835. The most powerful charm is a piece of printed paper called "the letter of Jesus Christ." This, in addition to the well-known letter of Lentulus to the Senate, contains many absurd superst.i.tions, such as the promise of safe delivery in child-bed, and freedom from bodily hurt to those who may possess a copy of it.
_Newfoundland._
WATER.
836. Rub the hands with the first snow that falls and you"ll not have sore hands all winter.
_Winn, Me._
837. On Ash Wednesday before sunrise dip a pail of water in a running brook (up stream), bottle it, and keep as a cure for anything.
_Maine._
838. Catch the last snow of the season (_e.g._, in April), melt and put into a bottle. It will cure sore eyes.
_Chestertown, Md._
839. Water made from snow that falls in the month of May will cure sore eyes.
_Prince Edward Island._
840. Rain-water caught the first of June will cure freckles. It will not putrefy.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
841. An Indian doctor used for inflammation of the eyes rain-water caught on the third, fourth, and fifth of June. It is said that this will not putrefy.
_New Hampshire._
842. The first water that falls in June is supposed to cure all skin diseases; and I am informed "it is dretful good for the insides, too."
_Westford, Ma.s.s._
843. Water in which a blacksmith has cooled his iron is a cure for freckles.
_Malden, Ma.s.s._
MISCELLANEOUS.
844. It is believed that "piercing the ear" will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose.
_Northern Ohio._
845. To cure hiccoughs repeat in one breath the words,--
There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone.
One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground a man there lay, And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out.
_Boston, Ma.s.s._
846. A variant,--
There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone.
One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground there lay a man.
And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out.
The woman to the parson said: "Shall I be so when I am dead?"
The parson he said "yes."
_Portland, Me., Brookline and Deerfield, Ma.s.s._
847. For hiccoughs the nurse used to say in a droning, deep, ghostly tone,--
There was an old man an" an old woman, And they lived in a bottle and eat BONES.
_Brookline, Ma.s.s._
848. Other somewhat general remedies for hiccoughs are to munch a spoonful of sugar, to scare the one troubled with hiccoughs by some startling announcement or accusation, as, "See, you"ve torn your dress!"
or, "How did you break my vase?" etc. Another custom is to steadily point a finger at the hiccougher, or to make him hold up his arm and shake it.
849. To cure hiccoughs, slowly take nine sips of water.
_Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio._
850. Another cure for hiccoughs is as follows: Put the thumb up against the lower lip, with the fingers under the chin, and say, "hiccup, hiccup, over my thumb," nine times.
_Northern Ohio._
851. A cure for hiccoughs: Try for a long time to make the edges of the thumb-nails meet at the end.
_Chestertown, Md._
852. Think of the one you love best, to cure hiccoughs.
_Prince Edward Island._
853. For chapped lips kiss the middle rail of a five-railed fence.
_Bernardston, Ma.s.s._
854. To relieve coughing or strangling, put a pair of scissors down inside the back of your dress.
_Prince Edward Island._
855. Chew brown paper as a cure for nose-bleed.
_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._
856. For nose-bleed, put a key down the back.
857. For nose-bleed, hold up the right arm.
858. For nose-bleed, place a wad of paper between the upper lip and the gum.
859. You can keep from crying as you peel onions if you keep the mouth closed.
_Northern Ohio._
860. Hold, by the points, two needles between your teeth, as you peel onions, and you will not cry.
_Prince Edward Island._
861. Hold a needle between your teeth with the point out, while peeling onions, and you"ll not cry, _i.e._, will not feel the smart.
862. You will not cry in peeling onions if you hold a bit of bread in the mouth.
_Prince Edward Island, Cambridge, Ma.s.s. (Irish)._
Or, put the bread on the point of the knife.
_Maine._