St. Anne, in silver clouds descend,Prove thyself a female’s friend;Be it good or be it harm,Let me have knowledge from the charm;Be it husbands one, two, three,Let me in rotation see;And if Fate decrees me four,(No good maid could wish far more),Let me view them in my dream,Fair and clearly to be seen;But if the stars decreePerpetual virginity,Let me sleep on, and dreaming not,I shall know my single lot.
St. Anne, in silver clouds descend,Prove thyself a female’s friend;Be it good or be it harm,Let me have knowledge from the charm;Be it husbands one, two, three,Let me in rotation see;And if Fate decrees me four,(No good maid could wish far more),Let me view them in my dream,Fair and clearly to be seen;But if the stars decreePerpetual virginity,Let me sleep on, and dreaming not,I shall know my single lot.
St. Anne, in silver clouds descend,Prove thyself a female’s friend;Be it good or be it harm,Let me have knowledge from the charm;Be it husbands one, two, three,Let me in rotation see;And if Fate decrees me four,(No good maid could wish far more),Let me view them in my dream,Fair and clearly to be seen;But if the stars decreePerpetual virginity,Let me sleep on, and dreaming not,I shall know my single lot.
St. Anne, in silver clouds descend,
Prove thyself a female’s friend;
Be it good or be it harm,
Let me have knowledge from the charm;
Be it husbands one, two, three,
Let me in rotation see;
And if Fate decrees me four,
(No good maid could wish far more),
Let me view them in my dream,
Fair and clearly to be seen;
But if the stars decree
Perpetual virginity,
Let me sleep on, and dreaming not,
I shall know my single lot.
Gather your rose on the 27th of June; let it be full blown, and as bright a red as you can get; pluck it between the hours of three and four in the morning, taking care to have no witness of the transaction; convey it to your chamber, and hold it over a chafing dish or any convenient utensil for the purpose, in which there is charcoal and sulphur of brimstone; hold your rose over the smoke for about five minutes, and you will see it have a wonderful effect on the flower. Before the rose gets the least cool, clap it in a sheet of writing paper, on which is written your own name and that of the man you love best; also the date of the morning star that has the ascendancy at that time; fold it up and seal it neatly with three separate seals, then run and bury the parcel at the foot of the tree from which you gathered the flower. Here let it remain untouched till the 6th of July; take it up at midnight, go to bed and place it under your pillow, and you will have a singular and eventful dream before morning, or, at least, before your usual time of rising. You may keep the rose under your head three nights without spoiling the charm. When you have done with the rose and paper be sure to burn them.
On the first night of the new moon in July, take a red rose, a white rose, a yellow flower, a blue one, a sprig of rue and rosemary, and nine blades of long grass; bind all together with a lock of your own hair; kill a white pigeon, sprinkle the nosegay with the blood from the heart, and some common salt; wrap the flowers in a white handkerchief, and lay it under your head, on the pillow, when you go to rest; and, before morning, you will see your fate as clear as if you had your nativity cast by the best astrologer in the world; not only in respect to love, lovers, or marriage, but in the other most important affairs of your life. Storms, in this dream, foretell great trouble; and graves or churchyards are fatal tokens, and so is climbing steep and dangerous places.
To be tried the Third Night of a New Moon.
Take brandy, rum, gin, wine and the oil of amber, of each a teaspoonful; a teaspoonful of cream, and three of spring water; drink it as you get into bed; repeat—
This mixture of love I take for my potion,That I of my destiny may have a notion;Cupid befriend me, new moon be kind,And show unto me the fate that’s designed.
This mixture of love I take for my potion,That I of my destiny may have a notion;Cupid befriend me, new moon be kind,And show unto me the fate that’s designed.
This mixture of love I take for my potion,That I of my destiny may have a notion;Cupid befriend me, new moon be kind,And show unto me the fate that’s designed.
This mixture of love I take for my potion,
That I of my destiny may have a notion;
Cupid befriend me, new moon be kind,
And show unto me the fate that’s designed.
You will dream of drink, and, according to the quality or manner of it being presented, you may tell the condition to which you will rise or fall by marriage. Water is poverty; and, if you dream of a drunken man, it is ominous that you will have a drunken mate. If you dream of drinking too much, you will fall, at a future period, into that sad error yourself, without great care; andwhat is a worse sight than an inebriated female? She cannot guard her own honor, ruins her own and family’s substance, and often clothes herself with rags. Trouble is often used as an excuse for this vicious habit; but it gives more trouble than it takes away.
