The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-01-11
ALL HALLOWS EVE IN WALES


ALL HALLOWS EVE IN WALES
"OLD festival days, with their games and mer.
r'men's, are passing INTO iorgetuness IN Eng
land Not SO in Uaes--the people are not
;here worn into the smootbness Ct general sOcie
~ by inerct ursc with large towns. Hence all
these festiva Is are there keptup wi'h their an
cent gee and freshness Ga Polly LOWS
would as soon pass over Chlstlnas Day It's 1t as
All tlalIows Eve.
at is now All HaIIows Eve, and twenty times
dnfiag the day has every mock and corner OF
her ample farm -kuohe been swept, anu dus'ed;
The hearth cleaned up, the CROKER yWa'e an"
kettles and pans washed and rubbed TIL they
shine again. The clock looks brighter aud ticks
more sharply than ever clock tucked before. -
Evergreens are spread here and there as a
Christmas, and tastefully iHiermtngled with the
CHINA and kitchen ware on the sleeves. 'iis
now twilight and her vigor becomes supernatu
raj. The huge bowl Is installed on the black
and shining oak table; the hearth Is built up
with logs, aud the fire baz9s most cheefiGIly
through The ample range of the capieIGus chm
ney. What store Of apples and raislns, aud
tea, and hot cake! Mistress and maids al
length sit down and watch the clock aud the
weather. The clock shows that the time is
is a blusterous night, which only renders the
light of the blazlug wood fire sill more cleer
tul. f
"At length tap at the door, and Miss Lzzy
Jones enter: pretty smiling lass, accompanied
of course by her beau, fat rudy cheek d
Welsh youth. Mex COMES Mr.. Thomas sben-
kin.sthe tailor, and his ssler. a. BONNER Al q
plumper las; then a sucC 2sSion Of farmers Win
their wives and daughters. Mex, he nursery
maid and house maid from the HAL as sm arr
as ribbons aud new gowns can make them,
They are escorted by the tooman IN livery,
who loo|.' as great as the Duke of Wellington
receiving the Queen On parade Next pretty
Rachel, the beauty Of the village, accompanied
also by her beau, w HAM The young carpenter
The room is now full, and the sports begin
The FIRST of them is Jumping Tor the aPpe, IA
large apple suspended by string rom the
baconrack 10 the middle Of the ceiling; each o
the Young men jump IN turn: most OF 'hem mss
il. and some OF them get TAI, WHICH sttS ne
company in a roar. Yourg William at last get
ar ,od bite out of Il, and HE reward Is the aFp
itself and kiss from he la he likes besi, o
course his own Rachel. After jumping for ap
ples as long as apples could make them mi
fpr 10Y, the next sport comes, which IL III
filled with water, into which sixpence is drop
i, by turns, and again eXcIes the roar OF I'M
company by his failure and queer looks. On
of them at length gets the siXpercn, and TIN
sport ends Next follow the tea and cakes, an
the merry rustic jokes and the simple gaIlantr
which they produce. Next the wassail DO"
composed Of ale, spices, fruits, mixed with wlnt
and due portion of some stronger liquor, roas
apples and sweet cakes floating at the top. A
this over, WELL says old Polly, 'let Us now Sc
who will be spared for next 'IiaIlows Eve
She takes fine smoth nut, and throws 1t mi
the FIRE. She gazas at it with intense eager
ness until bright boZa issues, when she ex
claims with a smile of delight, Yes. may recR
on upon another merry meeting in these oil
wallis Tae smart footman throws his into tn
fire; it dies without any blaze: ne affects I
laugh it off, but looks pale and i'll satisfied
Young William next throws his nut into the fir
and says, Shall have my wishr The nu
bazes cheerfuly, the youth smiles and look
mcaniDgly at pretty Rachel.
"OId Polly Lewis is now in her full glory
she walks up 10 her high-backed arm chair
the sfiresde, takes her seat, and prepares to re
late one Of those tales which she knows is ex
pected from her. Her thin shrivelled fac
looked out from hedge of frill, and her kee
gray eye tWinkled Strangely beneath her wrn
killed. brow. whilst few white hairs hung straigi
ove. it. The black cat had leaped from lin,
Mary's lap to that of the old woman, and adde
to her sybll-ike appearance. 1t was just III
night and place for tales to set the hair on en-,
rough and black without, with bright fl
within. The candle was put out, the who
party had taken their seat in profound after
ton, and Old Polio thus began:
AWELsu STONY.
wen, my kind friends, many Of Won are 10
young TO know what wonderful sights hay
oeeh seen on All Haiows Eve. will tell va
Wna' happened 10 myself some sixty years az
You must know that we Welsh women ha,
got ways OF finding out what we are mos, des
rons to know, and particularly on this nigh
when the SAINTS and spirits are abou, rs mo,
than any other night Of the year. We'll, SON
sixty years ago and two other young wcms