CHAPTER XV.

MOON.

DIVINATION.

1080. Repeat, looking at the new moon the first time you see it,--

New moon, true moon, tell unto, me Who my true love is to be; The color of his hair, the clothes he is to wear, And when he'll be married to me.

_Mansfield, O._

1081. On first seeing the new moon, hold any small object in the hand while you repeat,--

New moon, true moon, reveal to me Who my true love shall be; The color of his hair, the clothes he shall wear, And the day that we shall wedded be.

Put the object--handkerchief, pebble, or what not--under your pillow at night, and you will dream of your future husband.

_Prince Edward Island._

1082. New moon, moon, Hail unto thee!

In my sleep upon my bed, May the one I am to wed In my dreams smile on me.

_Middleboro', Ma.s.s._

1083. If you see the new moon over the right shoulder, take three steps backward and repeat,--

New moon, true moon, true and bright, If I have a lover let me dream of him to-night.

If I'm to marry far, let me hear a bird cry; If I'm to marry near, let me hear a cow low; If I'm never to marry, let me hear a hammer knock.

One of these sounds is always heard.

_Tennessee._

1084. Say to the new moon over your right shoulder,--

New moon, new moon.[TN-9] come play your part, And tell me who's my own sweetheart; The color of his hair, the clothes he shall wear, And on what day he shall appear.

Then dream.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1085. The first time you see the moon in the New Year, look at it and say,--

Whose table shall I spread?

For whom make the bed?

Whose name shall I carry?

And whom shall I marry?

Then think of one you would like to marry, and go your way. Ask some question of the first person you meet, and if the answer is affirmative, it indicates that you will marry your choice; if negative, it means you will not.

_Told by a Norwegian girl in Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

1086. Rest a mirror on the head and look at the new moon in it; as many moons as you see mean the number of months before marriage.

1087. When it is new moon, take out a stocking, and as you knit repeat,--

This knot I knit To know the thing I know not yet, This night that I may see Who my husband is to be, How he goes and what he wears, And what he does all days and years.

_Nashua, N.H._

1088. Look over the right shoulder at the new moon, and count nine stars, pick up whatever is under your right foot, such as a stick, pebble, or what not; put it under your pillow, and you will dream of whoever is to be your husband.

_Deer Isle, Me._

1089. When you see the moon, say,--

I see the moon and the moon sees me, And the moon sees somebody that I want to see.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1090. New moon, true moon, true and trusty, Tell me who my true love must be.

_Pennsylvania._

1091. Wish the first time you see the moon, and your wish will come true.

_General in the United States and Canada._

1092. Bow to the new moon seven times the first time you see it, and you'll get a present, or wish and you will get your wish.

_New England._

1093. If you shake your dress at the new moon, you will get a new one.

_Alabama._

FORTUNE.

1094. The moon seen over the right shoulder brings good luck; over the left shoulder, ill luck.

_General in the United States._

1095. If you should see the moon over your left shoulder, and should without speaking turn round and look at it over your right shoulder, your ill luck will disappear, and you will be as well off as if you had seen it over your right shoulder first.

_Maine and Ma.s.sachusetts._

1096. It is bad luck to look at the moon over your right shoulder. If through mistake you should look at it over your right, face around, take three steps backward with your hands clasped behind, and then look at it over the left shoulder.

_Alabama._

1097. If you see the moon square in the face, you'll have a fall.

_Nashua, N.H._

1098. See the moon over the left shoulder, You will have a fall (tumble).

_Bedford, Ma.s.s._

1199.[TN-10] If you have money in the pocket when you first see the new moon, turn it over, and you'll have plenty all the rest of the month.

_Stratham, N.H._

1100. If you have money in your pocket the first time you see the new moon, and it is seen over your right shoulder, you will have money all the year.

_Nashua, N.H., and Ma.s.sachusetts._

1101. Take out money and shake it in the hand on first seeing the new moon; it will increase your wealth.