Animal and Plant Lore (Volume 7; V. 71899); Collected from the Oral Tradition of English Speaking Folk (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. OMENS. 125. It is a common belief that those born with a caul over the face can see ghosts. Chestertown, Md. (negro). 126. Witches, or bad women, or women with an evil eye, who have a grudge against a person, by casting the eye on a cow can bewitch the milk so it will not make butter. Cape Breton. 127. The power of a person with the evil eye, or a "witch-like person," can be overcome by sticking an awl in her back. Miramichi, N. B. 128. An evil-eyed person's bewitching of butter may be overcome by putting a horseshoe under the churn. New Brunswick. 129. It is such bad luck to meet a cross-eyed person, that one must at once turn back into the house. Hartford, Conn. 130. It is unlucky to meet a cross-eyed person. A young girl who got wet by the waves on a steamboat laid her luck to meeting five cross-eyes earlier in the day. Providence, R. I., 1891. 131. On going out in the morning, to meet a cross-eyed person means bad luck. Texas. 132. Carry the hand of a dead friend and it will bring prosperity. A big toe will keep away disease. The toe of an enemy can be used as a charm for conjuring enemies. Wid dis bony toe, I 'll bring de woe Fo' daylight in de mornin'. Southern negro. 133. It is lucky to meet, and better to touch, a hunchback. Deerfield, Mass. 134. Some brokers think it is good luck to see a hunchback. If they can touch the deformity it will bring gain. Such a touch is supposed also to cure headache. New York newspaper. 135. It is unlucky, when going deer-hunting, to meet a red-haired man. A " mare-browed man," one whose eyebrows meet and extend continuously across his forehead, is unlucky and is supposed to have the power of casting a spell upon a person. Hence he is always dreaded in the community, and believes...