Coming in at one door, and immediately going out at another, has the same meaning.
A tea-stem floating in the tea-cup--a common thing before the day of tea-strainers--also foreshadows the coming of a stranger. Old people say “you must butter his head and throw him under the table, if the charm is to work.” A tea-leaf means the same thing, its length denoting whether the stranger will be short or tall.
To let fall your fork is a sure sign that you are going to have a caller on that very evening, or, as the girls declare, have “a beau.” A very estimable lady said when telling me this, that when she was a young girl she never had that accident happen to her that she did not immediately get ready for a caller; and she added that seldom, or never, was this sign known to fail.
If a young girl has the nosebleed, it is a sign that she is in love.[7]
“See a stranger, Kiss a fool, Or be in danger.”
If your left hand itches, you will shortly receive money; if it is the right hand, get ready to shake hands with a stranger.
A ringing or “dumb-bell” in the ear denotes that you may expect startling news of some sort.
A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon.
Four persons meeting in a crowded place and shaking hands cross-wise, is a sign that one of the party will be married within the year.
Should you meet a person on the stairs, one or the other must go back, or some misfortune will happen to both.
If you should fail to fold up your napkin after a meal at which you are a guest, you will not again be invited to that table.
Think of the devil and he is at your elbow. The point of this robust saying is now much softened into “think of some one and he is at your elbow”; but it seems at first to have had reference to an enemy or to one you would rather avoid. The saying is quite common to-day.
A very old rhyme about the way in which one wears out a shoe, runs in this way:--
“Tip at the toe, live to see woe, Wear at the side, live to be a bride, Wear at the ball, live to spend all, Wear at the heel, live to save a deal.”
Even the days of the week possess peculiar significance to the future welfare of the newborn infant:--
“Sunday’s child is full of grace, Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is solemn and sad, Wednesday’s child is merry and glad; Thursday’s child is inclined to thieving, Friday’s child is free in giving: Saturday’s child works hard for his living.”