Northern mythology

NORTH GERMAN CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS. 175
The first fruit of a
tree should be gathered into a large
sack, and some left on the tree ; then it will always heur
well.
Stendal.
Peas should be sown only on Wednesdays and Saturdays
; else the birds will carry them off. Stendal.
Millet sown after sunset will not be eaten by the birds.
Camern.
When the cattle go for the first time to the pasture^
a piece of turf should be laid before the door ; they will
then not get the grass distemper.
Mellin.
That the witches may have no power over a newly
bought beast, it must be dragged into the stall backwards ;
and in order that it may thrive, the first time it goes to
pasture, earth should be put into its mouth, which it
should be made to swallow. Mellin,
When unruly beasts will not be driven to market or
elsewhere, pluck at three several times some hairs from
their eye-lashes and put them in your pocket ; they will
then go tamely. Camern,
When beasts are driven to pasture for the first time,
strew sand or straw before the stall-door, so that the
animals must tread on it. The traces made by them, if
thrown back into the stall, will cause them to find yard
and stall again without help. An axe and a broom laid
crosswise on the threshold of the
yard-gate will have the
same effect, and moreover protect them against witchcraft.
Camern.
A person, on entering into service, should immediately
get a piece of wood in the new abode, wrap it in a rag or
morsel of paper, and wear it for three days under the arm :
the party will then have a kind master and mistress
throughout the year. Camern.
If anything is stolen from a person, to discover the
thief, take a family psalm-book, open it and place on it a
family key, saying : '^N. N. has stolen it ^^ (naming the
thing) ; the other (N. N.?) will answer "
: No, he has nor