CHARMS AND CEREMONIES. _______________________
TO SEE A FUTURE HUSBAND.
On Midsummer-eve, just after sun set, three, five, or seven young women are to go into a garden, in which mere is no other person, and each to gather a sprig of fed sage, and then, going into a room by themselves, set a stool in the middle of the room, and on it a clean bason full of rose-water, in which the sprigs of sago are to be put, and, tying a line across the room, on one side of the stool, each woman is to hang on it a clean shift, turned the wrong side outwards ; then all are to sit down in a row, on the opposite side of the stool, as far distant as the room will admit, not speaking a single word the whole time, whatever they see, and in a few minutes after twelve, each ones future husband will lake her sprig out of the rose-water, and sprinkle her shift with it.
On St. Agnes’ night, 21st January, take a row of pins, and pull out every one, one after another, saying a paternoster on sticking a pin in your sleeve, and you will dream of him you will marry.
A slice of the bride-cake thrice drawn through the wedding-ring, and laid under the head of an unmarried woman, will make her dream of her future husband. The same is practised in the North with a piece of the groaning cheese.
TO KNOW WHAT TRADE YOUR HUSBAND WILL BE.
On Midsummer-eve take a small lump of lead, pewter is best, put it in your left stocking on going to bed, and place it under your pillow; the next day being Midsummer-day, take a pail of water, and place it so as the sun shines exactly on it, and as the clock is
