New-York tribune., 1906-10-21
RURAL SIGNS AND SAYINGS.
Some of Those in Which Belief Can Still
Be Found.

While signs and sayings are not SO rife as they
once were In the New England country. they are
stil extant to n considerable degree among the
old people. and perhaps still more so among the
children. This sort OF thing always has appealed
to the imagination OF he child and very likely al
ways will. Clifton johnson tells IN THE New
England Magazine number OF bits OF super
stitious lore which he gathered from an elderly
farmer Familiarity known as "Gramp.' dininut'vs
for grandpa" Their first experience together.
with the witchhazal crotch. seeking FOR water.
did not prove TO be successful for although the
crotch. which the old farmer held firmly IN both
hands. with the extremity pointing vertically IN
the air. tipped strongly downward when over q
certain spot subsequent digging failed 10 disclose
any water. The farmers faith in the method
however was not in any way disspated-
Another superstition in which the farmer placed
implicit confidence was that storms always clear
OF at 9 in the morning. at noon. at 3 O'Clock ID
the afternoon at sunset. at midnight or at sun
rise. Mr. Johnson feels. however, that IT would
be a very ingenious storm which could clear on
at a time sufficiently removed from the times
named not TO be assigned to one OF theIn oy t"o
weatherwiss. 1t IS also believed that the weather
on any given day will be as IL IS between Z ana
+. IN the morning. \ cold snap can be depended
uuon il the dog comes into the house and puts his
head under the mat II the wind dies down az
sunset 1t Will blow again the next day one ot
the popular feminine beliefs IS that II PIN -
held between the teeth while peelins onions :
out OF a house by catching one. tarrlnS anu ASA-
thering 10 and turning IL loose. -, - s,,,ss
one TO see how near together ne can hoE ~ 80
itttle nncers without their touching Ioottlasts .
NAV be prevented by cutting little from escn s
and finger nail wrapping the cuttings II VIZ VIE
paper or birch bark and putting them "a I.. hU,o
ging" said the farmer. and you went naVe 1,s s.is
trouble from aching teeth as long as Sots .sth
Unfortunately this win not prevent loss OF .,gS !gg
by decay. rheumatism can De cureV US RGirs
mustard IN the Shoes and noseoeed oy pUtMS1Dff M ffhs
piece OF paper under the tongue OF NeS oil -
baoS OF the neck. cuTe-aN almost e0uA4 10 $50
advertised remedies Is water bottled az q sS,..1s
on Easter morning before sunrise Drihk u issrS i~S
OF n il anything Is the matter inside OF w. -
IL YOU have a sore spot rub u on outSGe -. -.
vised the old farmer. you'll be sufpElssu ,ts.sss
what it does for you. no matter "n~' NisN
you've got" =. .. Naoy rhs
admonitOn not TO cut twis % strihs tn St thsSr
until the first dsh is caught. II theS GO tls
cannot hope 10 catch any rsh Cst S{IiAs @a-SsJ =
across running water must De eSpsclsilly .r'in
against. 1T will announces CsShp, - ~
your life You might Just as wen taAe = 49, ~ go
deadly poison and DO done with II ttGeSlS ~ an
side resorts. too. may save theilss,SSs Sn one
necessary exercise by remembering that WheI ~
kills mosquito two VIII come 10 SHs - III rarss
: the unfortunate person VIII Do SoIn"ss~
thAn hstugN