Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-07-05
A MYSTICAL NUMBER.
omNIPRESENT SEEMS TO BE THE
FATEFUL SEVEN.
From the biblical story of the Crea-
tton Down Ia Plays Mighty Part
I'm Folklore. Tradition. Super.ti-
tfOn and History.


The dove in the heavens
Is the one that ! choose
But not only do the bird auguries go
by sevens: the number plays a mighty
part IN folklore. tradition and his
tory. Six days made the world. and
God rested on the seventh day aud hal
lowed il. In the seventh month Noah's
ark touched the ground; in seven days
n dove was sent out on the face Of the
waters. Abraham pleaded with God
seven times for SOdom's sake before
God s1aOtc the city of wicHedness to
her undoin@
Seven days Jacob mOurned for Jo-
seph and would not be ,,omforted: sew
en- years and seven Jacob served for
Rachel. an IN JoScph's Covernorship
Of Egypt tie chief butler and baker
dreamed dreams wherein seven fat
oxen and seven lean oxen. seven ears
Of full corn and seven ears Of mildew-
ed corn played 4 prominent part and
foreboded the Il years Of plenty and Of
famine that Were III store for the Land
Of the Two Crowns. even the land Of the
house of bondage. the land Of Egypt
Every seventh day the law was read
10 the wandering children Of Israel. and
Jericho. the strong city. fell. wall and
tower, when seven men had paced
around it for seven days.
Solomon was seven years building
the splendid temple. with all its
glories of gold and cedar wood. tur-
QuoiSe and terebnth. There were sev-
en- lamps in the tabernacle. and the
4 golden candlcStick had seven
branches
Naaman washed himself seven
times IN the river Jordan before the
f healing water cleansed him of his leD-
rosy. The Apocalypse is full Of the
mystic number. and on the cross our
Saviour hung for seven hours. and
from the cross our Saviour spoke sev-
en times
The seventh son OF "a seventh son is
born doctor. according 10 Irish belief.
but he must never take money for the
f cures ne achieves. and 10 insure re-
. covery he should be sought before sun
rise or after sunset on Friday. 1T Is
manifest by experience that the sew
enth male childe. by just order Cnever
wench being born betweenl. doth
heal only with touching. through n
natural gift. the kings evil: which is
special GifJe of God. given TO kiuges
ana queeneS, rs daily experience doth
witncsSe.' There were seven wise
men and seven wonders OF the world:
while the ancientS not only noted the
Importance of seven as an astronom-
ical period. bur also connected the sew
en- metals then known with the seven
planets and the seven colors.
Thus copper belonged 10 Venus. and
the color green, lead 10 Saturn. and
the color blue; sold and yellow 10 the
sun. aud 50 on.
The seven days Of the week are con
nected with the seven pleiades. OF
whom the seventh Is Il lost star. and
the seventh wave OF 4 series Is full Of
danger 10 ships, as every seventh year
Is 10 man. For seven years the mis-
chievouS sprite. Friar Rush. lived with
tne Seeland monks. beguiling the time
10y cutting oak cudCelS. which. when
struck on the ground. turned into sol
dcrs armed cap-a-pie and for seven
years Prince Charming looks for his
lost bride. or Cap-o'- -RuSleS works dis
guiscd in the kitchens OF the palace. or
the fOrsaken princess tries 10 climb the
t her
and her lover. who has drunk Of the
water Of forgetfulne>S The seven
sleeperS are famous. and the number
seven even comes into the employ Of
folk medicine. Water taken from sev-
en- streams where crosses grow will
cure the jaundice. and seven twigs OF
aspen put under the patients pillow
+ viii recover him from paralysis. and
seven leaves Of ivy Will bring care
less lover back to your side and keep
him there. and seven cornS Of wheat.
eaten fasting. will heal you Of the fall
ing sickness. which is epilepsy. and
seven miStietoe berries put in Il bag Of
red silk and hung round your neck will
protect YOU from SunStroke and elf bolt
and preserve your feet from bliSters.
however far YOU walk
1t is not spring until YOU can nut
your foot on seven daisies NJ one and
the same time, and seven hairs will
Keep the evil eye off children. accord
ing 10 an old Indian superstition. only
the hairs. TO be Of any avail. must be
pluckcd from the tail Of an elephant
dlfhcult. delicate and even a dan
gerous proceeding. At years old ali
GUS pCCoAle possessed or witch DOW
erS. and YOe betide those who i'll use
or frghten puSS when once she has ac-
QuirCd power Of mischief. But let this
not discourage the lovers OF the nine
lived one. for
Wherever the cat OF the house don't lack
| For seven years blow white blow black
I The lasses OF lovers shall have no lack
Seven years OF i'll fortune. according
10 q Siciliau superstition. follow her or
him who Kills cat; therefore il were
well to trCat your feline followers gen
I uy. even though YOU love them not But
| might 20 on till the seventh day
from Latter LammaS' and still have
something tO tell So here | make an
end.-Nora Hopper in Illustrated Lon
don News.
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