THE SEPTEMBER GALE.

ByOLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

I’m not a chicken; I have seenFull many a chill September,And though 1 was a youngster then,That gale I well remember;The day before, my kite-string snapped,And I, my kite pursuing,The wind whisked off my palm-leaf hat;—For me two storms were brewing!It came as quarrels sometimes do,When married folks get clashing;There was a heavy sigh or two,Before the fire was flashing,—A little stir among the clouds,Before they rent asunder,—A little rocking of the trees,And then came on the thunder.Lord! how the ponds and rivers boiled,And how the shingles rattled!And oaks were scattered on the groundAs it the Titans battled;And all above was in a howl,And all below a clatter,—The earth was like a frying-pan,Or some such hissing matter.It chanced to be our washing-day,And all our things were drying:The storm came roaring through the lines,And set them all a-flying;I saw the shirts and petticoatsGo riding off like witches;I lost, ah! bitterly I wept,—I lost my Sunday breeches!I saw them straddling through the air,Alas! too late to win them;I saw them chase the clouds as ifThe devil had been in them;They were my darlings and my pride,My boyhood’s only riches,—“Farewell, farewell,” I faintly cried,—“My breeches! O my breeches!”That night I saw them in my dreams,How changed from what I knew them.The dews had steeped their faded threads,The winds had whistled through them;I saw the wide and ghastly rentsWhere demon claws had torn them;A hole was in their amplest part,As if an imp had worn them.I have had many happy years,And tailors kind and clever,But those young pantaloons have goneForever and forever!And not till fate has cut the lastOf all my earthly stitches,This aching heart shall cease to mournMy loved, my long-lost breeches!

I’m not a chicken; I have seen

Full many a chill September,

And though 1 was a youngster then,

That gale I well remember;

The day before, my kite-string snapped,

And I, my kite pursuing,

The wind whisked off my palm-leaf hat;—

For me two storms were brewing!

It came as quarrels sometimes do,When married folks get clashing;There was a heavy sigh or two,Before the fire was flashing,—A little stir among the clouds,Before they rent asunder,—A little rocking of the trees,And then came on the thunder.

It came as quarrels sometimes do,

When married folks get clashing;

There was a heavy sigh or two,

Before the fire was flashing,—

A little stir among the clouds,

Before they rent asunder,—

A little rocking of the trees,

And then came on the thunder.

Lord! how the ponds and rivers boiled,And how the shingles rattled!And oaks were scattered on the groundAs it the Titans battled;And all above was in a howl,And all below a clatter,—The earth was like a frying-pan,Or some such hissing matter.

Lord! how the ponds and rivers boiled,

And how the shingles rattled!

And oaks were scattered on the ground

As it the Titans battled;

And all above was in a howl,

And all below a clatter,—

The earth was like a frying-pan,

Or some such hissing matter.

It chanced to be our washing-day,And all our things were drying:The storm came roaring through the lines,And set them all a-flying;I saw the shirts and petticoatsGo riding off like witches;I lost, ah! bitterly I wept,—I lost my Sunday breeches!

It chanced to be our washing-day,

And all our things were drying:

The storm came roaring through the lines,

And set them all a-flying;

I saw the shirts and petticoats

Go riding off like witches;

I lost, ah! bitterly I wept,—

I lost my Sunday breeches!

I saw them straddling through the air,Alas! too late to win them;I saw them chase the clouds as ifThe devil had been in them;They were my darlings and my pride,My boyhood’s only riches,—“Farewell, farewell,” I faintly cried,—“My breeches! O my breeches!”

I saw them straddling through the air,

Alas! too late to win them;

I saw them chase the clouds as if

The devil had been in them;

They were my darlings and my pride,

My boyhood’s only riches,—

“Farewell, farewell,” I faintly cried,—

“My breeches! O my breeches!”

That night I saw them in my dreams,How changed from what I knew them.The dews had steeped their faded threads,The winds had whistled through them;I saw the wide and ghastly rentsWhere demon claws had torn them;A hole was in their amplest part,As if an imp had worn them.

That night I saw them in my dreams,

How changed from what I knew them.

The dews had steeped their faded threads,

The winds had whistled through them;

I saw the wide and ghastly rents

Where demon claws had torn them;

A hole was in their amplest part,

As if an imp had worn them.

