Current Superstitions Part 47

1318. Little birds that sing in the morning The old cat will catch before night.

Accustomed to be said to children when they were especially hilarious in the early morning.

_Northern Ohio._

1319. If a child sing before breakfast, it will get a whipping before night.

_New Hamps.h.i.+re._

1320. To sing after you go to bed is a sign that tears will come before breakfast.

_Maine._

1321. If the sole of either foot itches, you will walk on strange ground.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

1322. When about to begin a new enterprise, one must not step over straws in starting out.

1323. If you stumble with the right foot, it means a glad surprise.

_Pennsylvania (negro)._

1324. In going anywhere, if you strike the right foot you will be welcome wherever you may be going, and if the same happens to the left foot, you will be on strange ground.

_Bellville, O._

1325. To sit on a table is a sign of coming disappointment.

_Maine and Ma.s.sachusetts._

1326. In drinking tea, if you take a stem in the mouth it means an enemy; you must bite it and throw it over the right shoulder.

_Central Maine._

1327. If you stub your toe going into a house, you are not wanted there.

_Guilford, Conn._

1328. If, in going visiting, you stub the right toe, you are welcome; if the left, you are unwelcome.

_Ma.s.sachusetts and Ohio._

1329. If you stub your toe going anywhere, it means a disappointment.

_Bathurst, N.B._

1330. Stub your toe, Lose your beau.

_Salem, Ma.s.s._

1331. To bite the tongue while talking means that you have told a lie.

1332. If you bite your tongue suddenly while eating, it is a sign some one is coming hungry.

_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._

1333. In going along the street or path, where there is a tree, go inside rather than outside the tree, for you will be disappointed if you take the latter course.

_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

1334. In drinking water, if you glance over the gla.s.s, you are a flirt.

_Pennsylvania._

1335. Whistling girls and crowing hens Always come to some bad ends.

_General in the United States._

1336. Whistling girls and sheep Are the very worst cattle a farmer can keep.

1337. A whistling girl and a laughing sheep, Are the very best property a man can keep.

_Northern Ohio._

1338. Girls that whistle and hens that crow Make their way wherever they go.

1339. Whistle before you eat, Cry before you sleep.

_Baldwinsville, N.Y._

BODILY AFFECTIONS.

1340. If the right cheek burns, some one is speaking well of you; if the left, they are speaking ill of you; if both, they speak well and ill at once. Moisten the finger in the mouth and touch it to the cheek, naming those whom you suspect; the one at whose name it grows cool was speaking of you.

_New Brunswick._

1341. If your right ear burns, some one is talking well of you; if your left, he is talking ill.

_General in the United States._

1342. If you bite the corner of your ap.r.o.n, you will make back-biters bite their tongues.

_Pennsylvania._

1343. Pinch your ear, and the person talking of you will bite his own tongue.

1344. If the right ear burns, it is a sign that some one is thinking well of you; if the left ear burns, it is a sign that some one is thinking unkindly of you; but if both ears burn, friend and foe are fighting about you.

_Pennsylvania._

1345. If your ears burn, people are talking well of you; if your ears are cold, the contrary.

_New Hamps.h.i.+re._

1346. If your right ear burns, a lady is speaking of you; if the left, a man.

_Maine and Pennsylvania._

1347. If your left ear itches, some one is saying unpleasant things about you; but if your right ear, pleasant things. Some say,--

Both left and right Are good at night.

_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._

1348. If the right eye itches, it is a sign you will cry; if the left, you will laugh, because R stands for "roar" and L for "laugh."

_Baldwinsville, N.Y._

1349. If the right eye itches, you'll laugh; if the left eye, you'll cry.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

1350. If your eye itches, some one wants to see you and can't.