The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1888-11-10
FOLK LORE or INFANCY
superststions of Many Lands--curlOus but
Widespread Beliefs.

SupersGtions of Many Lands--CurAOus but
Widespread Beliefs.
1t is thought unsafe, in Sweden, for
any one to pass between the fire and
the nursing babe No water should
be brought into the room late in the
day, without fire thrown into it. No
one that enters should be allowed to
touch the infant without first touching
fire It is moi permissible to feed
bread to the new born, as it will never
have a good memory 1t should first
touch the dog, and not the cat on any
account 1t is dangerous to allow it
to play with the fire, nor should it be
allowed to creep through window
Perhaps the most widespread belief
concerning children is that about the
empty cradle, which must on no ac-
count be rocked. Various reasons are
urged against this by mothers from all
the civilized countries of the world.
Some say it will bring some ailment
to the absent child The Dutch es-
TEEN it ominous of the speedy death of
the child, and similar notion pre-
walls in our western states. In Scot
land it is said that to rock the empty
cradle will insure the coming of other
occupants for it.
Charms and amulets are frequently
suspended from the necks of children.
Romans used coral beads to prevent
epilepsy and the evil eye. Amber
beads will help it to cut its teeth, a silk
cord or ribbon is a sufficient preyen-
tive of Group, and money suspended
in bag will make it fortunate fnan-
cially. A thousand queer remedies
are recorded for Group, whooping
cough, measles and the like.
1t is unlucly to weigh an infant be-
fore baptism, or to give it name, IN
many countries. In our own land
mothers are careful about weighing
young babies, preferring to wait a GER
fatal to allow the infant to look in a
mirror until it is year old. It is al
legged that it will never see things
rightly, if permitted to do so.
The Swedish mother puts a book
under the head of the new born in
FAINT, that it may be quick at reading,
and puts money into the first bath, to
guarantee its possession in the future
Part of the fathers dress is laid upon
female child, part of the mothers
upon male, to insure favor with the
opposite sex.
There is u curious notion among the
peasantry of one of tho departments of
France that it is fortunate for child
to have lice, as this is a sign of health.
If none are found on its head, they
have penetrated the skin, and will eat
to the heart
In Morbibap E'ro7,oa q 1oxu horn
child must not be left in bed with its
mother, or it viii die. If the mother
nes> Y cry, as if from O distance, it
has disappy,> ed and viii never be seen
again.
In Germany the first child chris
tened at new font receives the power
of diyining future events, seeing
spirits, ETC., until some one shall tread
on its left foot and look over its right
shoulder.
A widespread notion exists that the
child must be carried up before it is
carried down Where there are no
stairs the nurse must mount chair
with the child in her arms.
The childs nails must not be pared
until it is a year old. It is preferable
for the mother to bite them off. Nor
should its hair be cut, OF it viii never
prosper.
If there are boys and girls to be bap-
tized the same day, the boys must have
the first turn, as it would be unfortu-
nate for the girls to precede them.
Two babies must not, according to
mothers in many lands, be allowed to
embrace, as one or both will become
mute.
Moving an empty cradle is a thing
carefully avoided in many places, as
it will bring Ill fortune to the family.
Scotch mothers say if the child takes
a spoon in the left hand first it will
always be unlucky.-F. S. Bassett in
Globe-Democrat.