American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-07
LUCKY OMENS.


garding so-called omens, and lucky and
unlucky days. Let us run over few OF
| these follies, not yet exploded in certain
sections of the population
Odd Misunderstanding the ever-fatal
thirteen are thought to be lucky. The
shrill piping of the household cricket is
prophetic of happiness to the hearth il
haunts, as surely as the settling of a stork
upon Dutchman's roOf-tree bodies pleas
ant times to the dwellers beneath it, That
forlornest of animals, the masterless dog,
that follows close upon the heels OF a
light walker, and will not be baked of
companiOnship, is a certain luck bringer.
Black cats should be at premium, con-
sidering a stray puss of that hue who
takes fancy to establishing himself in a
house, introduces good fortune; while a
cat of any color, whether an unlimited
visitor or an acknowledged member of
the family, ought never to be restrained
from sharpening his talons at the expense
of the tables legs, since, when he thus
scratches, he scratches for luck. Pat
kindly the head of the first lamb of
spring, if you have the chance; it will
bring prosperity to you and yours; but
avoid the innocent creature if it presents
its tail to view. Hail the first hearing of
the cnckoo's voice with thankfulness, if
he salutes you upon your right hand
tncn MS STtetiHS Is I'LL dSSuIduCc YOU III
make your way in the world, and attain
the highest object of your ambition; and
begrudge not sip of good liquor to the
busy, curious, thirsty fly, dropping into
your glass, but welcome the intruder as
heartily, if not as POLITICALLY, as Oldv.
did; he brings good luck to the glass, and
the drinker too.
To come suddenly upon a couple of
magpies, to pick up pin lying with its
head toward you, to find-ot course with
out seeking-a four-leaved clover, or a bit
of old iron, is matter fer rejoicing: if the
iron takes the shape of a rusty nail or an
old horseshoe, the omen is so much the
more fortunate. Absent minded and care
less dressers are likely to be often in
luck's way To put on any garment
wrong-side out, provided we are not neat
enough to spoil the charm, is an infalli-
BILE prognostic that something is about to
happen which will profit the sloven great
ly. Mr. Village tells us, in the COnn0fs-
seur, how his pretty country cousin came
down to breakfast one morning with her
cap on wrong-side out, whereupon her
mother solemnly charged the needless
lassie not to alter her head-g gear all the
day, for fear she should change the luck.
When the Conqueror was arraying him.
self on the morning of Hastings, some one
limited he would get the worst of the
coming bout, because, in his haste, he had
donned his mail-shirt hind part before;
but the ready-witted and confident Nor
man declared it to be a token that he was
about to be transformed from a duke into
a king; an Interpretation, at any rate, not
to be disputed a few hours later.
Trouble will never come near folks
whose eyebrows meet. Ladies with over
much down, gentleman with Overmuch
hair upon their arms and hands, carry
about them natures own guarantee that
they are born to be rich some day, as rich
as those happy individuals whose front
teeth are set wide apart. Steel belongings,
such as keys and knives, get rusty by in
stinct, spite of all pains to keep them
clean and bright, when some kind hearted
soul is-laying up riches for their owners
benefit To find a spider upon ones
clothes indicates some money Is coming
TO us. The moral of which, Fuller says
is this: "Such VINO initiate the industry
of that contemplate creature may, by
Gods blessing, weave themselves into
wealth, and procure plentiful estate"
The appearance of white speck upon
finger-nail warns the owner Ofa finger gift
is on its way; and the same pleasant mott
fication is made by the itching of the palm
of the right hand but in that case it is
best to make assurance dOubly sure, and
rub the said palm against wood; then lit
is sure to be good"
1t is not pleasant to stumble upstairs,
but there is some consolation for sore
shins in knowing that wedding will
come Off in the mouse ere twelve months
have passed by, even if the stumbler has
no hope of being party concerned in the
event. Should spinster or a bachelor
be in advertantly placed between married
pair at the dinner-table he or she will
taste the sweets of connubial bliss before
the year is out. A maiden who has con-
slant ill luck at the card-table will play
the game of life with greater success
partnercd with a good husband. Happy
will be the bride the sun shines on; and
if hen cackles in her new home as she
crosses its threshold. she will be happy
mother as well as contented wife.
Chances freakish daughter is given to
coming and going as the fit takes her, but
there are ways and means of compelling
luck to do us suit and service. That man
need feel no doubt about triumphlng over
his foes who takes care to make an end
of the first adder that crosses his path.
If it is sometimes best to take the bull by
the horns, it is always advisable to seize
black snail by his, and toss him over the
left shoulder, for while the first may help
us out of quandary, the lastnamed per
Torrance insures us success in all our un-
La default of black snail,
will answer the purpose
equally as well. If too tender hearted to
treat snails and spiders so unceremo-
niously, the seeker after good fortune will
be just as well off if he hangs an adder
skin over the mantelpiece, takes care to
keep his fire burning through the last
night of the year, or dons something new
upon Whitsunday. Farley, of panto-
mimic fame, pinned his faith to lucky
Of u-Ii cI, hn TO
SCISSOR. At the first rehearsal OF" Mother
Goose" when all was ready, Grimaldi
happened to observe to Farley that he had
not the red cap on his head, which he
sported on such occasions. 81
will not go without it." said Farley, cor
we shall have no luck with the pan
tomime." nor would he proceed to bust
ness until the cap of good fortune had
been fetched. According to the fisher
men of Buckle, full nets may be insured
by dressing corpse in a flannel shirt
through the town in n barrow. A
of Notes and Queries
writes: "Wiie- beating to the cffuson of
blood may be a novel method of securing
luck in the herring fishery, but to draw
blood is practiced in some of the fishing
villages on the northeast coast of Scot
land, under the belief that success follows
the act. The act must be performed on
New Years Day, and the good fortune Is
his only who is the first to shed blood. If
the morning of the New Year is such as
to allow the boats of the village to put to
sea, there Is quite a struggle as to which
boat will reach the fishing ground first, so
as to gain the coveted prize, the first shed
blood % the year. If the weather is UNI
favorable for fishing, those in possession
of guns-and great many of the fisher