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<h2 class="chapterhead">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> WEATHER COLD. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 930. As the days begin to lengthen, So the cold begins to strengthen. Northeastern United States and Canada. </div> </div> 931. Fire spitting sparks means cold weather. Patten, Me. 932. If the fire burns well, it is coming cold weather. General in the United States. 933. Fog in winter is always succeeded by cold and wind. 934. Plenty of hawberries foretell a “hard winter,” i. e., they are to serve as a store of food for birds. Canada. 935. Cold weather comes after the wind has blown over the oat stubble. Pennsylvania. DAYS AND TIMES. 936. The first Tuesday after the new moon settles the weather for that quarter. Newfoundland. 937. If it is a fair sunset Friday night, it will rain before Monday. Massachusetts. 938. If it storms on a Friday, it will storm again before the next Monday. Massachusetts and New York. 939. If the sun sets clear Friday night, it will not rain before Monday night; but if it sets in a cloud, it will rain before Monday night. Boston, Mass. 940. The weather of the last Friday in the month governs the next month. Cambridge, Mass. 941. There will be sun during some part of Saturday the year through. Brookline, Mass. 942. If it rains the last Saturday or the first Sunday in a month, it will rain the three following Sundays. Maine. 943. The sun shines some part of every Saturday in the year but one. New England. 944. Saturday’s moon comes seven years too soon, and denotes bad weather. Newfoundland. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 945. Sunday’s sail Will never fail. Topsail Bay, N. F. </div> </div> 946. Weather is apt to repeat itself in the following week, i. e., there will be a run of wet Sundays or fine Tuesdays, etc. Brookline, Mass. 947. The first seven days of January indicate the first seven months of the year. Mild days, mild months, etc. Nova Scotia. 948. If March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion, and vice versa. General in the United States. 949. The corn is planted when the Baltimore orioles appear, or when the first green is noticed on the oak-trees. Milton, Mass. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 950. A dry May and a wet June Make the farmer whistle a merry tune. Franklin Centre, R. I. </div> </div> 951. It rains often on July fourth. That is due to the firing of cannon, etc. General in the United States. 952. If there is a wet September, there will be a next summer’s drouth; no crops and famine. California. 953. If it rains on Easter, it will rain seven Sundays thereafter. Hennepin, Ill. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 954. A green Christmas makes a full churchyard, or A green Christmas makes a fat graveyard. General in the United States. </div> </div> 955. The twelve days at Christmas govern the weather of the months of the coming year. Eastern Massachusetts. 956. The twelve days at Christmas time make the almanac for the year. Massachusetts. 957. It is a general notion that a cold winter is followed by a hot summer, and vice versa. 958. It always rains while the Cadets are in camp. Eastern Massachusetts. 959. It always rains during May meetin’s. Boston, Mass. 960. It always rains during a cattle-show. Deerfield, Mass. 961. Women “cruising,” i. e., visiting about on “pot-days,” especially Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, when people have their best dinner (usually pork and cabbage) in the pot, is a sign of bad weather. But it is also said that it is a sign of mild weather. Newfoundland and Labrador. FAIR OR FOUL. 962. Of a change:— <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> Long looked for Long last, Short notice, Soon past. Brookline, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 963. From twelve till two Tells what the day will do. New England. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 964. If it rains before seven It will drip before eleven. Eastern Maine. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 965. If it rain before seven It will quit before eleven. Prince Edward Island and, Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern Ohio. </div> </div> 966. If a storm clears off in the night, pleasant weather will last but a few hours. Northern Ohio. 967. In uncertain or threatening weather it is said that if you can see a piece of blue sky big enough to make a pair of breeches, it will clear off. Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern Ohio. 968. Variant: If you can see enough blue sky in the west to make an old woman’s apron, it will clear off. Eastern Maine. 969. Clocks and watches tick louder before mild weather. Scilly Cove, N. F. 970. Cobwebs on the grass are a sign of fair weather. General in the United States. 971. If every dish is cleaned at a given meal, then look for fair weather the following day. Pennsylvania Germans. 972. Fog lying in valleys is a sign of a “civil” day. Bay Roberts, N. F. 973. If hoar frost remains after sunrise, the day will be fine; if not, the day will be wet. Scilly Cove, N. F. 974. A load of hay passing means fair weather. Massachusetts. