Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/274

 262 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

12. If a horse's mane is tangled in the morning, it is a sign that a witch has been riding him ; the little knots seen in the mane are "witches' stirrups."

13. To prevent a witch from riding horses, nail a horseshoe over the door of the stable.

14. Horseshoes, when nailed on doors or posts for good luck, are placed with the round part uppermost. No witch or evil spirit can enter when they are so nailed.

CROSS-MARKS.

15. When a negro is going from you, and you call him, making it necessary for him to retrace his steps, he will make a cross-mark X in the path and spit on it for good luck.

16. If you meet a stranger in the road, you must turn round, make a cross-mark, and slightly change your direction, for good luck.

17. When a rabbit runs across the road in front of you, it is a bad sign ; cross yourself, or make a X in the road and spit in it, and walk backward over the place where the rabbit crossed. If a rabbit runs across the road behind you, it is a good sign ; you have passed the trouble.

18. If any one wishes to trouble another, he makes a X mark on the path usually travelled by his enemy ; the only way to break the spell is to walk round it the first time, afterwards you can walk over.

19. To stop paths across a field, make cross-marks in it. Negroes may step around the X marks, but they won't step over them.

20. If the right shoestring becomes accidentally untied, it is a sign that a woman is talking good about you ; if the left shoestring, that a woman is talking evil. To prevent the evil, make a cross- mark, put your foot on the mark, and retie the string.

2T. Negroes keep other negroes from getting over a rail fence by sprinkling powder or graveyard dirt on the rail.

LUCK.

22. Negroes will not carry a hoe or axe through a house, or put one on the shoulder; to do so is very bad luck.

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