Hartley and Hallowell, a' ya' bonnie lassie,

Fair Seaton-Delaval, a' ya';

Earsdon stands on a hill, a' ya',

Near to the Billy-mill, a' ya'.

[IX.—SUPERSTITION-RHYMES.]

Although the spread of education has doubtlessly weakened in an extraordinary degree the hold which superstition formerly maintained on the mind of the public, yet vestiges of the more innocent portions of superstitious belief are still in considerable repute amongst the lower orders, and may be found in all their force in many of the rural districts. It may be a question how far a complete eradication of these would benefit the cause of religion and morality, treason though it be in these times to doubt the efficacy of argumentative education. But all of us cannot be philosophers; and need we reprove a pretty village maiden for plucking the even-ash or four-leaved clover? The selfish tendencies of the age, in their opposition to every action which partakes of poetry or romantic belief, will effect their mission without the aid of the cynic.

[CHARM-RHYMES.]

The subject of rural charms, many of which are lineal descendants from those used by our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, is one of great interest and curiosity; and it were much to be wished that a complete collection of them were formed. The following one is taken from a manuscript of the time of Queen Elizabeth; the others are for the most part still in use.

This charme shall be said at night, or against night, about the place or feild, or about beasts without feild, and whosoever cometh in, he goeth not out for certaine.

On three crosses of a tree,

Three dead bodyes did hang;

Two were theeves,

The third was Christ,

On whom our beleife is.

Dismas and Gesmas;

Christ amidst them was;

Dismas to heaven went,

Gesmas to heaven was sent.

Christ that died on the roode,

For Marie's love that by him stood,

And through the vertue of his blood,

Jesus save us and our good,

Within and without,

And all this place about!

And through the vertue of his might,

Lett noe theefe enter in this night

Noe foote further in this place

That I upon goe,

But at my bidding there be bound

To do all things that I bid them do!

Starke be their sinewes therewith,

And their lives mightles,

And their eyes sightles!

Dread and doubt

Them enclose about,

As a wall wrought of stone;

So be the crampe in the ton (toes):

Crampe and crookeing,

And tault in their tooting,

The might of the Trinity

Save these goods and me,

In the name of Jesus, holy benedicité,

All about our goods bee,

Within and without,

And all place about!

Warts.—Whoever will charm away a wart must take a pin and go to an ash-tree. He then crosses the wart with the pin three times, and, after each crossing, repeats:

Ash-tree, ashen-tree,

Pray buy this wart of me!

After which he sticks the pin in the tree, and the wart soon disappears, and grows on the tree instead. This must be done secretly. I need scarcely observe that the ash is sacred amongst all the Teutonic and Scandinavian nations.