1040. It is believed that a rain may be stopped by putting one umbrella or more out in the rain. The longer left the better. _New Orleans, La. (negro)._ 1041. Water boiling over out of a kettle is a sign of rain. _Labrador._ 1042. Water boiling away quickly from the kettle is a sign of rain. _Newfoundland; general in the United States._ 1043. The same, however, is also said to be a sign of mild weather. _Bay Roberts, N.F._ 1044. To eat or sing in the water-closet betokens rain the next day. _Eastern Massachusetts._ 1045. Water low in wells is a sign of rain. _Placentia Bay, N.F._ 1046. Whistle to bring rain. _Newfoundland._ 1047. When you hear a distant locomotive whistle, it is a sign of rain. _Alabama._ 1048. Comes the rain before the wind, Then your topsail you must mind. Comes the wind before the rain, Haul your topsails up again. _Cape Cod, Mass._ 1049. In northerly squalls:-- If the rain comes before the wind, 'T is time your topsail to take in; If the wind before the rain, You may hoist your topsail up again. _Labrador._ WIND AND STORM. 1050. A broom falling across the doorway, or chairs set crosswise, is the sign of a storm. _Stratham, N.H._ 1051. If a cloud and wind are coming, the wind will last. _Trinity Bay, N.F._ 1052. If a cloud looks as if it had been picked by a hen, Get ready to reef your topsails then. _Mansfield, O._ 1053. Clothes hanging about the rigging will bring wind. _Newfoundland._ 1054. Blue blazes in a coal fire mean a storm. _Eastern Massachusetts._ 1055. When wood on the fire makes a peculiar hissing noise, it is said "to tread snow," and there will soon be a storm. _Salem, Mass._ 1056. If the stove-lids get red-hot when the fire is first made, it is a sure sign of a storm of some kind. _Cambridge, Mass._ 1057. If the vessel is becalmed, throw a halfpenny overboard to buy wind. _Harbor Grace, N.F._ 1058. If the halyard lies against the mast, the wind will increase. _Newfoundland_ 1059. Sticking a knife in the mainmast produces wind. _Conception Bay, N.F._ 1060. Table-knives turning blue denote that a northeast wind is coming. _Placentia Bay, N.F._ 1061. Strange lights at sea are seen before a northeast gale. _Newfoundland_ 1062. To see Northern Lights denotes that south wind and a storm will come inside of forty-eight hours. _Massachusetts._