“In cities,” she replied, “these customs are hardly known, but here they have always prevailed among portions of the people. Halloween, though not kept with the formality attending the occasion in the rural districts of Ireland or Scotland, is yet remembered by hundreds of young maidens who live far away from the great towns, and who improve the occasion to get, if possible, a peep into futurity, and read therein an answer to their heart’s eager questions.” “Can it really be,” said I, in return, “that superstition like this prevails in an age and among a people so enlightened. Fortune-tellers would find a rich harvest in these regions.” “Not richer, I presume,” returned Aunt Edith, “than among your more enlightened dwellers in cities.” “True, we have fortune-tellers and astrologers in abundance, and they appear to find enough silly people to encourage and support them. But what is the nature of these love tests that so many of your country maidens apply on Hallow-Eve?” Aunt Edith smiled as she answered, “They are of various kinds. Among the most common is burning nuts on the hearth. A young maiden will take two nuts, and naming one for the man who is, or whom she would like to have for her sweetheart, and the other for herself, she puts them in the fire, and accordingly as they burn quietly together, or start from beside one another, will be the future relation toward each other by the lad and lassie. Don’t you remember these verses in Burns’ “Halloween”: The auld guidwife’s well hoordit nits Are round an’ round divided An’ monie lads’ an’ lassies’ fates Are there that night decided; Some kindle, couthie,[1] side by side, And burn thegither trimly; Some start awa’ with saucy pride, And jump out ower the chimlie Fu’ high that night. Jean slips in twa wi’ tentie e’e,[2] Wha ’twas she wadna tell; But this is _Jock_, an’ this is _me_, She says in to hersel; He bleezed ower her, an’ she ower him, As they wad ne’er mair part! ’Till fuff,[3] he started up the lum,[4] An’ Jean had e’en a sair heart To see ’t that night. ----- [1] Lovingly. [2] Watchful eye. [3] With a puff or bounce. [4] Chimney. ----- The girls were all listening with fixed attention, and even Mr. Wilmot was interested. “This, as I remarked,” continued Aunt Edith, “is one of the commonest modes of trying sweethearts. There are many others, and some of them involve ordeals that would make the stoutest nerves quiver.” “Did you ever try any of them?” I inquired, half forgetting myself in asking so pointed a question. “Perhaps I have,” replied Aunt Edith, smilingly. “A young maiden will go through a great deal, in order to get some kind of an answer to a question that so deeply involves her happiness. But you mus’n’t expect me to make any confessions.”