e:

"The first Monday in April, the day on which Cain was born, and Abel
was slain.

"The second Monday in August, on which day Sodom and Gomorrah were
destroyed.

"The 31st of December, on which day Judas was born, who betrayed
Christ.

"These are dangerous days to begin any business, fall sick, or
undertake any journey."

We smile at the superstition which thus stamps these several periods as
days of ill omen, especially when we reflect that farther inquiry would
probably place every other day of the week under a like ban, and thus
greatly impede the business of life--Friday, for instance, which, since our
Lord's crucifixion on that day, we are strongly disinclined to make the
starting-point of any new enterprise.

In many cases this superstition is based on unpleasing associations
connected with the days proscribed. Who can wonder if, in times less
enlightened than our own, undue importance were attached to the strange
coincidence which marked the deaths of Henry VIII. and his posterity. They
all died on a Tuesday; himself on Tuesday, January 28, 1547; Edward VI. on
Tuesday, July 6, {600} 1553; Mary on Tuesday, November 17, 1558; Elizabeth
on Tuesday, March 24, 1603.

JOHN BOOKER.

Prestwich.

It is a saying in Norwich,--

"When three daws are seen on St. Peter's vane together,
Then we are sure to have bad weather."

I think the observation is tolerably correct.

ANON.

* * * * *

SCOTCHMEN IN POLAND.

(Vol. vii., p. 475.)

In the debates about a union with Scotland in 1606, the "multiplicities of
the Scots in Polonia" formed one of the arguments of the opposing party,
who thought that England was likely to be overrun in a similar fashion.
According to Wilson (_Hist. of James I._, p. 34.), the naturalisation of
the Scots--

"Was opposed by divers strong and modest arguments. Among which they
brought in the comparison of Abraham and Lot, whose families joining,
they grew to difference, and to those words, 'Vade tu ad dextram, et
ego ad sinistram.' It was answered, That speech brought the captivity
of the one; they having disjoined their strength. The party opposing
said, If we admit them into our liberties, we shall be overrun with
them; as cattle, naturally, pent up by a slight hedge, will over it
into a better soil; and a tree taken from a barren place will thrive to
excessive and exuberan