Telling Fortunes by Cards Part 20

Shuffle and cut the pack of thirty-two selected cards. Put them together, and turn up in threes. Supposing there should be two of one suit, and one of another, the highest is taken out. Should there be three of one suit, all are to be withdrawn and laid on the table in front of the dealer, in the shape of a semi-circle or horse shoe. If three of equal value, such as three kings, or three tens, they are likewise to come out. The pack is gone through, then shuffled and cut again. When the end of the pack is arrived at, this is repeated a third time, acting in the same manner. Now count from the significator, or if that should not appear naturally, use the jack (which is taken to represent the thoughts of the person consulting); seven are counted each way till it is come back to, then the cards are paired from end to end, being read as arrived at; then all the cards are shuffled together, cut in three, and dealt out in packets of four, face downward. Each packet is taken up and looked through, the cards being turned up one by one till an ace is come to. Should there be no ace in the parcel it is put on one side--it is useless. The cards are shuffled and cut again, being turned up as before, and dealt in three packets, stopping each time at the ace, as before. The third time they are shuffled but _not_ cut, and dealt in packets of two, and proceeded with as before. Should the four aces (in the last deal) turn up without another card, the wish is supposed to be sure, and to come at once. If they come out with hearts, or diamonds, there will be some delay, but if the nine or seven of spades makes its appearance with the aces, then it is said to be a sign of disappointment.

WISH NO. III.

A pack is taken of thirty-two selected cards, and cut with the left hand; thirteen cards are then dealt out. If amongst these is to be found one or more aces, lay them aside. The remaining ones are shuffled and cut and thirteen again dealt; the aces are withdrawn as before, and again shuffled, cut and dealt. If in these three deals all four aces make their appearance, it is supposed that the wish will be granted. If all the aces come at the first deal, the answer is taken to be in the highest degree favorable. If in the three times only one or two appear, it is considered that the wish will not be granted.

WISH NO. IV.

A pack of thirty-two selected cards is shuffled and cut, the consultant wis.h.i.+ng all the time. They are laid out in two rows of four each, face downwards. When two pairs come up, they must be covered by the cards held in the dealer's hand. Should it be possible to cover each pair--such as two kings, two queens, etc., it is supposed that the wish will be granted. If the cards do not pair easily, it is said the wish will not come to pa.s.s, or, at any rate, not for a long period.

The following is taken to show whether the wish will be granted: The cards are well shuffled, the consultant keeping his thoughts all the time fixed upon whatever wish he may have formed; the cards are cut once, and the card cut is noted; they are shuffled again and dealt out into three parcels--each of these being examined in turn, and if it is found that the card turned up next, either the one representing the dealer or the person who is consulting him--the ace of hearts or the nine of hearts, it is said that the wish will be granted. If it be in the same parcel with any of these, without being next to them, it is supposed there is a chance of the wish coming to pa.s.s at some more distant period; but if the nine of spades makes its appearance, it is taken that a disappointment is possible.

WISH NO. V.

The pack of thirty-two selected cards, as in the foregoing method, is taken, shuffled and cut; then the four aces are taken out, the significator, or the person for whom the dealer is acting, and anything he wants to know about--such as money, then the ten of diamonds would be selected; if about a man, any king; if about a woman, any queen; if about business, the ten of clubs. These are shuffled after having been withdrawn, without cutting, and the nine of spades, which is the disappointment card, is also added to the aces, etc., in all seven cards, laying them face downwards on the table.

Then the remainder are taken, shuffled well, and turned up in threes twice, the one following being the seventh. The pack is gone through like this, and when the nine of hearts appears whatever number that falls on in the twenty-five cards remaining. When one, two, three, four, five, six or seven, it must fall on the card drawn out by the seven cards abstracted thus; if it should fall on No. 1 and that happens on an ace, it is favorable, and if he should chance on an ace, or his wish, or anything but the disappointment card (nine of spades), the wish will be realized.

First of all, the four aces are taken out, and the nine of spades, (the disappointment card); then, supposing the dealer is acting for a fair man, or a soldier, who is anxious to know whether he will get his wish. We will imagine he has invested a sum of money, and he wishes to know whether it is a good one; or that he hopes for a legacy and is anxious to know if he will get it. The king of diamonds (representing the fair man), and the ten of diamonds, the money card, should therefore be taken out. These are added to the four aces and the nine of spades. These are well shuffled, but not cut, and laid face downwards on the table, like the following:--

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ _Ace_ _Ace_ _Fair man_ _Clubs_ _Hearts_ _inquirer_ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ _Ace_ _Nine_ _Ace_ _Diam._ _Spades_ _Spades_ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

+------------+ _Ten_ _Diam._ +------------+

These represent the four aces, the disappointment card and the inquirer and his wish. The remaining cards are now taken and turned up three at a time. We will suppose the first three are the nine, seven and eight of clubs; the next three the ten and jack of hearts, and eight of diamonds; and the seventh card, the queen of clubs--these are pa.s.sed by. Begin again, counting one. We will suppose the next three are the eight of spades, the seven of clubs and the nine of hearts.

