Finally, a fourth sign of approaching visitors is the crying of the magpie. Magpies, as is well known, are the most inquisitive creatures upon the face of the earth. They fly from place to place, and listen to everything. When they find out that any persons have concluded to pay you a visit, they fly to you at full speed, and bring you the news, for they are as chattering as they are inquisitive. They perch themselves upon your house, or upon a tree which may stand near it, or on the grass, and there sit and chatter until they think you must have understood them. Therefore, always give heed to these wise birds, for it is well to know when you are to expect visitors.
THE NEW MOON.
On first seeing the new moon, if you happen to look at it over your right shoulder, you may make a silent wish, and you will realize it. If a girl thus observes the new moon, and desires to see her future husband, she must repeat to herself (so as not to be heard by any one) the following lines:
New moon, new—pray let me see
Who my husband is to be:
The color of his hair,
The clothes he is to wear,
And the happy day that he’ll wed me!
If she is to be married that year, she will positively see the man of her choice before the wane of the full moon.