Page:The International Folk-Lore Congress of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, July, 1893.djvu/82

 60 disk of the sun appeared above the horizon when the water was blessed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The operator then entered the house and presented the "capful" of water to the patient in God's name. The patient drank three draughts or "hawps" of the water, the first in the name of the Father, the second in the name of the Son, and the third in the name of the Holy Ghost. A cure was effected.

(Corgarff, Aberdeenshire.)

UNSPOKEN WATER.

Two brothers lived on a small farm in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, along with their sister. It was harvest, and the two brothers were busy all day in the harvest-field. They had an ox grazing in a field at a little distance from the dwelling-house. After the day's labor was over, and after supper, the two set out in the "gloamin"' to fetch home the animal, and carried a halter to lead him. They soon secured the animal, as they thought, and set out on their homeward journey. The two jogged quietly along shoulder to shoulder, with the animal following quite gently. After walking for a time they halted to look behind them, and the animal they had in the halter all of a sudden bolted with a loud bellow, and escaped. The two in their surprise at what had taken place, fancied they saw a large animal with huge horns running from them. In their fear they took to their heels, and never halted till they reached home. When they entered the house, they were in a state of great excitement, and told their sister what had taken place. Said the good woman, in afterwards telling what had befallen her brothers:—"Bonnie kent I faht (what) ailt them (was the matter with them). I rins (run) t' the wall (well) for oonspoken wattir, an geed (gave) them a sup o't, and that made them a' richt. Taht wiz't (was it) it they bed (had) hailtert bit (but) water vielpie." The ox was found next day.

The same custom is met with in different parts of Europe. "In der Ostemacht—gerade um die zwölfte Stunde (vor Sonnen aufgang) soil man aus einem fleissenden Kreuzwasser gegen den Strom Osterwasser schopfen, aber kein Wort