Wishing Customs

Erom Harper's Weekly. In whatever grade of society or poBition of prosperity we are placed, we still hope lor something better, and as mankind is never in this world perfectly happy, we flnd ourselves constantly wishing for soine future blessedness superlativa to that we at present enjoy. Consequently ;i host of futile custonis to meet this want ave practiced ara on g the vulgar, whobelieve in their ettlcacy, and many of them are even patronized by the educated. 1 n the west of Englana "wishing wells" are very plentiful, and young damsels longing for married ielicity offer up the following petition: "A liuftband, Bt. Oatherine; A handBome one, 8t. Catherine; A rich one, 8t. Catherine; a. -;- ..o .ut (atherine: Aiui ion, St. CaïtfPrin...-' - At Abbolsbury they used to go on a certaín day in the year to the Norman chapel of St t'atherine at Miltan Abbey and make the same prayer. It íssomewhat singular tliat on the Continent this saint should be ered the special patroneas ot spinsters. At Holywell, or St. "Winifred's Well, in North Wales, those who are nol Batisfted with tlieir 'circumstances in life must liml the "wishing stone,': whicta is two i'eet below the water, and wliile kissing it make the necessaiy wish. In Pennant's History of Whifa ford Partsh we flnd an account of the Walsingham Wells. They were formerly used to cure alimente of the he;ul the stomach. but as the idea is now eiplored, the superstitious in the distriet still believethem to be able to acconi]ilisli human desires. There is a store between the two wells, upon which tlie Bupplicant must kneel with lus bare rightknee; he can then reach botli wells, whicli he is required to do with his bands, and to take as much wata as they will hold, and drink it. 'i ... wish formed during this operation will be gratitied in the ensuinu twelve months; and if this fail, itis put down to ineredulity. A curious custom exists in Oornwall of gathering the club-moss, which is considerad good for all diseases of the eyes. Huilt, in his Popular Romanees of the West of Englawi, says the gatliering is regarded as a mystery, and if any ventures to write the secret, the virtues of the moss will be of no more use to him. The third day of the moon, when it is seen i'or the lirst time, they show it theknife with which the moss is tobe cut, and repeat; "As Christ healed the isue of blood, Dn thon cut what tbou cuttest for good." At sunset, having carefully washed the hands, it is to be cut kneeling. wrapped in a cloth, and boiled in water f rom the nearest spring ; this may be used as a fomentation, or the moss made into an ointment with butter made f rom a new cow's milk. Vallancey tells us that the Irish, on seeing the new moon, knelt down, repeatj ' the Lord's Prayer, and then said, "May thou leave us as safe as thou hast f ound ns !" Aubrey says, speaking of old English manners, the vomen sit astride a gate or stile the first night of the new moon, saying, "A iine moon, Godbless lierl" Ilalliwell, in his Popular Rhymes, speaks of a peculiar divination practtced during the harvest-moon. When going to bed, put under your pillow a Prayer-book open at the words, in the matrimonial service, " With this ring I thee wed ;" place on it a key, a ring, a tlower, a sprig of wlllow, a small heart-cake, a crust of bread, and these cards : a ten of clubs, nine of hearts, and tbe aces of spades and diamonds. AVrap these In a muslin or gauze handkerchief, anti on getting into bed cross your hands and say : "Luna, every woinau'a friend, To me tky goodneBS condeBceud; Let me this night in vifiion see Emblema of my deBtiny." 1 ( you dream of storms, it portends trouble ; a calm after it, so your fate will be; the ring or ace of diamoadfl marriage; bread, Industry; cake, prosperity; Bowera, joy; willow, treacber in love; Bpades, death; diamonds riclies; clubs, u foreign land; kcys conlidence, power, and plenty; birds many children; and geese, you wil marry more tlian one. 8ome localities become, by time-lionored custdin, the wishing-places of lovers, sucli as the well-known gate at Grasmere, it being the popular belief thiit ciny wish formed there will be fullilled. A beauüful view of the lake can be had from it, which romantic Bituation lends it au additional charm. Wordsworth has made it the subject of one of his touching poems The old gate is, hovvever, replaced by one now covered witli initials in the real English style.