SUPERSTITIONS. 193 



and soldered together, as usually fell out where the feat was 

 performed with any adroitness at all, the party was cured ; but 

 where the cleft continued to gape, the operation, it was 

 supposed, Vould prove ineffectual. Having occasion to enlarge 

 my garden not long since, I cut down two or three such trees, 

 one of which did not grow together. 



Wg have several persons now living in the village, who, in 

 their childhood, were supposed to be healed by this super- 

 stitious ceremony, derived down, perhaps, from our Saxon 

 ancestors, who practised it before their conversion to Chris- 

 tianity. * 



imitator? or from what common centre are all these common notions 

 derived ? " ED. 



* It would be difficult to trace at what time these superstitions crept 

 in ; there can be little doubt, however, that they prevailed long before the 

 light of Christianity shed its rays on mankind. They exist amongst 

 all nations ; and the less informed the people, the greater their influence 

 on the human mind. Even to the present hour, we find persons in the 

 highest ranks of society whose minds are deeply tinctured with them. 



If a magpie cross our path, when we first go out of a morning, it is 

 considered a bad omen. Anglers, in spring, seeing a single magpie, augur 

 a bad day's sport ; but^if there are two, the case is otherwise. We have 

 no doubt the observation may generally hold true, as in cold weather the 

 prudent magpies only leave their nests, one at a time, in search of food, 

 the other remaining to keep the eggs warm. It is, therefore, only in 

 mild weather that two are to be seen together ; and fish never take well, 

 except in such weather. The magpie has always been esteemed an 

 ominous bird ; the following old distich tells what the numbers of those 

 seen at a time forebodes : 



One sorrow, two mirth, 

 Three a wedding, four death. 



The feathers of the pigeon are never used for stuffing beds or pillows, 

 because it is said they c would prolong the deathbed sufferings. The 

 reason assigned is, that " the bird has no gall. " 



When the aurora borealis is seen in great quantity, and very luminous, 

 it is said to be the precursor of some great and terrible events. In the 

 autumn of 1830, this phenomenon caused much consternation amongst 

 the inhabitants of Weardale, as appears from the Newcastle Chronicle. 

 They imagined they saw the figure of a man on a white horse, holding in 

 his hand a red sword, moving across the heavens, and that it foretold 

 the present eventful* times, "wars and rumours of wars." Sailors for 

 the most part will not whistle at sea, because, they say, it will raise the 

 wind. When, however, they are becalmed, and wish to have a breeze, 

 they invite its approach by frequent whistling as they tread the deck 

 with impatient steps. 



Insects also assert an important place amongst the superstitions of all 

 countries. The following amusing passage is quoted from a Tour in Brit" 

 tany : "If there are bees kept in the house where a marriage feast is 

 celebrated, care is always taken to dress up their hives in red, which is 

 done by placing upon them pieces of scarlet cloth, or of some such bright 



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