Three are then counted from those laid face downwards on the table, and that card is turned up--we will suppose that to be the king of diamonds; the cards turned up by threes are gathered together and shuffled, and turned up by sevens as before. Should the nine of hearts fall on the fourth card the second time, that is to be turned up--we will suppose that to be the ace of diamonds. Proceed again as before, and this time we will imagine the nine of hearts to fall on the seventh--this may be the ten of diamonds--so that it could be said to the persons consulting that it is said he will get his wish; but supposing the nine of hearts to fall on the fifth card, and that turns out to be the nine of spades, he will be disappointed; and should it happen that _in the first reading_ the nine of hearts should come on, we will say, the first card, which might prove the nine of spades, then it is no use continuing the three times, as it is supposed there is no chance whatever of the wish being realized.

WISH NO. VI.

The whole pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut in two packets. They are now laid out face uppermost, in three rows of four cards each, in all twelve cards. If in the first twelve cards any court cards appear, they are taken out, filling up the s.p.a.ces with fresh cards; should these again be court cards, they are abstracted as before, filling in the s.p.a.ces as described; if not, they are thus counted: Eleven must be made up of any _two_ cards, such as an ace and ten (ace counting as one), and covered, or two and nine, each card being covered as counted, three and eight, four and seven, five and six, etc. If a court card appears, it is a stop and counts as nothing.

If, as the cards are covered, eleven can be made out of any of the two cards, and continued to the end, exhausting all the cards, it is taken that the wish will be gained; in that case all the court cards ought to be on the top, as those cast aside at first are used at the last, to cover each two cards as they count eleven. If the court cards cannot be got to come out at the end, the wish is supposed to be delayed, and if eleven cannot be made from nearly the beginning, it is said, the wish will not be realized at all. To explain the meaning more clearly, the following diagram is given. We will suppose they are as follows:--

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ _Jack_ _Four_ _Seven_ _Four_ _Clubs_ _Spades_ _Spades_ _Clubs_ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ _Three_ _Six_ _Four_ _Jack_ _Diam._ _Spades_ _Hearts_ _Diam._ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ _Five_ _Ace_ _Eight_ _King_ _Diam._ _Clubs_ _Hearts_ _Diam._ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

There are now removed the three court cards, viz.:--the jack of clubs in the first row, the jack of diamonds in the second, and the king of diamonds in the third. These are replaced by the nine of clubs in the first row, five of spades in the second, and six of hearts in the third. The cards are now to be covered. In the first row, four and seven of spades, making respectively eleven covered by ten of clubs and ten of spades. Eleven is now made, where possible, from all three rows. In the second row will be found the six and five of spades; these are covered by two and one of clubs. In the third row, one of clubs and ten of hearts, covered by seven of diamonds and three of spades. In the same row, five of diamonds and six of hearts, covered by the two of diamonds and king of hearts. In the first and second rows, nine of clubs and two of spades, covered by the four and eight of diamonds. In the second row, three and eight of diamonds, covered by the jack of hearts and queen of clubs. In the first and second row, the one and ten of spades, covered by the three of hearts and three of spades. In the first and third rows, four of clubs and seven of diamonds, covered by the ten of diamonds and nine of hearts. In the third row, nine of hearts and two of diamonds, covered by the five of clubs and ace of diamonds. In the first and third rows, ten of clubs and ace of diamonds, covered by the seven of hearts and queen of diamonds. In the first row, four of diamonds and seven of hearts, covered by the eight and five of hearts. In the first and third rows, eight of hearts and three of clubs, covered by the seven of clubs and jack of spades. In the first and second rows, seven of clubs and four of hearts, covered by the two of clubs and eight of spades. In the first and second rows, the three of hearts and eight of spades, covered by the king and nine of spades. In the first row, two of clubs and nine of spades, covered by the ace of hearts and six of diamonds.

In the first row, again, the ace of hearts and ten of diamonds, covered by the two of hearts and six of clubs. In the first and third rows, five and six of clubs, covered by the nine of diamonds and queen of hearts. In the first row, five of hearts and six of diamonds, covered by the king and eight of clubs. Then in the first and second rows, the eight of clubs and three of spades, as there is only one card remaining, viz.:--the queen of spades, the three other cards to be covered, those put aside at first are taken up, the last two to be covered being the nine of diamonds and two of hearts, covered by the jack of diamonds and jack of clubs. In this case the wish is supposed to be realized; but in some cases it will be found that it has not made up the number eleven in the two cards, and then it is taken that the wish may be either delayed or not fulfilled.

