gives it a strong twirl, so that it turns round several times. The person opposite to whom it stops is the thief. Forby, appendix, vol. ii, p. 399. Opening the Bible on New Year's Day.-This superstitious practice is still in common use, and much credit is attached to it. It is usually set about with some little solemnity, on the morning of New Year's Day before breakfast, as the ceremony must be performed fasting. The bible is laid on the table unopened; and the parties who wish to consult it are then to open it in succession. They are not at liberty to choose any particular part of the book, but must open it at random, or (as we should say) "promiscuously." Wherever this may happen to be, the inquirer is to place his finger on any chapter contained in the two open pages, but without any previous perusal or examination. The chapter is then read aloud, and commented upon by the company assembled. It is believed that the good or ill fortune, the happiness or misery of the consulting party, during the ensuing year, will in some way or other be described and foreshewn by the contents of the chapter. Of course a good deal of perverse ingenuity is often exercised in twisting and accommodating the sacred texts to the fears or wishes of the consulters; and some have made themselves very wretched, when they have unfortunately opened on any of the prophetic denunciations of divine vengeance. If the chapter happens to contain nothing remarkable, it is concluded that no material change in the circumstances of the enquirer will take place within the year. The reader will probably require little argument to convince him that these modes of divination have descended to us from our Puritanical ancestors. Ibid. p. 400. Persons will take the Bible to bed with them on New Year's Eve, and as soon as they awake after twelve o'clock, they open it at random in the dark, mark a verse with their thumb or stick a pin through a verse, turn down a corner of the page, and replace the book under the pillow. That verse is supposed to be a prophecy of destiny (good or bad) during the coming year. "The New Suffolk Garland," p. 179. Childermas Day.-On whatever day of the week the Anniversary of the Holy Innocents (December 28th) may fall, that same day in every week through the ensuing year, is called Childermas Day. It is "Dies nefastus." Any new undertaking begun upon it will surely fail; and any disaster, which may befal any one, is easily accounted for. That this strange extension of the term "the Mass of Children " beyond its own proper day, existed above an hundred years ago, appears from the paper in the Spectator, No. 7. There was then, as now, a Childermas-day * in every week. Forby, vol. ii, p. 405. The Twelve Signs.-We still cling to the notion of planetary influence on the human body. And though the progress of refinement has divested our Almanacks of their formerly indispensable ornament -the figure of a naked man pierced through with darts-yet the doctrine of the "Dominion of the moon on man's body, passing through the twelve zodiacal constellations' (as Francis Moore expresses it) has even now many believers. It is considered a matter of imprudence, if not of danger, to tamper with any part of the body on the day when the column of that sage physician shows it to be under the dominion of the stars; or as our phrase is, "when the sign lies in it." Perhaps our opinion upon this subject may be best explained by an example: About the close of the last century, a medical practitioner of great eminence in Suffolk sent a purge to a patient, and desired him to take it immediately. On the following day he called at his house, and inquired how it had operated. The patient (a substantial farmer) said he had not taken * " 'Thursday!" says she, "No, child, if it please God, you shall not begin upon Childermas Day; tell your writing-master that Friday will be soon enough." I was reflecting with myself on the oddness of her fancy, and wondering that anybody would establish it as a rule, to lose a day in every week.-C. "The Spectator," Thursday, March 1, 1710-11, No. 7. it; and upon the doctor's remonstrating against this disobedience, the sick man gravely answered, "That he had looked into his Almanack, and seeing the sign lay in Bowels,' he thought that, and the physic together, would be too much for him." Nor are the stars believed to influence the human body only, but to have an equal effect upon brutes. A prudent dairy-wife would never wean a calf when the sign was in the head, lest it should go dizzy; and the author well remembers to have heard a wealthy yeoman inquire of a farrier, when he would perform a certain operation on his colt. The leech assumed a most oracular look, and answered with great gravity, that "he would just step home, and see how the sign lay, and would then let him know." Ibid. p. 404, A SUFFOLK SONG. There was a man lived in the West, Limbo clashmo! There wus a man lived in the West, He married this wuman and browt her hom, He married this wuman and browt her hom, My man and I went to the fowd, My man and I went to the fowd, And ketcht the finest wuther that we could howd, With a ricararo, ricararo, milk in the morn O' dary mingo. We fleed this wuther and browt him hom, We fleed this wuther and browt him hom, I laid this skin on my wife's back, I laid this skin on my wife's back, I 'inted har with ashen ile, I 'inted har with ashen ile, Till she could both brew, bake, wash and bile, With a ricararo, ricararo, milk in the morn O' dary mingo-mingo. A Suffolk Man. "Suffolk Notes and Queries," Ipswich Journal, 1877. Local Prophecies.-Some years since a friend showed me the following lines, which he said he copied from an old Court Book of the Manor of Shimpling Thorne, between Bury St. Edmund's and Sudbury : "Twixt Lopham forde and Shimpling Thorne, W. "The East Anglian," or "Notes and Queries." vol. i, p. 3, 1869. New Year. First Foot.'-It is thought lucky, on first going out on New Year's Day, to meet "a big man"; not big in paunch, but in height and breadth, and all the noble proportions "that become a man.' Lowestoft is a lucky place to live in for this. E. Ed. Fitzgerald. "Sea Words and Phrases." Cards.-Though often carried on board to pass away the time at All-fours, Don, or Sir-wiser (q.v.), nevertheless regarded with some suspicion when business does not go right. A friend of mine vowed that, if his ill-luck continued, over the cards should go; and over they went. Opinions differ as to swearing. One captain strictly forbade it on board his lugger; but he also, continuing to get no fish, called out, "Swear away, lads, and see what that'll do." Ibid. p. 110. I was assured by an old woman that if a fresh apple was left all night in the room of anyone suffering from small pox, it would be found in the morning to be affected by the disease. It would be, that is, quite corrupt and covered with spots similar to those produced on the body of the patient. Clare. Oct. 17th. C., "The East Anglian," p. 27. "buoy," While walking on our Common, I fell in with а who told me to beware of the bull, for he was in a great passion. "Why," said I, "what have you been doing to him?" "Oh!" said he, "I went to him and said :— and that allus do wex 'em so, they don't know what to do for rage! Ibid. vol. iii, p. 27. XV.-NURSERY RHYMES. A SUFFOLK VERSION OF A NURSERY RHYME. I send you a song my little brother learnt from some village lad, but whether it is a true Suffolk song or merely a worthless ballad I cannot say. When good King Arthur reigned, He was a very good king; He kicked three men right out o' the room |