TraTisactions. 81 



with a frying pan or whatever other tinkling instrument may be 

 most convenient, a custom which, as an old writer quaintly 

 observes, '' may be of good use to let the neighbours know you 

 have a swarm in the air, but of very little purpose to the re- 

 claiming of the bees." The hare, like the cat, is looked upon 

 with suspicion, and when a hare crosses the path of a wayfarer 

 it is an omen of impending misfortune. Toads, again, are con- 

 sidered " pushionable beasts ; " while the Common Lizard or 

 " Ask " is supposed to be addicted to jumping down people's 

 throats. As a crowning absurdity, we have the belief that when 

 horse hairs are put into water they turn into eels. 



New- Year's Day in Scotland, although fast being superseded 

 by Christmas as a festival, has long possessed its distinctive rites 

 and ceremonies. In Glencairn our boys and girls still go tlnough 

 the village on New- Year's Eve chanting the song — 



Hog-uog-nay, troU-lol-lay, 



Gie's a piece of pancake, 

 An' I'll rm away ; 

 I'll naither come to your door 



To beg or to borrow, 

 But I'll come to your door 



To sing away sorrow. 



Among their elders the practice of first-footing is engaged in with 

 equal spirit, and not always, we fear, with equal judgment, for 

 wliile the intention may be friendly, the consequences are often 

 such as all true friends must deplore. In the earlier years of the 

 century children were not unfrequently allowed to join in these 

 midnight revels, and we can easily imagine the demoralisin"' 

 effect of the excesses to which they must often have been eye- 

 witnesses. In better regulated households the observance took a 

 less vicious form, each child being presented with a " piece " and 

 a penny "for luck " before leaving bed on New- Year's morning. 

 Another peculiar custom associated with the anniversary of the 

 year was the rivalry among village maidens to get the " ream " 

 or " flower of the well," the maiden who reached the well first 

 being supposed to get the best husband. 



Twall struck. Twa neebour hizzies raise, 



An' liltin', gaed a sad gate ; 

 " The Jlower o' the ivell" to our house gaes, 



An' I'll the bonniest lad get. 



11 