Get nine small keys; they must all be your own by begging or purchase (borrowing will not do, nor must you tell what you want them for); plait a three-plaited band of your own hair, and tie them together, fastening the ends with nine knots; fasten them with one of your garters to your left wrist on going to bed, and bind the other garter around your head; then say—
St. Peter, take it not amiss,To try your favor I’ve done this;You are the ruler of the keys,Favor me, then, if you please:Let me then your influence prove,And see my dear and wedded love.
St. Peter, take it not amiss,To try your favor I’ve done this;You are the ruler of the keys,Favor me, then, if you please:Let me then your influence prove,And see my dear and wedded love.
St. Peter, take it not amiss,To try your favor I’ve done this;You are the ruler of the keys,Favor me, then, if you please:Let me then your influence prove,And see my dear and wedded love.
St. Peter, take it not amiss,
To try your favor I’ve done this;
You are the ruler of the keys,
Favor me, then, if you please:
Let me then your influence prove,
And see my dear and wedded love.
This must be done on the eve of St. Peter’s, and is an old charm used by the maidens of Rome in ancient times, who put great faith in it.
Let three young women join in making a long chain, about a yard will do, of Christmas juniper, and mistletoe berries; and at the end of every link put an oak acorn. Exactly before midnight let them assemble in a room by themselves, where no one can disturb them; leave a window open, and take the key out of the key-hole and hang it over the chimney-piece; have a good fire, and place in the midst of it a long thinnish log of wood, well sprinkled with oil, salt and fresh mould; then wrap the chain around it, each maiden having an equal share in the business; then sit down, and on her left knee let each maiden have a prayer book, opened at the matrimonial service. Just as the last acorn is burned, the future husband will cross the room; each one will see her own proper spouse, but he will be invisible to the rest of the wakeful virgins. Those that are not to wed will see a coffin, or some misshapen form, cross the room. Go to bed instantly, and you will all have remarkable dreams. This must be done either on a Wednesday or Friday night, but no other.
On receiving a love letter that has any particular declaration in it, lay it wide open; then fold it in nine folds, pin it next to your heart, and thus wear it till bedtime; then place it in your left hand glove, and lay it under your head. If you dream of gold, diamonds, or any costly gems, your lover is true, and means what he says; if of white linen, you will lose him by death; and if of flowers, he will prove false. If you dream of his saluting you, he is at present false and means not what he professes, but only to draw you into a snare.
On going to rest, take a glass of water, half fill it with salt, and drink it off as quick as you can; do not speak afterwards, but compose yourself to sleep, and thirst will cause you to dream; which, joined to a strange bed, will have a true effect.
Borrow a wedding ring, concealing the purpose for which you borrow it; but no widow’s or pretended marriage ring will do—it spoils the charm. Wear it for three hours at least before you retire to rest, and then suspend it by a hair off your head, over your pillow; write within a circle resembling a ring, the sentence from the matrimonial service beginning with,With this ring I thee wed, and around the circle write your own name at full length, and the figures that stand for your age; place it under your pillow, and your dream will fully explain whom you are to marry, and what kind of a fate you will have with them. If your dream is too confused to remember it, or you do not dream at all, it is a certain sign you will never be married.
The night before your nuptials, write your name on a piece of paper, as small as possible, with the name of your spouse elect, the date of the wedding day, the month and the year; enclose all in a circle of blood drawn from one of your fingers, fold the paper into nine folds, place it in the stocking drawn from your left leg, and place it between your head and the pillow, and by your dreams of that night you may guess what will be the fate attending your nuptial life.
Find a green pea-pod with exactly nine peas in it, and hang it over the door of a room or entry-way, without letting any person know that you have done so; you must then watch the door and see who goes through first; if it is a bachelor, or an unmarried young man, you will positively be married before the current crop of peas is disposed of; if it is a woman, you will have to sigh in single blessedness another year; if a married man, be careful and not allow your lover too much liberty in his attentions.
