The Merry Thought

"I have known the shooting of a star spoiling a night’s rest; and have seen a man in love grow pale, and lose his appetite, upon the plucking of a merry-thought." Addison, Omens

Merrythought n. the fureula or wishbone of a fowl’s breast; so called from the sport of breaking it between two persons of whom each pulls at one of the two ends, to determine which is to be married first, or which is to have a wish gratified that has been mentally formed for the occasion, the winner being the one who gets the longer fragment. - from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia 1899

Work in  progress 8" x 10"