Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-09
8, 1904.
Mistellaneuls Reading.
LIVE BY THE MOON.
Dut:h Farmers of North Carolina Have
Curious Superstition.

| Curious superstition.
The Dutch farmers Of Rowan coun-
ty are among North Cardinals most
prosperous and most interesting peo-
Pile; they live we'll. save money and
improve in every way. Thrift Is a
virtue with them They are great be-
levers 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 Observer; 1t must be
right or the fence will sink into the
ground. The bottom rail must be put
down when the little moon Is turned
ground. To prove that this Is the right
doctrine, let person make an expert
ment with two bricks; put down one
while the moon Is up and the other
while it is down and it will be noticed
that the one laid when the moon was
down will go into the ground and that
the other will remain as left.
If one would cover his house he must
|
is turned down. That Is easy; the
boards will keep their shape If rived
| then. But, on the other hand, If made
while the little moon Is turned up the
boards will cup at the ends when ex-
posed to the weather. 1 have seen
many a board turn up at the end. but
never knew what did it until now.
The moon must be right when a
Dutchman kills his hogs. IT. the hogs
are killed when the moon Is on the
decrease the meat will shrink. but II
killed when the little moon is on the
increase 1t will swell.
To have good turnips one must plant
on Israels day-that Is in August. II
corn Is planted when the little moon
points up. the ears will grow too near
the top. The ear gets more nourish-
ment near the ground.
The Dutch have what Is 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.
I was in Salisbury on last Ascension
day and the town was full Of country
people. That Is Dutch holiday. No
work Is done on Ascension day. 1t Is
day Of rest and pleasure. If the first
visitor to a house that day Is a man.
all the eggs that are setting will hatch
ROSTERS; If woman, pullets will pre-
vail. Therefore, a man Is an unwel-
come guest early in the morning on
Ascension day.
It is not right to carry out the ash
es between Christmas and New Years
day; that brings bad luck.
II a person would court good luck he
or she must pull off the left shoe first
on going to bed, and, to keep 1t up, put
the right on first in the morning.
If a farmer puts out manure or fer
tilizer when the little moon points up.
1t will stay, but If the little moon points
down it will leach out.
There are a thousand and one OF
these signs and sayings If they could
be collected; many Of them are met
in other than Dutch communities.
Lived there a country boy In Meek
lenburg, who did not know how to
treat his old hound for various short
comings? If, when you get new dog,
he will not stay with you, cut the hair
tip off his tail and bury it under the
front steps, and then he will abide
with you forever; nobody can take him
from you. If you would have the dog
love you better than he could anybody
else, wear q bit Of meat In the heel OF
your shoe a day, and then give 1t to
the dog to eat-it Is strange doctrine,
but true, for I have tried 1t. Some
folks find 1t better to measure dog
with a stick and bury 1t under the
steps than to nick the tail. Either way
will do.
1t so happens now and then that
| fine dog refuses to bark at the tree.
That sort Of hunting Is unsatisfactory.
for most Of the hunters time is wasted
in hunting for the silent dog. That de-
feet, however, Is easily gotten rid Of;
the hunter goes to the woods and lis
tens 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 1t ana
gives it to the dog. If anything will
help him after he Is grown, that VIII.
But If the puppy Is taken In time there
will be no silent dog at the tree. AS
soon as the puppy Is large enough to
stand the blow. the hunter should burst
green gourd over his head; that Will
make tree dogs-barking dogs. But
cannot refrain from giving a word Of
warning here. hit one Of my puppies
once and broke his head instead Of the
gourd.
In certain sections of the south there
Is a saying that If you will rub teeth
ing babys gums with warm rabbit
brains the teeth will come through the
skin without difficulty. 1t was my
good fortune once to see the trick
tried. One day I was travelling In
the lower part of Mecklenburg coun-
ty, when I saw two small boys run
ming, carrying something. The young
sters were red in the face and hot.
could see that they were bent on pur-
pose. The larger Of the two, red
topped boy, was in the lead. He had
in his hand something that he seemed
to be jealous Of, and was trying to
protect.
What have you there, boy?"
shouted.