Hence, however reluctant the intelligent part of the community may be to own the fact, it must be admitted that superstition, in one form or another, dwells beneath the surface of most human hearts, although it may frequently display itself in the most disguised or refined form. Among the lower orders, as a writer has observed, "it wears its old fashions, in the higher it changes with the rapidity of modes in fashionable circles." Indeed, it is no matter of surprise that superstition prevails among the poor and ignorant, when we find the affluent and enlightened in many cases quite as ready to repose their belief in the most illogical ideas.
In conclusion, we would only add that the present little volume has been written with a view of showing how this rule applies even to the daily routine of Domestic Life, every department of which, as will be seen in the following pages, has its own Folk-lore.
Value of Superstitions--Lucky Days and Hours of Birth--The Caul--The Changeling--The Evil Eye--"Up and not Down"--Rocking the Empty Cradle--Teeth, Nails, and Hands--The Maple and the Ash--Unchristened Children 1
Nursery Literature--The Power of Baptism--Confirmation--Popular Prayers--Weather Rhymes--School Superstitions--Barring out 16
Love-tests--Plants used in Love-charms--The Lady-bird--The Snail--St. Valentine's Day--Midsummer Eve--Hallowe'en--Omens on Friday 23
Seasons and Days propitious to Marriage--Superstitions connected with the Bride--Meeting a Funeral--Robbing the Bride of Pins--Dancing in a Hog's Trough--The Wedding-cake--The Ring 36
Warnings of Death--The Howling of Dogs--A Cow in the Garden--Death-presaging Birds--Plants--The Will-o'-the-Wisp--The Sympathy between Two Personalities--Prophecy--Dying Hardly--The Last Act--Place and Position of the Grave 48
Superstitions about Deformity, Moles, &c.--Tingling of the Ear--The Nose--The Eye--The Teeth--The Hair--The Hand--Dead Man's Hand--The Feet 65
New Clothes at Easter and Whitsuntide--Wearing of Clothes--The Clothes of the Dead--The Apron, Stockings, Garters, &c.--The Shoe--The Glove--The Ring--Pins 81
Thirteen at Table--Salt-spilling--The Knife--Bread, and other Articles of Food--Wishing Bones--Tea-leaves--Singing before Breakfast--Shaking Hands across the Table 100