A fine, handsome young man, of the best character and conduct,
suddenly became wild and reckless, drunken and disorderly, from the
effect, it was believed, of a love potion administered to him by a young girl
who was passionately in love with him. When she saw the change produced
in him by her act, she became moody and nervous, as if a constant terror
were over her, and no one ever saw her smile again. Finally, she became half
deranged, and after a few years of a strange, solitary life, she died of
melancholy and despair. This was said to be "The Love-potion Curse."
LOVE DREAMS
The girl who wishes to see her future husband must go out and gather
certain herbs in the light of the full moon of the new year, repeating this
charm—
"Moon, moon, tell unto me
When my true love I shall see?
What fine clothes am I to wear?
How many children shall I bear?
For if my love comes not to me
Dark and dismal my life will be."Then the girl, cutting three pieces of clay from the sod with a black-
hafted knife, carries them home, ties them up in the left stocking with the
right garter, places the parcel under her pillow, and dreams a true dream of
the man she is to marry and of all her future fate.
TO CAUSE LOVE
Ten leaves of the hemlock dried and powdered and mixed in food or
drink will make the person you like to love you in return.
Also keep a sprig of mint in your hand till the herb grows moist and
warm, then take hold of the hand of the woman you love, and she will
follow you as long as the two hands close over the herb. No invocation is
necessary; but silence must be kept between this two parties for ten minutes,
to give the charm time to work with due efficacy.