82 Transactions. 
No ashes or sweepings were allowed to be taken out on New- 
Year’s Day, for there was a danger of taking out the luck for the 
year with them. To meet an ill body on the morning of this 
particular day was looked upon as unfortunate, but to meet a 
*‘ gude body” was “‘muckle worth.” Flat-footed people, again, 
were supposed to possess a peculiarly baneful presence at this 
season, and all such were carefully avoided. Another curious 
belief was that work commenced in the old year should upon no 
account be left unfinished till the new, else its resumption would 
be attended by disastrous consequences. 
Leaving the New-Year and its associations, we have now to 
glance somewhat hurriedly at a variety of beliefs which could not 
be conveniently referred to elsewhere. Some of these may be 
considered puerile in character, but they at least serve to show 
how the ordinary everyday occurrences of life may be trans- 
formed and magnified by the superstitious imagination until they 
become signs and omens of weighty import. Stones are occasion- 
ally found fashioned by skill or accident into some unusual shape, 
These the credulous invest with superstitious importance ; and I 
have in my possession a stone, with the impress of five fingers on 
its surface, which the devil is said to have hurled in anger at 
some one who had outwitted him. Pins, although insignificant 
to look at, have long occupied an important place in folk-lore. 
Thus we have the rhyme— 
See a pin and pick it up, 
All the day you'll have good luck. 
In Glencairn we have a saying— “‘ Every tenth step find either a 
horse hair or a pin ”—which may also be intended to convey the 
idea of luck. Black pins, however, are most unfortunate, and 
woe awaits the bride in whose dress-a black pin finds a place. 
Among the numerous superstitions connected with clothing per- 
haps the most prevalent is that the clothes of the dead never 
wear long. It is another wide-spread belief that should a new 
dress be either burned or torn the first time it is put on some 
misfortune is sure to befall the wearer before the dress is worn 
out. When the new moon is seen, the apron is turned to ensure 
luck throughout the month. Money is sometimes similarly 
treated ; and it is always considered lucky to have money in the 
pocket when the new moon makes its appearance. Most people 
are familiar with the notion that when the right ear tingles some 
