Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/366

358 all "a good appetite," and upon rising one wishes the rest "good health."

Beware of a marked person. (Beware of those whom God hath marked. Yorks.—W. H. J.)

Wood fires are general, and the moaning noise which the wood sometimes makes while burning is said to be "a poor soul in purgatory"; salt is to be thrown on such a fire.

When Christ was hiding under the olive trees of Gethsemane, and while the Roman soldiers looked for him, a plover flew up and screeched "Buvick! buvick!" (He is hiding), and so betrayed him. This is the reason that since then the plover has been in disgrace.

The origin of Lake Balaton: "One day as a man was tending his goats, one of the kids ran away. Whereupon the herdsman picked up a stone to throw after the runaway; from the spot where the stone had lain water poured out in such quantities as to drown man and goats, and formed the present lake. In stormy weather fossils are cast up, which the peasants call 'goat's claws,' and are looked upon as a proof of the truth of the above-mentioned tradition. Very dark wine grown at Eger (Erlau) is called 'Turk's Blood,' or 'Bull's blood.

Whenever treasures are hid, a blue flame flickers over them at night and the treasure is thrown up, so that coins, &c. may be found on the ground over which the flame played; if such coins be found, search is made for the hid treasure in silence.

(In an adjoining field to Beelsby (Lines.) a treasure is supposed to be hidden, and at times two little men wearing red caps, something like the Irish leprechauns, may be seen intently digging for it. Do not disturb them or on nearer approach you may find but two red-headed goldfinches swinging on a thistle.—Vide "From the Heart of the Wolds," Cornhill Mag. August 1882.)

If you stumble, something valuable lies near that place, and folks are in the habit of going back to look for it after a stumble.

Every corn of wheat, if split, will be seen to bear the impress of the Madonna and Child.

After Sept. 5th, water melons are not good, because St. Lawrence has spoilt them.