I have had many happy years,And tailors kind and clever,But those young pantaloons have goneForever and forever!And not till fate has cut the lastOf all my earthly stitches,This aching heart shall cease to mournMy loved, my long-lost breeches!

I have had many happy years,

And tailors kind and clever,

But those young pantaloons have gone

Forever and forever!

And not till fate has cut the last

Of all my earthly stitches,

This aching heart shall cease to mourn

My loved, my long-lost breeches!

FACTS FOR THE WEATHERWISE.

The sun is bright, the sky is clear,But grandma says a storm is near;And when I asked how she could know,She said the peacock told her so,When, perching on the old fence rail,He screamed so loud and dropped his tail;And the shy cuckoo on the wingRepeated over the same thing;And “More wet!” all the bob-whites criedThat in the grassy meadows hide;The soot that from the chimney fellCame down, it seems, this news to tell;The kettle sang the self-same tuneWhen it boiled dry so very soon;The grass this morning said so, too,That hung without a drop of dew;And the blue swallows, flying lowAcross the river, to and fro.So all these told her very plainThat ere the evening it would rain;But who told them, and when, and how?That’s what I want to find out now.St. Nicholas.

The sun is bright, the sky is clear,

But grandma says a storm is near;

And when I asked how she could know,

She said the peacock told her so,

When, perching on the old fence rail,

He screamed so loud and dropped his tail;

And the shy cuckoo on the wing

Repeated over the same thing;

And “More wet!” all the bob-whites cried

That in the grassy meadows hide;

The soot that from the chimney fell

Came down, it seems, this news to tell;

The kettle sang the self-same tune

When it boiled dry so very soon;

The grass this morning said so, too,

That hung without a drop of dew;

And the blue swallows, flying low

Across the river, to and fro.

So all these told her very plain

That ere the evening it would rain;

But who told them, and when, and how?

That’s what I want to find out now.

St. Nicholas.

Italy is visited by a hot wind from the south which is known as the “Sirocco.” This wind will run the temperature in southern Italy up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, and has a most peculiar effect on the human system, causing intense weakness and irritable depression.

The Sirocco is said to be indirectly the cause of more murders, and of quarrels in which blood is shed, than any other phenomenon in nature.

The absence of dew for three days indicates rain. Heavy dew indicates fair weather. Clouds without dew indicate rain. If there is a heavy dew and it soon dries, expect fine weather; if it lies long on the grass, expect rain in twenty-four hours.

With dew before midnight, the next day will surely be bright. If you wet your feet with the dew in the morning, you may keep them dry for the rest of the day.

If it rains before seven, ’twill clear before eleven. Rains from the south prevent drought, but rains from the west are always best. If it rains before sunrise, expect a fair afternoon. If it rains when the sun shines, it will rain the next day. Rain is likely to commence on the turn of the tide.

Marry the rain to the wind and you have a calm. If rain commences before daylight, it will hold up before 8A.M.; if it begins about noon, it will continue through the afternoon; if it commences after 9P.M., it will rain the next day; if the wind is from the northwest or southwest, the storm will be short; if from the northeast, it will be a hard one.

An early English author writes:

“Thunders in the morning signifie wynde: about noone, rayne; in the evening great tempest.

“Somme wryte (their ground I see not) that Sondayes thundre should brynge the death of learned men, judges, and others; Mondayes thundre, the death of women; Tuesdayes thundre, pleantie of graine; Wednesdayes thundre, much blodshede; Thursdayes thundre, pleantie of shepe and corne; Fridayes thundre, the slaughter of a great man and other horrible murders; and Saturdayes thundre, a generall pestilent plague and great deathe.”

The following rules are those which are used by the Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club in their very successful attempts to forecast the weather with the aid of the barometer.

A Rising Barometer.—A rapid rise indicates unsettled weather. A gradual rise indicates settled weather. A rise with dry air and cold air increasing in summer indicates wind from the northward; and if rain has fallen, better weather may be expected. A rise with moist air and a low temperature indicates wind and rain from the northward. A rise with southerly winds indicates fine weather.

A Steady Barometer.—With dry air and seasonable temperature indicates a continuance of very fine weather.

