The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-05
The Flowers Halloween Plans.
By Hal OwenO


The fairest day of all the many very
fair days that had bestowed their glory
on the wonderful beauties of the Worlds
Fair had passed TO its rest. The great blue
lake had flashed In the sunlight ali day
and now sparkled in the reflection Of the
dancing mOOnbeams In the Silly night
The search-lights, the electric-lights. the
gas torches, the magic lamps, and all
the Nominations that man can devise
had done their best and had been grand.
glorious, far beyond words to express.
but they had been all put out" and now
the Queen Of the Night" the beautiful
sort moon, was reignlng supreme: after
all, most grand and glorious. Nobody
could put her out; she and the twinkling
stars smiled serenely down upon the
White CITY," which was finally al rest
Inc restless, shifting. eager crowd. who
had clicked. clicked through the many
turnstiles until their number had gone
Tar into the millions, had passed out into
the world again, and only the weary
guards were left.
The last day Of the great Fair. the
last day of October, had blended into the
quiet and peace Of "Hallow Fen" the
witelery night OF the year; the night when
al the fairy folk bestir themselves and
taik' yes really talk TO good. true little
mortals and answer ever so many cues
tons. H
Dld say everything was quiet and Mt
restT The guards thought IL was so. but
ther eyes and ears were very tired with
tne noise and clatter and babble OF peo-
pie, 50 IL was perfectly safe for the tim,
iolk to start their revel.
over on the beautiful wooded Island"
II began. This place, with its magic.
matchl'ts Charm, had bewitched thous-
hnds night after night. and was a 1T
place for the rallying point OF such a
company.
Ihere was a whirring, whirling whiz-
1ing' whispering sound all about in the
mower beds. along the ;rellises, through
the arhors, up the trees, and among the
dried leaves; hustling, rustling, bustl-
ing 10 and fro; hurry, scurry, furry
TO get off and away.
All around dancing In the air. sliding
down the moonbeams. skipping in and
out OF the shadows where a host OF
spirites and mites, fairies, elves and
brownies. all starting off for somewhere.
From the great horticultural Building
came thick crowd OF them, from the
decorative beds and borders and plant
exhibits I'm all directions came great
troops OF them.
Home from the Fair" Home from
the Fair" Ion for winter quarters" "O0
for winter business!" was the general crv,
Think OF H. All these tiny creatures
were the seeds and the spirits OF the
plants and flowers OF the Worlds Fair.
AS they flew along. scraps OF conversa-
tion could be overheard, such as
Yes. We are all of now. sure enough:
our season is over, our time has come.
and here we all go"
Halloween IS the time we always
start. Lucky the Fair closes now. We
shall be missed everywhere tomorrow in
the land OF frost and snow"
The morning-glorles came tripping by
skipping down the long ladders OF their
vines which led 20 the many little cham
bers where they had lodged all summer.
The pink, white and blue dresses were
packed away, and they were all dressed
IN sober little travelling gowns AS they
passed. the fluffy milkweed called:
where on earth are you hurrying to?
You look as II your families were all
dead' and you were going 20 one big
iunerai With rafting laughter the
ing
I'VE are only dropping asleep yyherev-
or We ind the right place we settle down
and rest until spring. then we come out
OF these clothes and grow up again into |
loVsiy vines. Here are our neiehhors
who DO the same" Just then the wIld 4
cucumber creepers came sailing alone I
In little green balloons.
Where do you winter. sister?D askea 1
the tall proud asters as they passed /
The sweet tube-roses thus addressed |
smiled gently, nodded kindly, replying:
we belong to the bulb family; we al |
ways rest "a the winter. We shall take |
quarters In quiet corner OF some cellar.