Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/244

 2 2 2 Collectanea.

will be imperfect, and his vision too dim to describe ; if downwards, so as to keep the eyes closed, he will not have second sight at all.

To sit on the edge of a table indicates a desire to marry.

When a wish-bone or merry-thought, — the former is the common name in Canada, — had been broken in the usual way, the larger part used to be hung up over the front door of the house. The first young unmarried person passing under it in entering would marry within a year.

The same is presaged by the person being handed a cup of tea or other drink with two spoons in it.^

In shaking hands, if the hands are accidentally crossed, one of the persons so doing will marry within the same interval. (The symbolism is obvious ; the position of the hands suggests that of the hands of bride and groom during the giving of the ring.)

In choosing the wedding-day, the usual rhyme, " Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth," etc., is quoted.

If an unmarried woman finds a horseshoe, which in general is lucky, the number of nails in it indicates the number of years to her marriage (C).

You will never be wealthy until you have worn out all the clothes in which you were married.

The future husband or wife may be seen as follows : — Walk up- stairs backwards in the dark, holding a mirror and gazing fixedly at it. Repeat at each step, — "Come my future, come my love." The image of the destined person will be dimly seen in the glass looking over the experimenter's left shoulder.

A girl who " mocks across a chair," {i.e. makes fun of or mimics anyone when there is a chair between them), will not be married that year (C).

If a wedding party on its way from the ceremony passes a funeral, one of the family of either bride or groom will die within a year.

In baking bread, if the top crust of the loaf cracks, a death will occur before the loaf is eaten. If a hole (supposed to represent a grave) is found in the centre of the loaf, a funeral will take place within the same time.

If a framed picture falls from the wall, someone will die in the house within a year (C).

^Cf. vol. XX., p. 219 (Oxfordshire) ; vol. xxi., p. 226 {Yoi-kshire).