Sweet Butter-bur. _Tussilago fragrans._
Dedicated to _St. Catharine_.
[392] Camden Brit.
[393] La Motte on Poetry and Painting, 1790, 12mo.
~November 26.~
_St. Peter_, Martyr, Bp. of Alexandria, A. D. 311. _St. Nicon_,
surnamed _Metanoite_, A. D. 998. _St. Sylvester Gozzolini_, A. D.
1267. _St. Conrad_, Bp. of Constance, A. D. 976.
A NEW MOON CUSTOM,
_and “more last words” respecting_
CAPTAIN STARKEY.
_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._
Sir,
I do not remember to have seen in your book, “where _every-day_ we turn
the leaf to read,” any notice of a custom, which is not only very
prevalent, but which is, also, most harmless in its nature and endearing
in its tendency--promotes in its practice goodwill and good humour--and,
not unfrequently, with those who view the “future i’ th’ instant,” love
itself. Among the many new moon customs, such as looking through a new
silk handkerchief to ascertain the number of your lovers, feeling for
money in your pocket, to see if you will have a lucky month, &c.; I know
of none so pleasant, or, to my thinking, so rational, as that of
claiming the FIRST KISS FOR A PAIR OF NEW GLOVES! The person, in a
company, male or female, who first gets a glimpse of the new moon,
immediately kisses some member of the company, and pronounces with a
triumphant chuckle, “Aha! Jane, (or as the name may be,) there’s a pair
of gloves for _me_!” By this means a pleasant interruption is often
given to a tedious tale, or uninteresting debate, and a new subject
starts, in which all may join with greater or less avidity. How happy is
some modest youth, should the blushing and ingenuous girl, whom he has
secretly “singled from the world,” have laid him under the penalty of a
pair of new gloves, by that soft phrase and that first delicious
kiss--how fruitful are his sweet anticipations of that golden time--
“When life is all one dream of love and flowers.”
How joyful is an amiable sister, if, by this species of initiation, she
has been enabled to re-conciliate the vagrant affections of some
estranged brother: and even where love and sisterly feelings are out of
the question, viewed as an interchange of common (_common!_) friendship,
between the sexes, how felicitous is it in effect and operation! Should
you, Mr. Editor, be of opinion with me, respecting this no longer
“tyrant custom,” you may, possibly, by printing this letter be
productive of much good humour, and a pair of new gloves.