Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-07-14

asaas
cause for them. but merely to notice
some of the ssnotions'' about dreams.
i}lhe little grandson or daughter comes
hunylng down stairs in the morning,
and relates to his syble-like grandma
the awful dreams Of the preceding
night! The good old lady immediate
~ puts on her "spees'' and with all
the gravity peculiar to such folks, de-
mands all the minutie; and, as the
dream varies in its aspect, 50 varies the
Interpretation to suit! A person thus
accustomed from his infancy to rely
upon his veritable grandma's divining
of dream, is influenced by it in a
greater or less degree during his entire
life. 1t matters not what may have
been the education obtained, Or the
principles acquired, some influence of
this nature ever remains. AItho' firm
hefetics to the fylilment Of dreams, and
ridiculefs of all who pretend to believe
in them, we are yet sometimes (thro'
the influence of this early habit con-
siderably annoyed by the. recollection
Of unpleasant dreams, and their expec-
ted fulilment. Of an absent friend,
perhaps we have dreamed that some
thing has befallen him land simply on &C.
count Of such a dream do we feel UNI
pleasant and unhappy until we are sat
listed by his return that our dream was
false All have, to some, extent, ex-
perienced the truth Of this, and it is to
be referred to nothing but defect Of
education. The mother who would
instil such notions into child, should
be annoyed by unpleasant dreams all
her life
Another division of these notions
might come under the head of Hobgob-
Inns Young children are not the on
'ly believers in such opiQoalyt But
children of larger growth are often
induced to believe there are such
things! These hobgoblin gentlemen,
and perhaps ladies too, for
-"spirits when they please
Can either sex assume, or both,''
are also great friends Of "nurses," since,
by the mere mention of their males
ties, the froward child is logged in a
gentle sleep, and thus an abundance OF
trouble saved! Fhis notice is almost
universally prevalent among children,
since scarcely one in hundred could
be found who would dare to venture
an expedition to bed without a candle t
How often, in traversing dark, lone
ly spot, have we peeped over our shout
ders tie see if any of these fellows were
on our track, and then, upon not find
ing them IN our immediate vicinity
have commenced to whistle most brave
ly-
"Yankee doodle dandee,'
or some other equally enlivening strain
O! Ye unfeeling mas and ignorant
waiting wenches, you will have more
to answer for at your final reckoning
than your cob-webbed brains ever i'm
agined!
A popular superstition, more censu-
rable, and even more ridiculous than
either of those mentioned, is the eFluelx"
attendent upon actions done upon GER
tain days Of the week, or'ineertain pc
culiar positions of her majesty, the
Moonl Don't cut your toe nails in
the decrease Of the moon! Never take
unto yourself wife unless it is the
"fulF' Of the same! Do none of these
at these hateful periods, and you will
be a fortunate person. DO them, and
go! We little gods and fishes" a per-
feet Pandemonium will be your walking
companion all your days! Such notions,
however we are pleased to know, es-
cape not beyond the precincts Of the
philosophical circle, called "oJd 40
man."
In addition to these, others innumer-
able might be mentioned, each as al
surd and ridiculous. For example ::
the breaking Of glass, especially if it
breaks itself, is most certain precursor
of immediate death to some poor NOR
tall The sticking of a knife in the
floor is an intallible proof that some
stranger will visit you, and a host OF
others, all proving that the people OF
the nineteenth century are not quite as
enlightened as free Christian people
should be.
THE POETRY OF HTTMRT