St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-11-12

ic, PooI ieiioW, DluSned and seemed
quite ashamed of his proxy. Present
~, however, the steam from the large
chestnut went off like gun, and the
little one seemed so alarmed that if
sprang into the fire.
There, you have got the mitten,
Nste !" cried the young men, delight
ed
No !" said Nathan, in disap-
pointed, deprecating tone. Just then
Nathan's nut began to dance more
vigorously, and at last edged itself off
into the fire also.
There, thought I'd do that" said
Nate highly gratified, and looking
around proudly. Il thought I'd go
after her, and not be such sneak as
to give it up so :"
Two more were called for, and
named Hiram flasher and the city
girl"
Yes, yes, said my aunt, laughing
till the tears ran out of her eyes, ada
and Hiram. The long, white topped
one Hiram, and the little dark brown
one Ada"
| confess that I felt quite tremulous,
and anxious that my chestnut should
behave itself, while Hiram leaned for
ward, mouth and eyes open, gazing
with ludicrons faith at the shovel.
While he was thus intent, | Il mean
my chestnut) began to whirl and
whirl rapidly on its own axis, while
his waltzcd about it. But mine at
last popped straight out, and struck
the gazer a smart blow on the nose,
at which he drew up with a sudden
jerk, that set us roaring till the raf-
tcrs rang again.
was SO innocent as to be delight
ed at the spirited conduct of my little
deputy. But my exultation was short
lived, for to my horror, Mr.. Hiram
turned to me, blusing to his ears, and
before had time to dodge, had given
me Il hearty kiss upon the cheek. |
am naturally quick tempered, and ell
tering thoroughly into rustic feelings,
| started up with the intention, do
believe, of bcstowing a box on the
ear, in return for the kiss, but he
caught my hand, and stammcred,
" "It-it-it-it's the custom |
didn't mean to Offend
50 ] laughed with the rest, and two
more chestnuts We're put on the shovel.
An hour passed in this amusement,
and then came time for stories.
My uncle told one about the war of
1872, my aunt one of witches, and
one about Saratoga, it being called
for 10y Hepsy, who knew it of old.
And then we sang songs. The Mis-
tlcto Bough," and The Rose of Allan
dale" Widow Machree," and others
in the comic line. Then we wound
up with "Up Ned and "Old Folks
at Home" in four parts, which set my
uncle to wiping his spcctacies.
At ten the party broke up, but then
came the business of the evening for
some of us.
Hepsy, Lizzie and |, who all belong
ed to the family for the time. retired
to the dark, drcary parlor. We were
each to stand before the mantcl piece,
with a sheet wrapped around us, and
candle in our hand, into which pins
had been stuck to mark the hours.
1t was now ten. As the pins mark
ing twelve dropped out, our future
husbands were to walk in, provided
we had neither laughed nor spoken
one word.
| did it for frolic, but the other girls
believed implicitly. Standing and
looking at their earnest faces, could
not help laughing. 1t was impossi-
bic to help it. My candle shook in my
hand, and at last | gave way. So
was disqualified, but as | new my
friends were trembling with fright, |
did not leave them, and continued to
hold my light. |, having no hopes
from the experiment, found it most in
tolerably dull work, standing there in
the cold; but they seemed buoyed up
by excitement. We all three watched
our candles eagerly, and | could not
held wishing some charitable draught
OF air would put them out, and end
the spell l knew nothing would
come Of waiting; but not to have the
laugh against me for a coward, |
stayed-fortunately.
Two mortal hours dragged them
selves by. Then my pin dropped, but
the hall clock had not yet struck
twelve. Hcpsy's pin fell. Then the
clock began. 1t was the critical
time, and | think three palcr faces
never listened to twelve tedious
strokes. At the last clang, Lizzics
pin fell, and the door swung open.
standing there opposite to us, i'll the
dark passage, were three tail fig
ures, like ourselves in white, each
holding the sheet over its face with
one hand.
With ghastly checks and dilated
eyes, we looked, and looked in marble
stiffness. The three spectres were
also motionlcss, except their eyes,
which reflected our lights and moved
occasionally. After some moments of
hesitation, still maintaining silence, !
beckoned to the girls to approach
with me. but they shrank back, ana
it took violent persuasive pantomine
to induce them to accompany me. At
last they came. In advancing | look
ed sharply, for wanted to manage
not to take the wrong spectre, and
disappoint either of the lovers. ! rec
ognized Nathan and Hepsy's friend:
the third | absolutely could not guess.
1t certainly was not Hiram. | was
now trembling as much as any Of the
others, and fell back little l did no,
wish to rush upon my fate in the
shape before me. The girls came to q
full stop too. Still the figures were
like statues, and we three stood di
rectly before them with our candles
took courage, and signitied bs
motions that we must pull the white
.l.tbS from, tba hidden fanav sim A Ii a