St. Thomas’ Night, La Longue Veille, Christmas Eve, and the last night of the year, are all seasons in which it is supposed that the powers of the air, devils, witches, fairies, and goblins, are abroad and active, and accordingly, these days, like Hallowe’en in Scotland, are chosen for the performance of spells by which some of the secrets of futurity may be discovered. [Illustration: Old Manor House, Anneville.] Some of these charms must be performed alone--others are social, but all require strict silence. As to the social spells, it is easy to conceive that when a number of girls are met together to try their fortunes, the charm is frequently broken, either by the fears of the superstitious, or the laughter of the incredulous. We will begin with the solitary spells. On St. Thomas’ Night the girl who is desirous of knowing whom she is to marry, must take a golden pippin, and, when about retiring to rest, must pass two pins crossways through it, and lay it under her pillow. Some say that the pippin should be wrapped up in the stocking taken from the left leg--others that this stocking should be taken off last and thrown over the left shoulder. Which is right, we have no means of ascertaining, but doubtless the efficacy of the spell depends on following the correct formula. It is then necessary to get into bed backwards, and repeat the following incantation thrice:-- _“Saint Thomas, Saint Thomas,_ _Le plus court, le plus bas,_ _Fais moi voir en m’endormant_ _Celui qui sera mon amant,_ _Et le pays, et la contrée._ _Où il fait sa demeurée,_ _Et le métier qu’il sait faire_ _Devant moi qu’il vienne faire._ _Qu’il soit beau ou qu’il soit laid_ _Tel qu’il sera je l’aimerai._ _Saint Thomas, fait moi la grâce_ _Que je le voie, que je l’embrasse.”_ _“Ainsi soit il.”_ Not another word must be spoken, and, if the rite has been duly performed, the desired knowledge will be communicated in a dream. There are different versions of the words to be repeated. One of them avoids a direct invocation of the Saint, and begins thus:-- _“Le jour Saint Thomas,_ _Le plus court, le plus bas,_ _Je prie Dieu incessamment_ _De me faire voir en dormant_ _Celui qui doit être mon amant, etc.”_[208] Another charm consists in placing two fronds of agrimony, each bearing nine leaflets, crosswise under the pillow, and securing them by means of two new pins, also crossed. The future husband is sure to appear in a dream.[209] The name of the future husband may be discovered by writing the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper, cutting them apart, and, when getting into bed, just after extinguishing the light, throwing them into a basin or bucket of water. Next morning the bits of paper which float with the written side uppermost indicate the name. This charm is efficacious on Midsummer Eve.[210]