If you receive one of those love tokens, and cannot guess the party who sent it, or are in any doubt, the following method will explain it to a certainty: Prick the fourth finger of your left hand, and with a crow quill write on the back of the valentine the day and hour in which you were born, and the date of the year; also of the present one, the moon’s age, and the name of the present morning star, all of which you will find in the almanac, and the sign into which the sun has entered. Try this on the first Fridayafter you receive the valentine, but do not go to bed till midnight; place the paper in your left shoe, and put it under your pillow, lie on your left side, and repeat three times:
St. Valentine, pray condescendTo be this night a maiden’s friend;Let me now my lover see,Be he of high or low degree;By a sign his station show,Be it weal or be it woe.Let him come to my bedside,And my fortune thus decide.
St. Valentine, pray condescendTo be this night a maiden’s friend;Let me now my lover see,Be he of high or low degree;By a sign his station show,Be it weal or be it woe.Let him come to my bedside,And my fortune thus decide.
St. Valentine, pray condescendTo be this night a maiden’s friend;Let me now my lover see,Be he of high or low degree;By a sign his station show,Be it weal or be it woe.Let him come to my bedside,And my fortune thus decide.
St. Valentine, pray condescend
To be this night a maiden’s friend;
Let me now my lover see,
Be he of high or low degree;
By a sign his station show,
Be it weal or be it woe.
Let him come to my bedside,
And my fortune thus decide.
The young woman will be sure to dream of the identical person who sent the valentine and be enabled to guess if he is to be her husband.
This is to be tried on the third day of the months between September and March. Let any number of young women (not exceeding nine, and minding that there is an odd one in the company) assemble together, and each string nine acorns on a separate string, or as many acorns as there are females in company, but not more; wrap them around a long stick of wood, and place it in the fire just as the clock strikes twelve at night. Say not a word, but sit around the fire till all the acorns are consumed; then rake out the ashes and retire to bed almost directly, repeating:
May love and marriage be the theme,To visit me in this night’s dream:Gentle Venus be my friend,The image of my lover send.Let me see his form and face,And his occupation trace;By a symbol or a sign,Cupid, forward my design.
May love and marriage be the theme,To visit me in this night’s dream:Gentle Venus be my friend,The image of my lover send.Let me see his form and face,And his occupation trace;By a symbol or a sign,Cupid, forward my design.
May love and marriage be the theme,To visit me in this night’s dream:Gentle Venus be my friend,The image of my lover send.Let me see his form and face,And his occupation trace;By a symbol or a sign,Cupid, forward my design.
May love and marriage be the theme,
To visit me in this night’s dream:
Gentle Venus be my friend,
The image of my lover send.
Let me see his form and face,
And his occupation trace;
By a symbol or a sign,
Cupid, forward my design.
Steep mistletoe berries, to the number of nine, in a mixture of ale, wine, vinegar and honey; take them on going to bed, and you will dream of your future lot. A storm in this dream is very bad; it is most likely you will then marry a sailor, who will suffer shipwreck at sea; but to see either sun, moon or stars, is an excellent presage; so are flowers; but a coffin is an index of a disappointment in love.
To be tried on any Friday in Lent, Good Friday excepted, when it is improper to try anything of the kind, and the mind ought to be more seriously disposed. Write twelve letters of the common alphabet on separate pieces of card, also twelve figures, and the same number of blank cards; then put them in a bag and shake them well, and let each one present draw one. A blank shows a single life; a figure, intrigue; and a letter, a happy marriage.
On St. Agnes’ Day.—This falls on the 21st of January. You must prepare yourself by a twenty-four hours fast, touching nothing but pure spring water, beginning at midnight on the 20th, to the same again on the 21st; then go to bed, and mind you sleep by yourself, and do not mention what you are trying to any one, or it will break the spell. Go to rest on your left side, and repeat these lines three times:
St. Agnes, be a friend to me;In the gift I ask of thee;Let me this night my husband see,
St. Agnes, be a friend to me;In the gift I ask of thee;Let me this night my husband see,
St. Agnes, be a friend to me;In the gift I ask of thee;Let me this night my husband see,
St. Agnes, be a friend to me;
In the gift I ask of thee;
Let me this night my husband see,
and you will dream of your future spouse. If you see more men than one in your dream, you will wed two or three times; but if you sleep and dream not, you will never marry.
By Bride Cake.—A slice of the bride cake thrice drawn through the wedding ring, and laid under the head of an unmarried woman, will cause her to dream of her future husband.
