When a wise woman, or anyone, is called in to attend and charm anyone, the person to be operated upon must have an earnest belief that a cure will be effected, and the words “Please” and “Thank you” must not be used or the charm fails.  In some cases the charmer blesses or hallows cords or leather thongs which the patient wore tied round the neck.

      Whoopingcough.

On the 22nd January, 1908, two women were talking together in Long Causeway.  One asked the other how her child was? (It was suffering from whooping cough).  The mother replied, “No better.  The other day Mrs. ——­ told me to steal a bit of raw meat from a butcher’s and cut a hole in it, and put a lock of my hair in the hole and give it to a dog to eat.  I did it, but it is no better.”  I had previously heard this, but with the difference that it should be a lock of the child’s hair.

      Washing.

  They who wash on a Monday have all the week to dry,
  They who wash on a Tuesday are not so much awry,
  They who wash on a Wednesday not so much to blame,
  They who wash on a Thursday wash for shame,
  They who wash on a Friday wash in need,
  But they who wash on Saturday are sluts indeed.

It is unlucky to wash on “Good Friday.”  The legend says:—­“A woman who was washing when Our Lord was passing on his way to be crucified threw some dirty water over him.”

Two persons washing together in the same basin or bowl, or drying themselves with the same towel, will very soon quarrel, but this may be prevented by each making the sign of a cross with their finger-tips on the surface of the water.

If, when washing, the soap slips from your hands and falls on the ground you will hear of a death before the week is out.

If a woman has a fine day for washing the first time after Michaelmas Day, she will have fine washing days all the year.

      Sneezing.

Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger, sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger, sneeze on Wednesday get a letter, sneeze on Thursday, something better, sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow, Saturday, see your true love to-morrow.

To sneeze three times in succession, is a sign of a gift.

      PeterboroughCathedral.

On July 26th, 1681, the Rev. John Wray, M.A., F.R.S., writes in his diary:—­

“We (Mr. Wray and Mr. Willoughby) began our journey northwards from Cambridge, and that day, passing through Huntingdon and Stilton, we rode as far as Peterborough, 25 miles.  There I first heard the Cathedral Service.  The Choristers made us pay money for coming into the choir with our spurs on.”

      Bells.

  Helpston cracked pippins,
  And Northborough cracked pans,
  Glinton fine Organs,
  And Peakirk tin pans.

The Churches of Tansor and Cotterstock are not very far from each other.  Cotterstock has four bells, and Tansor only two.  The villagers say that the Cotterstock bells ask: