This method is over three thousand years old, and it has been practised by thirty-thousand of our ancestors with the most complete success.
FOR A GIRL TO ASCERTAIN IF SHE WILL EVER MARRY.
Borrow a wedding-ring from a young married woman—the more recently she has been married the better—and do not tell her, or let her suspect your purpose; wear this ring on the third finger of your left hand at least three hours after sunset before you retire to rest. When you are ready to go to bed, take half a sheet of pure white paper, with no rule marks or anything upon it, lay down the ring on the paper, and mark round it so as to make a circle exactly its size: you then write within the circle, “With this ring I hope to wed:” write your name over the top, and your age underneath; fold the paper with a three-cornered love-letter fold, and put it under your pillow. Before getting into bed, suspend the ring by a hair of your head over the pillow so that it will hang about six inches above your face. You will then dream of your future husband if you are ever to marry. If you dream of several men, the one whose appearance pleases you best will be the man. If you dream of women or girls exclusively, you will never marry. Sometimes it may happen that your dream is confused, and you have no clear recollection of it, or perhaps you may not dream at all, in which case you must continue the charm, by keeping the paper under your pillow for three nights; but the ring is not necessary after the first night.
THE STRAW SIGN.
If you find a blade of straw lying in your chamber, you may expect a visitor that same day. If there is one grain upon the straw, the visitor will be a gentleman, if not, a lady.
THE SCISSOR OR KNIFE PROGNOSTIC.
If a pair of scissors, a knife, or any other pointed instrument falls accidentally from your hand, and sticks in the floor, so that it remains upright, you may make every preparation for company, for be assured they will not fail to come.
THE CAT PORTENT.
When the cat licks and trims herself, it is a sign of visitors, but this is probably known to most of my readers already.