b.u.t.tONS.
187. The coming husband is determined by repeating the following words, touching each b.u.t.ton of the coat, vest, or dress in order:--
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.
Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief.
Or,
Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief.
Or,
Doctor, lawyer, merchant, cheat.
_Ohio._
188. With reference to the habitation to be occupied:--
Big house, little house, pig-sty, barn.
_New Hampshire._
189. As to the wedding dress:--
Silk, satin, velvet, cotton, woolen.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
190. In regard to the vehicle:--
Carriage, wagon, wheelbarrow, chaise.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
191. The first of these b.u.t.ton formulae is used by boys to foretell their profession in life. A friend remembers how in childhood his b.u.t.tons were completely worn out by the continual practice of the inquiry.
192. With reference to the acquisition of a coat:--
Bought, given, stolen.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
193. "Rich man, poor man, beggar, thief, doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief." Said over by little girls on their back hair combs to find the occupation of their future husbands.
_New York._
FOUR-LEAVED CLOVER.
194. If a girl puts a two-leaved clover in her shoe, the first man who comes on the side where the clover is will be her future husband.
_Michigan._
195. Put a four-leaved clover in your shoe, and you will marry a man having the first name of the man whom you meet first after doing it.
_Province of Quebec._
196. With a four-leaved clover in your shoe, you will meet your lover.
_Michigan._
197. If the finder of a four-leaved clover put it in her own shoe, she will marry the first person with whom she crosses a bridge.
_Michigan._
198. Put a four-leaved clover over the door. The first person to pa.s.s beneath will be your future mate.
_Newport, R.I., and Michigan._
COUNTING.
199. Count sixty white horses and one white mule, then you will marry the first man with whom you shake hands.
_Chestertown, Md._
200. Count a hundred white horses and two white mules, and the first person you shake hands with you"ll marry.
_Pennsylvania._
201. Count a hundred white horses during leap year. The first man that shakes hands with you after you have your hundred will be your future husband.
_Bedford, Ma.s.s._
202. Count one hundred gray horses (one mule stands for ten horses), and the first gentleman with whom you shake hands is your intended.
_Alabama._
203. After meeting ninety-nine white horses and a brown one for the hundredth, the first person with whom you shake hands will be your future mate.
_Newport, R.I._
204. Count five hundred colored people, and the next gentleman you meet you will marry.
_Cambridge, Ma.s.s._
205. Count ninety-nine negroes and one white horse, and the first boy you answer "yes" or "no" to you will marry.
_South Boston, Ma.s.s._
206. Count forty white horses, the first man you meet afterwards you"ll marry.
_Champaign, Ill._
207. In crossing a bridge, if one sees two white horses on it (in different teams) and wishes at once for a man to marry her, she"ll get him.
_Peabody, Ma.s.s._
208. Count a hundred "tips" (a bow with the lifting of the hat). The hundredth will be your future husband.
_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._
209. Count the b.u.t.tons of an old boot. The number of b.u.t.tons indicates the number of years before marriage.
_Ma.s.sachusetts._
210. If you count the boards of the ceiling (loft) in a strange room before going to sleep, you will dream of your lover.
_Newfoundland._