Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/181

 Charms, etc. 169 Few people in old days were buried on the north side of a church. Flowers and shrubs planted in Cornish churchyards are never plucked, from the fear that the spirits of the departed will at night visit the desecrator. Should an urn found in a "barrow" be taken into a house, the person whose ashes it contained will haunt it ; it must be broken up and the pieces hidden. Cross-roads, the former burying-place of suicides, are after nightfall avoided, such spots being haunted ; but if you have courage to go there at mid- night and wish, you will get your wish. With a few general superstitions I shall bring this part to an end. It is unlucky in Cornwall to see the new moon first over the left shoulder, or through a window, especially if the day should happen to be a Friday. To ensure good luck on your first sight of her, you should curtsey, spit on your money and turn it in your pocket. (A man well paid for any chance job early in the day calls it here "a hansel," and spits on the money for good luck.) If you particularly desire anything, look at the new moon and wish before you speak. You may also wish when you see a falling star, and if you can succeed in framing it before it disappears your wish will be granted. Seeing the new moon in the old moon's arms is a sign of a change in the weather, so is a star passing over it. The change will be for the worse if the moon goes over the star. " Herbs for drying must be gathered at full moon ; winter fruit picked and stored at full moon, not to lose its plumpness. Timber should be felled on the bating of the moon, because the sap is then down, and the wood will be more durable." — Bottrell. Card-table Superstitions : — " Good luck in cards, bad luck in a husband (or wife)." "A shuffling cut is good for the dealer." "1234 played in succession kiss the dealer." To cut an honour for the trump card is unlucky, for "When quality opens the door there is poverty behind ; " but " Good luck lurks under a black deuce" (it should be touched by the cutter). Superstitions connected with the body: — A twitching in the eyelid is lucky ; but you must not say when it comes nor when it goes. Right eye itching, a sign of laughter ; but left over right, you'll cry before night.