Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-22

l- was p merry band that trOOped into the
-..1are ball Of the great comfortable home
-.elI at Tuc Grove that bright October after
-...n. and the mellow light Of the setting sun
made glory about the bright young heads.
.rd IIt the laughing, gIrllsh eyes with yet
--ctter h-illiancy. Rich chestnut braIds,
night golden curis and raven bands We're
1e radiant for the moment.
I--ercrc suinster-h3d been whcedicd and
rI.zed until stood committed to give these
ri.Icaps Halloween" frolic 10 tell the
-ruth NV scruples were not very obstinate,
Hr E0ped these merry young voices would
i.-.el the shadow that was falling on the
3 .r old home whence al had passed-tO the
altar. e. other homes, ana T. heavcu-save
I-e mv lonely seIf and from sheer force oi
habit chung To the homestead hearth, prop
ping my dropping spirits with frequent visits
from CHEEKY young relatives, and the deter
minat on a. the old house should be " kept
up Tor the holiday gathering tOr at
Thanks giving and the ''Christmas Week
-hc nome band rallied from all points of the
mpa-S. and the ties Of klnship gathered
..w strength.
Sd ID came t9 pass that my niece, Kitty
.. I.- was Spending the month with me, and
.iag happened upon an old book upon
ILc SUPERNATURAL, had become imtued
r.la frantic desire t5 test some of her new
.r theories "a the approaching ''Haliow-
. Nlw a- I was altogether too seiate
--..a rrauk-. she had found some fellow
traitors Vt her own age. and tie time
e.- at hand which was t. {, st my hospitality
.- ws4 l- J.clr ingenuity and nerve. And
u5t..v I- was. 20 be sure. % see the grac--
..I .rm- and bright young faces lifting
H.a- preparing the nights mysteries.
.l learned that my principal role was Lads
b E.uurlu.-Iu other words, 20 Place house
auI Substance llr9 fsu) al the disposal %
tue mar.uler- Insr prcutrtJJu- We're
-.,n 4 nipple ed, and after tca the girls crew
about -.c ample fireplace Oh watch 80 The
r,...-5r.. off rha lsad I'D J title old iron
Skillet sg.l-h they hlI uuearthed from some
un nEHuwH x Lrter-tur youth seems 10 possess
. mt-.-.lu'= charm of Intuition ID not of
creation. and those girls certainly made dis
..r.re- t.at were new te my gray hairs even.
F..1l mv chair Iu the corner / bad the prirI-
-. ot d stect tor. and wdtchd with curiJ--
.-s u. kIr-v hurried TO from the kitchen re-
...u- vstl "a I'm basin of clear water IN oue
..Il and d rusty iron spoon in the other.
..r..-ItI.y the 5d- .u 0n the hearth. she kuc.t
Ire &, and with a-"nOw, girls, WHO
..r.- Er-t7" plunged her spoon into the
q, wing embtrS for the necessary heatln-.
..-rln. .inr IL INV look Of inquiry. Madgc
.T ...a enlightened me with, s. You zee, VI .s-
|...rctte. wc must drop the melted lead into
Tie water. and whatever form 1t takes viii
.N die .c.urati.n of our future husband
I-l 4wluIly curious. sad Mad-e, $3.50 I
... u t.he my turn. since you re All So
..t-- about -Ig4klnE-' Dipping up q .lt-
-.. t tie mauIlcn metal, size dropped il ina
fr-.vc -.rc ~ q way into tLc water Tie
...rt HISS and -purter brought an immediate
...a4 D.. witnesses and puzzled silence,
.-a was so-n broken ty merry queries.
.N tv. Nlad-e, il looks nike "a Puipit-hoTc
r.l /. u.t -oIuL Oh marry missionary
.Lt deed. no. dear. ir is much more like
..r-au-- Guess ITS "a German student
.'Eel it's obscure enough TO be anything,
-... EI.l-C iu d zone ol j dissatisfaction. ''I I'D
y e .ue IS it WISER IOT that venture. w Lo u
With -'I believe III your next ncighbor,
N.-.a farc consulted the fiery oracle aul
..-a. laughter arose as one and another
--. .,I ces mh-.uce-. until Kitty spraug tr. III
..- r.-t with flushed face and burning hu-
-.r-. and the declaration that it was time
u something new.
