Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-26
IRISH SUPERSTITION.

The belief in luck is deep and
and the happy possessor of
good luck is always on the watch not
to lose it, for nothing is easier than,
nnconsciously. to make over to some
one else the benefits of it. The luck
of a whole household may be lost by
careless housewife who lends any,
thing on Monday morning. Some
mothers even refuse their married
children a turf to light the fire with
on the first morning of the week, and
carefully place new turf on the fire
for each lighted one lent on other
days. To give away milk without
first putting in it pinch of salt is
fatal to The prosperity of dairy,
and to part with Il homeless dog or
any animal that has sought protec-
ton also gives away luck. One odd
belief Is. that though some people
are unfortunate in all their own con-
cerifs, they fIavsshe power of I5ene-
fitting every one they come in con-
tact with; they are described as
"sonsy - the pig that is fattened in
order to pay the rent lne to them al
ways prosprrs, the wages paid by
them 90 far, their slightest gift is
valuable, whilst those of a grudger
only bring disaster; and there is
something eastern in the Importance
attached to gifts and their givers in
this way. The peasantry can at
once recognize any one with the
priceless blessing of luck hy an open
and cheerful expression, and, in fact,
good heart goes with good luck.
1t is common for one person TO put
spells upon another, and to influence
those at a distance thus, if any of
the friends or children be travelling
on Friday, the Irish mother does not
brush or comb her hair on that
day, or else they would surely wan-
der and lose their way. Some pco-
pie do not wash on Friday as cure
for toothachc, and many wear little
bits of folded paper sewn in their
clothes as charms against the same
affiiction. There are spells and
charms for other Illnesses, and half
the old women wear blessed rings of
brass to preserve them from rlleuma-
tism.
Innumerable are the means en-
ployed by young girls to pierce the
darkness of their future a to mar
riage, but no efforts toward meeting
their fate ;ppe.r to he made by men.
1t ought to be remarked that pious
people speak very sternly against
these rites, As many "f theIu-such
as the one where girls throw a hall of
wool down an old quarry and wait
till it is held IN the darkness-slis-
tinctly raise the Evil One.
A fire broke ont in Il dwelling
house the other night, and after the
man and his wife had safely reached
the street the latter said that there
was fifty dollars in the pocket of her
dress, which was hanging in second
story back room.
''I'lI 90 for it" said the husband,
and he plunged into the burning
building
The flames ragged fu,iously. and
the mai did hot return. ~ the eX-
riratiun of' an hour the fire WA, eX-
i lingui>hcd and the back hui.,iing cav
ed. Fir,mrn CROPPED their way up The
rear stair, through water and l.iind
| inY smoke. and found The man in tho
closet still fuml,ling AT lis wife.
dress. docking for the money.
, II. Was nearly sntfocat,d will
snnk,.. hul h;,'i strength 10 say tl,'
he thought liz woull have f,'npi tn,
pocket inside ri two lr,nis II nrv,
occurred to him 10 sciz.. the .lrcs'
: and ush ..ul With that. S"lnr mel
!. get So excited and nervous in time O
fire.