Current Superstitions Part 51

_Cape Breton._

1446. It is a sign of good old-fas.h.i.+oned economy to use up a dish-cloth until it can be put into your mouth.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1447. If a door opens of itself, it is supposed to indicate the presence of a spirit, usually one of the family.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1448. It is unlucky to name a child after a dead child of the family.

_Newfoundland._

1449. If you begin keeping house with many in the family, it is a sign that you will always have a large family or houseful.

_Ohio._

1450. If a wood fire snaps and sparkles, each time it does indicates the receipt of a letter.

_Peabody, Ma.s.s._

1451. One of the negro superst.i.tions was that when the fire burned with a blue flame, it was the devil seeking to speak to them. A handful of salt would make him go away.

_Alabama._

1452. Sweep the floor after dark, you'll see sickness before morning.

1453. If while eating you drop food on the floor, it is a sign that some one is telling lies about you.

_Cape Breton._

1454. Food dropped on the floor by one signifies that some one grudges you it.

_Common in the United States._

1455. Do not change your place at table; it is very unlucky.

_New York, N.Y._

1456. If you keep changing your furniture to different places, you'll be poor.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1457. Not drinking the whole contents of a gla.s.s or cup means disappointment.

_Westport, Ma.s.s._

1458. If sooty bubbles form and blacken on the wick in a lamp burning whale oil, each bubble indicates the receipt of a letter.

_Peabody, Ma.s.s._

1459. When sparks are seen on the bottom of the tea-kettle, it is a sign that folks are going home from meeting.

_New Hamps.h.i.+re and Boxford, Ma.s.s._

1460. Sparks flying from a fire mean letters; the number of the sparks is the number of the letters.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

1461. If a spark or sparks jump out of the fire and hit you or come towards you, it is a sign some one has a spite or grudge against you.

_Bathurst, N.B._

1462. Two spoons given to one person denotes that that person will have two homes before the year is out.

_Chestertown, Md._

1463. The tea-kettle suddenly singing means news.

_Patten, Me._

VARIOUS.

1464. A stratum of warm air indicates the presence of the devil.

_Boston, Ma.s.s. (Irish)._

1465. If, when a newly-married couple go to housekeeping, she slyly takes her mother's dish-cloth or dish-wiper, she will never be homesick. Old Mrs. ---- told me that she believed that was the reason she was not homesick when they moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio.

_Ohio._

1466. To have a sharp knife is a sign of a lazy man.

_Central Maine._

1467. Pa.s.sing anything through a ladder is a sign of a long pa.s.sage.

_Conception Bay, N.F._

1468. If a s.h.i.+p has a starboard list, it is a sign of a quick pa.s.sage; if a port list, it is a sign of a long pa.s.sage.

_Conception Bay and New Harbor, N.F._

1469. Write the date of the first snowstorm, and you'll gain a bet before the winter is through.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1470. To ascertain a girl's age, pull a hair from her head, hang a finger-ring from this inside a tumbler or goblet, and it will strike the number of years.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

1471. Throw a strand of your hair in the fire; if it blazes you will live long and happily; if not, you will die soon.

_Alabama._

1472. If a tree falls to the right while you are looking at it, you are going on a long trip before the end of the year, and will have some unexpected piece of good luck.

_Alabama._

1473. A person born on Halloween is said to be possessed of evil spirits.

_Alabama._

1474. Place a broom across the door, and if any of your departed friends wish to speak to you they are free to come and go at will while the broom remains there.

_Alabama._

1475. If a person who raises fowls is bothered with hawks, he may prevent the trouble by throwing a handful of "rocks" into the fire while it is burning brightly.

_Alabama._

NOTES.