Page [214]. The gipsy woman incident. Cf. ante, p. [386].
Page [215]. The "feather picking" refers to gatherings of country girls held during the winter, to dress feathers collected during the year for bedding.
Ib. The golden duck incident is an exceedingly common one. Cf. Old Deccan Days, pp. 85 and 223. Portuguese Folk-Tales: F.L.S. p. 12. Stokes' Indian Tales, p. 284.
[THE WISHES. Erdélyi iii. 11.]
Cf. Payne, vol. v. "The man who saw the night of power." Caballero's Fairy Tales, "The three wishes." Grimm, "The poor man and the rich man," and notes; and a fragment in Notes and Queries. Finnish Folk-Lore, 6th S. viii., p. 201, also Lewins "A fly on the wheel," p. 81, where a Hindustani variant is given.
[THE TWO ORPHANS. Erdélyi iii. 9.]
In a Finnish Tale, "Weljiänsä-etsijät Tyttö," S. ja T. i. p. 119, the girl who seeks her brothers, the girl is warned by a faithful dog, from going near or touching water which a witch wishes her to do, and which entails misery on her; as also in another, "Leppapölky," where the witch tempts the heroes in like manner. Cf. Geldart's Folk-Lore of Modern Greece. "Starbright and Birdie," p. 33. Grimm, "Brother and Sister." Gubernatis, vol. i., pp. 175, 354, and 390.
P. [221]. The cutting off of the lock of hair reminds us of the widespread superstitions connected with hair, or any other part of a person. Cf. ante pp. [332] and [374]. Archaeology, "The Physicians of Myddfai," p. 113. I have also often heard the following in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. That you must not give a lock of hair to anyone, or else you will quarrel with that person; that you must not keep the hair of a dead person unless it is "made up," or you will have ill-luck; and that all hair cuttings and nail parings ought to be saved and placed in the coffin, so that the person may "enter heaven perfect!" A baby's hair and nails must not be cut until it is a year old, or else it will be a thief. Hair must not be cut when the moon is waning. It is also said that ague can be cured by hanging a lock of hair on a willow tree.[74]