Page:Hocus pocus, or, The whole art of legerdemain in perfection (1).pdf/22

 How to turn a Box of Bird Seed into a living Bird.

You must have a box made on purpose, with a false lid; for to discribe it to you in words is pretty hard, but you may have them ready made at my house. This box must be turned nearly like unto the egg boxes, so that they cannot find out where it opens, and you must have a false lid to clap on and off, and on that lid glue some bird seed; so before you shew the box to the company. 'Gentlemen. I will command all the seed out of my box and command a living bird to appear,' so taking off the covers the bird will appear. You may be furnished with all manner of instruments, as cups. Dutch puddings, egg-boxes, glob boxes melting-boxes, sixpenny boxes bird-boxes and bells and bushels.

To tell what Card any one thinketh on.

Take 21 cards, and begin to lay them down, three in a row, with their faces upwards; then begin again at the left hand, and lay one card upon the first, and so go on the right hand; and then begin at left hand again, and so go on to the right; do this till you have laid out the 21 cards in three heaps; but as you are laying them out. bid any one think on a card, and when you have laid them all out, ask him in which heap his card is, then lay that heap in the middle betwixt the other two; then lay them all out again into three heaps as before, and as you lay them