By the Garter and Stocking.—The party inquiring must live in a different county from that in which she commonly resides, and, on going to bed, must knit the left garter about the right legged stocking, letting the other garter and stocking alone; and as you rehearse the following verse, at every comma knit a knot:
This knot I knit, to know the thing I know not yet,That I may see, the man that shall my husband be,How he goes and what he wears,And what he does all days and years.
This knot I knit, to know the thing I know not yet,That I may see, the man that shall my husband be,How he goes and what he wears,And what he does all days and years.
This knot I knit, to know the thing I know not yet,That I may see, the man that shall my husband be,How he goes and what he wears,And what he does all days and years.
This knot I knit, to know the thing I know not yet,
That I may see, the man that shall my husband be,
How he goes and what he wears,
And what he does all days and years.
Accordingly, in a dream he will appear, with the insignia of his trade or profession.
Get two lemon peels and wear them all day, one in each pocket, and at night rub the four posts of the bedstead with them; if she is to succeed, the person will appear in her sleep, and present her with a couple of lemons; if, not, there is no hope.
Write the proper names of the father and the mother, and the month she conceived with child; add together the letters in these words, and divide the amount by seven; if the remainder be even, it will be a girl; if uneven, it will be a boy.
Write the proper names of the father and the mother, and of the day the child was born; count the letters in these words, and to the amount add twenty-five, and then divide the whole by seven; if the remainder be even the child shall die, but if uneven, the child shall live.
Take a walnut, a hazel nut and a nutmeg; grate them together, and mix them with butter and sugar, and make them up into small pills, of which exactly nine must be taken on going to bed, and, according to your dreams, so will be the state of the person you will marry. If a gentleman, your dream will be of riches; if a clergyman, of white linen; if a lawyer, of darkness; if a tradesman, of odd noises and tumults; if a soldier or sailor, of thunder and lightning; if a servant, of rain.
If the pain be on therightside of the head, make a comb out of therighthorn of a ram; and if the head be combed with it, it will take away the pain. But if the pain be on theleftside of the head, then make a comb out of thelefthorn of a ram, and if the head be combed therewith, it will stop the pain.
The seeds of roses, with mustard seed, and the foot of a weasel, tied together in something, and hung among the boughs or branches of a tree which bears but little fruit, will remedy the defect, and render the tree amazingly fruitful.
The tooth of a mad dog which has bitten any human being, tied in leather and hung at the shoulder, will preserve and keep the wearer from being bitten by any mad dog so long as he wears it. It may be worn next to the skin, or concealed in the clothing.
Repeat reverently and with sincere faith, the following words, and you will be protected in the hour of danger:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Repeat reverently, and with sincere faith, the following words, and you will be protected in the hour of danger:
“At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
“For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.”
Repeat reverently, and with sincere faith, the following words, and you will be protected in the hour of danger:
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
“For the stars of heaven, and the constellations thereof, shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
“And behold, at eventide, trouble; and before the morning he is not; this is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.”
Repeat reverently, and with sincere faith, the following words, and you shall be protected in the hour of danger:
“He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
“In famine he shall redeem thee from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
“And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace, and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shall not err.”
Line (decorative)
Should you be the subject of a deep depression of spirits, contrary to your usual constitutional buoyancy and liveliness, it is a sign that you are about to receive some agreeable intelligence.
If the crown of your head itches more than ordinary, you may expect to be advanced to a more honorable position in life.
Should the hair on your head come off when combing in greater quantities than usual, it is a sign that you will soon be subjected to severe affliction.
If your right eyebrow should immoderately itch, be assured that you are going to look on a pleasant sight—a long-absent friend, or a long-estranged but now reconciled lover.
Should your left eyebrow be visited with a tantalizing itching, it is a sign that you will soon look upon a painful sight—the corpse of a valued friend, or your lover walking with a favored rival.
A ringing in your right ear, is an augury that you will shortly hear some pleasant news.
A ringing in your left ear, is a sign that you will in a short time receive intelligence of a very unpleasant nature.
When your left ear tingles, some one is backbiting you.
A violent itching of the nose, foretells trouble and sorrow to those that experience it.
An itching of the lips is a sign that some one is speaking disrespectfully of you.
When you are affected by an itching on the back of your neck, be assured that either yourself or some one nearly related to you is about to suffer a violent death.
An itching on the right shoulder, signifies that you will shortly have a large legacy bequeathed to you.
