novelty. I send you a specimen of old charms, &c. that have come under
my notice in the south-eastern counties.

No. 1. is a dialogue between the Parson and the old Dame:--

"_P._ Well, Dame Grey, I hear you have a charm to cure the
toothache. Come, just let me hear it; I should be so much
pleased to know it.

"_Dame_. Oh, your reverence, it's not worth telling."

(Here a long talk--Parson coaxing the Dame to tell him--old lady very
shy, partly suspecting he is quizzing her, partly that no charms are
proper things, partly willing to know what he thinks about it.) At last
it ends by her saying--

"Well, your reverence, you have been very kind to me, and I'll
tell you: it's just a verse from Scripture as I says over those
as have the toothache:--

"'And Jesus said unto Peter, What aileth thee? and Peter
answered, Lord, I have toothache. And the Lord healed him.'"

"_P._ Well, but Dame Grey, I think I know my Bible, and I don't
find any such verse in it."

"_Dame_. Yes, your reverence, that is just the charm. _It's in
the Bible_, but _you can't find it_!"

No. 2. To avert sickness from a family, hang up a sickle, or iron