"Hemp-seed, I saw thee,
An' her that is to be my lass
Come after me an' draw thee——"
Burns: Hallowe'en.
he looks behind him to see his sweetheart gathering hemp. This should be tried just at midnight with the moon behind.
"At even o' Hallowmas no sleep I sought,
But to the field a bag of hemp-seed brought.
I scattered round the seed on every side,
And three times three in trembling accents cried,
'This hemp-seed with my virgin hand I sow,
Who shall my true-love be, the crop shall mow.'"
Gay: Pastorals.
A spell that has been discontinued is throwing the clue of blue yarn into the kiln-pot, instead of out of the window, as in Ireland. As it is wound backward, something holds it. The winder must ask, "Wha hauds?" to hear the name of her future sweetheart.
"An' ay she win't, an' ay she swat—
I wat she made nae jaukin;
Till something held within the pat,
Guid Lord! but she was quakin!
But whether 't was the Deil himsel,
Or whether 't was a bauk-en'[1]
Or whether it was Andrew Bell,
She did na wait on talkin
To speir[2] that night."
Burns: Hallowe'en.
[1] Cross-beam.
[2] Ask.