Take out, and take in, Bad luck is sure to begin; But take in and take out, Good luck will come about. Train, in his _History of the Isle of Man_ (ed. 1845, vol. ii. 115), says that on 1st January an old custom is observed, called the _quaaltagh_. In almost every parish throughout the island a party of young men go from house to house singing the following rhyme:-- Again we assemble, a merry New Year To wish to each one of the family here, Whether man, woman, or girl, or boy, That long life and happiness all may enjoy; May they of potatoes and herrings have plenty, With butter and cheese, and each other dainty; And may their sleep never, by night or day, Disturbed be by even the tooth of a flea: Until at the Quaaltagh again we appear, To wish you, as now, all a happy New Year. When these lines are repeated at the door, the whole party are invited into the house to partake of the best the family can afford. On these occasions a person of dark complexion always enters first, as a light-haired male or female is deemed unlucky to be the first-foot, or _quaaltagh_, on New Year's morning. The actors of the _quaaltagh_ do not assume fantastic habiliments like the Mummers of England, or the Guisards of Scotland; nor do they, like these rude performers of the Ancient Mysteries, appear ever to have been attended by minstrels playing on different kinds of musical instruments. The custom of _first-footing_ is still in vogue in many parts of Scotland, although a very good authority, _Chambers's Book of Days_ (vol. i. p. 28), says it is dying out:-- "Till very few years ago in Scotland the custom of the wassail bowl, at the passing away of the old year, might be said to be still in comparative vigour. On the approach of twelve o'clock a _hot pint_ was prepared--that is, a kettle or flagon full of warm, spiced, and sweetened ale, with an infusion of spirits. When the clock had struck the knell of the departed year, each member of the family drank of this mixture, 'A good health and a happy New Year, and many of them!' to all the rest, with a general hand-shaking, and perhaps a dance round the table, with the addition of a song to the tune of _Hey tuttie taitie_-- "Weel may we a' be, Ill may we never see, Here's to the King And the gude companie! etc.