FOLKLORE OF YULE. 137 



cross, at the steggie (steps in a stone wall) leading to 

 the yard where the stacks of hay and corn, &c., were 

 kept. A hair from the tail of each cow, or " beast o' 

 burden," was plaited together and fastened over the 

 byre door, and a " lowing taand " (blazing peat) was 

 carried through the barn and other out-houses. 



Helya's night followed Tul-ya's e'en. On Helya's 

 night milk brose was partaken of, and children were 

 committed to the care of " Midder Mary." 



A Shetlander told me she remembered when she 

 was a little girl seeing this ceremony performed by 

 her old grandmother. " Minnie (grandmother) raise up 

 frae the fire and gaed to the cradle where our infant 

 was sleeping. She spread her hands ower the cradle- 

 head and said, loud out — • 



* Mary midder had de haund 

 Ower aboot for sleepin'-baund, 

 Had da lass and had da wife, 

 Had da bairn a' its life. 

 Mary midder had de haund 

 Kound da infants 0' oor laund.' 



[Mary mother, hold thy hand 

 All around for sleeping band, 

 Hold the lass and hold the wife, 

 Hold the child all its life. 

 Mary mother, hold thy hand 

 Around the infants of our land.] 



Then Minnie came to the bed and said the same ower 

 us, who were pretending to be fast asleep ; and a' the 

 time she was doing sae, auld da' (grandfather) was 

 standing raking the peats back and fore upon the 



