A maid and youth each places a chestnut to roast on
fire, side by side. If one hisses and steams,
it indicates a fretful temper in owner of chestnut;
if both chestnuts equally misbehave it augurs strife.
If one or both pop away, it means separation; but
if both burn to ashes tranquilly side by side, a long
life of undisturbed happiness will be lot of owners.
These portentous omens are fitly defined in the following
lines:
“These glowing nuts are emblems
true
Of what in human life we view;
The ill-matched couple fret
and fume,
And thus in strife themselves
consume;
Or from each other wildly
start,
And with a noise forever part.
But see the happy, happy pair,
Of genuine love and truth
sincere;
With mutual fondness while
they burn,
Still to each other kindly
turn;
And as the vital sparks decay,
Together gently sink away;
Till life’s fierce trials
being past,
Their mingled ashes rest at
last.”
In this game the seeker for a prize is guided from
place to place by doggerels as the following, and
is started on his hunt with this rhyme:
“Perhaps you’ll find it in
the air;
If not, look underneath your chair.”
Beneath his chair he finds the following:
“No, you will not find it here;
Search the clock and have no fear.”
Under the clock he finds:
“You will have to try once more;
Look behind the parlor door.”
Tied to the door-knob he discovers:
“If it’s not out in the stable
Seek beneath the kitchen table.”
Under the kitchen table he finds another note, which
reads:
“If your quest remains uncertain,
You will find it ’neath a
curtain.”
And here his quest is rewarded by finding the prize.
Apple seeds act as charms on Hallowe’en.
Stick one on each eyelid and name one “Home”
and the other “Travel.” If seed named
travel stays on longer, you will go on a journey before
year expires. If “Home” clings better,
you will remain home. Again, take all the apple
seeds, place them on back of outspread left hand and
with loosely clenched right hand strike palm of left.
This will cause some, if not all, of seeds to fall.
Those left on hand show number of letters you will
receive the coming fortnight. Should all seeds
drop, you must wait patiently for your mail.
Put twelve apple seeds carefully one side while you
cut twelve slips of blank paper exactly alike, and
on one side of each write name of friend. Turn
them all over with blanks uppermost and mix them so
that you will not know which is which; then, holding
seeds in your left hand; repeat:
