Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/483

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or nine years ago, in South Shropshire, the following old custom was actually carried out. A "cast" (i.e. abortive) calf was burned in a farmyard to prevent other cows in the neighbourhood casting their calves. The farmer was inclined to laugh at the superstition, and I could not ascertain if the desired effect resulted.

But only last year, in the same district, I heard it seriously discussed whether, when a cow casts her calf, the calf should be thrown into the next parish to prevent other cases occurring.

A friend of mine tells me that about thirty years ago a Mr. J, of Besford, near Shrewsbury, had a farm in two parishes. The first year he went there the cows cast their calves. He was told, if he wished to prevent this in future, he must throw the carcases into the next parish. He therefore threw them from one field in one parish to the next field in another parish, and from that day to this he has never had any cows casting calves.

Shrewsbury.

Ireland, All Hallows Eve (October 31st), or, as it is generally called, November night, is a general season for merry-making.

In my native place in County Roscommon it is a favourite date for giving parties. A cake is made in nearly every house, and a ring, a coin, a sloe, and a chip of wood, are put into it which causes great excitement. The coin means riches, the one who gets the ring will be married first, whoever gets the chip of wood (which stands for a coffin) will be the first to die, and the sloe denotes the longest liver, because the fairies are supposed to blight the sloes and haws and other berries on November night, so this will be the last eatable sloe of the year.

A favourite amusement is to get a tub full of water and put