-luck are 

 counterbalanced by those of good. It is considered very lucky to 

 find anything, but particularly coins or pieces of metal containing 

 holes. A story was told me of two brothers who left this district 

 to seek their fortune in one of the larger centres of industry. One 

 of them found a piece of old horse shoe. One has been very 

 successful in business, and has prospered well in life : this is the 

 one who found the horse shoe. It is firmly believed by his 



