Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 9

to the rout, pecking at the young girl's and old men's heads,
nor stands he upon the least ceremony in this character, but he takes the
liberty to break the master's pipe, and spill his beer, as freely as those of
his men." This mostly begins the night's diversions, as the prologue to
the rest, while the booted boys wind up the entertainment. Clare.
Village Minstrel.
HANDSELL.
It is still a custom if a child has anything new to wear, to handsell it.
That is to give a small coin to put in the pocket. The first money
received on the day is called taking Handsell, and some spit on it and
turn it to get good luck. When anything is used for the first time it is
handselled.
BOOT.
This was a kind of punishment for such boys as have carelessly
neglected their duty in the harvest, or treated their labour with
negligence instead of attention, as letting their cattle get pounded or
overthrowing their loads, etc. A long form is placed in the kitchen upon
which the boys who have worked well sit, as a terror and disgrace to
the rest in a bent posture, with their hands laid on each others backs
forming a hedge for the "boys," as the truant boys are called to pass
over; while a strong chap stands on each side with a boot-legging
strongly strapping them as they scuffle over the bridge, which is done
as fast as their ingenuity can carry them. Clare's Village Minstrel.

Meeting eyebrows are lucky, and those having them are said to have
great luck with stock.
CUTTING NAILS.
Cut your nails on a Monday, cut for a gift.
Cut your nails on a
Tuesday, cut them for thrift.
Cut your nails on a Wednesday, cut them
for news.
Cut your nails on a Thursday, cut for a new pair of shoes.
Cut your nails on a Friday, cut them for sorrow,
Cut your nails on a
Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow. Cut them on Sunday, cut
them for evil.
Cut them all the week round, and you'll go to the devil.
Better that child had ne'er been born,
Who cuts its nails on a Sunday
morn.
Of a Friday's pare,
No good will come near.
If you cut your nails on Monday morning before breakfast, and without
thinking of a fox's tail, you will have a gift before the week is out.
When told this, I asked, Why not a fox's brush? "Oh, no!" was the reply,
"you may think of the brush but not the tail."
White specks on the nails are called gifts, and the rhyme says:--
A gift on the finger is sure to linger,
A gift on the thumb, is sure to
come.
In this district many mothers will not allow their babie's nails to be cut
before they are a year old, but they bite the edges off. If the nails are
cut the children grow up thieves.
A new born babe, before being taken out of the house, should be
carried up some stairs, but if it is born in a room at the top of the house,
the nurse lifts it up and gets on a chair, and puts the child on the top of
something high, so that it may rise in the world.
If a pair of shoes are placed on the table a quarrel is sure to ensue.

This part of the county appears to possess more than the normal
number of senses. I have often heard people speak of their seven senses.
Only a short time ago a woman speaking of a neighbour who was a
great sleeper, and also of her child, said they would sleep away their
seven senses. And another woman who was startled said, "You're
enough to frighten me out of my seven senses." I should like to know
what the two extra senses are. Instinct may, perhaps, be one!
MARRIAGE.
Three times a bridesmaid, will die an old maid.
BRIDE'S DRESS.
Married in Grey, you will go far away.
Married in Black, you will
wish yourself back.
Married in Brown, you will live out of town.

Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead.
Married in Pearl, you
will live in a whirl.
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen.
Married
in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in Blue, he will always
be true.
Married in Pink, your spirits will sink.
Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday the best day of all.
Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday no luck at all.
Marry on Sunday so that you cannot repent before the week is out.
ANIMALS.
If a dog howls in front of a house it is a sign of a death very soon. If a
woman in the house takes off her left shoe and turns it upside down and
puts her foot on