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.
Not a bit in the world.
You repeat this sentence until the king of hearts makes his
appearance. If it happens that, as you lay this upon the table, you
pronounce the word "heartily" he will love his future wife heartily,
and so on.
Now as to why he marries her. Count off the cards upon the table,
while you repeat the following sentence:
For love, for her beauty,
For his parents' command,
For the bright, golden dollars,
For counsel of friends.
The sentence by which you discover what is his profession is the
following:
Gentleman, alderman, clergyman, doctor,
Merchant, broker, professor, major,
Mechanic, lawyer, shipmaster, tailor.
This method of telling fortunes is very entertaining in society, when
you have not the book to find more particular answers.
* * * * *