When you feel an itching sensation on your left shoulder, be sure that you are about to bear a heavy burden of sorrow and trouble.
If your right elbow joint itches, you may expect shortly to hear some intelligence that will give you extreme pleasure.
Should you be annoyed by a violent itching on your left elbow joint, you may be sure that some vexatious disappointment will be experienced by you.
If you feel an itching on the palm of your right hand, you may expect soon to receive some money which you have been long expecting.
When the palm of your left hand itches, you may expect to be called upon to pay some money for a debt which you have not personally incurred.
An itching on the spine of your back, is a sign that you will shortly be called upon to bear a heavy burden of sorrow and trouble.
An itching on your loins, is an indication that you will soon receive an addition to your family, if married; if single, that you are on the eve of marriage.
When you are affected with an itching of the belly, expect to be invited to feast upon a choice collection of savory meats.
When either or both of your thighs itch, be assured that you are about to change your sleeping apartment.
If you have an itching sensation in your right knee, depend upon it that you will shortly undergo a remarkable and beneficial change in your previous course of life, and become religiously inclined.
If a similar sensation prevails in your left knee, you may expect to undergo a change in your situation of an unfavorable nature.
An itching sensation on the shin, foretells that you will be visited by a painful and long-continued affliction.
When your ankle joints itch, be sure that you are about to be united to one whom you love, if single; if married, that your domestic comforts will be largely increased.
When the sole of your right foot itches, you may feel assured that you are about to undertake a journey from which you will derive much pleasure and enjoyment.
Should you experience a similar sensation on the sole of your left foot, you may expect to be called upon to take a journey of an unpleasant and melancholy nature.
For a woman to have the first and last letters of her christian name the same with the man’s surname, that makes love to her, denotes a great union and a generous love.
For a man to have the first and last letters of his christian name the same with the woman’s surname, denotes the same.
To think of a party on a sudden waking, without any meditation, on a Friday morning, that before had a place in the affections of the man or woman, is a demonstration of love or extraordinary friendship.
If a ring accidentally falls off a man’s finger, that is under no obligation of marriage, and runs directly to the feet of a maid or widow, it denotes not only that he is in love with the party, but that a sudden marriage will ensue.
The singing of a robin-red-breast at your window, in the time of courtship, on a Wednesday, is a sign you shall have the party desired.
If walking abroad with your sweetheart you perceive a pair of pigeons circle around you, it is a sign of marriage and happiness to ensue, with much content.
If a hare cross your path on a Saturday morning, it promises happy days, riches and pleasure.
Pour the grounds of coffee or tea into a white cup, shake them well about in it, so that their particles may cover the whole surface of the cup; then reverse it into the saucer, that all the superfluous parts may be drained off and the figures required for fortune telling be formed. The person that acts the fortune teller must always bend his thoughts upon him or her that wishes to have their fortune told, and upon their rank and profession, in order to give plausibility to their predictions. It is not to be expected, upon taking up the cup, that the figures will be accurately represented as they are in cards, but it is quite sufficient if they bear some resemblance to any of the thirty-two emblems; and the more fertile the fancy shall be of the person that inspects the cup, the more he will discover in it. In other respects, every one who takes pleasure in this amusement must himself be a judge, under what circumstances he is to make changes in point of time, speaking just as it suits, in the present, the past, or the future; in the same manner their ingenuity ought to direct them when to speak more or less pointedly and detrimentally with regard to sex.
The Roads, or serpentine lines, indicate ways; if they are severedwith clouds, and consequently in the thick, they are said to be infallible marks of many past or future reverses. But if they appear in the clear and serene, are the surest token of some fortunate change near at hand; encompassed with many points or dots, they signify an accidental gain of money, likewise long life.
The Ringsignifies marriage; if a letter is near it, it denotes to the person that has his fortune told the initial of the name of the party to be married. If the ring is in the clear, it portends happy and lucrative friendship. Surrounded with clouds, denotes that the party is to use precaution in the friendship he is about to contract, lest he should be insidiously deceived; but it is most inauspicious if the ring appears at the bottom of the cup, as it forebodes an entire separation from the beloved object.
The Leaf of Cloveris a lucky sign. Its different position in the cup alone makes the difference; on the top, it shows that the good fortune is not far distant; but it is subject to delay if it is in the middle or at the bottom. Should clouds surround it, it shows that much disagreeableness will attend the good fortune; in the clear, it prognosticates serene and undisturbed happiness.
