Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/183

 Charms, etc. 171 A bright 'spark on a candle foretells a letter, but if pointed out it never arrives. There are so many unlucky omens in Cornwall that to believe in them all would make life miserable, and to enumerate them would fill a volume. The major part of them too are silly and not worth transcribing; three or four of them as examples will, I am quite sure, amply suffice. "A work begun on Friday is never ended." " If you sing afore bite. You'll cry before night." " It is unlucky to sing carols before Christmas ; " or before the first "arish mow*" is made. Also, "To scatf hands before Christmas," i.e., beat them for warmth. "It is unlucky to pour out water or any other liquor back- handed." "It is unlucky to lend, or say thank you for a pin." And " If you see a pin, and pass it by, You'll want a pin before you die. " " It is unlucky to mend your clothes on you, for then you will never grow rich." It is unlucky to wear a hole in the bottom of a shoe, for " A hole in the sole. You'll live to spend whole. " Servants who come to their places after noon never stay, etc., etc. "^^^^^^^ t Scat, to slap.
 * " Arish mow," a rick of com made in the field where it was cnt.