Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/275

 Superstitions from Central Georgia. 263

23. To step over a broom going forwards is bad luck ; you must step over it backwards.

24. It is bad luck to sweep the dirt out of a house at night ; sweep it up into a corner and sweep out in the daytime. If obliged to sweep it out at night, take a coal of fire and throw it first in front of you.

25. One negro will not step over another while lying down. If he does, he must stej) over again backwards.

26. Never let the moon shine on fresh meat ; it brings bad luck.

27. To pin bad luck, drive a rusty nail in the front doorstep.

28. If a negro sees a pin, and picks it up with the point to him, it is blunt luck ; he will walk about in order to take it point toward him, and then it is sharp luck.

29. If a negro moves into another house, even if the house has been swept and scoured, he will scour and sweep it again for fear of "cunjer."

30. If a looking-glass falls from a wall and breaks, it is a sign of death ; if any one lets it fall from his hands, of seven years of bad luck.

31. Never lend salt or red pepper ; if you lend it, it will give bad luck.

SIGNS.

32. For a cook to drop a dishrag is a sign that some one will come hungry.

33. When you drop your knife and it sticks up, it is a sign of good luck.

34. To see a measuring-worm crawling on any one is a sign that the person will have a new suit of clothes.

35. If a butterfly lights on you, it is a sign that you will die soon.

36. To see a butterfly, catch it and bite off the head, you will have a new dress the color of the butterfly.

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