At one end of stick 18 inches long fasten an apple;
at the other end, a short piece of lighted candle.
Suspend stick from ceiling by stout cord fastened
in its middle so that stick will balance horizontally;
while stick revolves players try to catch apple with
their teeth. A prize may be in center of apple.
Steal out unobserved at midnight; plucking a small
lock of hair from your head, cast it to breeze.
Whatever direction it is blown is believed to be location
of future matrimonial partner.
“I pluck this lock of hair
off my head
To tell whence comes the one
I shall wed.
Fly, silken hair, fly all
the world around
Until you reach the spot where
my true love is found.”
Stand alone before mirror, and by light of candle
comb your hair; face of your future partner will appear
in glass, peeping over your shoulder.
Place four saucers on table in line. Into first
put dirt; into second, water; into third, a ring;
into fourth, a rag. Guests are blindfolded and
led around table twice; then told to go alone and put
fingers into saucer. If they put into dirt, it
means divorce; into water, a trip across ocean; where
ring is, to marry; where rag is, never to marry.
To foretell complexion of future mate, select three
soft, fluffy feathers. (If none is handy, ask for
a pillow and rip open and take out feathers.) On bottom
end of each feather fasten a small piece of paper;
a drop of paste or mucilage will hold all three in
place. Write “blonde” on one paper;
“brunette,” on another, and “medium”
on the third. Label papers before gluing them
on feathers. Hold up feather by its top and send
it flying with a puff of breath. Do same with
the other two; the feather landing nearest you denotes
complexion of your true love. To make test sure,
try three times, not using too much force in blowing
feathers, which should land on table, not on floor.
One bowl is filled with clear water, another with
wine, a third with vinegar, a fourth is empty.
All are placed in line on table. Each person
in turn is blindfolded, turned about three times, and
led to table. A hand is put out and prophecy
made by bowl touched. Water shows happy, peaceful
life; wine promises rich, eventful, noble career;
vinegar, misery and poverty; an empty bowl is a symbol
of bachelor or spinster life.
Take two roses with long stems. Name one for
yourself and one for your lover. Go to your room
without speaking to any one; kneel beside bed; twine
stems of roses together, and repeat following lines,
gazing intently on lover’s rose:
