LOCAL SUPERSTITIONS. 93 
parts. The renowned Silky has not been heard of for some years. 
She used to haunt Black Heddon and Belsay. At the latter place, 
an old tree is shown, called “ Silky’s Seat.” 
I was once attending a very old woman, named Pearson, at 
Welton Mill, the foundations of which, if they exist, are at the 
bottom of one of the Whittle Dean Reservoirs. The old woman 
told me, a few days before her death, that she had seen Silky, 
the night before, sitting at the bottom of her bed, dressed in silk. 
For a longer account of Silky, I must refer you to ‘“‘ Richardson’s 
Borderers’ Table Book;” Vol vii., Legendary Division, page 181, 
edition 1846. 
Wraiths.—Esther Morton, of Black Heddon, was gathering 
sticks, and made out of the way of the farmer, on whose land she 
was, and whom she was on the point of meeting; suddenly she 
remembered that he was very ill, and could not be there. She 
returned home alarmed, and foundthat her neighbour hadjust died. 
William Elliott, of Black Heddon, saw an apparition of Mary 
Brown pop across the fold yard, and disappear in a straw house. 
Remembering she was very ill, he made inquiries, being alarmed, 
and found that she had died at the very moment he had seen her. 
Salt.—Saltis often put ona cow’s backimmediately after calving. 
Salt is also put upon a child’s tooth which has come out ; it 
should be thrown into the fire, uttering the following words— 
Fire, fire burn byen, 
God send my tuith agyen. 
Bread.—Never turn a loaf upside down, or a ship will shortly be 
in asimilar position. A medical manmust always cut the groaning 
cheese and loaf, after the birth of a child. Bread and Cheese 
are presented to the first person the christening party meets, on 
going to church. 
Children’s hands are never washed by some, till they do it them- 
selves, by wetting them in water. Babies nails should always 
be bitten, or they are certain to become thieves, when they 
grow up. 
Left leg stockings should be tied round the neck for a sore 
throat. 
Need (probably Neat,) Fire—When the murrain broke out 
