The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-03
NATIVE O LORE
A OLD NEW ENGLAND LADY GIVES
A LIST OF sEvENTY-FIvE.
Everything Meant Something i'm Our
Grandrnothers' Day, Particularly
to Young Lovers.
Boston Herald.

Boston Herald.
She is a little, cld-fashioned New England
lady, with delicate mouth and delicate.
faded hands. She is about seventy years
old. Except when she goes abroad she Is
dressed always in black, with lace about her
throat and wrists and a little dab of lace In
her hair. She was born among the Yer
mont hills; she was raised in New Hanip-
shire, and Atty years ago she came 10 1--we
in Boston-an old maid all her life. 1t is
only her best friends who know that this
gentle and refined old lady is just a survival
of barbarism, SO much of her as is not wit
and kindness and piety. No cat can jump
nor cricket chirp but she holds it for a sign
and a portent. Old sayings and beliefs
which were current in the childhood OF the
world, old superstitions invented by savage
races dwelling in caves and forests-such
are the salt-and ,savor OF much OF her most
pleasant and familiar talk.
Sometimes her friends wonder II she be-
lieves them all. She smiles for an answer,
and asks, .sWould you have me unlearn at
my age what I learned when I was a little
grip or course she does not believe them
these old Yankee supersitions about apple
seeds and divining rods and dogs that howl
at night. Nor would she willingly .disbelieve
them. Only the weather signs-she is sure
For one of her friends, on a Sunday
afternoon not long ago. she tried to think
he might write them down and print them.
Here they are-the even seventy-nve Wnicn
she could remember while ne was cairns
on her. Some are common, some are not:
All are genuine New England 'Iolk iofe,
come across the water to their new nome
from the old world. where, b as mere centa ,des
upon centuries of use.
Many nave changed greatly in their
Iz-- I;e1 .,l fhnir xyorinflG U0V2 QQS. were
once serious belief, but had become mere
child's play by the time the old lady came
for instance, blew ON the dandelion seeds
to see if her mother wanted her, In Ger
many, years before, the little girls Went
to the dandelion on a much more lmportanI
| errand-to learn how long they were going
to live.
But here are the seysnty1fve savings g
not one added which she did not know:
FIRST OF THE LIST.
Cobwebs in a house are a sign there Is
no kissing there.
If her petticoat hangs below her dress
| it's a sign her father loves her best.
If a black cat comes to you, you must
take it in; it will bring you good luck.
If a cock crows before the door dur
ing a rain storm it's soon going to clear
up.
If the sole Of your foot itches, you're
| 6oilS W otCP Ol 81 d1iS SUI.
If you have two crowns, you'll eat bread
in two kingdoms. "a crown is a natural
swirl of hair or the top OF the head
a sort of a cowlick)
a long scratch, a long ride.
If you can't cut a pie through in a sin
gle sweep OF the knife, you'll die an old
maid.
Wear at the heel,
Spend a good deal;
Wear at the toe,
Spend as you go;
Wear at the side,
Be a poor mans bride;
Wear at the ball,
Spend all.
If a girl hand a man a pocket knife and
he take it, he acknowledges he's the home
lest man she knows.
Rain before seven,
Clear before eleven.
It's bad luck to see a cross-eyed person.
It's bad luck to meet and pass a person
on the stairs.
If YOU take a slice of bread or anythins
some, it's q sure sign that somebody Ii
coming to your house hungry.
If the water boils away on the stove, It'll
a sign it's going to rain.
and you'll have plenty all through thu
year.
Sharp things cut friendship; pay a piece
of money to the person who gives you &
knife or a pair of scissors. A penny viii
a1 But
If you love me as I love you,
No knife can cut our love In two.
If a dog bowls at dead of night, som
one is going to- die
It's good luck to have a cricket in tn
house.
It is bad luck to have a bird fly in.
Birds are iy-away comfort. 1t make
things unpleasant-that is, to have bird
used as a decoration, on your wall PAPER
If it rains the first Sunday of the mont
it is sure to- rain every Sunday but one.
SURE SIGN OF MONEY.
If your left palm itches, money is boun'
your way. If your right palm, a strange
is coming.
Drop a pair of scissors a%ccidently, an
if they stick in the floor a stranger is com
ing. He will come from the direction i
which the loose blade points.
If you sneeze between IL ana / a strange
is coming.
If you drop a dishcloth a stranger
coming.
fore supper.
Red in the morning.,
Sailors take warnfng;
Red at night.
Sailors delight
Put a garment on wrong side out. yo
mustn't turn it; it's bad luck.
Open an shet.
Sign of a wet.
It's bad luck to go Under a ladder.
Dream of the dead and you'll hear fro1
the living.
It's bad luck TO open an umbrella IN tn
house.
If you break a looking-glass some one j
the family is sure to die within a year.
When walking with anyone don't let
post or a tree come between you, or you
quarrel. To break the charm you mus
either retrace your steps and pass the Do
the right way, or each must say Bread an
butter"
Get a letter, see a stranger,
Kiss a fool or be in danger-if your nos
itches.
If your right ear burns some one is tall
ing well Of you, if your left, some lone
talking i'll.
If you have cramps you must turn you
shoes upside down when you go to bed
order to get well.
A nutmeg hung around the neck by a. re
worsted string prevents nose bleed.
A nose bleed is a sign that you are
| love.
4 horse chestnut carried in the pock'
prevents rheumatism.
It's bad luck to show your wedding DIRE!
before you're married.
THE YELLOW GARTER.
On New Years put a new yellow gart'
on the left leg, and If you continue wearir
it you'll be engaged before the year is out.
If you find a four-leafed clover and pl
~ -.-.r1y .z.-~. H. g. -