The Anchor, the emblem of hope and commerce, implies successful business carried on by water or land, if on the bottom of the cup; at the top and in the clear part, it shows constant love and unshaken fidelity. In the thick and cloudy parts it also denotes love, but tinctured with inconstancy.
The Serpent, always the emblem of falsehood and enmity, is likewise the general sign of an enemy. On the top, or in the middle of the cup, it promises to the consulting party the triumph which he desires over his enemy; but he will not obtain it so easily if the serpent be in the thick and cloudy part. By the letter which appears near the emblem, the enemy may be easily guessed, as it makes the initial of his name.
The Letter.—By letters we communicate to our friends either pleasant or unpleasant news, and such is the case here; if this emblem is in the clear part, it denotes the speedy arrival of a considerable remittance of money, but hemmed in by clouds it is quite the contrary, and forebodes some melancholy or bad tidings, a loss or some other sinister accident. If it be in the clear, and accompanied by a heart, lovers may expect a letter, which secures the party the possession of the beloved object; but in the thick, it denotes a refusal.
The Coffin, the emblem of death, prognosticates the same thing here, or at least a long and tedious illness; if it be in the thick, at the top of the cup, it signifies considerable estate left to the party by some rich relation; in the same manner at the bottom, it shows that the deceased is not so nearly related to the consulting party.
The Stardenotes happiness if in the clear, and at the top of the cup; clouded, or in the thick, it signifies long life, though exposed to various troubles. If dots are about it, it foretells great fortune, wealth, high respectability, &c. Several stars denote so many good and happy children, but surrounded with dashes shows that theperson’s children will cause him or her grief and vexation in old age, and should be prevented by giving them a good education in time.
The Dog, being at all times the emblem of fidelity or envy, has a two-fold meaning here. At the top, in the clear, it signifies true and faithful friends, but if his image be surrounded with clouds and dashes, it shows that those whom you take for your friends are not to be depended on; but if the dog be at the bottom of the cup, you have to dread the effects of extreme envy or jealousy.
The Lily.—If this emblem be at the top or in the middle of the cup, it signifies that the consulting party either has or will have a virtuous spouse; if at the bottom, it denotes quite the reverse. In the clear, the lily further betokens along and happy life; if clouded or in the thick, it portends trouble and vexation, especially on the part of one’s relations.
The Cross, be it one or more, generally predicts adversities. Its position varies, and so do the circumstances. If it be at the top, and in the clear, it shows that the misfortunes of the party will soon be at an end, or that he will easily get over them; but if it appears in the middle, at the bottom, in the thick, the party must expect many severe trials; if it appears with dots, either in the clear or the thick, it promises a speedy change in one’s sorrow.
The Clouds.—If they be more light than dark, expect good results from wishing; but if black, you must give it up. Surrounded with dots, they imply success in trade and all undertakings; but, the brighter they are, the greater will be the happiness.
The Sun.—An emblem of the greatest luck and happiness if in the clear; but in the thick it bodes much sadness; surrounded by dots or dashes, denotes that an altercation will speedily take place.
The Moon, if it appears in the clear, denotes high honors; in the dark or thick part, it implies sadness, which will, however, pass without great prejudice. But if it be at the bottom of the cup, the consulting party will be fortunate, both on land and water.
Mountains.—If it represents only one mountain, it indicates the favor of people of high rank; but several of them, especially in the thick, are signs of powerful enemies; in the clear, they signify the contrary, or friends in high life who are endeavoring to promote the welfare of the consulting party.
Trees.—One tree only, be it in the clear or thick part, points out lasting good health; several trees denote that your wish will be accomplished. If they are encompassed with dashes, it is a token that your fortune is in its blossom, and will require some time to bring it to maturity. If accompanied by dots, it is a sign that you will make your fortune in the country where you reside.
Child.—In the clear part, it bespeaks innocent intercourse between the consultor and another person; in the thick part, excess in love affairs, attended with great expenses; at the bottom of the cup, it denotes the consequences of amorous excesses.
The Pedestriandenotes, in general, to a merchant, good business, pleasant news and the recovery of lost things. It also signifiesthat the consulting party will soon enlist, or get some new engagement.
The Riderdenotes good news from abroad in money matters, a good situation in a foreign country, or good prospects. He that doubts his fortune is promised a lasting one by this emblem.
