Page:Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders.djvu/135

 Rh money; of the left hand, paying money; of the ear, hearing sudden news. If the right ear tingles, you are being spoken well of; if the left ear, some one is speaking ill of you. If you shiver, some one is walking over your future grave. If you find an ashleaf with an equal number of indentures on each side, you will meet a person of the same name with that of your future husband or wife. If you stumble upstairs (by accident) you will be married the same year; if you snuff out the candle you certainly will. So at least says one of my friends. Another professor of Folk-Lore informs me that both accidents are very unlucky, and who shall decide when doctors disagree? If you sing before breakfast you will cry before supper. If you put a button or hook into the wrong hole while dressing in the morning, some misfortune will occur during the day. A mole at the back of the neck marks out the bearer of it as in danger of hanging. The little white specks sometimes seen on the nails of the human hand are thus interpreted:—

On the thumb they presage gifts.

On the first finger they presage friends.

On the second finger they presage foes.

On the third finger they presage lovers to the young, else letters.

On the fourth finger they presage approaching journeys.

These are Durham sayings, but many of them are much wider in their range. The same may be said of the following, which were communicated by a friend at Leeds:—

If a snake crosses the path, it will rain.

If glowworms shine at night, it will soon rain.

Spring has not arrived till you can set your foot on twelve daisies.

If you take violets or primroses to a house in less quantity than a handful, all the owner’s young chickens or ducks will die.

Before you kill anything it is necessary to wash your face.