CURIOUS GAMES WITH CARDS

_By Which Fortunes Are Told in a Most Singular and Diverting Manner._

LOVERS' HEARTS.

Four young persons, but not more, may play at this game, or three by making a dummy hand. This game is played exactly the same in every game, making the queen, which is called Venus, above the ace; the ace in this game only stands for one, and hearts must be led off by the person next the dealer. He or she who gets most tricks this way (each taking up their own and no partners.h.i.+p) is supposed to have most lovers, and the king and queen of hearts in one hand is said to denote matrimony at hand; but woe to the unlucky one who gets no tricks at the deal, or does not hold a heart in his or her hand; to them are ascribed misfortune in love and long tarry before they marry.

LOVE'S LOTTERY.

Let each one present deposit any sum agreed on, or a certain number of counters; put a complete pack of cards well shuffled in a bag, let the parties stand in a circle and the bag being handed round, each draw three; pairs of any kind are supposed to be favorable omens of some good fortune about to occur to the party and get back from the pool the sum that each agreed to pay. The king of hearts is here made the G.o.d of love, and claims double, and professes to give a faithful swain to the fair one who has the good fortune to draw him; if Venus, the queen of hearts, is with him, it is the conquering prize, and clears the pool; fives and nines are reckoned crosses and misfortunes, and pay a forfeit of the sum agreed on to the pool, besides the usual stipend at each new game; three nines at one draw is supposed to portend the lady will be an old maid, three fives, a bad husband.

MATRIMONY.

Let three, five, or seven young women stand in a circle, and draw a card out of a bag. It is taken that she who gets the highest card will be the first married of the company, whether she be at the present time maid, wife, or widow, and she who has the lowest has the longest time to stay ere the sun s.h.i.+nes on her wedding day; she who draws the ace of spades will never bear the name of wife; and she who has the nine of hearts in this trial will have one lover too many to her sorrow.

CUPID'S PASTIME.

Amus.e.m.e.nt may be caused by this game to all those playing, and at the same time it is supposed that some curious particulars may be learned concerning the future fates of the consultants.

Several may play at the game, it requiring no special number, only leaving out nine cards on the table not exposed to view; each person puts a trifling sum in the pool, and the dealer double. The ace of diamonds is made princ.i.p.al, and takes all the other aces, etc.; twos and threes in hand are said to show luck; fours, a continuance in the present state; fives, trouble; sixes, profit; sevens, worries; eights, disappointment; nines, surprises; tens, settlements; jacks, sweethearts; kings and queens, friends and acquaintances; ace of spades, death; ace of clubs, a letter; and the ace of diamonds with ten of hearts, marriage.

The ace of diamonds being played first, or should it be amongst the nine, the dealer calls for the queen of hearts, which takes next. If the ace be not out and the queen conquers, it is supposed that the person who played her will be married that year without a doubt, though it may perhaps seem unlikely at that time; but if she loses her queen, she must wait longer. The ace and queen being called, the rest go in rotation as at whist; kings taking queens, queens jacks, and so on, and the more tricks taken, the more money the winner gets off the board on the division; those who hold the nine of spades are to pay a penny to the board, and it is said they will have some trouble; but the fortunate fair one who holds the queen and jack of hearts in the same hand is supposed soon to be married, or if she is already within the pale of matrimony, a great rise in life by means of her husband; those who hold the ace of diamonds and queen of hearts clear the money off the board and end that game; it also professes to betoken great prosperity.

WEDDING BELLS.

You select the four kings from a pack, and lay them side by side in a row upon the table.

The lady who wishes to know her fortune gives to each of these cards the name of some gentleman of her acquaintance who might be likely to woo her in marriage. It is usual to p.r.o.nounce these names aloud before the company. The name given to the king of hearts is, however, an exception. This secret the lady keeps to herself. To these four kings, you can also add a queen, which then denotes the old maid.

Now, take the rest of the pack, shuffle it thoroughly, let the person in question cut three times and commence. Under each of the above-named picture-cards you lay a card in turn, and as often as a spade is placed under a spade, a heart under a heart, _et cetera_, that is, as often as a card of the same suit is placed under one of these picture-cards, the picture-card is turned from its position.

The first time it takes a direction from left to right, the second time it lies upside down, the third time it is raised again to a position from right to left, and the fourth and last time it regains its former upright position.

That one of the four kings who, after these different changes, first resumes his upright position, is to be the happy husband. If it should happen to be the old maid, you can imagine what is in store for you.

MARRIAGE QUESTIONS.

After having learned from the cards who is to be the husband, the questions next asked are, usually: How much will he love his wife, why he marries her, and what is his profession. These questions are answered in the following manner:

Gather up the cards, shuffle them thoroughly, and let the person cut them three times. Then tell off the cards upon the table, as you recite the following sentence:

Heartily, painfully, Beyond all measure.

By fits and starts.