_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._
1286. In climbing a fence,--
Get over, meet with clover, Get through, meet with a shoe; Get under, meet with a blunder.
_Sunderland, Ma.s.s._
1287. If you step on a grave, you will never grow any more.
_Chestertown, Md. (negro)._
1288. Step over a living thing, and that thing, whether a human being or not, will not grow any more.
_Province of Quebec, Can._
1289. To step over one leg of a child will cause it to grow longer than the other.
_Baltimore, Md._
1290. To comb the hair after dark is a sign of sickness.
Comb your hair after dark, Comb sorrow to your heart.
_Connecticut._
1291. If you comb your hair after dark, it will make you forgetful.
_Northern Ohio._
1292. If the right hand itches, you are going to get money; if the left, you will shake hands with a friend. If the nose itches, a friend is coming.
_Talladega, Ala._
1293. Two persons wiping hands on the same towel and twisting it occasions a quarrel.
_Pennsylvania._
1294. Wash and wipe together, Live in peace together.
_Northern Ohio._
1295. If two persons wash their hands at the same time, it is a sign that they will be friends forever.
_Alabama._
1296. If two persons wipe their hands at the same time, they will be foes forever.
_Alabama._
1297. When two persons put one hand of each flat together, palm to palm, they will quarrel.
_Province of Quebec, Can._
1298. If two persons clasp hands so as to lock the fingers, bringing the palm of one person against the palm of the other person"s hand, it will break friendship.
_Newton, Ma.s.s._
1299. If you hug your knee (hold your knee in clasped hands), you will hug up trouble.
_Salem and Medford, Ma.s.s._
1300. When your joints crack, it is a sign that you have not outlived your best days.
_New York, N.Y._
1301. If you kiss through a veil, there"ll be a coolness.
_Portland, Me._
1302. Crossed knives are a sign of a quarrel.
_c.u.mberland, Ma.s.s._
1303. Stir with a knife, Stir up strife.
1304. Never look after a friend who is leaving you till he is quite out of sight, or you will never see him or her again; but turn your eyes away while he is still visible, that he or she may return.
_General in the United States._
1305. Never say "good-by" more than once.
_Alabama._
1306. One who habitually bites the nails is ill-natured.
_Ohio._
1307. If you bite your finger-nails you will always be poor.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
1308. If you sleep with your head towards the north, it will prevent sickness.
_General in the United States._
1309. If you can cut a pie fair and true, you"ll have a likely husband.
If you make the slices uneven, he"ll be crooked.
1310. If you make a bed handsomely, you"ll have a handsome husband.
1311. If you cut pie straight, you will go to housekeeping.
If you cut pie crooked, you will have no house to keep.
_New Hampshire._
1312. If you make a rhyme involuntarily, you will have a present.
_New Brunswick._
1313. The free use of salt is a sign of having a temper.
_Lynn, Ma.s.s._
1314. To say anything backward is a sign you will get a present.
_Peabody, Ma.s.s._
1315. If you sing before you eat, You"ll cry before you sleep.
_Ohio and Iowa._
1316. If you sing before breakfast, you will cry before supper.
_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._
1317. If you laugh before breakfast, you will cry before supper.
_Prince Edward Island and Somerville, Ma.s.s._