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 975. Rainbow in the morning, Sailors take warning; Rainbow at night, Sailor’s delight. General in Canada and the United States. </div> </div> 976. A rainbow is a sign of showers. Prince Edward Island. 977. Rain falling while the sun is shining indicates more showers. Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio. 978. Rain falling while the sun shines is a sign it will rain next day. Methuen, Mass. 979. Rain falling while the sun is shining means that the devil is beating his wife with a codfish. General in the United States. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 980. Thunder in the morning, All the day storming; Thunder at night Is the sailor’s delight. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 981. Red at night Sailor’s delight; Red in the morning, Sailors take warning. Maine and Eastern Massachusetts. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 982. Evening red and morning gray Will speed the traveler on his way. Evening gray and morning red Will bring the rain upon his head. Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 983. Evening red and morning gray, You’ll surely have a pleasant day. New York. </div> </div> 984. Red sun, hot day to-morrow. 985. High wind at dawn is a sign of a “civil” (calm) day. Newfoundland. 986. Sun’s “hounds” (a sort of halo) before the sun denote dirty weather; after the sun, denote fine weather. Scilly Cove, N. F. In Prince Edward Island and the United States these halos are called “sun-dogs,” and are said to be a sign of coming rain. 987. Much snow during the winter denotes good crops next year. New Harbor, N. F. 988. If the stars are scarce, big, and dull, it portends mild weather in winter. If large and bright, it portends frost in winter. Newfoundland. 989. Stars twinkling are a sign of bad weather. Labrador and New Harbor, N. F. MOON. 990. When the moon is on the back, it denotes weather wet or mild; when on the end, it denotes frost. Newfoundland. 991. Should the new moon lie on its back, it is a sign it will be dry that month, for the moon would hold water. The Indian says the hunter can hang his powder-horn upon it. But should the new moon stand vertically, it will be a wet month, for the moon will not hold water, and the powder-horn will slip off. Very many, however, reverse these signs. New England, New York, and Ohio. 992. The Indians told the first settlers that if the moon lay well on her back, so that a powder-horn could be hung on the end, the weather during that moon will be dry. Nova Scotia. 993. The moon changing in the west denotes that fine weather will prevail during that moon. Bay Roberts, N. F. 994. If the moon changes near midnight there will be fine weather. The nearer to midnight, the finer the weather. Conception Bay, N. F. 995. A disk or ring around the moon indicates bad weather (rain or snow). Newfoundland. 996. A circle round the moon means rain. In some localities the number of stars inside the circle denotes the number of days until it will rain. Prince Edward Island; general in the United States. 997. Where there is a ring around the moon, whichever way the ring opens; the wind will blow in. If it does not open there will be fine weather. The bigger the ring the nearer the bad weather. Trinity Bay, N. F. 998. If the new moon is of light color, there will be a frost; if it is red, it will be mild for a month. Bay Roberts, N. F. 999. The weather of the new moon governs the month’s weather. Newfoundland. 1000. The weather of the new moon governs the first quarter and after that remains the same; therefore it governs the first half. Conception Bay, N. F. 1001. The moon being red near midnight, with blunted corners or horns, portends mild weather that month. If the corners are white and sharp, there will be frosty weather. Conception Bay, N. F. 1002. If there is a star before the moon, the weather will be calm; if the star is behind the moon, the weather will be stormy. New Harbor, N. F. RAIN. 1003. A load of barrels foretells wet weather. Eastern Massachusetts. 1004. When the Brothers (Catholic theological students) turn out in a procession it will rain soon. Baltimore, Md. 1005. When a great many women are seen on the street, it will rain next day. Bedford, Mass. 1006. When you blow out the candle, if the fire on the wick burns bright, it means a fair day on the morrow; if it dies down on being blown out, it indicates a rainy day. Plymouth, O. 1007. When long cirrus clouds or “cow’s tails” are seen, it means rain. Lewisburg, Pa. 1008. Cobwebs on the grass for three mornings running are a sign of wet. 1009. If there is no dew on the grass at night, it will rain the next day. General in the United States. 1010. Conjurers can stop rain by throwing up clods of dirt. Alabama. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1011. Fog on the hill Brings water to the mill. Fog on the moor Brings the sun to the door. New York. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1012. A fog from the hills Brings water to the mills. A fog from the sea Drives all the rain away. Prince Edward Island. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1013. Fog on the hill Brings water to the mill. Fog in the vale, Catch all the water in a pail. Massachusetts. </div> </div> 1014. Three foggy mornings and then a rain. Massachusetts. 