Horse shoes, when found, are very lucky and should be nailed over the threshold, or over the hearth.  I have seen some at Cotterstock Hall, Alwalton Hall, and other houses, attached to the door.  They are also nailed over stable doors.  If there are any nails in the shoe, when found by a single person, then, as many nails as there are, so many years will it be before the marriage of that person.

Thorney men, seeing a small portion of a horse shoe lying in the road, pick it up and throw it over their shoulder, so that no ill-luck may befall them.

A knuckle bone or a cramp bone carried in the pocket prevents cramp.

A potato, chestnut or a nutmeg carried in the pocket prevents rheumatism.

A piece of wicken is worn as a cure for the ague.

A mole’s foot or a load stone, in the pocket, is a protection against witches.

Although lamps and gas have generally supplanted candles, in the country where candles are still used, the spark on the wick is considered to denote the coming of a letter, and the melted tallow or composition forming a winding sheet denotes a death.

When a candle burns blue or dim, a spirit is said to be in the room.

It is very unlucky to return to the house for anything after leaving it, although the spell is broken if the person sits down before coming out of the house again.

Two people, meeting on a staircase, is a sign of an approaching wedding.

When walking together, two lovers must not pass on different sides of turnstiles, road posts, or lamp posts, or they will certainly quarrel.

It is bad luck, when two persons are walking together, to separate and one to turn back against a gate; but if one of them sits down for a time, whilst the other walks away, the bad luck is turned.

To spill salt is a sign of sorrow or anger; but if the spilt salt is gathered up in a spoon and thrown over the left shoulder the luck is turned.

An old shoe thrown after anyone starting on a new undertaking is considered to carry good luck; especially if it goes over the head and does not hit the person.

Flies are more troublesome before rain.

Gnats playing up and down in the open air near sunset is a sign of heat.

If in the shade, warm and mild showers, but if they join in stinging those who pass them it presages cold weather and rain.

Children, even now, when they find a Ladybird or cow lady say:—­

          Click, Clock, Clay.  What time o’day. 
  One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock, Click, clock, clay.

Another custom is to get a ladybird and put it on the back of the hand and say:—­

  Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home,
    Your horse is on foot, your children are gone;
  All but one, and that’s little John,
    And he lies under the grindle stone.

If it does not fly away then it is thrown up into the air.