92 LOCAL SUPERSTITIONS. 
Rooks.—When rooks desert a rookery, it foretells the downfall 
of the family on whose property itis. It isa popular tradition that 
the rooks deserted the rookery at Chipchase, when the respected 
family of Reed left it. 
A cock crowing in at a door, is an intimation of a visitor 
coming. 
Friday is considered an unlucky day to begin any work, such as 
cutting a field of corn, hay, &. 
Blacksmiths will not light their fires on Good Friday. If 
necessity compels them to do anything in the shop, they will not 
bring fire in, but will make it by striking a piece of iron till it 
becomes red hot. 
On Easter day, the sun, when rising, dances on the water ; 
and oxen sit down on their knees on old Christmas day. E. J., 
when living at Bradford, near Belsay, sat up for the purpose of 
seeing them do so, and asserted he saw the phenomenon. 
If a freshinhabitant of the village of Stamfordham takes a good 
drink at the pant, he will reside a long time in the village. 
First Foot.—The inhabitants in this district are very particular 
about first foot in the house on New Year’s Day. Before any one 
of the family leaves the house, an unmarried person, nota woman, for 
that is unlucky, must bring something new into the house; it is 
often a shovelful of coals. Whiskey, I regret to say, is coming 
into fashion. My friend before alluded to, was first foot for a 
few years at a house near where he lived, which belonged to a 
blacksmith. He was considered a lucky first foot. One year 
some one else, by accident, was first foot. This was considered 
an ill omen ; during the hay harvest the house was broken open 
and half a sovereign was stolen. First foot ought to carry in 
something to burn ; if anything besides, so much the better. 
No fire is allowed to be taken out of the house on that day, and 
no one likes to lend salt. 
Three raps heard before a death.—This was heard, some years 
ago, at Windy Walls, on the outside of the shutter of a window; 
a man belonging to the house, the same night accidentally fell off 
a cart after delivering corn and was killed. 
Ghosts.—Not many ghosts or witches have been seen in these 
