The Bossier banner., 1880-07-01
DOUGH.FACES.

Did you ever see one? I never did
except in one place where we lived,
and there the young people made
playing the ghost one of their prin-
cipal pastimes, and as dough-face was
considered quite an indispensable ad-
dition to the ghostliness of the object,
became quite familiar with it, and
often had hand in the fun. MANY a
time, winter evenings, when the room
was filled with young folks, chatting
pleasantly before the brightly blaz-
ing fire, half dozen of us Slipped
out, and, mixing up some flour
and water into stiff dough, made
holes in it for eyes, nose and mouth.
and selecting one of the tallest of our
group, fastened it on amid suppressed
laughter, winding sheet about the
form to add to the horrible effect.
Then slipping back into the room un-
perceived, we managed TO darken it, SO
that when the ghost glided in, the effect
would be to witness BOYS and girls,
both, often times, running pell-mell
from the room, in dire confusion.
screaming as they went, aud tumblinp
over each other in their eagerness to
get away from what looked the exact
image Of a ghost. Of course we never
intended any i'll results, and thought
OF none; but, with the natural reckless
ness OF youth, pursued ssthe fun of
soaring each other" until something
occurred which proved so serious in its
results, that we entirely abandoned the
abomlnable practice. 1t was beauti.
ful summer evening; just one of those
quiet, calm, moonlight nights when to
stay indoors seems punishment.
had gone to stay over night with a
Trend about the same age. whose folks
nad gone away on visit leaving her
alone to take charge of the house.
Ihelr house stood upon main road,
and was a large, gloomy affair, with a
wonderful growth of evergreens and
shrubbery in front, serving to hide it
from the view of the passer-by, and ex-
tending the whole length of their ward.
Ihe road was extensively travelled, and
as we sat together on the front portico.
calling up to each others remembrance
the tricks we had daringly PLAYED on
different people, an idea popped into
my mischief-loving head, which / i'm
media6ely developed in detail to INV
companion. No sooner was it laid be-
fore her than it was received with en-
thusiasm; and entering the house we
began our preparations, emerging in
ABOUT half an hour. wrapped in sheets.
and peering out from the ewes cut in
our wrinkled dough faces, ripe for mis-
chief. Our plan was to hide behind the
dense shrubbery until we saw some one
approaching, then we were to steal
softly out into the road, beckoninp and
gToaning, and If we succeeded in frioht-
ening them we were to pursue them "a
far down the road as prudence would
permit.
The first of our victims was a tall
oandy young man, who came along
WIN independent stride, whistling q
merry air, whom instantly recognized |
as my sisters beau, but as he looked |
neither to the right nor left we were |
unperceived. But not liking to lose our
run. nor thinking it best to appear di-
rectly in front of him for fear Of being
recognized. we ran along inside OF the |
renee, shielded by the evergreens, until
we reached the bottom of q little hill.
where we climbed, or rather rolled
over, as our winding sheets rather inn
peded the free use of our limbs, and
waited his coming in fence corner.
AS he reached the top of the little
eminence, we glided out and burst forth
with our hollow groans. Answering us
with sbriek of laughter, he bore down
upon us, running so swiftly that we
nad no time to escape, but were forced
70 Dear the severe pinches with which
ne tested us to see if we were flesh and
olood, at last making US scream out for
mercy when be released us, saying.