PLANTS

Entries

• #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.