Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/397

 Collectanea. 365

supper was not ready. So he kicked the old woman up in the air, and to his surprise she went through the roof and straight up to the moon, where she is now looking down on him.

Saliva. — The same boy tells me that if you spit on your watch, say a charm, and look at the moon, you will have good luck all the days of your life.

Money Spiders. — From the same informant I learn that if you catch the spider known as "a money-spinner," wave it round your head three times and then let it crawl on the top of your head, it brings money.

Salt. — When salt is spilt, nothing must be said until it has been thrown over the shoulder, otherwise ill-luck follows.

A Cure for Toothache in Suffolk. — Clasp a birch tree in your arms. Then cut a slit in it, and sever a piece of hair with your left hand from behind your ear. Bury it in the slit, and when the hair has disappeared so will the toothache.

Saliva. — To bring good luck, spit on a horseshoe, boot tip, or any bit of iron ; if you have a companion, he should do the same. Then shut your eyes and pitch it away in the air, so that you do not know where it has gone. It you happen to find the iron again, you must repeat the ritual.

A Cure for a Stye in the Eye. — Rub it with a black cat's tail.

Artificial Flowers. — Wearing artificial flowers or " everlastings " brings good luck.

Churching of Women. — After the birth of a child the mother will not go down the street or anywhere, even to buy provisions, until she has been churched. This custom causes trouble to the clergy, who are often asked to church women at all sorts of hours, so that they may be able to visit their friends or do some shopping. An unmarried woman giving birth to a child is said to be " married but not churched."

Omen from the Apron-string. — If a servant finds one apron- string undone she expects a visitor, or some one is thinking of her. When two people say accidentally the same word at the same time, it means that some one is thinking of them.

Viaticum for the Dead. — A servant remembers seeing at Bur- rough Green a penny put in the mouth of an old man when he lay in his coffin.