The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-18
moon ro1K-uorv TN unyiaI,t,.

In Cornwall, says writer in the Gentle
mans Magazine, the first money taken on mar
ket-day is frequently spit ON for good luck; and
If silver, kept for "luck money to be shown
to the next moon, and turned three times to-
ward the person who shows it. Three wishes
are made while showing the money, which the
wisher turns three times from the moon toward
himself. To see the new moon through glass
is an indication that one will break glass OF
some kind before the month is out; and Mr..
Henderson quotes the case sof maid servant
in the North of England who was in the habit
of shutting her eyes when closing the shutters
for fear of accidentally catching glimpse of
the new moon through the window-pane. Mr..
Rayson, also in his notes in the East Anglian,
says; II have just been told by lady, who
has resided for some months with Norfolk
family at Kentish Town, that, when the new
moon first appears, all the family (including
the servants) are accustomed to hasten out of
the house in order that they may not see it
through glass, which is believed to be very un-
lucky. A respectable tradesman's wife in my
own village, gravely assured lady that visited
her in her illness, that she knew she would
have nothing but travail for a month to come,
as she had unfortunately seen the new moon
through glass window. She added that she
always dreaded such warnings, as her husband
then was sure to spend most of his time at the
public house." On the other hand, various
love omens and dvinations are derived from
the moons phases: thus, in Berkshire and 9TH
er counties, at the first appearance of a new
moon, young women go into the fields, and,
while looking up at it, repeat the following
rhyme:
New moon new moon, l hail thee!
By all the virtne in thy body,
Grant this night that may see
He who my true love is to be.
After this they return homeu under an implic-
it conviction that, before the following morn
ing their future husbands will appear to them
in their Dreams There are several varieties
OF this superstition-One consists in looking at
the first new moon of the year through silk
handkerchief which has never been washed,
at the same time making use of this invoca-
ton:
New moon, new moon, / hail thee.
New moon, new moon, be kind to me;
If marry man, or man marry me-
Show me how many moons it will be.
AS many moons as the person sees through
the handkerchief-the threads multiply the
vision-betoken the number of years she will
remain unmarried. Again, a correspondent of
Notes and Queries tells us that, being on WIS.,
it in Yorkshire, he was much amused one
evening to find the servants Of the house ex-
cusing themselves for being out of the way
when the bell rang, on the plea that they had
been "halling the first new moon of the new
year" This mysterious and eventful saluta-
tion was effected by means of looking-glass,
in which the first sight of the moon was to be
had, and the momentous object to be gained
was the all important secret as to how many
years were to elapse before the marriage Of
the spectators If one moon was seen in the
glass, one year; if two, two years, and so on.
In the case in question the maid and the boy
only saw one apiece. An old Devonshire ad-
monition tells those who are anxious to gain
insight into futurity, to take off one of their
stockings when they first see the new moon of
the new year, and to run to the next style.
On their arrival, they will find between two of
their toes a hair, which will be the color of
their lovers. In the north of England and
Scotland it was prevalent belief that if per-
son on first catching glimpse of the new
moon were instantly to stand still, kiss his
hand three times and bow to it, he would find
something of value before that moon was out.
In many places, too, it is considered lucky to
see the new moon over the right shoulder, but
unlucky over the left; whereas, when straight
before one, it is said to prognosticate good for
tune to the end of the month.