Current Superstitions Part 46

_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._

1286. In climbing a fence,--

Get over, meet with clover, Get through, meet with a shoe; Get under, meet with a blunder.

_Sunderland, Ma.s.s._

1287. If you step on a grave, you will never grow any more.

_Chestertown, Md. (negro)._

1288. Step over a living thing, and that thing, whether a human being or not, will not grow any more.

_Province of Quebec, Can._

1289. To step over one leg of a child will cause it to grow longer than the other.

_Baltimore, Md._

1290. To comb the hair after dark is a sign of sickness.

Comb your hair after dark, Comb sorrow to your heart.

_Connecticut._

1291. If you comb your hair after dark, it will make you forgetful.

_Northern Ohio._

1292. If the right hand itches, you are going to get money; if the left, you will shake hands with a friend. If the nose itches, a friend is coming.

_Talladega, Ala._

1293. Two persons wiping hands on the same towel and twisting it occasions a quarrel.

_Pennsylvania._

1294. Wash and wipe together, Live in peace together.

_Northern Ohio._

1295. If two persons wash their hands at the same time, it is a sign that they will be friends forever.

_Alabama._

1296. If two persons wipe their hands at the same time, they will be foes forever.

_Alabama._

1297. When two persons put one hand of each flat together, palm to palm, they will quarrel.

_Province of Quebec, Can._

1298. If two persons clasp hands so as to lock the fingers, bringing the palm of one person against the palm of the other person's hand, it will break friends.h.i.+p.

_Newton, Ma.s.s._

1299. If you hug your knee (hold your knee in clasped hands), you will hug up trouble.

_Salem and Medford, Ma.s.s._

1300. When your joints crack, it is a sign that you have not outlived your best days.

_New York, N.Y._

1301. If you kiss through a veil, there'll be a coolness.

_Portland, Me._

1302. Crossed knives are a sign of a quarrel.

_c.u.mberland, Ma.s.s._

1303. Stir with a knife, Stir up strife.

1304. Never look after a friend who is leaving you till he is quite out of sight, or you will never see him or her again; but turn your eyes away while he is still visible, that he or she may return.

_General in the United States._

1305. Never say "good-by" more than once.

_Alabama._

1306. One who habitually bites the nails is ill-natured.

_Ohio._

1307. If you bite your finger-nails you will always be poor.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1308. If you sleep with your head towards the north, it will prevent sickness.

_General in the United States._

1309. If you can cut a pie fair and true, you'll have a likely husband.

If you make the slices uneven, he'll be crooked.

1310. If you make a bed handsomely, you'll have a handsome husband.

1311. If you cut pie straight, you will go to housekeeping.

If you cut pie crooked, you will have no house to keep.

_New Hamps.h.i.+re._

1312. If you make a rhyme involuntarily, you will have a present.

_New Brunswick._

1313. The free use of salt is a sign of having a temper.

_Lynn, Ma.s.s._

1314. To say anything backward is a sign you will get a present.

_Peabody, Ma.s.s._

1315. If you sing before you eat, You'll cry before you sleep.

_Ohio and Iowa._

1316. If you sing before breakfast, you will cry before supper.

_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._

1317. If you laugh before breakfast, you will cry before supper.

_Prince Edward Island and Somerville, Ma.s.s._