Vol 6 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

— 3Transactions. 1Isomebody is praising, but if the left you are being reviled. Acurly head is the sign of a quiet temper. The hair of the eyebrowsmeeting above the nose signifies unsteadiness and love of change.The howling of a dog at night is indicative of death. The burningof withered grass on the moors in spring " cankers the air andbrings on rain." The clothes of dead men don't last long. Awhistling woman and a crowing hen are uncanny. An excellentcure for warts is to rub them in the morning with your fastingsiHttle. It is unlucky to turn either horse or vehicle widdershins—that is, against the sun. It is dangerous for future welfare topour out any liquid turning your hand backwards. When acandle runs—that is, when a shaving descends down its stalkIf a window blind fall of its ownlook soon for the coffin of a friend.accord, it is unlucky. Bees leaving a hive full of honey is a badomen.Bees are encouraged to settle when swarming by loud noisesand rattling of instruments. It is unlucky to spill salt at table orto help another to it. Cast some salt over your left shoulder andyour mistake will be rectified. To drop your umbrella or walkingstickshows that your mind is likely to give way. The cuckooremains until it gets an awn of barley into its throat.Thirteen attable is unlucky—he who rises first runs most risk ; better, in sucha dilemma, all to rise at once. To dream of a wedding signifies acorpse. The grandfather of a lady in Tynron dreamed he was at aball with his sister, who looked well, and was in a white dress.She went out, saying to him, " You will not be long in followingme." She died in a short time, and he died soon afterwards. Ifyou dream on Sunday morning, you shall have a letter within aweek. One instance has reached me of a person seeing anothersitting in a chair when the person thus seen was not at all in theroom. Brewster accounts for similar visions by a diseased conditionof the retina. Swallows building in your eaves is lucky.Crickets leaving the house is a sign of death. The culm whichaccumulates on the bars of a grate foretells a visitor. The brightspark often seen on a candle declares, if it falls, a letter is postedto you ; but if it sticks to the side of the candle, it denotes that itis only on the way to be posted. Such are the greater part of mygleanings of folk lore in Tynron and the neighbourhood. I fearthere is not much new in it ; but it may give you an idea of theresiduum of belief which still lingers on from the time which somepeople have named " The Ages of Faith."