Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-09-24
A HOLLOW E,EN FROLIC.

81 am tired of couventionaities Twill
have ore day of genuine fun" said.
am going to see my cousin nepsy, at Chest
nut Corner, and make a firtati0n with her
beau in real rustic style. i shall wear my
flaming red and black plaid dress, with
black velvet bows in my hair, and l shall
net be bit too fine for any kind of romp-
ing"
We'll. my dear. this is ualIow Eve, n
great time tor flirting in the CO .ntry, and
made much Of in YOUR uncle's house
Have your play out, and come back re-
freshed."
81 dropped down upon M cousins one
bright October day. They were a iuvia
set, and quite ready to respond to my wish
es for genuine fun"
Before afternoon nutting-party was got
up, and a vigorous time we had of it. But
it is with the evening that have to do
now.
The youths # the nutting party all went
home to supper, having horses and cattle to
feed, or sheep to fold. But they promised
to return in an hour or so, and we were to
have the usual festivities Of the night
roasting chestnuts, eating apples, and try
ing cur future fate by the candle conjura-
ton and story telling.
The roaring wood fire danced NJ the
chimney from the span clean kitchen hearth
and about seven o'clock we were all assem-
bled about it.
10 the corner, to the right, sat dear old
uncle, and in the opposite one bis merry
wife. Next to him came, being the hon
Ored guest on this occasion. Then Hiram
Hasher-''my beau" the girls called him,
from his being so attentive to me all the
afternoon that could hardly gather a nut,
without his interference. Next to Hiram
came Sally Nixon, then her beau, and SC
on alternately, until the half circle ended
with my aunt. freight never danced on
plither features.
First let's pop some corn" was the cry,
and il was done.
There's suthin' else I'd like to pop"
whispered Hiram.
"What? ?" said J, iunocently.
1.-The question: you'll say yes to il"
noticed tina. this joke was whispered
into several other ears, aud began to sus-
pect that the corn was called for principal
ly to introduce it. Country folks do get go
attached to an old joke They scorn a
new one as they do new theory in agri-
culture.
When each girl had a lapful and each
youth q pocketful, of corn 80 MUNICH, we
proceeded to the chestnut roasting. A
shovel with long handle was brought. II
was one that my uncle had made for the
purpose for he stOutly upheld the old time
games and he placed it over the fire with
a jealous earnestuess that was very laugh-
able to me. Upon it was placed two chest
nuts, and my uncle called upon me to name
them. So | said, "let the little one be LIz-
zie Brown, and the large one Nathan Wild>
ing" These two were the most evident
lovers os the party. The shovel got hot
We watched in breathless interest. The
little chestnut, named Lizzie, began to sing
and glide about. 1t fairly danced at length,
around and around the moti0nless large
one, while we shouted with laughter to see
the demure Lizzie's representative playing
such frOlicsome court to Nathan's. He.
poor fellow, blushed and felt quite ashamed
of his proxy. Presently, however. the
steam from the large chestnut went of like
gun, and the little one seemed so alarmed
that i: spraug into the fire.
There you have got the mitten, Ma
than !" cried the young men. delighted.
mo !" said Nathan, in a disappointed,
deprecating tone. Just thep Nathan's nut
began to dance more vigorously, and at last
edged itself off into the fire aisp.-
"There, thought I'd do that" said he
highly gratifed. and looking around proud
ly Thought I'd go after her, and not be
such a sneak as to give up So"
Two more were called for, ana 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.
l confess that felt quite tremulous, and
anxious that my chestnut should behave
itself, while Hiram leaned forward, mouth
and eyes OPEN gazing with ludicrous faith
on the shovel.
While he was thus INTENT Il mean my
chestnut) began to whirl and whirl rapidly