47. Rock a cradle empty, Babies will be plenty. Peabody, Mass.
48. Rock the cradle empty, Have children a plenty, Rock the chair empty, Have sickness a plenty. Nashua, N.H.
49. To rock the cradle when the baby is not in it will kill it. New York.
50. If the empty cradle be rocked, the baby will have the colic. New York and Ohio.
51. The first time a baby is taken visiting, if it is laid on a married couple's bed there will be a baby for that couple. Salem, Mass.
52. The mother who gives away all the clothes of her dead baby will eventually be comforted by the coming of another child.
53. However many children a woman may have, the last will be of the same gender as the first, and they will look alike. Maine and Massachusetts.
54. One article of an unborn infant's wardrobe must be left unmade or unbought or the child is liable not to live. Salem, Mass.
55. A baby's nails must not be cut with scissors before it is a year old; it will make it steal. North Carolina.
56. To cut a baby's finger-nails deforms it; if the baby is a month old, to do this will cause the child to have fits. Georgia.
57. To allow a child to look into a mirror before it is a month old will cause it trouble in teething. Georgia.
58. Tickling a baby causes stuttering. Georgia.
59. If an infant be measured, it will die before its growing time is over. Georgia.
CHILDHOOD.
ASSEVERATION.
60. A child to whom is told any story which he considers remarkable will usually reply by an expression of skepticism, such as: "Really and truly?" "Honestly?" "Earnest, now?" or, "You are fooling." The first speaker answers by some formula or asseveration, as, "Honor bright" (New England); "Deed, deed, and double deed" (Pennsylvania); "True as I live," or, "Hope I'll die if it isn't so," or simply, "Hope I'll die." General in the United States.
61. A formula of asseveration in Maryland and Pennsylvania is, "I cross my heart," accompanied by the sign of the cross.
62. A sign resembling that of the cross is made on the chin or throat. "You won't tell?" "No." "Well, cross your throat." Cambridge, Mass.
63. When a child wishes to make an asseveration, he wets his finger on his mouth and signs a cross on his throat. Salem, Mass.
64. In asseveration, the proper method is to use the words, "Hope to die if I don't," the speaker drawing the forefinger across the throat from ear to ear. Biddeford, Me.
65. Asseveration in Maine and Massachusetts is often made by the following formula. First boy: "Honor bright?" Second boy: "Hope to die." First boy: "Cut your throat?" Second boy draws finger across throat. This is the strongest possible form of oath that can be taken by a boy.
66. Little girls, without any idea of the meaning, employ the following formula of asseveration:--
Certain, true, Black and blue.
A variant of the first line: "Certain and true." Massachusetts.
67. A form fuller than the preceding:--
Certain, true, Black and blue, Lay me down and cut me in two.
68. A boy who desires to tell an extravagant story without being guilty of a lie would point with his thumb over his left shoulder. If he should succeed in accomplishing this without the observation of the boy to whom he is talking, so much the better. Biddeford, Me.
69. "In my school-days, if a boy crossed his fingers, elbows, and legs, though the act might not be noticed by the companion accosted, no blame was attached to the falsehood." New York city.
