Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-06-24
DUUGH.EACES.

L1d you ever see one? 1 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 adj
dition to the ghostlness 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 I'M
perceived, we managed TO darken il, so
that when the ghost glided in, the effect
would be to witness bows and girls.
both, often times, running pell-mell
from the room, in dire confusion,
screaming as they went, aud tumbling
over each other in their eagerness to
get away from what looked the exact
image of ghost. Of course we never
intended any ill results, and thought
Of none; but, with the natural reckless
ness of youth, pursued .'the fun of
soaring each other" until something
occurred which proved so serious in its
results, that we entirely abandoned the
abominable practice. 1t was a beauti-
full summer evening; Just one of those
quiet, calm, moonlight nights when to
stay indoors seems q punishment. II
had gone to stay over night with
friend about the same age. whose folks
had gone away on q visit leaving her
alone to take charge of the house.
Their house stood upon q main road,
and was q large, gloomy affair, with
wonderful growth of evergreens and
shrubbery in front, serving to hide il
from the view of the passer-by, and ex-
tending the whole length of their yard. |
The 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
nediately developed in detail to my
No sooner was il laid be-
lore her than it was received with en-
,husiasm; and entering the house we
began our preparations, emerging in
about half an hour. wrapped in sheets.
md peering out from the eyes cut in
,ur wrinkled dough faces, ripe for mis-
thief. Our plan was to hide behind the
tense shrubbery until we saw some one
then we were to steal
oftly out into the road, reckoning and
roaming, and If we succeeded in fright
ming them we were to pursue them as
ar down the road as prudence would
,ermit.
The first of our victims was q tall,
ANDY young man, who came along
With independent stride, whistling q
Merry air, whom instantly recognized
8 my sisters beau, but as he looked
either to the right nor left we were
But not liking to lose our
IN, nor thinking it best to appear di- {
ectly in front OF him for fear Of being
we ran along inside of the q
snce, shielded by the evergreens, until q
re reached the bottom Of . little hill,
here we climbed. or rather rolled :
yer, as our winding sheets rather i'm :
eded the free use of our limbs, and Z
raited his coming In fence corner.
Az he reached the top of the little :
mmence, we glided out and burst forth ;
it'll our hollow groans. Answering Ms .
18th a sbriek of laughter, he bore down Q
pom us. running so swiftly that we a
ad no time to escape, but were forced e
, bear the severe pinches with which
9 tested us to see If we were flesh and
lood, at last making us scream out for v
ercv. when he released us, saving, Il