Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/218

210 say that this gift was there a small cake, made for the occasion, and termed the 'christening-crib,' a crib of bread or cake being a provincialism for a bit of bread," &c.—William Pengelly, Western Morning News.

Children, when they leave small bits of meat, &c. on their plates, are in Cornwall often told "to eat up their cribs."

The Rev. S. Rundle, Vicar of Godolphin, says, "That once he was sent for to baptise a child, around whose neck hung a little bag, which the mother said contained a bit of a donkey's ear, and that this charm had cured the child of a most distressing cough."

In some parts of Cornwall it is considered a sure sign of being sweethearts if a young man and woman "stand witness together," i.e. become godfather and godmother of the same child.—T.C. But not in all, for I remember once hearing in Penzance a couple refuse to do so, saying that it was unlucky. "First at the font, never at the altar." When I was young, old nurses often breathed in babies' mouths to cure the thrush, thrice repeating the second verse of the Eighth Psalm, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings," &c. "May children and 'chets' (kittens) never thrive," and it is unlucky to "tuck" (short coat) children in that month.

It is of course considered an unfortunate month for marriages. Neither should babies "be tucked" on a week day, but on a Sunday, which day should also be chosen for leaving off any article of clothing; as then you will have the prayers of every congregation for you, and are sure not to catch cold. A friend lately sent me the following charm of one year's duration which prevents your feeling or taking a cold. "Eat a large apple at Hallow-een under an apple-tree just before midnight; no other garment than a bed-sheet should be worn. A kill or cure remedy."

An empty cradle should never be rocked unless you wish to have a large family, for—