200 



pPant Tsore, IseQeriOf, cmi. "ISLjrie/". 



Sloes are also sometimes associated with this portent, as 

 another version of the rhyme runs — 



•' Many Slones [Sloes], many groans, 

 Many Nits, many pits. ' 



It is thought very unlucky in Sussex to use green brooms in 

 May, and an old saying is current in the same county that — 



" If you sweep the house with Broom in May, 

 You'll sweep the head of that house away." 



In West Sussex, there exists the strange idea that if anyone 

 eats a Blackberry after Old Michaelmas Day (Odlober loth), death 

 or disaster will alight either on the eater or his kinsfolk before the 

 year is out. 



In some parts of England a superstition exists that if in a row 

 of Beans one should chance to come up white, instead of green, a 

 death will occur in the family within the year. 



In certain English counties there is a superstitious dread that 

 if a drill go from one end of the field to the other without de- 

 positing any seed, some person on the farm will die either before 

 the year is otit or before the crop then sown is reaped. 



There is a very ancient belief that if every vestige of the 

 Christmas decorations is not removed from the church before 

 Candlemas Day (February 2nd), there will be a death during the 

 year in the family occupying the pew where perchance a leaf or 

 a berry has been left. Herrick has alluded to this superstitious 

 notion in his ' Hesperides': — 



" Down with the Rosemary, and so 

 Down with the Baies and Mistletoe . 

 Down with the Holly, Ivy, all 

 Wherewith ye dress the Christmas hall ; 

 That so the superstitious find 

 Not one least branch left thar behind 

 For look, how many leaves there be 

 Neglected there (maids, trust to me) 

 So many goblins you shall see." 



