Current Superstitions Part 6

116. A white spot in the nail, when it comes, means a present. You get the present when it grows to the end and is cut.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

117. White spots on the nails of the left hand denote the number of lies one has told.

_Maine and Central Illinois._

118. Count on finger-nail spots:--

Friends, Foes, Money, Beaux.

Begin with the first nail spotted, and the noun falling to the last nail thus marked gives the sign.

_Deerfield, Ma.s.s._

119. Another formula:--

(First finger) a friend, (Second finger) a foe, (Third finger) a gift, (Fourth finger) a beau, (Fifth finger) a journey to go.

_Mansfield, O._

An almost identical variant is found in Prince Edward Island.

FOOT.

120. If your instep is high enough to have water flow under it, you are of good descent.

_Brookline, Ma.s.s._

121. A mole on the sole of the left foot means trouble and hards.h.i.+ps during life.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

FOREHEAD.

122. If there is a blue vein in the child's forehead extending down upon the nose, it is one of the surest signs of early death.

_Maine and Ma.s.sachusetts._

123. Vertical wrinkles in the brow show the number of husbands one will have. Horizontal ones show the number of children.

_Northern Ohio._

HAIR.

124. Coa.r.s.e hair indicates good nature; fine hair quick temper.

_Northern Ohio._

125. Red hair indicates a "spit-fire."

_Ma.s.sachusetts and Chestertown, Md._

126. Beware of that man, Be he friend or brother, Whose hair is one color And moustache another.

_Portland, Me._

127. The color of the hair growing on the neck indicates the color of the hair of one's future husband.

128. A single white hair means genius; it must not be pulled out.

129. If you pull out a white hair, two will come in its place.

_Somewhat general in the United States._

130. Hair growing upon the upper lip of a woman means riches.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

131. The point formed by the hair growing on the forehead is called "A widow's peak."

_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

132. When a woman's hair parts where it should not, it is a sure sign she will be a widow.

_Springfield, Ma.s.s._

133. Draw a single hair from the head strongly between the thumb and finger-nail. If it curls up, you are proud.

_St. John, N.B., and Prince Edward Island._

The same result indicates that you are cross.

_Cape Breton._

134. Hairy arms mean wealth.

_Northern Ohio._

135. Hairy arms mean strength.

_General in the United States._

136. Sc.r.a.pe the finger-nail and the thumb-nail along a hair, and if, by the third time, it curls up, the owner is high-tempered.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

137. Put some of your hair in the fire. If it burns slowly you will have a long life. If quickly, a short one.

_Chestertown, Md._

HAND.

138. A straight line in the palm of the hand is an omen of early death.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

139. The letter formed by the veins on the inside of the wrist is the initial of the name of the future husband or wife.

_St. John, N.B._

140. A person with an initial in his hand will be very fortunate in selecting a companion for life.

_Alabama._

141. In clasping your own hand, you put uppermost either your right or your left thumb. If the former, you are to rule; _vice versa_, you yield.

_Brookline, Ma.s.s._