The Democratic advocate., 1877-11-24

n'cIauohOly plOnuuei get some friend 10
do 80, and get bone Of its foot, for
The bone of a hare's foote closed in ring,
VIII drive away crainp whenas IL doth wiring.
Lord Bemers, writing to Cardinal VOL
sey from Saragossa, june 21, 1918, when
he was ambassador to Charles ", says
off Your Grace remember me with some
crampe rings ye shall do a thing much
looked for, and | trust to bestow them
well, with Gods grace" These may have
been from the hare's foot or not; but rings
were anciently hallowed on Good Friday
with the intention Of making them efiica-
eious, as one brought to Edward the Con-
iessor from Jerusalem and preserved in
Westminster Abbey, which had the virtue
Of curing eramp and other ailments in
those who were permitted to touch it.
These extra articles of faith, like the
Mosaic law, are authority upon matters
of diet.
We all know the fatal effects of spilling
salt-the quarrel that must eusue unless
you throw pinch over your shoulders or
put it in the fire. Thrown away or burned
up-the best thing, likely, to do with all
tempers. If possible be indifferent as re-
CARDS the little seasoning of life consequent
upon that salt that proved the truth of
gravitation, and thus throw it away; or, if
it must come, let it blaze hot and furious
and burn up quickly. Anything but
smOuldering quarrel.
But there is another point to which we
would call attention
lie that would live for age
Must In May eat sage.
The practice of drinking mint juleps in
July was no doubt, derived from this.
The months, of course, are all related
and the herbs sage and mint arc found in
all country gardens, and naturally become
mixed in transportation to the cities while
eating and drinking are both forms of re-
ducing appetite and prolonging life. The
question which now presents itself is that,
if sage produces age if eaten in May, how
many mint juleps in July will answer as a
sage equivalent. The amount of sage to
be eaten is not given; so the problem will
have to be worked out upon algebraic
principles.
You must never sit down to table thir-
teen in number. If you do, one of the
party will surely die before the year is out.
Whether this is predicted upon the ratio
of mortality, in the same way as life assur-
ance or annuities, We cannot say; but thir-
teen has always been considered an uu-
lucky number. 1t is the bakers or devils
dozen-the former individual being held
in something the same respect as the lat
ter. The original term was DEVILS dozen,
because thirteen witches sat down at table
together on their Sabbaths, and it is not
well for you to emulate witches on your
Sabbath or any other day. One witch at
table is generally sufficient, whether there
be twelve more people or not l have seen
one such not Bit like Macbeth's friends,
who stirred the sulphuric pottage with its
choice ingredients, but very fair in the
face, with Worth gown and the last
sweet thing in a wig, bewitch a whole
table full. Occasionally wizard puts in
an appearance, and he may be of any age,
for he is such rarity; but the witch is
more abundant and always young-always
retaining her Jeaate de dia6le.
You must not rock the cradle empty, as
there are two prophecies concerning this
either that no child will be born to that
household or, if one is living, it will die;
or, still more terrible to the modern par
ent, there will be quiyer overful Of these
human arrows.
If light goes out unexpectedly, or you
extinguish it accidentally, you must speak
no word until you have relighted it, If
there are no matches in the house emulate
Harpocrates until some are found aud
utilized, or fire and fearful troubles will
follow. An incident of this kind, worthy
the Danbury mans descriptive pen, occur
red not long ago.
A well-known ancient maiden lady, well
up in super-religious commandments and
articles of faith, suddenly put out her odor-
Gus kerosene illuminator. Not match
was seen, not spark of FIRE, as from par
lor TO kitchen she wended. What should
she do2 A mile to the nearest store, and
a quarter Of mile to her nearest neigh
bors. She had just lighted her lamp to
see about finding her sunbonnet, that she
might carry the news that she had just
learned from neighbor of little un-
pleasantness between two other neighbors,
when a gust Of wind blew il out. She
dared not speak, for who knew what might
be the fearful result2 Grasping pencil
she rushed to the neighbOrs, and on a
huge piece Of brown paper wrote in Brob-
dignagian characters the word "Matches."
Her face worked convulsively-her tongue
protruded; she clasped one hand on her
mouth. They implored her to speak, and
the convulsion Of her face was fearful to
witness. She waved her hand hysterical-
ly. She wrote "Matehes" in characters
Of all sizes; and, at last, in letters which,
had they been the sounds they represented,
would have been stentorian, 81 want
matches T.
They brought them to her, aud she
rushed back. The good friends were
alarmed, Was she insane? Had she any
Uniformed purpose Of cremation? They
followed her. The first match was damp
aud refused TO ignite. A groan, gasp,
an invisible convulsion. The second light
cd and went out before the wick was
reached The third broke of at the top.
The fourth vas fraud aud had no igni-
ting principles. But the fifth burned
steadily; and the struggle which had evi-
dently been going On in darkness, the
fearful spasn which might be hydrophobia,
perhaps pawed of as the wick famed up,
aud sde hcasely gasped out to her terri.
fed apathetic neighbcrs who had
a;Eheg say Deacon