More Folklore from the Hebrides. 53
As elsewhere, the finding of a four-leaved shamrock, with- out looking for it, brings luck. The following charm is said for this purpose :
" Shamrock of the leaves and the virtues, I dearly wish thou wert under my pillow, At the time of my falling into deep sleep."
To ascertain if you will marry a certain person, put two straws on the embers at the same time ; if they burn towards each other it is a good sign, if they turn away, aversion or separation.
The number of seeds on a stalk of corn taken from a stack in the dark will show the number of a prospective family.
If you put a cabbage-stock under your pillow, the person you will see in your dream removing it, will be your husband or wife as the case may be.
Hallowe'en is of course the great time for looking into the future, and it may be interesting to quote such methods as we have met with, for the sake of comparison with similar customs elsewhere. The following notes have all been taken at first hand from those who have practised or seen in practice the divinations in question.
There is a saying :
" Hallowe'en will come, will come, Witchcraft [or divination] will be set agoing, Fairies will be at full speed, Running in every pass. Avoid the road, children, children."
On Hallowe'en six plates were placed on the floor each with separate contents, and the girl of the house came blindfolded. The first she touched foretold her fate.
1. Pure water portended an unexceptionable husband.
2. Salt, a sailor, 3. Meal, a farmer. 4. Earth, a death. 5. Dirty water, a disreputable husband. 6. An empty plate, no husband.
