Page:Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders.djvu/41

Rh injurious to the infant, and a prognostic of his death; and in Sweden, where they say it makes the child noisy and given to crying. Rocking the toom cradle is often deprecated in the counties of Durham and Yorkshire on another ground; it is said there to be ominous of another claimant for that place of rest.

In Sussex they express this notion in the couplet—

And I am told of a village schoolmistress of that county who used to rate her scholars soundly if they ever touched her cradle. “There, leave the cradle alone,” she would exclaim, “I’ve children enough already.”

The proverb, “Soon teeth, soon toes,” shows another portent of such an event. If baby’s teeth come early there will soon be fresh toes, i. e. another baby. This belief extends to Sweden. “Leave off its caps on Sunday and it will not take cold,” is a saying which will soon die out now babies have left off wearing caps at all.

Perhaps I may mention here a kindly northern custom, that in all sales, either under distraint for rent or common debt, the cradle should be left unsold, and remain the property of its original owner. The late Canon Humble informed me that formerly a similar immunity attached to the corner cupboard, the place where the bread for the family was kept; at least it was the last thing sold under distraint. If a Northumbrian wishes to give you the idea of a man utterly and hopelessly ruined, he will say, “They have sold him up, corner cupboard and all.” Are you curious to know the sex of the coming stranger? You must notice whether the old baby says papa or