SUPERSTITIONS AND HAUNTINGS 273 



An Englishman who was staying here scoffed 

 loudly and insisted despite all warnings on taking 

 the candlesticks. 



He lost his appointment, a big one, and even 

 his pension two years afterwards, through various 

 faults of his own. My housemaid says through 

 " The holy candlesticks, that no one but a hay- 

 then would keep in their house. An' he warned 

 an' all." 



If a cow calves a woollen thread must be wound 

 round their tails to prevent their being elf shot 

 by the good people. 



Crickets are very unlucky in some counties 

 and always bring misfortune. A Uttle holy water 

 is sprinkled about when they chirrup. 



"This day's Thursday (or whatever day it may 

 be), God betwixt us and harm," is supposed to be a 

 safeguard against the good people. 



Anything which went wrong with the milk or 

 the grass at home when I was a child was always 

 put down quite gravely to the fairies. 



There were pishogues which I quite forgot to pre- 

 vent them getting into the " bane " at night when 

 the cows were out. Whenever you saw anything 

 which was the first of its year to you, you must 

 always say in Irish — I know it, but I can't spell it, 

 it sounds like — Mirre me bhuam Nuom Sherrish. 

 " May I live till I see the same next year," or 

 the fairies, if " thim wans " were about, would 

 take you before the year was out, 

 i8 



