We will suppose the person making the essay to be a widow, and consequently represented by the queen of spades. This card is, therefore, to be withdrawn from the pack, and laid face uppermost upon the table. The remaining thirty-one cards are then to be well shuffled, cut, the topmost card withdrawn and placed lengthwise, and face uppermost, above the head of the queen of spades. The cards are to be shuffled, cut, and the topmost card withdrawn, twelve more times, the manner of their arrangement being this: The queen of spades in the center, the first card lengthwise above her head, the second ditto at her feet, the third on her right side, the fourth on her left, the fifth placed upright above the first, the sixth ditto below the second, the seventh at the right of the third, the eighth at the left of the fourth, the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, at the four corners, and the thirteenth across the center card—the queen of spades—thus forming a star. (See engraving.) We will suppose the fourteenth card to be the queen of spades, which represents the person making the essay; then—1. Ace of hearts; 2. King of clubs; 3. Ten of clubs; 4. Nine of diamonds; 5. Queen of clubs; 6. Eight of hearts; 7. Ten of spades; 8. Jack of clubs; 9. Seven of clubs; 10. Ten of hearts; 11. Jack of diamonds; 12. Eight of diamonds; 13. Nine of clubs. These being placed at right angles, the person consulting them takes them up two by two, beginning with those last laid down.

The first card, 12, the eight of diamonds, and the one in the opposite corner, viz., 11, the jack of diamonds, read—"Overtures will be made—jack of diamonds—by a fair young man—next two cards, 10 and 9, ten of hearts—which will prove unsuccessful—seven of clubs—on account of something connected with money. Next two cards, 8 and 7, the jack of clubs—a clever dark young man—ten of spades—will be greatly grieved by, 6—eight of hearts, a fair girl to whom he is attached. Next two cards, 5 and 4, the queen of clubs—a dark woman—nine of diamonds—will be annoyed at not receiving, 3—ten of clubs—a sum of money—next two cards, 2 and 1, the king of clubs—which was to have been sent her by a generous dark man, who is fond of obliging his friends—ace of hearts—it will at last arrive, accompanied by a love-letter—13th card, placed across the queen of spades, nine of clubs—and be the cause of unexpected gain to the person consulting the cards."