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

AUSTIN, MOWER Coz
"Ladybrd, lady bird, fly to thy homo.
Thy house is on tire, thy children all roam,
Except little John, who sits in his pan,
Weaving gold laccs ~ fast as he can.
More often VIC hear only 'Ladybirtl,
lalybird, fly away homc,' repeated
over and over again. In Cheshire the
ladybird is known better perhaps by
the namo of cowlady. 1t is the Gee
cinella of Linnmus.
When q boy is stung with the net.
tie hc scientifically applies the dock
leaf, beating the part violently, repeat
ing at the same time this verse until q
cure is effected:
Nettle in-Dnch out,
Dock in-Ncttlc ont,
Ncttle n-Dock out,
} Dock rub Ncttle out.
Or more commonly thus:
s'Nc!tle out, dock in,
Dock remove the nctlle sting.
l say scientifically applies because
the nettle venom is of strong alkaline
nature, on the contrary oil docks con-
tain the acid principle, which of course
neutralizes the nettlc-sting-thus the
smarting, itching sensation is speedily
subdued.
Grain with it's attendant rainbow
also are looked upon either with de-
light or displeasure according to the
disposition of the child-thus, if a
holiday or a pleasure party is likely to
be interrupted with the rain cloud, then
Rain. rain go away,
| Come again some other day.
But if it is a matter of indifference,
Rain, rain, pour down,
And come no more to our town.
OF couse it must be said very devout-
ly; no irreverence must be allowed, Oh
they might be punished.
IA friend informs me that in the
north of England the children invoke
! the rainbow. I do not think it is known
in Cheshire, but it appears to be fire.
quent in many parts Of Berwickshire
Rainbow, rainbow, hand AVA hame,
A. yer barns are dead but ane,
And 1t lies sick at yam gray stane,
Aud will be dead Gro you win hame:
Gang owrc the Drumaw, and yon't the lea,
! Aud down by the side o. Wonder sea,
Your BARN lies grcetin, like to dee,
And the big tear drop is in lis &c.
BY careful search and observation, the
savings and doings of school day life
might be considerably extended.
So far as midwives and other attend
ants are concerned, they are rich in
folk lore, from the moment of an in
fant's birth until he has reached
years of maturity; something either
for good or i'll attends upon his every
step. Some few of these superstitious
notions I will try to place before my
readers. First, it is thought to be
lucky to have still.born infant placed
first in a new grave; yet, such infants
must be inferred in consecrated
ground, after nightfall, and without
the usual burial service. Again, this
sentiment or feeling about I'M
baptised or still-born infants being
buried in new graves takes quite q
different turn in Scotland, especially so
on the borders, according to Wilkie
MS. !; no one will thread knowingly on
the graves of still-born or unbaptised
children, or they would be afflicted
with the grave merelo, or grave scab.'
Qn Scotland such children are inferred
in unconsecrated ground.) What kind
of disease this is I cannot say. 1t is
thus described: This complaint comes
on with trembling of the limbs and
hard breathing, and Mt the last the
skin burns as if touched with hot IRON
Something may also be gathered about
this remnant of the dark ages from the
annexed verses:
Love to the baby that ne'er saw the sun,
All alane, and alamo oh
His body shall lie in tine kirk, meath the rain.
All alane, and alamo oh!
His grave must be dug at the foot Of the wall,
All alamo, and alane oh!
And the foot that trcadcth his body upon
Shall avc ecab that shall cat to the bane oh!
And it will meier be cured by doctor on earth,
Tho every one should tend him oh
He shall tremble and die, like the elf shot eye,
Aud return from whence he came OIL
"To discover the sex of an expect
ant infant, charm is resolted to-!
thus, all the flesh must be scraped off
the shoulder blade bone of Il lamb,
which in the evening, when retiring to
rest, must be hung up behind the door.
The first stranger who enters through
the door next morning will be of the
same sex as the child.
Before a newborn babe infant is
taken down stairs it should first be
lifted rs high as possible in the room
so that it may rise in the world; but if
it is first lowered it is said never to get
on in the world.
Every great fear is manifested in
the minds of many mothers about their
infants being changed by fairies be-
tore baptism. To protect them from
this evil influence they must be placed
near the fathers clothes, or some por-
ton of the fathers garments should be
worn by the infant hence we observe
the greatcoat placed as q coverlet on
the body while sleeping in the cradle.
After baptism or christening the fairy
folk can exercise no power over them.
In the Isle Of Man it is customary for
the mother, when carrying her child to
the church for BAPTISM, to take with
her a piece of bread and cheese, which
is given to the first person she meets
on the road. This will save the child
from wicked influence and propitiate
the fairies"
The Paper Trade.