ine;" close the book and bind it
round with string or garter, each girl supporting the key with the first
finger of the right hand. One of them repeats a verse to each letter as
the other girl names it, beginning the alphabet, till it turns at the
initial of the future husband or lover.
_General in the United States._

BIRDS.

185. When you see a turkey-buzzard flying alone, repeat,--

Hail! Hail! Lonely, lonesome turkey-buzzard:
Hail to the East, hail to the West,
Hail to the one that I love best.
Let me know by the flap of your wing
Whether he (or she) loves me or not.

Note the manner of the bird's flight: if he flaps his wings your lover is
true; if not, the lover is false.
_Tennessee._

186. When the call of the first turtle-dove is heard, sit down and remove
the shoe and stocking from the left foot, turn the stocking inside out,
in the heel of which if a hair is found, it will be of the color of the
hair of the future husband or wife.
_Tennessee._

In Mt. Desert, Maine, and Prince Edward Island the same project is tried
on hearing the first robin.

BUTTONS.

187. The coming husband is determined by repeating the following words,
touching each button of the coat, vest, or dress in order:--

Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.
Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief.

Or,

Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief.

Or,

Doctor, lawyer, merchant, cheat.
_Ohio._

188. With reference to the habitation to be occupied:--

Big house, little house, pig-sty, barn.
_New Hampshire._

189. As to the wedding dress:--

Silk, satin, velvet, cotton, woolen.
_Massachusetts._

190. In regard to the vehicle:--

Carriage, wagon, wheelbarrow, chaise.
_Massachusetts._

191. The first of these button formulae is used by boys to foretell their
profession in life. A friend remembers how in childhood his buttons were
completely worn out by the continual practice of the inquiry.

192. With reference to the acquisition of a coat:--

Bought, given, stolen.
_Massachusetts._

193. "Rich man, poor man, beggar, thief, doctor, lawyer, merchant,
chief." Said over by little girls on their back hair combs to find the
occupation of their future husbands.
_New York._

FOUR-LEAVED CLOVER.

194. If a girl puts a two-leaved clover in her shoe, the fi