But the last blow knocked the poor hare quite dead and immediately a great
big weasel sat up, and began to spit at him. This greatly frightened the tailor
who, however, grabbed the hare, and ran off as fast as he could. Seeing him
look so pale and frightened, his wife asked the cause, on which he told her
the whole story; and they both knew he had done wrong, and offended
some powerful witch, who would be avenged. However, they dug a grave
for the hare and buried it; for they were afraid to eat it, and thought that
now perhaps the danger was over. But next day the man became suddenly
speechless, and died off before the seventh day was over, without a word
evermore passing his lips; and then all the neighbours knew that the witch-
woman had taken her revenge.
THE WEASEL
Weasels are spiteful and malignant, and old withered witches sometimes
take this form. It is extremely unlucky to meet a weasel the first thing in the
morning; still it would be hazardous to kill it, for it might be a witch and
take revenge. Indeed one should be very cautious about killing a weasel at
any time, for all the other weasels will resent your audacity, and kill your
chickens when an opportunity offers. The only remedy is to kill one chicken
yourself, make the sign of the cross solemnly three times over it., then tie it
to a stick hung up in the yard, and the weasels will have no more power for
evil, nor the witches who take their form, at least during the year, if the stick
is left standing; but the chicken may be eaten when the sun goes down.
* * *A goose is killed on St. Michael's Day because the son of a king, being
then at a feast, was choked by the bone of a goose; but was restored by St.
Patrick. Hence the king ordered a goose to be sacrificed every year on the
anniversary of the day to commemorate the event, and in honour of St.
Michael.
A fowl is killed on St. Martin's Day, and the blood sprinkled on the
house. In Germany a black cock is substituted.
A crowing hen, a whistling girl, and a black cat, are considered most
unlucky. Beware of them in a house.
If a cock comes on the threshold and crows, you may expect visitors.
To see three magpies on the left hand when on a journey is unlucky; but
two on the right hand is a good omen.
If you hear the cuckoo on your right hand you will have luck all the year
after.
Whoever kills a robin redbreast will never have good luck were they to
live a thousand years.