Page:Mother Bunch's golden fortune-teller.pdf/5

 easily if the serpent be in the thick or cloudy part By the letter which frequently appears near the emblem, the enemy may easily be guessed, as it marks the initial of his name.

The Letter.—By letters we communicate to our friends either pleasant or unpleasant news; such is the case here. If this emblem is in the clear part, it denotes the speedy arrival of welcomowelcome [sic] news; surrounded with dots, it announces the arrival of a considerable remittance in money; but hemmed in by clouds, it is quite the contrary, and forbodes some melancholy tidings. If it be in the clear, and accompanied by a heart, lovers may expect a letter, which secures to the party thothe [sic] possession of the beloved object; but in the thick it denotes a refusal.

The Coffin, the emblem of death, prognosticates thothe [sic] same thing here, or long illness if it be in the thick. In the clear, it denotes long life; in thothe [sic] thick, at the top of the cup, it signifies a considerable estate left to the party by some rich relation: in the same manner, at thothe [sic] bottom, it shews that thothe [sic] deceased is not so nearly related to the consulting party.

The Star denotes happiness if in thothe [sic] clear, and at the top of the cup; clouded, or in the thick, it signifies long life, though exposed to various troubles; if dots are about it, it foretells great fortune, honours, &c. Several stars denote so many good and happy children; but surrounded by dots, show that your children will cause you grief and vexation.

The Dog, at all times an emblem of fidelity or envy, has also a two-fold meaning here. At the top, in the clear, it signifies faithful friends; but surrounded by clouds and dashes, it shows those whom you take for your friends are not to be