Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/50

Rh Also

Ne go whoam

Wi'out Stich or Stwun [sic].

Children hold a buttercup to the chin to see if one likes butter—if there be a bright yellow reflection the liking exists—if there be none, they then try whether any reflection comes from the centre of a daisy, and this would indicate a liking for cheese. A shining face usually shows the liking for butter.

After children have finished eating cherry-pie or cherry-pudding, and accumulated cherry stones around the edge of the plate, they try to determine what kind of a house they will spend their lives in. On touching the first cherry-stone they say, "Great-house," on touching the second "Little-house," at the third "Pig-sty," and at the fourth "Barn," and so on again. The word spoken on touching the last cherry-stone, indicates the nature of the future residence.

There are similarly other sayings with cherry-stones. A girl thus seeking the status of her future husband, says, "Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar, thief."

Also as regards the time of her marriage—"This year, next year, now, or never."

Then for her dress—"Silk, satin, muslin, rags."

For her mode of conveyance, "Coach, carriage, wheel-barrow, dung-cart."

If there be one of whom she thinks favourably she will test by touching cherry stones and saying, "He loves me; he don't; he'll marry me; he won't; he would if be [sic] could; but he won't 'cause he can't."

Girls ascertain how many years will elapse before they will get married by blowing at the seeds on a dandelion stalk. The number of years will correspond with the number of puffs required to get rid of all the seeds. Those with the best lungs would appear to have the best chance of getting married soon.

Amongst old Servants there is a crustiness of temper that seems inseparable from the honest, sterling devotion to those whom they serve. No affront is ever taken, the old servants being privileged. On days on which this crustiness of temper is specially apparent fellow servants and others try to keep clear