Womansignifies much joy in general. If in the clear, this emblem has a more favorable signification than in the thick; there it shows very great happiness; here, a great deal of jealousy. If dots surround the image, it explains the lady’s great wealth. The different positions in the cup show, at the top and in the middle, that you will be in love with a virgin; but at the bottom, it denotes she is a widow.
The Mouse.—As this animal lives by stealth, it is also an emblem here of theft and robbery; if it be in the clear, it shows you will get again what you lost, in a wonderful manner; but if it appears in the thick, you may renounce this hope.
Break a new-laid egg, and, carefully separating the yolk from the white, drop the latter into a large tumbler half full of water; place this, uncovered, in some dry place and let it remain untouched for four-and-twenty hours, by which time the white of the egg will have formed itself into various figures—rounds, squares, ovals, animals, trees, crosses, &c.—which are to be interpreted in the same manner as those formed by the coffee-grounds. Of course, the more whites there are in the glass, the more figures there will be. This is a very pretty experiment, and much practised by the young Scotch maidens, who, however, believe it to have more efficacy when tried on either Midsummer Eve or Hallowe’en (31st October).
Take a sheet of white paper and double it in the middle, and cut holes through both the half sheets; let the holes be cut like a pane of glass, or other forms that you may fancy; then with a pin prick two little holes at each end and cut your paper in two halves; give one half to your friend to whom you intend to write, lay your cut paper upon a half sheet of writing paper, and stick two pins in these holes so that it cannot stir; then, through these holes that you cut, write your mind to your friend. When you have done, take off your paper holes again, and then write some other idle words, both before and after your lines, but if they were written to make some little sense, it would carry the less suspicion; then seal it up and send it. When your friend has received it, he must lay his paper on the same, putting pins into the pin-holes, and then he can read nothing but your mind that you write, for all the rest of the lines are covered.
Another.—Write what you please of a letter on one side of asheet of letter paper with common ink; then turn your paper and write on the other side with milk that which you would have secret, and let it dry; but this must be written with a clean pen. Now, when you read it, you must hold that side which is written with ink to the fire, and the milky letters will then show bluish on the other side.
Line (decorative)
This art is performed on your hands and fingers, by the twenty-four letters of the alphabet, which, having learned, you must spell the words you intend your friend should know. The letters are very easily learned and as easily remembered. You must understand that most of the letters are upon the left hand and made with the fingers of the right and left hand; the forefinger of your right hand you point to every letter, but sometimes that and the two next fingers make several letters. The vowels are very easy to remember, they being the tops or ends of your five fingers on your left hand, and Y is formed in the palm of your left hand, thus:
Practice a few times and you will soon be perfect. Several motions represent the likeness of the letter; as, one finger on the back of the hand is like L, two fingers like N, three like M. The fore finger to the middle joint of the other fore finger is like T; two fingers across is like X; likewise B, C, D, are easily remembered; one finger on the left thumb is B, two fingers C, three fingers D. But you must always remember to give a snap with the fingers between the words, so that your friend may distinguish one word from another. If you are in company, and think some others understand you, that you would not have, it will be necessary to change the vowels to some other part of the hand, and then none but your friend that knows it can understand you. Suppose you would say to a lady in a large company, “Madam, I am your humble servant.” It is done thus:
And thus you may discourse upon any subject; if you practice it often you will soon learn to do it very quick, even faster than you can write.
Line (decorative)
Should the horizon in the north wear a ruddy appearance in the evening, stormy and boisterous weather may be expected.
If the clouds in the south are ruddy in the evening, sunshiny and rainy weather will prevail for some time afterward.
When the face of the moon is partially obscured by a light, thin vapor, rain will shortly follow.
When the rays from the sun at midday are more than ordinarily dazzling, rainy weather will shortly succeed.
In summertime, when the swallows fly near to the ground, rainy weather will assuredly soon follow.
The shrill crowing of a cock during rainy weather, is a sign that drought will speedily prevail.
When the smoke from the chimney falls down toward the ground, instead of rising upward, it is a sign that rainy weather will soon follow.
If on a foggy morning in summer the fog rises upward, it will be a fine day; if the fog falls to the ground, it will be wet.
When, in summertime, you see the cattle grazing in a field gathering together in groups, be assured that a thunderstorm is approaching.
