The Newtown bee., 1880-10-13
superstitions of Childbirth.

In Denmark children born on Sundavs have characteristics by no means envI-
 able. Mr. Thorpe, in his Northern
 Mythology" tells us that in Fyen there
 was woman who was born on 8, Sum-
 day, and therefore had the faculty of
 seeing much that was hidden from others. Unfortunately, on this account,
 she could not pass by the church at night without seeing a hearse or spe@trei hence this gift became perfect burden to her. She therefore sought the advice of man skilled in such matters, who directed her, whenever she SAW spec | tre, to say, "Go to heaven" bus when she met a hearse, Hang on." Hap pening some time afterward to meet 8
 hearse, she, through forgetfulness. cried
 out, "Go to heaven" and straisbtway the hearse rose in the air and vanished. Soon after. meeting a spectre, she sald I to it, "Hang on." whereuron 1t chung
 round her neck, hung on her back, and
 drove her down into the earth before It.
 For three days her shrieks were heard
 before the spectre would put an end to
 her wretched life.
 In some parts of Scotland the newly
 born child was bathed in salt water. | and made to taste it three times. Bap- ] tism, too, has been supposed to be q l good remedy; and Mir. Napier. in his
 |" Folklore of West of Scotland" quotes
 an instance in which the baby was born
 on a Saturday and carried two miles to
 8 church the next day rather than q
 weeks delay be risked. In the north of
 England, when child pines or wastes
 away, the cause assigned is the Evil
 Eye" In days gone coral beads were hung around the necks of babies from
 an ancient superstitious notion that these would protect them from evil in- | HupnnpS ot avery dpccrintinn
 In the north of England women still
 wear round their necks blue woolen threads, or small cords, till they wean
 their children, for the purpose of ward
 ing of levers, or, as they are nicknamed,
 weeds and onnas." These threads are
 handed down from mother to child, and
 esteemed in proportion to their antIq-
 uity. According to a Yorkshire no-
 tion, newborn infant should be laid
 first in the arms Of a maiden before any
 one touches it: and in some places the infants right hand is left unwashed in order that he may gather riches. It is, too, considered very important by many , that an infant should go up in the world before it goes down. Thus, in Cieve. , land, says Mir. Henderson, if child , should be born in the top story of g , house, for want of flight of stairs ont t of the gossips will take it in her arm: | ana a Oi ShOoS U I drawers before she carries it down. 2 stairs.n In tbe north of England, wher l an infant for the first time goes out o l the house, it is presented with an egg 9 some salt, 8 little loaf of bread and oc l casionally with a small piece of money e these gifts being supposed to insure 2 hat the child shall never stand Tn neet e of the common necessaries of life. II - the East Riding of Yorkshire few e matches are added. to light the child tt IS heaven.
 | It was, too in fol mer times customary |, and the practice is not yet obsolete O 2, providing 8 large cheese and cake, an, 1 cutting them at the birth of 6 cblld k These were called the Grooming Cak n and Cheese" and were distribute D. among all the neighbors. In Yorkshir Is this cake is termed the "Pepper Cake. l. and in some localities the Sickenin
 Cake" It is the source Of 2 species (
 devination, for being cut into sma
 pieces by the medical man, it is divide r. among the unmarried of the female ses f. under the name of Dreaming Bread ts Each one takes piece, places 1t on tii of foot of the left stocking, and throws re over the right shoulder. This bein If done, they must retire to bed backward n without utteriug q word, and those wh k, are lucky enough to fall asleep betoi d midnight are favored with g sight in their future husbands in their dreams.