Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 26, 1915.djvu/220

 2 1 o Collectanea.

savoury smell, she asked if she could have some of them. Mrs. Porter said she was very sorry, but she had only just what would do her husband's supper. The old woman turned away to go with much displeasure, and as she went out of the door a fall of soot from the chimney entirely spoilt the savoury dish. The children all thought it was because the old woman was a witch, but their prudent mother said it was a thing that might happen to any one. q. a. Lebour.

Folklore Scraps — England.

Glotecestershin.—Dtx'wQd from E. P., a native of the shire, now in our employ.

A bumble-bee flying into the room should not be let out again, as it brings luck.

If the hem of a woman's skirt turns up behind, forming a sort of bag, she will receive a present, and ought not to turn the skirt down again for fear of annulling the omen.

A child who is easily tickled will be proud.

Nails should on no account be cut on Friday ; the best day for the purpose is Monday, as this will bring a present. (E. P. seems to believe quite seriously in this.)

Norfolk. — The following were observed at Weybourne, a small village midway between Sheringham and Holt.

One of the houses in the village has a horseshoe over the street door ; but by way of strengthening the charm a cross has been added inside the horseshoe.

To make the fire burn up our landlady placed the poker, a short one, horizontally across the top bar, resting on the coals. This was, I am informed, practised also at Hornsea, near Hull, by an old servant in the last generation. I take it to be the original method, as a cross is thus formed which is visible from up the chimney, thus keeping off any evil thing which may attack, like a Greek Kallikantzaros, from that quarter. '

Oxford. — A street urchin, on seeing one of the writers tread oa a large blackbeetle, remarked, "Now we'll have rain."

E. H. AND H. J. Rose.