Charms were sold by the priests, which were represented to possess the virtue of curing diseases and driving away the devil. Money was sometimes borrowed on security of charms, not to be repaid in this world. A note was given, authorizing payment of the money in the land of spirits; and when the holder of the document died, his relations put it into his hand, believing that the debt would be duly paid to the deceased. The Japanese thought certain days were more fortunate than others. A table of their fortunate and unfortunate days was hung up in the passage of every house, for the guidance of the family when they went out. This table of days was prepared by a celebrated astrologer of universal knowledge in all mysteries, whether relating to the stars, dreams, or omens. Like other men of note in the East, he was born in a miraculous manner. His father was a prince, and his mother a fox. It appears that the lady fox being pursued by huntsmen, ran to and obtained protection from his highness. The creature discovered herself to be a fairy, and, throwing off her false appearance, became a beautiful princess. The prince being enamoured with her charms, married her, and had by her the celebrated astrologer spoken of. When he grew up he invented a set of mysterious terms, which he comprised within the compass of one verse, as a charm or protection for such persons as were compelled to work on unlucky days; and every one who repeated the verse reverently on the morning of an unlucky day, was preserved from all the evils that would have otherwise befallen him. THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF HEATHEN NATIONS. CHAPTER IX. The Classification of Gods and Goddesses--Primeval Parent Chaos--Creation--Influence of Ether--The Human Race in danger of Perishing--Celestial Fire--Birth of Cupid--Banishment of Cupid from the Blest Abodes--Cupid's Armour--Fate--Eternal Decrees--Throne of Jove--Fortune and Happiness--Misfortune and Misery--Twofold Nature--Rewards and Punishments--First Man and Woman--Pan the Emblem of all Things--Power of Heathen Gods--Descriptions of Juno--Venus the Goddess of Love and Beauty--Rustics turned into Frogs--Vulcan--Æolus--Momus the Jester--The Carping God's Fault-finding--Improper Position of the Bull's Horns--Minerva as a House--Window in Man's Breast. We do not intend to notice at great length the ancient opinions and writings concerning the deities which heathen nations thought presided over the world and the heavens, and influenced the affairs of the spheres above and below; but as much of comparatively modern superstition has been traced to mythology, generally so called, we cannot pass without observation the history of the gods, nor avoid giving such extracts therefrom as bear particularly on our subject, "The Collected Mysteries of all Nations."