More Signs and Omens.
I live in the "Sunny South," where there is a sign for everything that happens. Among the commonest of these, many are of negro origin.
1. Clear in the night, rain again in three days.
2. "Katydids'" arrival, sign of frost in six weeks.
3. Sign of a wedding if a cat washes her face and then looks at you.
4. If the husks on the corn are thick, sign of a cold winter.
5. If the rooster crows before the door, look out for company.
6. If you drop your apron, you have lost your lover.
7. If your hair-pin is about to come out of your hair, your lover is thinking of you.
8. Bad luck for any article of your clothing to burn, either on you or off.
9. Bad luck to have a rainy wedding-day.
10. Sign of a death if a bird comes in the house.
11. Bad luck if a hooting owl comes near the house.
12. Sign of a death if a "screech-owl" comes near the house. (This is considered a terrible thing, and causes great fear among the negroes.)
13. Whippoorwills are considered birds of ill omen.
14. Sign of a death if the dog howls at night.
I think it would be interesting to continue this, and have the members send in different local superstitions.
May Inman Maguire.
Hendersonville, N. C.