The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-11-09
HALLOWEEN !;
OR CHRIsssIE's FATE.
FROM Scribner's M onthly

Fa' blythe that night. Turns.
| It was a merry band that trooped into
| the square hall of the great comfortable
| homestead at The Grove that bright Dc.
| t. Der afternoon, and the mellow light Of
fhr setting sun made a glory about the
| bright young heads, and lit the laughing,
girlsh eyes with yet greater brilliancy.
| Rich chestnut braids, bright golden coils,
snd raven bands, were alike radiant for
| the moment,
| T-serene splnster-had been wheedle ed
and cOaxed until [ stood cOmmittad to
owe these madcaps q " Halloween frolic
| To tell the truth, my scruples were not
very obstinate, for hoped these merry
Young voiC es would dispel the shadow
that was falling on the dear old home
whence all had passed-to the altar, to
other homes, and TO heaveu-save jus5 my
lonely self; and from sheer force of habit
clung to the homestead hearth, pr0pping
my dropping spirits with frequent visits
| from CHEEKY young relations, and the de
Termination that the old house should be
kept up" for the holiday gathering
For at Thanh SOWING and the" Christm9s
Week " the home band rallied from all
! points Of the compass, and the ties Of kin
sbi p gathered new strength.
So it came to pass that my niece Kitty
Coles was spending the month with me,
and having happened upon an old book
upon "The supernatural, had become
imbued with frantic desire to test some
of her new found theories upon the APP,
preaching " Halloween" Now, as was
altogether too sedate tor such pranks,
she had found some fellow consp Tarors of
about her own age, and the time was at
hand which was to test my hospitality, as
well as their ingenuity and nerve. And
how Jolly 1T was, TO be sure, to see the
graceful forms and bright young faces
fitting about, preparing the nights mys
terits I soon learned that my principal
role was Lady Bountiful-in other words
to place house and substance (pro tenn }
at the dis t0sal of the marauders. Their
preparations were soon completed and
after tea the girls drew about the ample
fireplace, towatch the melting of the lead
in little old iron Skillef which they had
unearthed from some unknown quarter
for youth seemed to possess a magician S
charm Of intuition if not of creation, and
those girls certainly made discoveries
that were new to my gray hairs even
From my chair in the corner | had the
privilege ola spectator, and watched with
curiosi Y as Kitty hurried in from the
kitchen regions with tin basin of clear
water in one hand and rusty iron spoon
in the other. DepOsiCing the basin on the
hearth, she knelt before Ii, and with a
CHOW, girls, who comes tir ?" plunged
her spoon into the glowing embers lol
the necessary heating. spending to my
look Of inquiry, Madge Milton enl ghten
ed NE with, You see, NJ IS Jeanette, we
must drop the melted lead into the water,
and whatever form it takes will snow the
occupation of our future husband. Pm
awfully curious" said Madge, so think
I'm take my turn, since you're all so mod
est about speaking" Dipping up little
of the molten metal, she dropped it in 8
diffuSive sort of way into the water. The
sharp hiss aud sputttr brought an imme
dlate cloud Of witnesses and a puzzled
silence, which was soon broken by merry
queries.
Why, Madge, it looks like pulpit
hope you're not going to marry mis-
sionaIy!"
Indeed, no, dear it is much more like
beer mug. Guess it's German student
"Well, it's obscure enough to be auy
thing" said Madge, in tone OF dlssatis
faction. "Im not one whit wiser for tina
venture Who'll spoon next?"
With 81 believe I'm your next neigh
bOr," Meta Fame consulted The fiery ora
Gle; and peals o. laughter arose as on
and another traced resemblances, uni
Kitty sprang from her post with flushed
face and burning fingers, and the dcclara
ton that it was time for something new
Il conclude from this trick that w
shall just all marry thinkers. Where ar
the chestnuts, Auntic? Frances, just ski
into the kitchen and bring that long han
died shovel that stands by the "Dutcl
oven;' there's a lambkin, for l don't pro
pose to sacrifice my poor hands further il
IS this cause"
Again they drew about the fire witt
mock anxiety, and gazed steadily upol
the chestnuts that bore their names AM
hopes as they were placed in couples o.
the hot shovel, each fair lassie with ia
voreu swain. Miss Kitty (by proxy CO
quoted IN very characteristic Way-hz
zing and hopping-until in a burst @
generosity and enthusiasm, she revealed
entirely her white Heart. Madge sputtel
ed and Kissed, and finally left her love
altogether, in mad leap into the flames
while demure little Daisy Burns signe'
her life away nestled beside her choice
Meta Fame skipped about in an uncertai
sort of manner, first to one lover and the
to another, until she finally edged into
cold corner, quite alone.
The pleasures of cropping" being e1
hauSted, several other experiments Wer
proposed which was obliged to veto, 8
all included outdoor expeditions, and on
involved my winters supply of cabbage
Co MN r,no Of inu daws and nnnnrtai