That a man must never "go a courting" on a Friday. If an unlucky fellow is caught with his lady-love on that day, he is followed home by a band of musicians, playing on pokers, tongs, pan-lids, &c., unless he can rid himself of his tormentors by giving them money for drink. That whooping-cough will never be taken by any child that has ridden upon a bear. The old bearward's profits arose in great part from the money given by parents whose children had had a ride. The writer knows of cases in which the charm is said to have been effectual. That whooping-cough may be cured by tying a hairy caterpillar in a small bag round the child's neck, and as the caterpillar dies the cough goes. That Good Friday is the best day of all the year to begin weaning children, which ought, if possible, to be put off till that day. That May cats are unlucky, and will suck the breath of infants. That crickets are lucky about a house, and will do no harm to those who use them well; but that they eat holes in the worsted stockings of such members of the family as kill them. I was assured of this on the experience of a respectable farmer's family. That ghosts or boggarts haunt certain neighbourhoods. There is scarcely a dell in my vicinity where a running stream crosses a road by a small bridge or stone plat, where such may not be seen. Wells, ponds, gates, &c., have often this bad repute. I have heard of a calf with "eyes like saucers," a woman without a head, a white greyhound, a column of white foam like a large sugar loaf in the midst of a pond, or group of little cats, &c., as the shape of the boggart; and sometimes it took that of a lady, who jumped behind hapless passengers on horseback. It is supposed that a Romish priest can lay them, and that it is best to cheat them to consent to being laid "while hollies are green." Hollies being evergreens, the ghosts can reappear no more.[102] Mr. J. Eastwood, of Ecclesfield, adds to T. T. W.'s seventeen superstitions the following six:-- 1. If a cock near the door crows with his face towards it, it is a sure prediction of the arrival of a stranger. 2. If the cat frisk about the house in an unusually lively manner, windy or stormy weather is approaching. 3. If a dog howl under the window at night, a death will shortly happen in the house. 4. If a _female_ be the first to enter a house on Christmas or New Year's Day, she brings ill-luck to the house for the coming year. 5. For whooping-cough, pass the child nine times over the back and under the belly of an ass. (This ceremony I once witnessed, but cannot vouch for its having had the desired effect.) 6. For warts, rub them with a cinder, and this tied up in paper, and dropped where four roads meet [_i.e._, where two roads cross] will transfer the warts to whoever opens the parcel.[103] BONES OF ST. LAWRENCE, AT CHORLEY.