Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-16
Miseellat1eoits.
From scribner's Magazine.
HALLOWEEN, OR CHRlSSIE'S FATE.

CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAY.
The morning dawned clear and fresh,
| and November seemed to borrow her first
day from her predecessor, to get a good
start as it were, and l found my birds
| could be larks as well as owls; for ere my
| own toilet was complete, heard the rustl-
ing and nesting and twittering, which
| finally merged into u general gossiping,
This assured me that my breakfast prep
| arations could proceed, for neither super
stition nor sentiment can exist without
food, | find. Poor Daisy was in. great
distress when, on rising, she found her
tiny boots staring at the barn instead of
streetward, and she was quite sure
''Some elfn spre
On mischief hight"
had turned them. Wonderful visions
| were related at the table, in which hob
goblins and knights seemed to have an
| even chance of it, while kitty's demands
on my coffee-pot betrayed her briny con-
dition. Chrissie was still a triile pale and
preoccupied.
And thus ended, or seemed to end, the
Halloween Frolic.
AS the last blue veil whisked out of
sight down the road, heartily wished them
all back. But the sunlight and laughter
fingered long in the old house, cheering
me until the Thanksgiving preparations
commenced, when Kitty was with me
again; and while l was engaged in pre-
pairing "divers and sundries" of sweets
| and pastes, flesh and fowl, her nimble,
tasteful fingers were beautiiying the rooms
with festoons and garlands and bright
bouquets. Her blithe young friends hunt
ed through highway and woodland for
leaves and moss, grasses and pines, :.nd
| came in laden. For several days the great
hall was piled with beautiful confusion
| OF dark evergreens, trailing Princess Pine,
| smoky wreaths ofgraceful clematis, great
clusters of the scarlet and orange bitter
sweet and the dazzling globes of the snow
berry. Baskets of ferny moss too, and
sprays of wild cranberry! Wasn't it a
lovely frame for beautiful faces and grace
full forms? Con you wonder the old home
was transtigured under the magic of such
influences, and that proud hostess greet
ed the newcomers, as by twos and tens
they all gathered under the roof-treeo
Every nook was filled from the great
"spare- chamber '-doube- -bedded for the
Occasion-to the old mahogany crib for
Baby Maud.
Well, all went on finely till just as we
were about to march in grand procession
to the Thanksgiving feast, the door burst
open, and, to our great surpr Sc, merry
Rollie Hayden, my young nephew, in all
the pride and promise of a nearly attained
majority, walked in with, "How are you
all, good kinsfolk, and my blessed Auntie?
| was determined to come, iii it took a
leg and though it was hard to get Oft. |
did it; and here's my chum, Mr.. Richard
Delamore, whom insisted upon bringing
to see genuine Thanksgiving. He pro-
tested, but knew you'd give him hear
ty welcome, and we could find shake
down somewhere, in barn or cellar. So
make yourself at home, Dick" Whereat
the audaCious youth pirouetted across
the room and demanded a cousins right
from all the teminines present, young and
old; in the midst of which confusion |
went to greet and welcome our new
guest, who was selfpossessed, handsome
fellow, with singularly attractive ex-
preston.
He was soon on easy footing with all,
and we were delighted at the pleasant ac-
cessiOn to our numbers. His CONVERSE
tional powers were brought into exercise
at the table, and very merry feast we
had, for our young people were many,
and the elders were rejuvenated by the
spirit of the day and hour. Rollie and
Mr.. Delamore We're studying law in the
same office, and seemed to feel greater
zest for merriment after Il season of Black
stone and Barbour. There was no end of
jokes and repartee; and when all rose
from the table ,Rollie caught blushing Miss
Kitty about the waist and waltzed down
the long diningroom into the parlor.
Dick looked very much as though he
would like to follow. but contcnted HIM
self with offering his arm to fair neigh
Dor and walking rapidly after them.
81 say, let's have walk" said Rollie.
Come, girls, get your wraps, and let us
have little tramp to settle our dinner.
We gentlemen can't smoke here, and we
don't care to lose your charming society,
so it's but fair you should join us. Aunt
Jeanette, lspeak for you and Kitty for my
escorts; who'll follow my lead p. The
proposition was met by a general stampede
Tor wraps, which was evidence plain that
it received APPROVAL and after keeping
my nose so long in the kitchen fire. was
glad enough to sniff the crisp, clear air.
So we strolled off by twos and threes.
wheresoever we listed. Rollie ahead,
with Kitty in bewitching little turban,
with its saucy red wing perked on the
side, and the most ,iaunty jacket of glossy
seal-skin, while sober hung on for bal
last to this giddy young couple.
"Oh, Aunt Jean, this is perfectly jolly"
and the dear, daft fellow evidently thought
fancied it an all-aboard remark, refer
ring to earth and sky, when knew very
well it was solely stimulated by the bright
brown eyes, the glowing cheek, and dain-
ty mouth of the charmer beside him. All
did not see the soft little hand that nest
led ON his arm drawn closer as the frosty
breezes blew the fleecy chestnut curls
against his coat, and for one look at me
Kitty had threescore and ten. But en-
ioyed it all, and wondered if the trio be-
hind us were getting on as well, for Dick
had Il lady fair on each arm, and was
skimming on after us. AS we turned a
sharp corner heard a suppressed excla-
nation ahead of me, and looking up be-
held Chrssie Marstone vis-a-vis, looking
ct. ,tfrht .,,,l IL