Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/138

126 2. Prince Edward Island.

The following beliefs are reported from the Scots population of this Province:

When visiting a new-born baby, put a piece of silver into its hand. This will bring luck to the baby and also to the giver. Neglect of the observance means bad luck for both, but especially for the visitor.

Fairies are said to plait the tails of horses.

The following tale of second sight, or rather, so to call it, second hearing, was told me by a Prince Edward Islander of Highland descent as having occurred in his own family. One of his uncles when a boy was unable to sleep throughout one night owing to being disturbed by the noise of the sawmill, belonging to the family and adjoining the house, mingled with screams of pain. No one else heard anything. The next day, Sunday, all the family save one, a brother of the seer, went to church. When they returned they found him dead and horribly mangled. He had gone into the mill, and by some accident started the machinery going and been caught by the saw.

Prince Edward Island, English Population.

At midnight on Christmas and Easter Eve cattle and sheep kneel down. (Cf. the Ontario belief, infra.)

If bewitched, make a potato into the shape of an old woman, to represent the witch. Fill it with pins and put it on the fire. This makes the witch suffer and breaks the spell.

3. Quebec.

Hallowe'en customs, Montreal.—Here, as in many parts of Canada, it has been the custom as long as I can remember for children to dress up in grotesque costumes, or simply to wear masks, on Hallowe'en. In 1911-13 they went about from door to door asking for apples. This I do not remember in my own childhood. They sometimes simply ask for "Hallowe'en apples," but in 1913 two or three small parties of children came to our door dressed up in old clothes, with