Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-11-09
FOLK LORE OF INFANCY.
superstitions Of Many Lsnds-Curious but
widespread Beliefs.

superstitions of Many Lsnds-Curious 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. 1t is not permissible to feed
bread to the new born, as it will never
have 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 q 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 1t.
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 bag will make it fortunate finan-
cially. A thousand queer remedies
are recorded for Group, whooping
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 in a
mirror until it is q year old. 1t 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
a female child, part of the mothers
upon male, to insure favor with the
opposite sex.
There is o curious notion among the
peasantry of one of the 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 Morbihan France, new born
child must not be left in bed with its
mother, or it will die. If the mother
hears it cry, as if from a distance, it
has disappeared and will never be seen
again.
In Germany the first child chris
tened at a 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 no
stairs the nurse must mount chair
with the 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 Nor
should its hair be cut, or it will never
prosper.
If there are boys and girls to be bap-
TIED 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 thing
carefully avoided in many. places, as
it will bring i'll fortune to the family.
Scotch mothers say if the child takes
spoon in the left hand first it will
always be unlucky.-F. S. Bassett in
Globe-Democrat.