The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-11-26
Mates from Myra's Portfolio.
All Saints and Halloween-D ucksng for
Apples "A Eort;tuous Coincidalce.
OAK Lawn La, Nov. 1881.

OAK LAWN, La, Nov. 1881.
DEAR AUsT CHAT:
Az Saints Day! What q beautiful
custon:-tbis concentrating of the
general idea of sainthoud by day spe-
ciully set apart tos that purpose. 1t
seems a solemn gathering together OF the
gs~at multitude Of the holy Of all ages.
and, as we think &c their characters and
| follow in their blessed steps, we become
| strengthened and refreshed by their felt
sympathy and gracious influence. L be-
| lieys IN the Communion of Saints is no
mere formula; it is a living truth, ano
helps US to realize, to-day. more than
any thing else the oneisess of the great
corporate Body-t,e Church, OF which
the most distant mensbes eaDnOt suffer
| without communicating the sense of
| pain to all the other nes3 bers through
the vital chords Of sympathy.
The thin veil that separates the Visible
| from the Invisible, the Church Militant
| from the Church Triumphant, seems to
ae,laissd to-day. --.
Angels and living saints are dead,
But we communion nuke,
All JON in Chris. their vital head,
And Of His love Esrt.ka.
Whata glorious tnoaght, this! How
it should inspire rs % higher achieve
n,ents, this consciousness Of the indis-
soluble bonds that unite all earnestly
striving souls! The Communion Of
Saints is u mutual ministry of saints.
Here, and i'll the ntipo,lts-here, and il
regions of thought and culture. Wholly
cstrangei from ours-in the lordliest
palaces-in The poorest hov-ls-in pris-
ons, poor-llouses, cathedral and parish
yhurcl,--the great communion reaches.
And it does not stop at that poor line,
the grave III. life blood Of tins great
Body goes pulsing ont into its members
who are living on the other side, and
throbbinS with tidings Of their glorious
and Sympathetic life.
we lIo ltHS3 tuS
.ladiaturil shows of ancient Rome, aud
all arc.,nd and above us, tier above tier,
a,e the faithful who have long since
rested FROM their laiors, hehol.ling with
eager eyes and throbbing hearts, our con-
tests. When ne fail, they must suffer
pain; when we are crowned victors, they
too are triumphant. Aud those who join
with ns III the sharp struggle that is for
ever going on, they, too, must feel tho
defeats and successes Of their brethren.
We have not only the examples Of holy
men and women that have gone before.
There are sainthoods of the tircsi.le, as
grand aud perfect as the mastyr-crowned
heroes of ages long past; saints who wear
no glories about their heals, and whose
deeds of love, Kindness and patient self
sacrifice can be only dimly guessed at,
not clearly discernea, by the eyes that
are holden, but who nevertheless exert
all influence that is as far-reachiDg as
Christianity itself. Have we not all
known, at some period Of our lives, and
been blessed by the halIowing influence
Of saints as real and holy IS those whose
names have been inscribed in calendars
But / must not allow the thought of
the day, deep and potent as it is, to con-
sumo all my space and crowd out the
mention Of Halloween.
Picture to yourself the merriment that
was created by houseful Of animated
young spirits, not too family touched i'y
TIE shadow Of snpesstition as to warrant
any disbelief in the mystic spells Of the
eve Of All Hallows. We inaugurated
this evcntful OCCASION by the annual
"ducking tor spplcs!" Now, if you
have never participated in this rather
remarkable amusement, you will not
fully appreciate the drollery and sport
to be CLEANED from it by a mere descIip
tion. A large tub Of water is placed III
tho centre of the room, and apples upon
which initials have been previously cut,
are thrown into the water. Then, each
person is conducted iostIis tub, one by
one, blindfolded, wits hands behind the
back, and invited to "duck for an apple"
The initials indicate the name Of the
prospective bride Or groom. It is not
very simple matter 70 fish ur9 by aid o.
the teeth alone, Az apple, but so NOR
oidIy did the fear OF {. solitary existence,
tasten upon every member of our little
can't, that by diHt Of continuous effort
and remarkable }sti.e crance, the fearful
seal of old maid or bachelor was hot set
upon any one o. as. Even our little H.,
just three years old to-day, insisted upon
"d"cking," as well as the grown-up
young ladies and gentlemen, and it was
too co,uic;.l 10 watch his repeated exer-
tions. L. behalf Of his unfortunate
jurenility, we permitted him to use his
hands, INST vigorously, and he finally
sil cselsl i'll spouri..g IN apple, to Iris
..,sh..nnlea delight.
Inc cru%nin3 success of the evening,
however, wliicir elected The most laugh
ter and fun for all except those most in
timatciy concerned, was the reeeOntre at
the wei! If Mabel aud some one whom
she pte;ends not to like, but t" whom we
are very sure l.er heart is not irrevoc;biy
barred and bolte.l. 1t happened III this
wise Mabel had been finally prevailed
upon to 50 out to the we'll, alone, and
there pare and eat an apple, in the ex-
pectation Vi seeing tue facU Of the one
who was tD secure her affections al some