248. Take beans in the hand, go out of doors and throw them against the window. The first man's name that you hear spoken is the name of the man you will marry. Connecticut.
249. Put three raw beans in your mouth, go out of doors, stand in front of some one's window and listen. The first man's name you hear spoken will be either that of your future husband or of the one having the same name. Salem, Mass.
250. If a piece of brush or brier sticks to the dress, name it. If it drops, the lover is false; if it sticks, he is true. Northern Ohio.
251. Blow seeds from the dandelion until none remain, counting each puff as a letter of the alphabet; the letter which ends the blowing is the initial of the name of the person the blower marries.
252. Rub your hands in sweet fern. The first one you shake hands with afterward is your true love. Prince Edward Island.
253. Wear a piece of fern in the toe of your shoe, and the first person you meet you will marry. New Hampshire.
254. Take a live-forever leaf, squeeze it to loosen the inner and outer skin. If it makes a balloon as you blow into it, you will be married and live a long time. If it does not, you will be an old maid. St. John, N.B.
255. Stick a piece of live-forever up on the wall, and in whatever direction it leans, the lover will come from that quarter. Miramichi, N.B.
256. Take two shoots of live-forever and pin them together on the wall. If they grow towards each other, the couple will marry; if away, they will become estranged. Nantucket, Mass., and Western Massachusetts.
257. Break off a piece of dodder or "lovevine," twirl it round the head three times and drop it on a bush behind you. If it grows, the lover is true; if not, he is false. Tennessee.
258. Twist a mullein-stalk nearly off after naming it. If it lives, he or she loves you; if not, not. Newton, Mass., and Tennessee.
259. After proceeding as above, count the number of new shoots that spring up (if any). The number shows how many children will result from the marriage. Greene Co., Mo.
260. Put a pea-pod with nine peas over the door. The first one who comes under it you will marry. New England.
261. Pluck three thistles in bloom, cut off the purple part and put the remainder of the flower in water over night, after naming. The one that blooms out over night you will marry. St. John, N.B., and Northern Ohio.
262. Saturday night walk round a tall white yarrow three times, saying,--
Good evening, good evening, Mr. Yarrow. I hope I see you well to-night, And trust I'll see you at meetin' to-morrow.
Then pluck the head, put it inside the dress, and sleep with it. The first person you meet with, to speak to, at church will be your husband. Deerfield, Mass.
RING.
263. Suspend a ring by a hair from the finger. Let it swing over a tumbler. The number of strokes against the side of the tumbler indicates the number of years of age of the future husband. Prince Edward Island.
264. Hang a gold ring over a glass of water, from a hair, saying the name of some man. If the ring strikes the side of the glass three times you will marry him. Willimantic, Conn.
265. Put three saucers on the table, and walk round it blindfolded three times, then put a finger in a saucer. One saucer contains a gold ring, one soapsuds, one is empty. Repeat twice (making nine in all). If one touches the ring, she will marry an unmarried man; if the suds, she will marry a widower; if the empty one, she will be an old maid. The one touched two out of three times is the fate. Central Maine.
266. If a piece of wedding-cake is passed through a ring and put in the left stocking, then placed under the pillow and slept on three nights running, you will dream of your lover, or he or she will come to you. New England.
STARS.
267. If you look at a bright star intently before retiring, you will dream of your sweetheart. Alabama.