..I eauc.uIc from this trick that we shall
-- LII marry tnker-- " here are the chest
nuts. AuUIe'f Frances, just skip InrO tie
..tc. eu and BRING that lol --haudied shove.
.t stands Hy THE 'Dutel uy-u, there a
"A. .sln. fir don. { propose to sacrifice mE
...r hand further Iu this rlu-e.
A-aIn ttev dew about tho fire with uaeI
a...tr. .aa .al.d steadily upon tile chest
lur- l..r ..re taeir names and hopes a- they .
were placed lu couples n the hot shovel f.
each ..r .H--l. wltl d favored swain Miss .
KITTY .y fr avl quoted iu very charac- .
rcri-te vaF-t1z-u ANA hJppIng-uuul iu f
j burst 9. -elell- tv and enthusiasm She re-
Eta.t- crlreT her white heart. Nad-e .
-IG-.ereI and ..l--.-i, aha finally lett her lover
:. a...-. ta.rir q Iaad leap into the flames, while .
.,u.rl little Daisy Burns sighed her lUc
.v.r fc--.a- close beside hcr --old choice.
Netl Fame s-kiyItd about IN an uncertain
-r- manner. first 10 one lover and ttcn
i. another. unUI Size finally edged into
..- e.r. cr. quite alone.
i.eIl.a-urc- OF popping being exhaust
e.. several other experiments were pr0poscl
w.l. ta- obliged % veto, as all included Il
.r.- ~ .y, 1llts9us. and one involved my
Wa-.r supply b. ct51age-- 50 my plea oi
VS. ..W .ll uncertain routes IN the dark
l.-- prevailed. aud tile wonder book was
..... ST. forgot the h,rIings se We're t.
r.a- -. ..e village What shall we co2
A.--l... e..o. chat such fine trick You
.u-- a -ai- herring iu chree bites
.-.. aaI L0t drink drop tin the
.lt -sar lullre spouse comes ID
%. a-- YOU n glass OF water. W e
A .r Haven YOU herring in
(. matter it DC is ever 50 dry
ila.a.I -. .r4iu- no vain, but could find
l. e..all. mise between Goldfish and ,ardincs
b.- 4...H.la t.cy had turned To n. su
.H pastures new ! need hardly
H.a..te y Yfri0us experiments, though
t..E N.l. many and IGlicrOus. But finally
'.a. s... u 70 IN meHtgus and inspiring 90
..- ...- I-. WIS To- show the true metal.
'ti lear- announced Kitty, in a serious,
-u.# + t.r.- buck G on your armor now, +
..r .u about 10 propose what demands
II -taa .1ua-e. Leading from tie library
ltAt Hs i covered way. which cOmmuni-
ares 4Gc-ly with an old summer-hUuse,
"l.H wa- Irc-Osod To serve a. study for
-r. taa.i,r. wien he was a young man. 1t
-.-r tar place tor our last, most important
.fru one oi MS must tt kca candle and an
b ~ Il aud having first let down LCr hair.
must PACE along this lonely corridor, enter
:. raftd temple. and Jlen find a mirror
r..rc winch she must seat herself, and as
e- ck strikes twelve. must cat Der apple
a' comb our her hair. She Will he reward
ei -E seeing tie face of her future lover and
t.-aaEd reflected in the g.ars though be
WON. -.ekirg over her shoulder"
hltty delivered herself ot this harangue
win great -usto, adding, .'NOw don [ mind
l'.-.i !, You, girls, that leave tie field clear
~ ;hc Iost ut YOU for nothing could induce
Ae 'g take that tcrr- BE promenade, though /
-i- lang "a mirror ont there this afternoon
i.r any orc who chooses to tempt provi-
.,l-c- There was quite a pause when SIC
-l -Atd, and lor tie moment curiosity as T.
90, relative courage 81 the pretty group be
iaEe me KIT back the command which +,
L1'a ant G. -Iye against this expedition. The
-.rs l-oaed curiousiy into one anCthcr's
'e-7- but al seemed to shrink from the or
-eaI uatsl Chris>ie MarstOue turned and
'ii4, with an Odd laugh, well, girls, I've !,
1d-e up my mind that ! II do It, Just for the