1015. It will rain within twenty-four hours of a hoar frost. Deerfield, Mass. 1016. When the glass sweats, it is the sign of rainy weather. Alabama. 1017. If the ground is black, it means rain. Peabody, Mass. 1018. To wear your husband’s hat is a sign of rain. Massachusetts. 1019. Talking of horses is a sign of rain. Labrador. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1020. Mackerel sky Five miles high Lets the earth Go three days dry. Miller’s River, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1021. Mackerel sky, Rain by and by. Massachusetts. </div> </div> 1022. A mackerel sky is a sign of a storm. Prince Edward Island. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1023. Mackerel sky, Rain is nigh. </div> </div> or <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> Mackerel sky, Rain to-morrow. Brookline, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1024. Mackerel sky Three days high Never leaves the earth Three days dry. Massachusetts. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1025. Mackerel’s back and the mare’s tails Make lofty ships carry low sails. Newburyport, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1026. Mackerel sky, horse’s tail, Make the sailor draw his sail. Brookline, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1027. Mackerel sky, Wind blow high. Canada. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1028. Mackerel sky, Twenty-four hours dry. Salem, Mass. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1029. Open and shet, Sign of wet. Maine and Massachusetts. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1030. Open and shet, Sign of more wet. Massachusetts. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1031. Open and shet, Kind o’ wet. Massachusetts. </div> </div> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1032. If raindrops linger on the pane, There will be further rain. </div> </div> 1033. Raindrops falling on a river, etc., and raising large bubbles, mean a heavy fall of rain and a flood. 1034. If you can see the reflection of the building, etc., in puddles in the street, it will rain inside of twelve hours. Salem, Mass. 1035. When the rain dries up quickly from puddles, it will rain again soon. Mattawamkeag, Me. 1036. The rope becoming slack denotes that rain is coming. Placentia Bay, N. F. 1037. Sparks on the bottom of the tea-kettle mean rain. Patten, Me. 1038. The sun drawing water means rain. General in the United States. 1039. When the sun sets in a bank of clouds, there will soon be rain. Alabama. 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. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 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. </div> </div> 1049. In northerly squalls:— <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 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. </div> </div> 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. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1052. If a cloud looks as if it had been picked by a hen, Get ready to reef your topsails then. Mansfield, O. </div> </div> 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. 1063. If the fall “line storm” clears off warm, it signifies that storms through that fall and winter will clear away with mild weather, i. e., the way in which the storm closes at the autumnal equinox will rule the weather following storms until the vernal equinox storm. Then the same saying applies to the “line-storm” of March, and the spring and summer after storms is foretold. The contrary would happen if cool weather followed the line storm. Weathersfield, Vt. 1064. In the fall, if the sky is red in the west at sunset, a gale is coming from the northeast. Newfoundland. 1065. If a sky turn gray, the wind will be north. Newfoundland. <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> 1066. First rise after low Foretells stronger blow. </div> </div> 1067. Sailors putting the end of the sheet overboard will bring wind. Hitting it three times across the thwart stops the wind. Topsail Bay, N. F. 1068. The day of the month of the first snowstorm indicates the number of storms in the year. Eastern Massachusetts. 1069. If the stars are remarkably clear and bright, it is likely there will be a storm the next day. 1070. Stars in a circle around the moon foretell a storm in the same number of days as there are stars. Maine, Massachusetts, and New York. 1071. Stars shooting about portend wind. Heart’s Delight, N. F. 1072. A shooting star shows that wind is coming from the direction toward which it goes. Conception Bay, New Harbor, N. F. 1073. If stars are in thick patches before twelve at night, it is a sign that wind will come next day from that quarter. Hearts Delight, Trinity Bay, N. F. 1074. For the sun to rise and go into a cloud means a storm. Massachusetts. 1075. If the sun sets in a bank, the wind will be in the “western bank.” Bay Roberts, N. F. 1076. If the bottom of the tea-kettle is white when taken from the stove, it indicates a snowstorm. Peabody, Mass. 1077. The sun “getting up water” denotes wind and dirty weather. Scilly Cove, N. F. 1078. Whistle for a breeze. Universal among sailors. 1079. Whistling of wind in blocks aloft is a sign of a heavy storm. Conception Bay, N. F. <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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