When you see the fowls in a farmyard flocking together under some covert, be assured that ungenial weather is about to succeed.
When the crows, in flying over your head, make an extraordinary and discordant cawing, rain will come on shortly.
When you see your dog or cat more than ordinarily restless, frisking about the house in all directions, be assured that some boisterous weather will shortly follow.
In rainy weather, when you hear the chirping of the sparrows on the housetop more shrill than usual, it is a sign that clear and dry weather will quickly succeed.
When you see a vapory fluid resting upon a stagnant pool in the fore part of the day, you may conclude that rainy weather will shortly come on. Should the vapor ascend and clear away, a continued drought may be anticipated.
In summer, when the atmosphere is dense and heavy, and there is scarcely a breath of air, be assured that a thunderstorm is coming on.
When the firmament is lighted up with meteoric phenomena, such as falling stars, globes of fire, &c., changeable and boisterous weather may be expected to prevail.
When the rising sun appears like a solid mass of fervent heated metal, and no rays appear to emanate therefrom, fine and dry weather may be confidently anticipated.
When the sun sets in a halo of ruddy brightness, genial and bright weather may be fully relied on for the coming day.
When the moon appears of a ruddy hue, stormy and boisterous weather may be expected to follow.
When the stars appear of a sparkling brightness, fine and genial weather may be expected to prevail for some time. Should the stars appear obscure and dim, changeable and rainy weather may be anticipated.
The luminous appearance of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, in the firmament, foretells the approach of stormy and boisterous weather.
When the setting sun, in the autumn or winter seasons, appears ruddy, it is a sign that high and boisterous winds may be expected to blow from the north and northwest. When the sun at its rising, in the autumn or winter seasons, appears ruddy, it foretells that high and boisterous winds may be anticipated to blow from the south and southeast.
When seabirds are observed flocking toward the shore, storms and tempests may be confidently expected.
When in the early autumn season the migratory birds are seen flocking together and taking their departure, it is a certain sign that rough and boisterous weather is approaching and that a severe winter may be anticipated.
When the doves around a dovecote make a more than ordinary cooing, and frequently pass in and out of their cote, it is a sign that a change of weather is near.
When the robin approaches your habitation, it is a sign that wintry weather will shortly prevail.
When there is a thick vapory mist resting on the tops of high hills in the morning and remains there during the day, it is a sign that wet and ungenial weather may be anticipated. Should the mist eventually rise upward and be evaporated by the sun’s rays, a return to fine dry weather may be looked for; if, however, the mist falls down into the valley, a continuation of wet weather will prevail.
If, in taking a walk, you should see a single magpie, it is a bad omen, especially if it should fly past you to the left hand; but, if it should pass you to the right hand, the good will counterbalance the bad. Should you see two magpies together, expect to hear of something to your advantage—a proposal of marriage, if single; or a legacy of money bequeathed to you. Should the magpies fly past you together, to your right hand, your own marriage, or the marriage of some one nearly related to you, will occur in a short time. The seeing of several magpies together is considered a very fortunate omen.
May is considered an unlucky month to marry in, therefore avoid doing so if possible. If you can catch a snail by the horns on the first of May and throw it over your shoulder, you will belucky throughout the year. If you place one on a slate on that day, it will describe by its turnings the initials of your future partner’s name.
If a young man or young woman, on going up a flight of stairs, should stumble in the middle of the flight, it is a sign that his or her marriage will take place in a short time; if the stumbling should be near the top of the stairs, then his or her marriage will be immediately consummated.
If a marriage procession, on proceeding to church or chapel, should happen to meet a funeral procession, it is considered an unlucky omen to the expectant bride; if, on returning after the solemnization of the rite, a funeral procession should pass the bridal party, it is an unfavorable sign to the bridegroom.
If a young person, when seated at the tea-table, should observe one or more stalks of the tea plant in the newly poured out cup, and if, on stirring the tea and holding the spoon in the middle of the liquid, the stalk or stalks should come close to the spoon handle, it is a token that he or she will be soon married.
When the house dog is unusually restless, and howls dismally in the night time, it is a sign that sickness and death are about to visit the family to whom the dog belongs.
When the wick of your candle shows a bright spark in the midst of the flame, it is a sign that a long absent friend is about to visit you.
When the ribs of your fire grate are more than usual covered with flakes of soot, it is a sign that a stranger is about to visit your habitation.