Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-09
Superstitiens About Children
The Current

| The Current.
a superstition used to exist that a
child which did not cry when sprin
killed. in baptism would not live long.
In the west Of Scotland, according 10
James Napier, it was considered I'M
lucky to name a child by any name
before the rite of baptism was per
formed When children seemed pre-
maturely smart it was believed that
they would not live long. Shakes
peare puts this superstition into the
mouth of Richard III Bulwer men
tions the tradition concerning chill
| cren born open-handed, that they
will be liberal and big-heartel. A
character in one of Decker's plays
says: Il am a most wretched fellow:
surely some left-handed priest chris
tened me, [ am SO unlucky"
According to Irish and Scottish fairy
superstitions, the elves, though in the
main harmless, have the reputation
of stealing children from the cradle
and substituting for them change
lings who bear resemblance to the
stolen infants, but are ugly little crea-
lures and never thrive. On such
ried to fairyland, but in the course of
years returns to her parents, James
Hogg founded his fine ballad of xii
meny" Queens Wake. In some
parts of Scotland it is a popular no.
ton among the lower classes that
when a child is for the first time taken
into the open air, the bearer of it
should give something to eat to the
first person met, otherwise the child
will be unIucky. The gift is
called ''the BARNS piece" When
a child was taken from its
mother, and carried outside the bed
room for the first time after it's birth,
1t was lucky to take it upstairs, and
unlucky to take it downstairs. It was
not considered lucky to carry baby
mother took it herself and this it was
unlucky for even her to do, until she
had been to church.
1t was considered unlucky for chill
dren to walk backwards while going
on an GRAND. It was deemed un.
lucky to measure a baby; and if it's
nails were cut before it was a year
old, it would turn out thief; it was
unlucky for boy to wear trousers
made on Friday, and to sweep dust
over the feet of the girls would pre-
vent them from getting husbands. In
Hindostan, when baby sneezes, the
mother snaps her thumb and finger,
repeats aloud the name of one of her
gods. When child casts tooth, in
south Sweden, the tooth is thrown
into the fire. In Switzerland it is
carefully wrapped IN paper, and salt
inclosed with it before it is thrown
into the fire. In Herrick's time it
was regarded as lucky omen to
place a knife near a sleeping child.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday
were considered lucky days for
changing the caps of children.
In the west of England the fortunes
Of children are believed to be largely
regulated by the day of the week on
which they are born:
Mondays child is fair in face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesday S child is full of woe,
Thursday S child has far to go,
Fridays chill is towing and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for its living.
And child that is born on Christmas day
Is fair and wise, good and gay"
Among some OF the tiibes IN Africa
If two babies come to family at the
same time they think it a dreadful
thing. Nobody except the family can
go into the tent where they were born,
nor use any of the things in it. The
twins are not allowed to play with
other children, and the mother can not
talk to any one outside Of the family.
This is kept up for six years. If the
babies live to be six years old, the re-
snictions are removed, and they are
treated like other children.