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newly Broke Open. 19

Then to your great content, you shall either have the Valentine of him you desire, or, at least, ore much more excellent.

Sixthly, the experiment of the mid-summer smock, found in a better manner than before, by my painful study in Philosophy. And now, Daughters, quoch she, take particular notice, for it is thus: Let seven of you together, on a mid-summer eve, exactly at the sun's setting, go silently into some garden, and gather each of you a sprig of red sage, then re- turn to some private room, prepared particularly for that purpose, with a stool placed in the middle, each one of you having a clean smock, turned the wrong side outwards, hanging upon a line across the room, then let every one lay her sprig of red sage on a clean plate of rose-water set on a stool; which done, place yourselves in a row, where continue till twelve or one o'clock, saying nothing, whatever you see, for after midnight, each one's sweetheart or husband, that shall be, will take each maid's sprig out of the rose-water, and sprinkle his love's smock, and those who are so unfortunate as never to be married, their sprigs shall not be moved; and in consequence hereof, many sobs and heavy sighs will be heard. This has been very often tried in our own country, and never failed of the desired effect.

And now, my dear Daughters, I have but a few more words to say at this time, and they are by way of caution: In the twelve months, I find above one and thirty very unfortunate days; and therefore, as you regard the future happiness of your lives, take