Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup*

Method I.

As a preliminary, when the tea has been drunk, turn the cup round three times from left to right, carefully pour off any liquid left in with the grounds, stand the cup upside down a moment in the saucer, and then hand it to the appointed prophetess of the occasion, without looking in the cup oneself, or else, so the oracle says, the spell will be broken.

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A form seen resembling a HEART, if surrounded, indicates future pleasure. If dotted around, you may expect money.

TWO HEARTS--A marriage.

CROSSES--Adversity. If near the top of the cup, they mean that the misfortunes are nearly at an end.

AN ANCHOR--If at the bottom of a cup, a successful career; at the top, love and constancy; if circled with "clouds", inconstant love.

A RING--A happy marriage. I there are any specks round the ring, clouds are sgnified, meaning precaution is necessary, and deceit not inevitable. A ring at the bottom of a cup fortells separation.

FLOWERS--To a married person, denote good children, who will be a comfort to their parents.

A STAR--Happiness, if standing out clear; if surrounded, it means long life; dotted round, it indicateds that happiness, wealth, and all the fortunes of life will be the possession of the owner.

MOUNTAINS--Clouded round, mean many foes; but, if one by itself appears, you may expect the favor of people in a higher rank than yourself.

A SERPENT--Beware of an enemy. If on the top or middle of your cup, you will gain the victory; if it appears in a clouded part, there will be a struggle before you can master him.

FISH--When standing out clear, show lucky events by water, but mean the reverse when marked in cloudy parts.

A STRAIGHT ROD--Quarrels about legacies. It in the thick of the grounds, an illness.

WAVY OR SERPENTINE LINES--Indicate roads, and, if clear, they mean a happy change; if dotted around, money and long life; if cloudy, bygone or future reverses of fortune.

SMALL FLAKES--Denote letters, and these, when resting on the edge of the brim, mean they are posted, and, therefore, on their way to the owner of the cup.

TEARS are implied if the bottom of the cup is thickly dotted, while quite a clear cup indicates "the happiest she--the woman with no history."

Here is some teacup lore in rhyme:--

One leaf alone, alone you'll be;

Two together, a man you see;

Three in groups, your wish you'll gain,

Four, a letter from your loving swain;

Five, good news the letter'll bring,

Six in a row, a song you'll sing;

Seven together, great fortune waits

For you, so say the teacup Fates.

Tea-leaves short, and tea-leaves tall,

Bring you company, great and small,

Tea-leaves many, and dotted fine,

Are of bad luck the surest sign;

Tea-leaves few, and clear the rim,

Your cup with joy o'erflows the brim.

Method II.

Drink the tea, whirl the cup three times, turn into the saucer, and turn again thrice. Then read the fortune.

A lover, either man or woman, is represented by a number of dots in which one figure stands separate.

TWO DOTS SIDE BY SIDE--an engagement

THREE DOTS SIDE BY SIDE--a marrieage.

A KNEELING FIGURE--Offer of marriage.

GROUP OF DOTS IN A ROW OF THREE--offer will be accepted.

THREE LARGE DOTS IN THE SHAPE OF A PARALLELOGRAM--Illness, bad news, or loss of money.

THREE LARGE DOTS IN A TRIANGLE--Goof news, good fortune and good health.

FOUR DOTS IN A SQUARE--An important letter.

A DOT WITHIN THE SQUARE OR JUST OUTSIDE--Good news or money in the letter.

SMALL FLAKES IN THE SQUARE--Bad news in the letter.

THREEE DOTS LIKE A TRIANGLE IN THE SQUARE--You will get your wish.

A LONG LINE OF TINY DOTS HALF ROUND THE CUP--A long journey.

VERY LARGE DOTS IN A LINE--Trials and difficulties.

DROPS OF TEA IN BOTTOM OF CUP--Tears.

A CLEAN RIM TO THE CUP--Quiet, happiness and fortune.

A LEAF OVER THE RIM-- Good luck speekily.

A LONG, HARD LEAF--A man.

A BROADER, PALER LEAF--A woman.

TINY DOTS ABOUT FIGURES OF PEOPLE--Bad friends.

NO DOTS ABOUT FIGURES OF PEOPLE--Good friends.

A CROSS IN CUP--Sad tidings.

A GROUP OF TREES EACH STANDING SEPARATELY--Your wish will come true.

*A reprint of an article found in a patent medicine pamphlet advertising Doctor Pierce's Pleasant Pellets for women, printed in the Teens. I am in no way endorsing fortune telling...