Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-19
FOLK LORE OF INFANCY.
Superstitlons Of Many Isnds--crrtOus but
Widespread Beliefs.

Superstitlons Of Many Lsnds--crriOus but
Widespread Beliefs.
1t is thought unsafe. in Sweden, for
any one to pass between the fre 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 10
touch the infant without first touching
fire. II is not permissible to feed
bread to the new born, as il will never
have good memory 1t should first
touch the dog, and rot the eat, on any
account. 1t is dangerous to allow 1t
TO play with the fire, nor should u be
allowed to creep through window.
Perhaps the most widespread belief
concerning children is that Sbout the
empty cradle, which must ON NO ae-
count be rocked. Various reasons are
urged against this by mothers from all
the civilized countries OF the world.
Some say it win bring some ailment
to the absent child The Dutch es-
TEEN ii ominous of tho speedy death OF
the child, and similar notion pre-
walls in our westerns statoS. 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, silk
cord or ribbon is sufficient proven
tive,of Group, and money suspended
in q bag will make it fortunate finan-
cially. A thousand queer remedies
are recorded for Group whooplng
cough, measles and the like.
1t is unlucky 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 Ger
tain length Of time. 1t is equally
fatal to allow the infant to look III a
mirror until it is year old. 1t is al
legged that it will never see tai. IS
rightly, if permitted TO doso.
The Swedish mother puts o BOOK
under the head of tho 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
q female child, part Of the mothers
upon u malc, to insure favor with tho
opposite sex.
There is curious notion among the
peasantry of one of tho departments OF
France that it is fortunate for child
to have lice, as this is sign of health.
Ii none are found on its head, they
have penetrated the skin, and will eat
to the heart.
In Morbihan France, new born
child must not DO left in bed with its
mother or it will die. If the mother
hears it cry, as if from o distance, it
has disappeared and will never be seen
again.
In Germany the first child chris
tened at Il new font receives the power
| of divining 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 nc
stairs the nurse must mount chalk
with tho child in her arms.
The child's nails must not be pared
until it is year old. 1t is preferable
for the mother to bite them off. MOI
should its hair be cut, or it will never
prosper.
If there ere boys and girls to be bap
TIED tho same day, tho boys must have
the first turn, as it would be unfortu
nate for the girls to precedc them.
Two babies must not, according, t.
mothers in many lands, be allowed t.
embrace, o3 one or both will become
mute
, Moving an empty cradle is a thing
! carefully avoided in many places. a
! it will bring i'll fortune to tho family
Scotch mothers say if the child take
spoon in tho left hand first it vii
always be unluclly. +. S. Bassott II
: Globo-Dcmocrat.