in the afternoon, and asked the cause of
the confusion, she expressed great sorrow and apprehension on
being told--said it was a bad sign--and that we should hear of
_three_ deaths within the next six months. Alas! in April, we
heard of dear J----'s murder; a fortnight after, A---- died;
and to-morrow, August 10th, I am to attend the funeral of my
excellent son-in-law.

"I have just heard of the same omen from another quarter."

This was added the next day:--

"But what is still more remarkable is, that when I went down
to Mr. ----'s burial, and was mentioning the superstition,
they told me that, while he was lying ill, a cow got into the
front garden, and was driven out with great difficulty."

L.S.

_The Horse's Head--Rush-bearings._--The account of the Welch custom of
the "Grey Mare" in a late Number reminded me of something very similar
in Cheshire. In the parish of Lynn it is customary, for a week or ten
days before the 5th {259} of November, for the skeleton of a horse's
head, dressed up with ribbons, &c., having glass eyes inserted in the
sockets, and mounted on a short pole by way of handle, to be carried
by a man underneath, covered with a horse-cloth. There is generally
a chain attached to the nose, which is held by a second man, and
they are attended by several others. In houses to which they can gain
access, they go through some kind of performance, the man with the
chain telling the horse to rear, open its mouth, &c. Their object, of
course, is to obtain money. The horse will sometimes seize persons,
and hold them fast till they pay for being set free; but he is
generally very peaceable,--for in case of resistance being offered,
his companions frequently take flight, and leave the poor horse to
fight it out. I could never learn the origin of this strange custom.
I remember, when very young, having a perfect horror of meeting this
animal in the dark.

Another custom, which I suppose prevails in some other places, is the
"Rush-bearing." At the annual Wakes a large quantity of rushes are
collected together, and loaded on a cart, almost to the height of a
load of hay. They are bound on the cart, and cut evenly at each end.
On the Saturday evening a number of men sit on the top of the rushes,
holding garlands of artificial flowers, tinsel, &c. The cart is
drawn round the parish by three or four spirited horses, decked out
with ribbons,--the collars being sur