Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-28
WEST OF ENGLAND FOLKLORE.

"A West OF England newspaper has
the following notes collected by local
correspondent. They pertain to
superstitions still in force on the Irish
Sea and near the Welsh border:
"Our country is rich in the SUPER
stitions relating to childhood. It would
fill an ordinary sized volume if all we're
collected. It must suffice for our
purpose to give a few of the common
and we'll known sayings and practices.
First let us glance at the sayings of
childhood, such as innocent charms,
found chiefly in rhyme. Were it not
for this rhyming method it would have
but little attraction for children-hence
they still llnger in our midst.
Children amuse themselves bv
chanting to snaiis. I suppose, in their
simple way to charm them--generally
the large garden snail with a thick
brown shell is chosen. The following.
which is varied to suit circumstances,
also in different divisions of the coun-
try the rhyme changes:
"Snail, snail, come out OF your hole,
Or else I'll beat you as black as a coal.
Or
''Snail, snail, put out your horns,
Father and mother arc dead,
Brother and sister arc far away,
Begging for barley bread.
In the North of Ireland we hear
the children repeat as follows:
"Shell Il muddy, shell muddy,
Put out your horns,
For the kings daughter is
Coming to town.
With rcd pctt,coat and green gown.
It is pleasing to observe this pecu-
liar charm, intended, though often to
the child's establishment and vexation
in vain, to persuade the snail
to shoot ont his horns, is not confined
to the United Kingdom. Thus in
Naples it occurs somewhat like
Snail, snail, slug slow
To nc thy tour horns show;
Ii thou tiUSt not show me thy four
will throw the out OF the door,
For til" crew III tho gutter
10 cat for bread and butter
''Snail, snail, put out your born,
Your mother is laughing you to scorn,
For she has q little son just born.
The cuckoo, on its first appearance,
is hailed with delight by all classes.
Children sometimes sing when it is
first heard
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cherry tree.
Catch penny for johnny and mo.
Older people, when they first hear
it's welcome notes, turn their money in
their pockets, so they may not be with
out money all the following year.
Speaking of birds, we frequently, in
Central Cheshire, hear another charm
or saying of childhood IN reference to
the crow. It seems to be regarded
with aversion; in fact its croaking is a
prediction of death
"Crow, crow, get out Of my sight,
Or else I'll cat thy liver and iShts.''
Well would it be if this rhyme wonld
terrify it from the corn fields. It wonld
save Tommy with his clapper (oftcn
nearly rs large as himselD on the gate,
much trouble and labor, without taking
into account the immense quantity of
breath spent in ballooing when the
black thief comes in sight of the
coveted wheat.
Among other birds, the pretty robin
redbreast comes in for his share of
superstition. It is supposed to bring
calamity and bad luck to any one
injuring the bird, for
The robin and tho wren
Are Gods cock and hem
One legend about this bird, which
seems to be screened and sheltered bv
every one, is to account for it's bright
red breast, from which it takes it's
English name. It is believed when
our Saviour was dying no other bird
except the robin would look upon the
scene, and it alone was filled with COM
passion for the suffering Son of God.
1t tried with its small bcnk to turn
aside one OF the t'orns which was LAGER
ating his brow; III dong 50 it's breast
was dyed red with the Saviour's blood,
and when afterwards Il blessing was
pronounced upon it for its kindness, it
was permitted through all succeeding,
ages to wear the symbol on its breast.
A Welsh story states that he &C
q,lired his red-broast by conveying
daily drop of water in it's bill to aid
in quenching the thirst of the lost and
by coming so near the flames it's breast
is scorchcd, therefore it is named ::
'Brow rhuddyn' (breast-burned.) !
prefer TO hear the tale of the cross
than tho latter, winch appears to have
been invented to terrify our little ones
with the horrors of the bottomless pit.
The little lady-bird is not forgot
ten by our children, hut in this case it
is uery innocent, and the little insect
is used only with kindness innocent
prattIc can do but little harm. When
one is discovered it is placed on the
child's open hand, and II verse, whicl,
lik" all others varies mncI,, is used to
persuade 1t to open its wings and fly
away. 1t is more successfully used
than the snail charm, for the simple
reason, when it feels the warmth from
tho hand it quickly flies off.