Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-13

that the old roof is Joined by new one,
some member of the family will, it is be-
lieved, surely die within year. Cases of
this kind are carefully noted by the gos-
sips, and they can cite scores of such mis-
haps. Whether they know any occasions
on which the joining of house with a
wing was not accompanied by such a catas-
trophe they refuse to state.
Again, the cutting down of fruit tree
is ominous of the death of the head of the
house, while if only the branch of tree
which is bearing fruit is Topped of, the
junior members of the family must look
out for storms, for one of them will as
suredly have to "hand in his chips" If a
limb ialls by its own weight, some member
of the household will, it is asserted, soon
depart on the long journey to that undis-
covered country.
Young ladies believe that if they see
a pie-bald horse they must wish before his
tail comes in sight, and if they can keep
silent till they see white horse they will
surely obtain their desire. "This,' said a
cynical bachelor, probably accounts for
the fact that no woman yet acknowledged
that she had ever got what she wanted"
'To see the new moon through glass is
awfully unlucky," said a bright young
lady little while ago, "and | always bow
nine times to it when it first appears, then
l am s'y-e to get present before the month
is over"
She was in sore distress the other day,
though. She had been told that if she
counted nine stars for nine nights in sue
cession after she had seen the new moon,
her husband, to be, would be the first man
to whom she would speak next day. As
soon as the moon was visible as very fine
crescent she appeared on the stoop and
bowed nine times to her non-luminous
majesty. This was to insure present
the engagement ring, perhaps. Who
knows? Then she counted nine stars.
And she was happy. The next night
came and the operation was repeated, and
so on for the next and the next, till at last
eight nights had passed. The eventful
ninth came. The rain came down in tor
rents; the sky was black as pitch, there
was not star to be seen. Madamoiselle
is in sore distress lest the omen be that
she will come very near to the "holy
bond," but that something will happen
and she will live and die an old maid AS
she says she hates cats, loathes dogs, and
cant abide" parrots, she fears her exist
ence will be anything but pleasant.
The superstitions of gamblers would fill
a volume How often has new deck of
cards been called for to change the luck.
Or chair turned three times for the same
purpose. A clergyman, playing whist,
was noticed to touch the deuce of clubs as
soon as it was played and, being asked the
reason, explained that he did so in order
to insure good hand for himself in the
next deal. They were all superstitious
men at that table, and it was amusing to
the onlookers to watch the attempts OF
the players to be the first to touch the
''mascotte" card
In one of the London markets boy
used to make a living by SELLING luck" to
the dealers. His stock in trade consisted
only of a squint, and single quick glance
from MIN was sure to bring good to the
individual who was fortunate enough to
buy his services! Two glances on the con-
trary brought bad luck But this quality
did not belong to this boy alone 1t is
said to be the happy inheritance of every
one who has been gifted with a squint,
and people who have been so blessed may,
with this information, start new trade.