As for me, I leave my speculations to the mercy of those who do not think like myself. I am satisfied that they are not far from the truth, and as near as we can hope to come in these days. Indeed, it is a well-known fact, embodied in the old proverb, "What's one man's meat's another's poison;" and that which is convincing to one is the contrary to another.
Ere I "close" my "scribblings," however, I must tender my thanks to the Editor of "N. & Q.," for his kind admission of these articles to his pages. Haveto!
KENNETH R. H. MACKENZIE.
March 3. 1852.
FOLK LORE.
Ancient Custom on Interment.
—I have read that it was a custom to inter an hour-glass with the deal, as an emblem of the sand of life being run out; or perhaps (as I should rather suggest) to intimate that the departed, having entered upon eternity, had done with time. I believe that in the early part of the last century the custom had not entirely disappeared, and that small hour-glasses were given to the friends of the deceased attending at funerals, and were put beside the corpse (like rosemary), or thrown into the grave? Does the custom still linger in any remote parts of the country?
W. S. G.
Newcastle-on-Tyne.