14. Cramp is effectually prevented by placing the shoes with the _toes_ just peeping from beneath the coverlet; the same is also prevented by tying the garter round the _left_ leg _below_ the knee. 15. Charmed rings are worn by many for the cure of dyspepsia; and so also are charmed belts for the cure of rheumatism. 16. A _red-haired_ person is supposed to bring in ill-luck if he be the first to enter a house on New Year's Day. _Black-haired_ persons are rewarded with liquor and small gratuities for "taking in the new year" to the principal houses in their respective neighbourhoods. 17. If any householder's fire does not burn _through_ the night of New Year's Eve, it betokens bad luck during the ensuing year; and if any party allow another a live coal, or even a lighted candle, on such an occasion, the bad luck is extended to the other part for commiserating with the former in his misfortunes. Many other specimens of the folk lore of this district might be enumerated; but since many here have implicit faith in Lover's expression,-- "There is luck in _odd_ numbers;" I will reserve them for a future opportunity, considering that _seventeen_ paragraphs are sufficient to satisfy all except the most thorough-paced _folklorians_. T.T. WILKINSON. Burnley, Lancashire. * * * * * MINOR NOTES. _Proclamation of Langholme Fair._--In an old paper I find the following proclamation of a fair, to be held in a town in Scotland; it may, perhaps, amuse some of your numerous readers:-- "O yes! and that's a time. O yes! and that's twa times. O yes! and that's the third and last time: All manner of pearson or pearsons whatsoever let 'em draw near, and I shall let you ken that there is a fair to be held at the muckle town of Langholme, for the space of aught days; wherein if any hustrin, custrin, land-louper, dukes-couper, or gang-y-gate swinger, shall breed any urdam, durdam, brabblement, or squabblement, he shall have his lugs tacked to the muckle trone, with a nail of twal-a-penny, until he down of his hobshanks and up with his mucle doubs, and pray to heaven neen times, Gold bles the king, and thrice the muckle Lord of Relton, pay a groat to me Jammey Ferguson, bailiff of the aforesaid manor. So ye heard my proclamation, and I'll haam to dinner." Perhaps some of your correspondents north of the Tweed can give the meaning (if there be any) of a few of the choice expressions contained in this document. MONKBARNS. _Seats in Churches._--The following curious notice of seats in churches occurs in Thompson's _History of Swine_; which is quoted by him from _Whitaker's Whalley_, 2nd edit. 4to. p. 228.:--