The Van Buren press., 1904-09-03
THEY LIVE BY THE MOON.
Curious superstitions Of Carolina
Earmers-How to Make
Good Tree Dog.

The Dutch farmers Of Rowan county
are among North Carollnas most pros
porous and most interesting people.
they live well. save money and improve
In every way. Thrift Is a virtue with
them. They are great believers in signs
and old sayings, they do things by the
moon
Before building a worm fence the
Dutch always watch the moon, says the
Charlotte, n. c. Observer. II must be
right or the fence will sink into the
ground The bottom rail must be put
down when the little moon is turned
up, so that II will not sink into ths
ground
II one would cover his house well hs
must make the boards when the little
moon is turned down. That is easy; the
boards will keep their shape II rived
then. But, on the other hand. II made
while the little moon is turned up. the
boards will cup up at the ends when
exposed to the weather have seen
many board turned up at the end, but
never knew what did II till now.
The moon must be right when Dutch
man kills his hogs II the hogs are
killed when the little moon Is on the
decrease the meat will shrink, but II
killed when the little moon is on the
increase II will swell
To have good turnips one must plant
on lsraels day-that Ia In August. IL
,orn is planted when the little moon
points up, the ears will grow too near the
top. The ear gets more nourlshment
near the ground,
The Dutch have what IL known as
Fasnacht Il guess that is the way to
spell IT. day--the day before Ash
Wednesday; they must have Fasnacht
fritters then or the crop will not be good.
was In Salisbury on last Ascension
day and the town was full OF country
people No work Is done on Ascension
day. II Is a day OF rest and pleasure.
II the first visitor to a home that day
is a man all the eggs that are setting
will hatch roosters; II woman. pullets
will prevail Therefore. a man is an un-
welcome guest early In the morning on
Ascension day
II is not right 10 carry out the ashes
between Christmas and New Years
day, that brings bad luck
II a person would court good luck hs
or she must pull of the left shoe frst
IN going to bed. and. 10 keep II up, put
the right on first In the morning.
There are a thousand and one Of these
signs and sayings II they could he col
lected; many Of them are met in other
than Dutch communities
Lived there a country boy In Neck
lcnburg who did not know how 10 treat
his old hound for various shortcom-
will not stay with you, cut the hair tip
of Of his tail and bury It under tho front
steps, and then he Will abide with you
forever, nobody can take him from
you
Some folks find II better to measure a
dog with a stick and bury II under the
steps than TO nick the tall Either way
will do
II 80 happens now and then thataf,ns
dog refuses TO bark az the tree That
sort Of hunting Is unsatisfactory, for
most OF the hunters time is wasted In
hunting for the silent dog
That defect however Ia easily gotten
rid Of the hunter goes to the woods
and listens for the sQUeaking noise that
Is made by the rubbing together OF two
trees, gathers the bark from the point OF
friction makes a soup Of IT, and eiyes
II to the dog II anything will help him
after he Is grown, that VIII But II the
puppy Is taken In time lhore will be no
silent dog nj the tree
As soon as the puppy Ia large enough
10 stand the blow the hunter should
burst green gourd over HIS head: that
will make tree dogs barking dogs But
! cannot refrain from giving n word Of
warning here hit one of my puppies
too hard once aud broke his head In.
stoad Of the gourd
In certain sections ~ The south there
IA n saying that II you will rub teeth.
lng babys gums with warm rabbit brains
the teeth will come through the skin
without difficulty II was my good for.
tune once TO see the trick tried.
One day | was travelling In the lower
part Of Meckleuburg county, when saw
two small boys running carrying some.
thing Tho youngsters were rod In tho
face, and hot could see that they were
bent on purpose,
The larger OF the two red.topped
boy, was In the lead he held IN his
hand that he seemed 10 be jealous OF, and
was trying 20 protect
What have you there, boy7"
shouted
rabbit brans=bot rabbit brains"
was the quick reply
What are you going to do with
thom7'
yves going 10 rub sisters gums, so
she kin cut teeth
| followed the boys and watched the
operation II Vas all right, and have
learned since that teethng was made
oaSlor by the act The boys had chased
that rabbit ana killed him far aaold
hut all that trouble could have been
avoided had the child been supplied
with bag Of moes feet II the moth.
er Will take the feet Of ground mole
sew them up IN a sack and tie them
around the baby's neck all will be
well,
Biggest Luminous Insect,
Tta IhInpHa hnya IA tlrhtUIpp-kua