Part 13

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The belief in omens has existed in all ages and countries, and traces of it linger even yet in the most civilized communities, in the dread, for instance, that many entertain of sitting down to table in a party of thirteen. Not a little of the philosophy of omens is contained in the Scottish proverb: “Them who follow freits, freits follow;” meaning that a fantastic belief in impending evil paralyzes the endeavor that might prevent it.

There are few omens, perhaps none, which are not universal in their authority, though every land in turn fancies them (like its proverbs) of local prescription and origin. The death-watch extends from America to Cashmere, and across India diagonally to the remotest nook of Bengal, over three thousand miles distance from the entrance of the Indian Punjaub. A hare crossing a man’s path, on starting in the morning, has been held in all countries alike to prognosticate evil in the course of that day.

WEATHER OMENS.

FOR FINE AND DRY WEATHER OF LONG CONTINUANCE.

1. If the wind be north, north-west, or east, then veer to the north-east, remain there two or three days without rain, and then veer to the south without rain; and if thence it change quickly, though perhaps with a little rain, to the north-east, and remain there--such fine weather will last occasionally for two months.

2. If there be dry weather with a weak south wind for five, six, or seven days, it having previously blown strongly from the same quarter.

3. If spiders in spinning their webs, make the terminating filaments long, we may, in proportion to their length, conclude that the weather will be serene, and continue so for ten or twelve days.

4. If there are no falling stars to be seen on a bright summer’s evening, you may look for fine weather.

5. If there be a change from continued stormy or wet to clear and dry weather, at the time of new or full moon, or a short time before or after, and so remain until the second day of the new or full moon, it is likely to remain fine till the following quarter; and if it change not then, or only for a very short time, it usually lasts until the following new or full moon; and if it does not change then, or only for a very short time, it is likely to continue fine and dry for four or five weeks.

6. If there be a change of weather at the time of the quarters, &c. (under the same circumstances as in No. 5), it will probably last for some time.

7. Spiders generally alter their webs once in 24 hours; if they do this between six and seven in the evening, there will be a fine night; if they alter their web in the morning, a fine day; if they work during rain, expect fine weather; and the more active and busy the spider is, the finer will be the weather.

8. If near the full moon there be a general mist before sunrise; or

9. If there be a sheep-sky, or white clouds driving to the north-west, it will be fine for some days.

FOR FOUL AND WET WEATHER.

10. If the sun rise pale, or pale-red, or even dark-blue, there will be rain during the day.

11. If the clouds at sunrise be red, there will be rain the following day.

12. If at sunrise many dark clouds are seen in the west, and remain, there will be rain on that day.

13. If the sun rise covered with a dark-spotted cloud; rain the same day.

14. If in the winter there be a red sky at sunrise; steady rain same day; in summer, showers and wind.

15. If the sun set in dark heavy clouds; rain next day.

16. But if it rain directly; wind the following day.

17. If the sun set pale or purple; rain or wind the following day.

18. If the sun set, and there be a very red sky in the east, wind; in the south-east, rain.

19. If long strips of clouds drive at a slow rate high in the air, and gradually become larger, the sky having been previously clear, there will be wet.

20. If there be many falling stars on a clear evening, in the summer, there will be thunder.

21. If there be a change of the wind from the north-west or west, to the south-west or south, or else from the north-east or east, to the south-east or south; wet.

22. If the sun burn more than usual, or there be a halo round the sun during fine weather; wet.