Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-12
superstitions OF Negroes.

a DIack cat loot VIII insure the
wearer against the bite Of dog.
To burn sassafras wood will make a
breach and cause direful feuds among
the most loving friends and families.
A rabbit foot kept in the vest pocket
or worn as charm about the neck will
ward off evil, and will also bestow
great strength upon its keeper.
To have about a house some place
Of deposit for old shoes, and therein to
keep all the WORKOUT leather of the
household, will bring good luck to the
family.
To dream of eating fruit out of its
season is fatefully ominous. And to
dream of finding a hens nest full of
eggs, none broken, is a sign of coming
evil.
If 4 person dreams offlnding purse
full of money, thievish hands are reach
ing for his goods. But if the purse
found in dreams be empty, there viii
be a fortune left to its finder.
Turn back on any journey you are
making if a screech-OWl cries above
you. However, an old ''hooting-owIn
may foretell either good or bad fortune
as its three boots are given on the right
or the left hand
In making q journey, if a rabbit or
any fOur-footed beast run across the
path, itpOrtends evil to the traveller.
Whether he be riding or walking he
must get down to the ground and make
q cross there ere he dare move on.
To dream of death signifies that a
marriage is near at hand; if of mar
large, a death will soon follow the
dream. If there is laughter before
breakfast there will be tears before
night; crying will fill the singing
mouth before sunset.
Starting to visit neighbor, if the
right foot trip while walking, know
that the visit is expected with pleasure;
but if the left foot trip, turn back or be
an un welcome guest. But before turn
ing back sit fiat on the ground; no
prudent person will turn square back
on his tracks without taking this pre-
caution.
Even to the simple work of poultry
raising queer superstitions are at
tached For instance, a successful
poultry raiser will always take the
shells just cracked and left by the
downy brood and place them above
the nest; the higher the broken shells
be placed the more rapid and salts
factory viii be the growth of the brood.
The following is an old Negroes di-
rections for raising turkeys without
mlshap: EFF yer want ter raise tur-
keys, en- raise 'em certain and sure,
DIES ee take dem shells whar de small
turkeys ha' DIES busted, en- string 'em
all on er yaller homespun string er
yarn, en- hang 'em up 'ginst de lef'
side er de jam er de chimney; den you
gi' dem young turkeys pepper-grass ter
eat, en- gi' hit ter 'em soonr'
When 4 nestful of little chickens are
taking their first peep at the world
from under the mouher-hen's wings,
the careful poulterer will run hastily
to the nest with an empty sitter. This
she will shake over the brood; the
empty sitter lets through nothing, but
shaken thus over the matching nest''
will be an efficacious charm against
all hawks or others DIrds OF prey.
A housekeeper watchful for ''signs"
will ever be ready for whatever guests
may come. She will know that if a
dishcloth be dropped hungry guest
will be coming. If a spider drops half
way down on his web from the ceiling,
turns back and chambers up again, the
expected guests have started for your
house, but untoward circumstances
have detained them; they may not be
expected that day. But if the insect
comes all the way to the floor, the
house will be filed with company.