A Falling Barometer.—A rapid fall indicates stormy weather. A rapid fall with westerly wind indicates stormy weather from the northward. A fall with a northerly wind indicates storm, with rain and hail in summer, and snow in winter. A fall with increased moisture in the air and heat increasing indicates wind and rain from the southward. A fall with dry air and cold increasing in winter indicates snow. A fall after very calm and warm weather indicates rain with squally weather.

The barometer rises for northerly winds, including from northwest by north to the eastward for dry or less wet weather, for less wind, or for more than one of these changes, except on a few occasions, when rain, hail, or snow comes from the northward with strong wind.

The barometer falls for southerly wind, including from southeast by south to the westward, for wet weather, for stronger wind, or for more than one of these changes, except on a few occasions, moderate wind, with rain or snow, comes from the northward.

A sign of coming rain or strong wind is evident when a herd of cows gather together at one end of a pasture, with their tails to windward. Again, when cows are unusually frisky—so that sedate old grandmother cows caper about the field and butt imaginary objects with their horns, while they fling up their heels—often storms are in the air.

Cows are sometimes thus playful in the witching hours of twilight, to the terror of nervous ladies who must cross their pastures.

But when in twilight cows follow one another along a field path unpleasantly close and gambol unpleasantly around one, fear of a storm need not necessarily add terror to the situation. For cows are very inquisitive, and in the dusk of twilight like to make careful investigation of strangers, without meaning any offense.

Cows show a sign of heat and its accompaniment, annoying insects, when they thus collect together, rubbing themselves against each other, and one might read in this a sign of fair weather ahead.

Willsford, in his “Nature’s Secrets” (1658), tells us:

“When our common fires do burn with a pale flame, they presage foul weather. If the fire do make a huzzing noise, it is a sign of tempests near at hand. When the fire sparkleth. very much, it is a sign of rain. If the ashes on the hearth do dodder together of themselves, it is a sign of rain. When pots are newly taken off the fire, if they sparkle (the soot upon them being incensed), it presages rain.

“When the fire scorcheth, and burneth more vehemently than it useth to do, it is a sign of frosty weather; but if the living coals do shine brighter than commonly at other times, expect then rain. If wood or any other fuel do crackle more than ordinary, it is an evident sign of some tempestuous weather neer at hand; the much and suddain falling of soot presages rain.”

The goose-bone predictions are perhaps more closely watched in Kentucky than anywhere else, and it may be called the Kentucky weather prophet.

We must take the breastbone of a last spring’s goose—none other will do, for the prophecy does not extend beyond the year in which the goose is hatched. It must be divided into three different parts, which represent the three divisions of winter.

The breastbone of a goose is translucent, but at places has cloudlike blots upon it. These blots denote cold weather, and the prophecy is made according to their density and position.

Dr. Klein, in reference to the use of daily weather reports, states that in Europe, as in America, in all cases, the reports of the weather westward of a given station are of the greatest importance, while reports from stations to the east are, on the average, of minor importance in making weather predictions.

A southerly wind in the region of Ireland, Scotland, or Norway indicates the approaching side of an area of low barometer. It is therefore a sign of a coming change in the weather.

A northerly wind in those regions indicates, for Germany, that the pressure of the air from the ocean is high, and can be considered as a sign of steady pleasant weather.

The region of high barometer is generally separated from oceans and from equatorial regions by lofty chains of mountains. The coldest and densest stratum of air can therefore not flow away toward the sea.

The area of greatest cold on this continent is not prevented by any range of mountains from extending southward and eastward, but is only hemmed in on the west by the Rocky Mountains. Thus while the Pacific Coast is protected from an overflow of very cold air, the whole eastern portion of America becomes peculiarly subject to it.

A HOROSCOPE OF THE MONTHS.[7]

ByMARION Y. BUNNER.

The Nature of the Destiny and Some of the Idiosyncrasies Which Have To Do with Persons Born Under the Sign “Libra,” Representing the Period Between September 23d and October 23d.Compiled and edited forThe Scrap Book.

The Nature of the Destiny and Some of the Idiosyncrasies Which Have To Do with Persons Born Under the Sign “Libra,” Representing the Period Between September 23d and October 23d.

Compiled and edited forThe Scrap Book.

