Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-11-08
A WITCHlNG TIME.


a LtttIe HallpNt Lore tOr tne Beneut
of the Romantic.
Nov. is the festival of All-Saints
or All-Hallows, said to have been in
stituted by Pope Boniface " in 607.
The feast was celebrated in the Pan
theon at Rome and was firmly estab
lished by Pope Gregory about $50.
Hallow-E Even, or Halloween, is the
night of Oct 81. The idea of making
the festivities of the day partake of
superstition and romance originated
with the Scotch, and Young America,
with his love for fairy stories, witch
craft, charms and mysteries gener-
ally, evidently intends to perpetuate
the day.
Halloween is like Christmas, mas
much as it is very informal and uni
versally observed All the little Peter
kins, whose mother does not entertain
for them, and who probably never re-
ceive any invitations except to go over
to the Johnsons' yard to play, or to
come out and do the O Leary boy,
can afford to set up a washtub in the
coal shed or back kitchen and invite
all their friends in the block to join
them in bobbing for apples. And then
the young people
A certain chOlrmaster in the city
can tell of rehearsal when Halloween
came on Saturday, when out of a choir
numbering fifty-three but two were
present, himself and the organ player.
AS to the games to be played at
Halloween party, they are as numer-
Gus as they are ancient. The charmed
number seven rules the evening and
in counting apple seeds or the kernels
on chosen ears of corn the girl finding
the highest multiple of seven is de-
clared the leader for the evening. In
apple seeds. two are said to signify an
early wedding; three, legacy; four,
indicate great wealth; five, a voyage
across the sea; six, fame as a public
speaker; seven, the gift most desired
by the finder.
Chesnuts are named and placed on
the fire. If the nuts roast quietly it
fortells long and true friendship. If
they fly about snappishly quarrel is
prophesied. If one or more bursts loss
of money is to be expected. Those
and that keep moving are unstable,
such as fly off the shovel will remain
single another year.
Pare an apple carefully SO as not to
break the strip of peel, then throw the
pairing over your right shoulder. AS
it falls upon the floor behind you it
will form the initial of the one you
are to marry. Another way is to mix
water with meal until thick dough
is formed. Then write the names of
three or four persons whom you like
of the opposite sex on slips of paper,
and folding the papers, place them in
side of ball of the meal dough about
the size of pigeon egg. Then drop
these dough balls all together in a
bowl of water and await results. In
short time one of these balls will
burst open, and the paper containing
the name of your future husband or
wife will float to the top of the water
1t is well to leave one of the papers
blank and if you have not met your
future spouse this paper Will come out
All dreams upon that night are said
to be forecastlngs OF what will real y
happen So to young people the eve
is one of interest, and any youth or
maiden ANXIOUS to peer into the misty
future should not hesitate to try the
various charms.
Ii maiden stands before a mirror
in a dark room at midnight and eats
an apple, it Is said that she will see
the face of the one she loves looking
over her shoulder.
The walking down stairs backward
at midnight with lighted candle in
the hand and the midnight visiting of
a cemetery is not likely to become
very popular with our young people.
The accomplishing OF the latter brings
the sure fulfillmenl of your hearts
desire
1t is hard to say how long these Gus
toms have been in vogue, but they are
repeated year after year, and it is
strange sometimes to reflect that these
same sports with apples were practcec
by the young people over whom the
Caesars ruled, having probably origi
mated in the festivals in honor of the
goddess Pomona. Buffalo Express.