I02 pfant Tsjore, "l^egeT^/, arid l^urlcf. 



of which she would divulge), and then burnt, with the promised 

 result that just as the last Acorn was consumed, each of the three 

 maidens should see her future husband walk across the room, or 

 if she were doomed to celibacy, then a coffin or some misshapen 

 form. 



The Witch was cunning in the composition of draughts which 

 should procure dreams, and the secret of many of these potions is 

 still known and treasured. Thus : fresh Mistletoe-berries (not 

 exceeding nine in number), steeped in a liquid composed of equal 

 proportions of wine, beer, vinegar, and honey, taken as pills on 

 an empty stomach before going to bed, will cause dreams of your 

 future destiny (providing you retire to rest before twelve) either on 

 Christmas-eve or on the first and third of a new moon. Similar 

 dreams may be procured by making a nosegay of various-coloured 

 flowers, one of a sort, a sprig of Rue, and some Yarrow off a grave ; 

 these must be sprinkled with a few drops of the oil of Amber, 

 applied with the left hand, and bound round the head under the 

 night-cap, when retiring to bed, which must be supplied with clean 

 linen. A prophetic dream is to be procured through the medium 

 of what is known as " Magic Laurel," by carrying out the following 

 formula : — Rise between three and four o'clock in the morning of 

 your birthday, with cautious secresy, so as to be observed by no 

 one, and pluck a sprig of Laurel; convey it to your chamber, and 

 hold it over some lighted brimstone for five minutes, which you 

 must carefully note by a watch or dial ; wrap it in a white linen 

 cloth or napkin, together with your own name written on paper, 

 and that of your lover (or if there is more than one, write all the 

 names down), write also the day of the week, the date of the year, 

 and the age of the moon ; then haste and bury it in the ground, 

 where you are sure it will not be disturbed for three days and 

 three nights; then take it up, and place the parcel under your 

 pillow for three nights, and your dreams will be truly prophetic 

 as to your destiny. A dream of fate is to be procured on the third 

 day of the months between September and March by any odd 

 number of young women not exceeding nine, if each string nine 

 Acorns on a separate string (or as many Acorns as there are 

 young women), wrap them round a long stick of wood, and place 

 it in the fire, precisely at midnight. The maidens, keeping perfect 

 silence, must then sit round the fire till all the Acorns are con- 

 sumed, then take out the ashes, and retire to bed directly, 

 repeating — 



" May love and marriage be the theme, 

 To visit me in this night's dream ; 

 Gentle Venus, be my fiiend, 

 The image of my lover send ; 

 Let me See his form and face, 

 And his occupation trace ; 

 By a symbol or a sign, 

 Cupid, forward my design." 



