Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/288

 280 SOME DERBYSniRE PROVERBS ANI> SAYINGS.

A fool's money is soon parted.

A foolish man lights his candle at both ends.

You never miss the water, till the well runs dry.

A spark may raise an awful blaze.

Never trouble trouble, till trouble troubles you.

On seeing crows flying : —

" One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a wedding,

Four for a birth, Five for a funeral. Six for a dance. Seven for old England, Eight for France."

Said to be a very rare thing to see eight crows flying together.

Never pass under a ladder, if possible ; if obliged to do so, spit three times and wish.

Very unlucky to burn evergreens.

Never burn a tooth without covering it with salt.

If the first lamb you see in the spring has its head turned towards you, it forbodes good ; if its tail is towards you, evil.

Unlucky to spill salt, or to cross knives on the table.

" Help to salt, help to sorrow."

When any one- sneezes, say God bless you.

Always spit on money when given to you.

When you see a crow flying, bow to it, or ill-luck is sure to follow.

If you kill a black beetle (out of doors) it is certain to rain.

The first time you see the new moon, bow to it three times, and turn over your money in your pocket, if you have any.

Always kill a devil's-hcad beetle, as one of them preceded Judas to the garden where Our Lord was, on the night before the crucifixion, and when near our Lord it turned up its tail, thus discovering him to the betrayer. R. C. Hope.