Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/340

332 the note: "The following occurs in a MS. of the 17th century in the Sloane collection, the reference to which I have mislaid." Not older than the 17th century considering the reference to tea, is likely to be, "Will you come to the wedding," in fact its vulgarity has quite a modern twang. The notion about the boots is obviously only partly true; what is so, is rather common sense than folk-lore, what is false in fact; may perhaps be a parable! I think there is nothing occult in the Topsyturvidom to which Catherine Ann offered to introduce her audience. It will be observed that her statement concerning it is in rhyme, and it is probably a fragment of some paradoxical jingle that has eluded Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps.

Superstition in Dorsetshire.—On the 23rd December a dairyman left home for a market held in the neighbourhood of Bridport, his wife remaining in charge of the dairy. On returning home, he found his wife agitated, and apparently unwell. She simply complained of slight indisposition, which continued till the following Saturday (30th ult.) During the morning the dairyman went to his cashbox, which was kept in a bedroom, and at once missed between 3l. and 4l. The wife was at first reticent on the matter, but ultimately confessed, that a couple of women (strangers) had promised her, during his absence on the previous Saturday, that for a few shillings they would convert any amount of gold to treble its value by Easter Sunday next, provided they were allowed to trace the planets upon the coins, and then secrete them about the premises, but on no account were they to be touched before Easter Sunday, or the planets would be unpropitious, and visit the house with affliction. The dairyman, in spite of these protestations, forced from his wife the knowledge that the money was hanging in the chimney. He there found a semi- smoked heart, evidently that of a pig or a sheep. It was tightly encased in wrappings of scarlet and black material. A number of crosses and other emblems formed of projecting pins covered it completely on one side. On opening it, the cavity of the heart was found to contain several farthings, which had been brightened by some rough substance. It is believed the strangers were travelling gipsies, but, at any rate, they have absconded the richer by several pounds.—The Suffolk and Essex Free Press, Jan. 3, 1883.

New Year Custom in Orkney.—One of the most peculiar and ancient of the new year celebrations is that held in the Cathedral at Kirkwall, in the Orkneys. The inhabitants, according to old Norse