“ The Poles of the World—two points exactly opposite to each other in the heavens, one in the north, the other in the south, the earth being in the midst, so that it seems to turn about as if it were borne up by them; therefore, by some it is termed the axle-tree of the world, as if there was a line supposed to be drawn from one pole through the centre of the earth to the other pole, and the earth turning thereon; though Holy Writ tells us "The Lord hangeth the earth upon nothing, it being upheld by his mighty power." ”

“ If you dream of riches, you will marry an independent gentleman; of white linen, he will be a clergyman; of darkness he will be a lawyer; of odd noises and tumults, he will be a tradesman; of thunder and lightning, he will be a soldier or sailor ”

“ Nature sometimes in her roughest coat drops her brightest jewel, which for a long time lies hidden, till developed by some experienced adept. So we may observe of our authoress, that though clothed in the meanest garb, nature showed herself in her abilities, and left it for me to hand down to posterity what would otherwise have been lost in oblivion. ”

“ Ascension is the rising of any star, or any part of the ecliptic above the horizon. Decension is its going down.
Right Ascension of a star, is that part of the equinox that riseth or setteth with a star in the right sphere; but an oblique sphere, is that part of the equinoctial in degrees, containing between the first point of Aries, and that part of the equinoctial which passeth by the meridian with the centre of the star. ”

“ From a long, contracted habit, likewise, when she was smoking, of ever being seated so that her knees almost touched her visage, her limbs became so contracted, that when she became old in years, she was almost double, which, together with her enormous length of nose and chin, her pipe, and the number of animals about her, made her cut a most hideous figure, and appear rather uncommonly terrifying to those who were not apprised of it. ”

“ Tropics are supposed to be two lesser circles, parallel with the equinoctial, and distant from it on either side twenty-three degrees thirty-one minutes each; the ecliptic line touches the tropics of Cancer on the north side of the equinoctial, and it touches the tropics of Capricorn on the south side thereof, so that the sun hath his motion between these two circles.
The Arctic Circle is equally distant from the North Pole, as the tropics are distant from the equinox—twenty-three degrees thirty-one minutes. ”

“ The Pole Arctic, or North Pole, is elevated above our horizon about fifty-one degrees, and the stars within that distance from it never set with us, but keep their course round it daily; so, likewise, those that are that distance from the South Pole never rise with us, but perform their course in the like order. ”

“ If he loose at cards snappishly, he is impatient; and to cheat at play for gain shows a mind unworthy of trust.
If he boasts of a lady’s favours, he is to be avoided.
If he look pale in a passion, with pale lips, he cannot have either true love or courage to defend you. ”

“ Bridget, vulgarly called Mother Bridget, lived—in her peregrinage through this life—in a kind of cave, or rather a hollow formed by nature above ground with the assistance of a little art, and comprising an exceeding warm shelter from the air; company of all sorts resorted to her, nobility, gentry, tradesmen, mechanics, men, women, girls and boys of all degrees and classes. ”

“ If at both ends there is a redness, or mixture of different colours, the person is choleric, and delights in fighting.
When the ends are black the man loves agriculture, he places happiness in mediocrity, and from thence avoids the cares attendant on either extreme of fortune. ”

“ Fleshy nails signify a calm person and an idler, loving to sleep, eat, and drink; not delighting in bustle and a busy life.
Little round nails discover a person to be obstinate, seldom pleased, inclining to hate everyone, as conceiving himself superior to others, though without any foundation for such conception. ”

“ If round the nails there is usually any excoriation, or sprouting of the skin, the person is luxurious, fearful, and an epicure, loving enjoyment, provided it is to be obtained without danger.
When there are certain white marks at the end, it testifies that the person is improvident, soon ruining their fortune through negligence. ”

“ IN ushering into the world such a performance as this, it may be necessary to give our readers some account of the life of the person who left the following little work for the benefit and instruction of the world, a person whose fame, though not recorded among the roll of those whose heroic actions have trumpeted them to the world, yet her discerning eye and her knowledge in prescience, render her not unknown to the generality of those who devote any attention to this interesting study. ”

“ Constellation is a certain number of stars supposed to be limited within some form or likeness; as Aries the Ram is said to have thirteen stars; Taurus the Bull, thirty-three; Arcturus, Orion, and the Pleiades, mentioned in Job ix. 9, are said to be constellatiads.
Planets are the seven cratique, or wandering stars, called Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Sol, and Luna. These planets have also their several motions, as—
Direct, is a planet moving in its natural course, which is forward. ”

“ Thinking, therefore, so precious a jewel should not remain long hid, but shed its lustre to all eyes, I immediately set about putting it into English, which at length I have accomplished, and usher it into the world, requesting the gentle reader to excuse my literal errors ”

“ As she grew in years, like the generality of old folks, she became fond of dumb animals, which were her chief companions, and of these she always had a very great number; people, indeed, have said about one hundred, and others have declared she could call as many on the earth as she pleased, but this is fabulous, for I never saw more than ten at any time. ”

“ On the twenty-fifth day the child then born shall be wicked; he shall encounter with many dangers and at last will perish by them. This is an unfortunate day to those who begin any enterprise of moment thereon. ”

“ Also he that marrieth a wife on any of these days, they shall be either quickly parted, or else live together with sorrow and discontent. And lastly, whosoever on any of these days beginneth any great business, it will never prosper or come to the desired perfection. ”