Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/65

 Rh is first steeped in water in the "sone bowie," and allowed to stand for a short time. It is then poured into the "seysones" and drained, and thus all the "sids" are removed and nothing is left but the flour of the meal. When the "pron" was put into the "bowie," and water poured over it, a burning coal was thrown by some canny goodwives into the mixture. This they did to prevent the fairies from urinating amongst it.

Fairies not to he annoyed.—A. flat stone lay embedded in the ground a little in front of the door of Mrs. C——'s house. It was over a fairy dwelling house. On no account would she herself throw water from the door after darkness set in. She might inadvertently cast it on, or near the stone, and it might sink, and thus cause a "drap" in the dwelling of the fairies, and annoy them. The express rule was that no one of the household should cast out water from the door after nightfall. If one disregarded the rule, there was a sharp rebuke. The fairies were not to be molested, lest they might become troublesome, and take revenge, as they did when they were slighted or annoyed.

Fairy Coveteousness.—A man, Arthur, was walking along the road one evening when he heard behind him a voice saying, "Tack Arthur, tack Arthur." "No," said another voice, "No, he hiz a red caip, tack it." Arthur knew his danger, and took to his heels at once.

Breaking the witch spell on cattle.—"Dilly verge" was a woman renowned in her day for having the power to take away the milk from cows. She exercised her skill on Mr. F——'s cow in the parish of New Deer, Aberdeenshire, and the cow all at once ceased to yield milk. The goodman made a journey to ask the advice of a woman versed in occult matters. He was ordered to kindle a fire on "the winnowan hill," lead the cow three times round it "witherlans," i. e. contrary to the sun's course, catch a part of her urine, and cork it tightly into a bottle, and watch during the following night. He was told that a woman would come at a certain hour, and confess that she had done the deed of milk-stealing. All this was carried out most punctually. The members of the family watched except the goodman. At the hour mentioned by the wise woman, "Dillyverge" opened the door, and entered in great excitement, with her eyes "red like collops."