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Martha Russell Orne's Hallowe'en: How to Celebrate It is the first book ever published devoted entirely to Halloween. The book is a wonderful collection of games and fortune-telling methods, including this one: THE LIME-KILN TEST. If a maid would know the name of the man she is to marry, let her on All-Hallowe’en steal out to a lime-kiln and throw therein a clue of blue yarn, still holding on to the other end. Presently end in the kiln will be sharply pulled. Then the maid must say, “Who holds?” Whereupon the voice of her future husband will pronounce his name, both the Christian and surname. In the absence of a lime-kiln the lads and lassies can easily agree upon a substitute; and he would be a booby, indeed, who would not take advantage of the means thus afforded of determining his standing in the affections of his lady-love. |