In the _Life and Letters of Dr. Samuel Butler_ recently published, it is shown that the saying "boys will be boys" was as true many years ago as it is to-day.
"There was a certain Exciseman in Shrewsbury who was very trim and neat in his attire, but who had a nose of more than usual size. As he passed through the school-lane the boys used to call him 'Nosey,' and this made him so angry that he complained to Dr. Butler, who sympathized, and sent for the head boy, to whom he gave strict injunctions that the boys should not say 'Nosey' any more.
"Next day, however, the Exciseman reappeared, even more angry than before. It seems that not a boy had said 'Nosey,' but that as soon as he was seen the boys ranged themselves in two lines, through which he must pass, and all fixed their eyes intently upon his nose. Again Dr. Butler summoned the head boy, and spoke more sharply. 'You have no business,' said he, 'to annoy a man who is passing through the school on his lawful occasions; don't look at him.' But again the Exciseman returned to Dr. Butler, furious with indignation, for this time, as soon as he was seen, every boy had covered his face with his hand until he had gone by."
Burning ears indicate, you know, that we are being talked about. When the right ear burns, something to our advantage is being said; when the left ear is troubled, something detrimental is being said. An old darky I knew of had a spell to stop this kind of gossip. She spat on her finger, made the sign of a cross on her ear, and said,
"If yer talkin' good, good betide ye; Talkin' bad, hope de debil ride ye."
"Mother Goose" is responsible for the following:
"If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger. Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger. Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter. Sneeze on a Thursday, something better. Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow. Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow."
"Evening red and morning gray Lets the traveller on his way. Evening gray and morning red Brings down rain on the traveller's head."
Snow lingering on the ground is a sign that the winter will be severe.
Stumbling up stairs is a sign of your marriage within the year.
ROSA ELIZABETH HUTCHINSON, R.T.F. MONTCLAIR.