A Gaelic Charm (seun).—The following is a translation of a charm from the late Dr. Norman Macleod's Caraid nan Gaidhealf p. 343 (Ed. 1867). He took it down from an old man in Glen Forsa, Isle of Mull, about the year 1800:—
For thee and for thy heirs,
The charm Bride put round Doirdheal's daughter—
The charm Mary put round her son
Between her sole and her neck,
Between her breast and her knee,
Between her eye and her hair.
Michael's sword at thy side;
Michael's shield on thy shoulder.
There is naught 'twixt heaven and earth
Will conquer the King of divine favours.
Weapon-point will not cleave thee,
And sea will not drown thee.
Christ's flag upon thee;
Christ's shadow over thee.
From crown of thy head to sole of thy foot,
Is the charm of success upon thee now.
Thou shalt go in the name of the King,
And shalt come in the name of thy Chieftain.
Thou belongest to God and to the powers together.
I will send the charm on Monday
On a narrow pointed thorny journey.
Start off with the charm round thy waist,
And thou shalt have no occasion to fear;
Thou shalt mount to the top of the hill.
And thou wilt not be thrown down from behind.
The son of peaceful Eala, in battle
Thou shalt stand in the midst of the slaughter;
Thou shalt rush through five hundred.
And the man that harms thee will be in a strait.
God's charm round about thee!
A host going over thee!
New Year's Day Custom, Sussex.—The Sussex Daily News of Jan. 5th, 1883, states that on New Year's Day the old custom of "the Bushel" was observed at the Red Lion Inn, Old Shoreham, Sussex. "The manner is to decorate a vessel holding a bushel, with flowers, green paper, &c., and fill it with beer, from which any comers may drink free. The vessel was twice filled, first by the brewers, Vallance, Catt, and Co., and next by some of the company. A large number was present,
