Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-15
HALLow E,Es FROLtC.


"l am tired Of convsntionalities viii
have one day Of genuine fun" said. az am
going to see my cousin Hepsy, at Chestnut
Corner, and have Irritation with her besu In
real rustic style. I shall wear my flaming
red-and-black plaid dress with black velvet
bows in my hair, and shall not be q bit too
fine for any kind Of romping."
Well, my dear, this is Halow Eve, great
time for flirting in the country, and made
much Of in your unole's house. Have your
play out, and come back refreshed"
90 L dropped down upon my cousins one
bright October day. They were jovial set,
and quite ready to respond to my wishes for
genuine fun"
Before afternoon q nutting party was got up,
and a vigorous time we had Of it. But 1t is
with the evening that have to do now
The youths of the nuttins 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
ehestnuts, eating apples, and trying our future
fate by the candle conjuration and story tell
ing /
ney from the span-clean kitchen hearth, and
about seven O'Clock we were all assembled
about il.
In the corner, to the right, sat dear old
uncle, and in the opposite one his merry wife.
Next to him came, being the honored guest
on this occasion. Then Hiram HasherSsmy
beau" the girls called him, frsm his being
60 attentive to me all the afternoon that |
could hardly gather nut without his inter-
ference Next to Hiram came Sally Nixon,
then her beau, and so on alternately, until
the half circle ended with my aunt Fire
light never danced on blither features
- First lets pop some eorn," was the cry,
There's suthin' else I'd like to pop" whis-
pered Hiram.
What" said 1, innocently.
I" The question-if you'll say yes to it."
noticed that this joke was whispered into
several other ear. and / began to suspect that
the corn was called for principally to intro
duce it. Country folks do get so attached to
an old joke They scorn q new one as thew
do new theory in agriculture.
When each girl hada lapful, and each youth
Pocketful OF corn to MUNICH, We proceeded 10
the chestnut roasting. shovel with lOL
handle was brought. II was one my uncle had
made Tor the purpose, for he stouEly upheld
the old time games, and he now placed it over
the nre with = zealous e2rnestless that was
very laughabie to me. Upon 1t were placed
two chestnuts, and my uncle called upon me
TO name them. So Isaid, "let the little one
be Lizzie Brown, and the large one Nathan
Wllding-" These two were the most evident
lovers Of the parry. The shovel grew hot We
watched in Dreathless interest. The little
chestnut, named LIzIie, began to sing and
III,
and around the motionless large one, while we
shouted with laughter 70 see the demure Liz
zy's representative paying such frolicsome
court to Nathan's. He, poor fellow, blushed
and felt quite ashamed Of his proxy. Present.
ly, however, the steam from the large chest
nut went Oh like gun, and the little one
seemed 90 alarmed that it sprang into the fire.
There you have got the mitten, Nathan :"
cried the young men, delighted.
No" said Nathan, in . disappointed, de-
precating tone. Just then Nathan's nut be-
gan to dance more vigorously. and at last
edged itself of into the FIRE also.
Z" There, thought I'd do that" said he,
highly gratifed, and looking around proudly.
Thought I'd 60 after her, and not be suoh a
sneak as to give up Sc"
Two more were called for, and named " Hi
ram Hasher and the city girl"
"Yss, 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"
I confess that felt quite tremulous, and
anxious that my chestnut should behave itself,
while Hiram leaned forward, mouth and eyes
open, gazing with lGdicross faith on the
shovel.
While he was thus intent II mean nv
chetnut) began 70 whirl and whirl rapidly on
its own axis, while he wsltEed about 1t. But
mine at last popped straight out, and struck
the gazer Q smart blow on the nose, at which
he drew up with sudden jerk, that set us
roaring till the rsfters rung again
Twas % innocent as TO be delig hted with the
spirited conduct Of our little deputy. But my
exultstion was short lived, for, to my horror,
Ar Hiram turned to me, blqshing to the ears,
and before had time to dodge, had given me
hearty kiss upon the cheek / am naturally
quick-tsmpered, and entering thoroughly into
sport, started up with the intention, i do be-
ieye, Of bestoUing box on the ear in return
for the kiss, but be caught my hand, and stam-
mered:
"It-it-it's the custom! didn't mean to
offend"
80 laughed like the rest, and two moro
ehestnuts were put on the shovel. An hour
passed in this Amusement, and then came the
time for the stories.
Ny uncle told one about the war of 1912,
my aunt one OF witches, and one about Sara
toEs, it being called for by Hepsy, who knew
1t of old. And then We sang songs. The
Aistletor Bough," and 1.-The Rose Of Allan
dale" Widow Machree," and others in the
comic line. Then We wound up with ''Uncls
Ned and "Old Folks at Hvme, in four parts,
which set my uncle to Wiping his specs.
At ten the party broke up; but then came
the business Of the evening for some Of US.
Repsy and /, who all belonged to the family
for the time, retired to the dark dreary parlor.
We were each to stand before the mantle-piece,
in our hand, into which pins had been stuck TO
mark the hours. 1t was now ten. As the pins
marking twelve dropped out, our future hus-
bands were TO walk in, provided we had neither
laughed nor spoken one word.
did it for frolic, but the other two girls
believed implicitly. Standing and looking at
their earnest faces, could not help laughing;
1t was impossible to help 1t. Ny candle shook
In my hand, and ag last gave way. So was
disqualified but as 1 knew my friends were
trembling with fright, did not leave them,
and continued to hold my light /, having ne
hopes from the experiment, found IL most in
toIersbly dull work standing there in the cold;
bat they seemed baoyed up BY eIcitsment.
We all three watched our candles eagerly, and
I could net help wishing some charitable
drauxht Eosld put them out, and end the spell
knew nothing would come Of waiting, but
not 10 have The laugh against me for q coward,
] stayed-foi tunately.
Two mortal hours dragged themselves by.
Then my pin dropped, bat the hall clock had
not yet struck IL. Hepsys pin fell. Then the
clock began. It was ths critical time, and
think three psler faces never listened TO twelve
tedious strokes. At the last ciang, LizEy spin
E.NU lsL- Asra~ rhara