The girl, as soon as she could get away unperceived, fled in horror from
the room, and spread the news amongst the people. At once a crowd
gathered round the house with angry cries and threats to break open the
door to search for the dead hand.
At last the woman appeared calm and cold as usual, and told them they
were taking a deal of trouble about nothing, for there was no dead hand in
the house. However, the people rushed in and searched, but all they saw
was a huge fire on the hearth, though the smell of burning flesh was
distinctly perceptible, and by this they knew that she had burnt the dead
hand. Yet this did not save her from the vengeance of the neighbours. She
was shunned by every one; no one would eat with her, or drink with her, or
talk to her, and after a while she and her husband quitted the island and
were never more heard of.
However, after she left and the butter was brought to the market, all the
people had their fair and equal rights again, of which the wicked witchcraft
of the woman had defrauded them for so long, and there was great rejoicing
in the island over the fall and punishment of the wicked witch of the dead
hand.
CONCERNING BIRDS
IN all countries superstitions of good or evil are attached to certain birds.
The raven, for instance, has a wide-world reputation as the harbinger of evil
and ill-luck. The wild geese portend a severe winter; the robin is held
sacred, for no one would think of harming a bird who bears on his breast
the blessed mark of the blood of Christ; while the wren is hunted to death
with intense and cruel hate on St. Stephen's Day.
THE MAGPIE
There is no Irish name for the Magpie. It is generally called Francagh, a
Frenchman, though no one knows why. Many queer tales are narrated of
this bird, arising from its quaint ways, its adroit cunning and habits of petty
larceny. Its influence is not considered evil, though to meet one alone in the
morning when going a journey is an ill omen, but to meet more than one
magpie betokens good fortune, according to the old rhyme which runs
thus—
"One for Sorrow,
Two for Mirth,
Three for Marriage,
Four for a Birth."