Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/232



The evening red, the morning gray, Are certain signs of one fair day.

If woolly fleeces spread the heavenly way, No rain, be sure, disturbs that summer's day.

In the waning of the moon, A cloudy morn—fair afternoon.

When clouds appear like rocks and towers, The earth's refreshed by frequent showers.

When Pendle wears its woolly cap, The farmers all may take a nap.

Owd Know [i.e. knoll, a hill between Rochdale and Rossendale] hes bin awsin [offering] to put hur durty cap on a time or two to-day; an as soon us hoo can shap to see it, ther'll be waytur amang us, yo'll see.

Of the Duddon and other streams in the north of Lancashire, a local expression states that, "Up with a shower, down in an hour."

PROVERBS. is of no use laying sorrow to your heart when others only lay it to their heels.

Mouse-coloured dun is the foulest colour under the sun.

A Friday's flit will not long sit.

My butter-cake always leets [falls] th' butter-side down.

Two are company, three are none.

Too much of ought is good for nought.

All this for nothing, and more for a penny.

Long and lazy, little and loud,

Fair and foolish, dark and proud.