7. This is the eighth instalment of “A Horoscope of the Months.” The first was printed in the March issue of THE SCRAP BOOK. In subsequent numbers we will give the sign for the month of issue and explain its significance to those whose birth-month it may happen to indicate. Watch for your month and note whether the characteristics given will apply to yourself and to your friends.—The Editor.

LIBRA: THE SCALES.SEPTEMBER 23d to OCTOBER 23d. CUSP: RUNS SEPTEMBER 23d to 29th.

SEPTEMBER 23d to OCTOBER 23d. CUSP: RUNS SEPTEMBER 23d to 29th.

The constellation Libra—the seventh sign of the zodiac, and the middle one of the Air Triplicity—is a cardinal, sanguine, diurnal, airy, masculine sign, governing the loins. The higher attributes are inspiration and perception.

A person born during the cusp, when the sun is on the edge of the sign, does not receive the full benefits of the individuality of either Virgo or Libra, but partakes of the characteristics of both.

There is a greater variety of disposition among the Libra people than among those of any other sign. They are energetic, ambitious, and inspired. The inner nature is receptive, intuitional, sensitive, and poetical. They always finish things in a careful, competent, and conclusive manner. They keenly feel and can closely imitate the acts and sentiments of others, and can thus readily learn from example.

Their strong emotions and great imitative ability make them well adapted for the dramatic profession. When angry, they leave nothing unsaid. Their nature responds to all forms of ideality. As students, they are fond of philosophical and ethical and especially of mystical literature, Many good linguists are found in this sign.

The Libra people have remarkable foresight, and in the decision of most matters they are correctly guided by their intuitive faculty. This is especially so in the buying or selling of commodities, in which they can rarely be defrauded.

When overtaken by disaster they recover quickly and go to work again with redoubled vigor. The Libra women are kind, constant, and merciful.

The other type of Libra people is to be found more among the men, who are cunning in their business dealings and inconstant in their affections.

In physical appearance Libra subjects are usually tall, slender, and well-formed, with oval face, or languid expression of countenance, and beautiful eyes. The physical temperament will be sanguine-bilious in Southern latitudes, and nervous-bilious in Northern climates.

Their most congenial friends will be found among the Fire people (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius); next, with those born under their own sign, and, third, with those born under Aquarius.

Libra people take things from a material and literal standpoint; and though their intuitive nature will often show them the true side of the question, they prefer to accept the conclusions of human logic.

Impatience is one of their chief faults. They are prodigal of their strength and talents, and scatter their forces in all directions. They suffer through anger and jealousy.

When a Libra and a Sagittarius person are united, the children will be very talented. Children of Libra and Aquarius will be stronger physically, and will possess a keen intellect. These children are quick to perceive the truth in anything, and will make determined efforts to improve. They have a natural genius for invention, having a marked mechanical ability over all the other signs. They should be permitted to have their own way when not entirely wrong. To circumscribe a Libra child is to destroy its genius.

The governing planet is Venus, and the gems are the diamond and the opal. The astral colors are black, crimson, and light blue. The flower is the violet.

August and December are the most favorable months, and Wednesday is the lucky day in this sign.

October, the eighth month of the old Roman year, originally began in spring. By the Julian arrangement it became the tenth month, and had thirty-one days assigned to it. By the Slavs this is called “yellow month” from the fading of the leaf; to the Anglo-Saxons it was known as the Wyn-Monat (wine month), because it was the month in which they pressed grapes, also as Winter-fylleth, because at this full moon (fylleth) winter was supposed to begin. It corresponds partly with the Vendémiaire and partly to the Brumaire of the first French Republic.

In some of the very old Saxon calendars October is characterized by the figure of a husbandman carrying a sack on his shoulders and sowing of corn. In others, less ancient, hawking is the emblem of the month; and yet in more modern times it has been represented as a man clothed in a garment of the color of decaying leaves, with a coronal of oak-branches and acorns on his head, holding in his left hand a basket of chestnuts, medlars, etc., and in his right, Scorpio—i.e., the sign of the zodiac which the sun enters on the twenty-third of October.

The principal ecclesiastical feasts are those of St. Luke, on the 18th; and St. Simon and St. Jude, on the 28th.

The late Senator Mark A. Hanna and Mrs. Annie Besant were born under this sign. Bernhardt, Modjeska, and Peg Woffington are excellent illustrations of the dramatic genius of the Libra people.

Back to Index Next