Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-12-02

"Yc little skelpie limmer's face,
How daur ve try sic sportin,
A seek the foul fond ony place,
For him t. ,pae your fOrtin7
Nae doubt but ye may get a sight
Great cause ye have TO fear it
For nouy ane hae gotten a fright,
An lived an died deleerit
On sic a night "'-Barns.
1t was All Hallow Zen, vulgate llallov
Eve, and some dozen Of US. sisters and cous
ms, were gathered around a bright coal fire
in the parlor, arranging plans for diyer
projects as we called them, which wer,
to disclose the name. the features, or the
profession of our future spOuses to our ex-
pectant hearts We were all girls, and the
theme once started, we discoursed with vo-
lubilty and at length upon love, courtship
AMI welded bliss handsome suitors and de
voted husbands.
The eldest of us was barely sixteen, and
among the whole group not one could as vet
boast Of a genuine living lover Still, each
girl had already enshrined in her soul some
hero Of romance with whose prototype she
firmly expected to meet in after life. Lizzie,
the eldest, had for her beau ideal Thaddeus
Of Warsaw Kate cherished tender senti-
ment for Dombey and Sons Walter GAY;
and am very much afraid that my penchant
was decidedly for the handsome though light
fingered Paul Clifford.
How the little group would laugh tonight
If | could rehearse for their benefit every
word of the merry nversation which passed
that harry evening from Zip to lip. All me
the six years which have flown since then
have changed us all to women-women too
sadly wise to try projects on All-Hallow E'en,
or % think tenderly Of Paul Clifford. But
am wandering from the past to the present
must retrace my steps.
We had compared notes Of admiration as
10 our respective heroes had burnt nuts to-
gether upon the Goals; had thrown apple
parings over our h ads to form the initials Of
the names which were some day to be our
own; had dropped molten lead into water to
discover the profession Of our future rds and
masters, and were discussing the propriety Of
sowing hemp seed, and eating an apple in the
glass at midnight, when a smothered cough
or laugh-we could not tell which-smote
upon our ears, and made US all start with
astonishment. " What is that?' we cried
breathlessly and with one accord made "a
plunge toward the hall. In our excited state
the apparition of some half dozen lovers
wraiths at the saline moment would not have
some supernatural invasion.
" What is that?' Oh, good gracious
" Nobody, nobody-only q" repeated
manly voice from the extension room beyond;
and the doors slowly unfolded, and revealed
" nobody - in the person Of Uncle Oliver.
% Girls, girls foolish girls be warned by
me. and neither eat the apple or sow the
hemp seed, on peril of your reason - said
Uncle Oliver, in a tone which was perfect
mixture of Jest and earnest.
d" Why not, uncle? Do you think it is
wicked ?" | asked
" I think it is dangerous, very dangerous,
replied Uncle Oliver, solemnly. " The sight
Of an apparition summoned by an act Of levi
ty such as either of those you mention is an
Overwhelming shock to almost any mind -
Then you believe 1t it? You have seen
something yourself? Tell us all about 1t
do tell US, Uncle Oliver - resounded on all
sides, and we crowded around the old gentle
man with eager and expectant faces, chatting
like so many magpies.
Uncle Oliver sat down in a great armchair
IN the middle of the room, still looking at us
very seriously. " So you want me to tell
YOU what have seen p he said. " Well. I
have only one objection-you can't be quiet
long enough to listen
" Just try US Well be as mute as MICE
replied Jessie. Come, girls, be quiet, and
SIT down.
In proof of our acquiesccnce, we all ranged
ourselves upon chairs, which we drew iE a
semI-circle about Uncle Oliver, and awaited
the forthcoming tale with greatest anxiety,
for Uncle Oliver was a famous story teller
Years and years ago." began the old gen
tleman-'I won't say just how many, butit
was when | was little more than eighteen
years Of age-I lived with my mother and
father in a small settlement within a DAVIS
ride of the city of Cincinnati. Ny father
was a farmer, and Of course we raised our
own grain, fruit and vegetables, and were in
no want of beef, mutton, pork, fowls and
game, but tea and coffee, loaf sugar and
spices, were only to procured by journey
10 the city; and as those articles were in con-
slant use in the family, the shopping expe-
ditions were not only important but frequent.
The duty of undertaking these excursions in
variably devolved upon myself; and as young
people are generally fond of such little jour
neys, | esteemed the performance a privilege,
and was always in high spirits when any
want was suggested which would oblIge me
to saddle my old horse, and start for Cincin-
natl
" l can see myself still dressed in my best
suit and mounted on Old Trotter's back, with
two baskets s.ung before me upon the horse,
and a capacious pocket-book buttoned up in
NY vest pocket, making my way along the
road with as much Importance as any ambas-
sador charged with state affairs could posi-
by have felt, and can We thear nv mothers
anxious charges not to forget the tea on any
account
Yes; but dear uncle, about All-Hallow !
en-, and what you saw ?'' interrupted i'm
patient Jesse.
Pm coming to that, child replied I'm
Gle Oliver =" this is part of the story"
| arrived safely, made my purchases, and !
began to retrace my steps. The day had by |
tals time become intensely cold. The wind
was full in my face, and so sharp that 1t |
nearly took away my breath. However,u |
outtoned my coat to my chin, pulled my hat |
over my eyes. and rode determinedly forward |
a' the best speed OF which old TrOtter was
capable. Nearly half way upon my journey |
S'ood large frame house, surrounded by
"eH-hiled fields and an ample orchard. The /
Iph1 oil the house was directly on the road,
"nich took sudden curve short distance |
'gyond' and became better and more shelter I
a. lookei forward 10 the appearance of |
= 'hls halfway house with much anxietv-
P1a' 'he turning, my way would be far pleas
+ i'er ana my progress more rapid; and began /
~ %ish most heartily for my journeys end. /
'ie night Was drawing On, and wet snow /
- oeSah to drift down upon the cherries land /
Iae; You may imagine my CONSERVATION.
Nisfeiore, when Just as ] arrived opposite the