VISITORS

Entries

• #736

  Having a piece of bread and taking another is a sign some one is coming hungry.

  Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania.
• #737

  If you drop a slice of bread with the buttered side up, it is a sign of a visitor.

  Bathurst, N. B.
• #738

  If a broom falls across the threshold, it means a visitor is coming.

  Massachusetts.
• #739

  Three chairs in a row is a sign of a caller.

  Bedford, Mass.
• #740

  Two chairs chancing to be placed back to back denote that a visitor is coming.

  Danvers, Mass.
• #741

  One chair in front of another means a stranger.

  Peabody, Mass.
• #742

  If you go around the chimney without sitting down, you will bring company to that house.

  Guilford, Conn.
• #743

  Company on Sunday means company all the week.

  New England.
• #744

  If you have company on Monday, you will have company every day in the week.

  General in the United States.
• #745

  If you drop the dish-cloth, it is a sign you will have company.

  General in the United States.
• #746

  If you almost drop a dish-cloth and catch it before it falls, it is a sign of a visitor.

  Bathurst, N. B.
• #747

  If you drop a dish-rag, some one is coming hungry.

  Alabama.
• #748

  If the dish-cloth on falling to the floor spreads out, the visitor will be a lady; if it falls in a heap, it will be a gentleman.

  Cape Breton and Central Maine.
• #749

  If you drop the tea-towel, it is a sign of company.

  Pennsylvania.
• #750

  If you go in at one door and out at another, it is a sign of company.

  New York and Ohio.
• #751

  Going out through one door of the house and in through another means a visit from agreeable company.

• #752

  If you go in at one door and out of another of the house of a friend, a stranger will enter the house soon.

  Central New Hampshire.
• #753

  If you go in at the back (or front) door of a house, and out at the front (or back) without sitting down, you will bring company.

  Guilford, Conn.
• #754

  If you forget anything on your departure from a visit, you will go there again.

  Eastern Massachusetts.
• #755

  If the fork is dropped at the table, a man will call.

  Pennsylvania.
• #756

  If you drop a fork, and it sticks in the floor and remains in a standing position, it is a sign that a gentleman will call; but if a knife, a lady will call.

  General in the United States.
• #757

  Should you drop a knife or scissors so that they stick into the floor and stand up, it is a sign of company.

  New York.
• #758

  The dropping of any sharp-pointed instrument which sticks up in the floor, such as a knife, a pair of scissors, etc., foretells company coming from the direction in which the article leans.

  Massachusetts.
• #759

  If the scissors drops there will be visitors; if the small blade sticks in the floor it will be children; if the large, adults.

  Nashua, N. H.
• #760

  A needle dropping on the floor and sticking up means visitors.

  St. John, N. B.
• #761

  If a knife be dropped at table, a woman will call.

  Pennsylvania.
• #762

  If you drop a knife at table, a lady will come during the evening; if a fork, a gentleman is coming.

  Talladega, Ala.
• #763

  If you drop a knife, your visitor will be a woman; if a fork, it will be a man; if a spoon, it will be a fool.

  Pennsylvania.
• #764

  If you drop a knife, it is a sign a lady is coming to see you. If a fork, the visitor will be a man; if a spoon, your cousin.

  New York.
• #765

  Two knives beside a plate mean a lady stranger; two forks, a man.

  Peabody, Mass.
• #766

  To put two spoons in your teacup is a sign of a stranger.

  Maine and Massachusetts.
• #767

  Two forks or spoons crossed on a plate signify that a stranger is coming.

• #768

  If you wash the sugar-bowl, you will have company.

  Eastern Massachusetts.
• #769

  To have too many plates on the table means guests.

• #770

  If an extra plate be accidentally placed upon the table, some visitor will come hungry.

  Northern Ohio.
• #771

  If you are offered an article of food at the table, which you already have on your plate, but forgetting that you have it, take some more, it is a sign that a stranger is coming to your house before you eat another meal.

  Quebec.
• #772

  If stems of tea-grounds are found in the cup, it denotes that visitors are coming. If you wish them to come, bite the heads off and throw them under the table.

  Deerfield, Mass.
• #773

  If the stems of tea-grounds come on top of the cup, visitors are coming. Bite one, and if it is hard, it will be a man; if soft, a woman.

  New Hampshire.
• #774

  If successful in the attempt to take stems from your tea, a friend is going to visit you.

  Alabama.
• #775

  If a tea-stem is on top of the cup, put it in your shoe, and you will have company.

  Massachusetts.
• #776

  If a tea-stem floats in the tea, it is a sign you will have a visitor. If it is hard, it is a man; if it is soft, it is a woman. If it is long, the visitor will be tall; if short, the visitor will be short.

  New York.
• #777

  To learn about visitors from tea-grounds: Lift the leaf out and press it against the left hand, naming the days of the week. Upon whichever day the leaf chances to cling and rest, company may be expected. To complete the spell, pat the leaf down your neck and wish.

  Plymouth, Mass.
• #778

  If your eye quivers, a stranger is coming.

  Labrador.
• #779

  If a stray hair blows persistently across the eyes, it’s the sign that a stranger is coming.

  Massachusetts.
• #780

  The shin-bone itching means guests.

• #781

  The nose itching signifies visitors.

  General in the United States.
• #782

  The nose itching foretells company. If on the right side, it means a man; if on the left, a woman.

  Central New York.
• #783

  If your nose itches, you will see an old friend whom you have not seen for some time.

  New York and Pennsylvania.
• #784

  If your nose itches, it means you’ll

  See a stranger,
  Kiss a fool,
  Or be in danger.

  Peabody, Mass.
• #785

  To sneeze at the table indicates a stranger.

  Peabody, Mass.
• #786

  To sneeze before breakfast is a sign you will have a caller before night.

  Eastern Massachusetts.
• #787

  Sneeze before you eat,
  See a stranger before you sleep.

  Cape Breton.
• #788

  As many times as you sneeze before breakfast, so many calls will you have before tea (or bed-time).

• #789

  If you sneeze on Saturday, you will have company on Sunday.

  Massachusetts.
• #790

  Water spilled on the doorstep means a stranger.

  Ohio.
• #791

  To slop water near a door is a sign of a stranger.

  Peabody, Mass.
• #792

  A sudden shower of sparks from the fire betokens a visitor.

  Cape Breton.
• #793

  When you see the soot burning in the back of the chimney, it is a sign of your being visited by a stranger.

  Alabama.
• #794

  If you crock your knuckles, company will come.

  Massachusetts.