s
the number of years of age of the future husband.
_Prince Edward Island._

264. Hang a gold ring over a glass of water, from a hair, saying the name
of some man. If the ring strikes the side of the glass three times you
will marry him.
_Willimantic, Conn._

265. Put three saucers on the table, and walk round it blindfolded three
times, then put a finger in a saucer. One saucer contains a gold ring,
one soapsuds, one is empty. Repeat twice (making nine in all). If one
touches the ring, she will marry an unmarried man; if the suds, she will
marry a widower; if the empty one, she will be an old maid. The one
touched two out of three times is the fate.
_Central Maine._

266. If a piece of wedding-cake is passed through a ring and put in the
left stocking, then placed under the pillow and slept on three nights
running, you will dream of your lover, or he or she will come to you.
_New England._

STARS.

267. If you look at a bright star intently before retiring, you will
dream of your sweetheart.
_Alabama._

268. Count nine stars for nine successive nights. (If a rainy or cloudy
night intervene, the charm is broken, and the project must be begun
again.) The person you dream of on the ninth night will be your future
partner in life.
_Prince Edward Island._

269. Count nine stars for nine consecutive nights, and the person you
dream of the last night is your intended.
_Prince Edward Island and Alabama._

270. Count nine stars for nine nights in succession, and the first young
gentleman with whom you shake hands is to be your future husband.
_Eastern Massachusetts._

271. For three successive nights look out of the window and name three
stars. Walk to bed backward and without speaking. The one you dream of
two nights out of three will be your husband.
_Central Maine._

272. Have some one call a star which you have picked out, by the name of
a young man. The next time you meet this man, if his face is toward you,
he loves you; if his side, he likes you; if his back, he hates you.
_Province of Quebec and Bedford, Mass._

TEA-LEAVES.

273. After drinking tea, turn the cup upside down, whirl it round three
times, set it down in the saucer, whirl again, take it up, turn right
side up, and look at the grounds. If all are settled in the bottom of the
cup, you will be married right off. If they stay on the side,