With ancient roots in China, the cricket has long been considered a sign of eminent good fortune. The Chinese have traditionally kept the small black chirper as a pet within tiny cages.
Over the years, Merry Old England came to adopt the thinking that a cricket in the home would ensure prosperity and health. On the other hand, a deceased cricket might be a foreboding sign of what’s to come. It was unthinkable for one to stomp on the insect…to do such a thing would be to flirt with disaster!
Inspired by this belief, the beloved 19th century English writer, Charles Dickens, titled one of his novels A Cricket on the Hearth. The book suggests that any Victorian possessing a superstitious nature should keep a brass cricket by their fireside in an effort to ward off ill fate from what would otherwise be a safe and happy “Home Sweet Home”.
Love the story, thank you for sharing
I love that story. Charles Dickens is one of my favorite authors.
I like THE CHIMES better , but CRICKET ON THE HEARTH isn’t bad . Where did you get the cricket paperweight ? It beautiful .
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