Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-28
halloween ADVENTURE.
BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.

car in a western city, ana at once
found himself surrounded by friends.
IT was the eve of All-Souls' Day, and
he was on his way to church, where ne
was to preach against superstition,
and this bevy Of good-looking girls
and stalwart young men was composed
of his own people. They were on
their way to church also, being des-
tined to q scolding for the sins OF for
mer years, when they had kept the
eve Of All-Souls' In the pagan spirit
of Halloween, rioting about with
mirrors and lighted candles, melting
lead and dropping it into a tub Of
water, ducking for apples, throwing
a ball of yarn down some lonely stair
case in some secluded building, all
for the foolish purpose of finding out
In advance Of fate and by uncanny
means IL lovers were coming to WOO.
They were going to the little church
Of st. Winifred, and the pastor was
the Rev. David Griffith, and he spoke
with his parishioners in an unknown
tongue, at least it was unknown to the
only American passenger, man who
prided himself upon being almost a
linguist.
MAY / inquirer? he asked respect
Fully of tall brunette, who stood
next to him, what couhtrywoman you
are?"
American" she answered in the
purest English accents.
.'But-but-you speak another
tongue?"
"Oh, yes, forgot" she said, laugh
Ing, 1--WE are Welsh, and that is our
native speech. But it is only when we
come together. as on this occasion,
that we use it,"
1t was very evident that they had
no need Of Welsh vocabulary in
which to express themselves, for they
not only spoke English fiuently, but
with a musical intonation that was
delightful to cultivated ear
BUTT was the wish of the pastor, the
Rev. David Griffith, that they should
not forget the language that was to
him the most musical in the world,
albeit it's consonantal speech of Taffy-
land is as trying as ii is fascinating
to American tongues.
did you look for sprig of ash?'
asked pretty young Cymrian of the
tall brunette.
THAT did l not, Nell; i promised
not to anger Mr.. Griffith this year as
I did last"
would he be very angry If you
found an even-leaved sprig Of ash,
think you, Gladys? We would all
know what to name it, in spite Of St
David's objections"
Hush" interposed Gladys, in a
whisper, 1--WE are nearing the church
/ promised not to engage in any Hal
lowe'en games this year, so you will
not expect me tonight, Nell after
church. i may spell out an apple
pairing alone, for the sake of the dear
old days"
IL think you are silly, Gladys, to lei
Mr.. Griffith influence you. II amuse.
ments that the whole world engages
In on this night do not please him, he
denounces us all as sinners for partici
pating In them. l think he oversteps
his power"
But the car had stopped and minis
ter and people were pouring out and
soon had assembled the steps of the
little church of st. Winifred.
The sermon was in Welsh, and the
minister, young, handsome man
listened TO with close attention, botl
by the elders of the congregation ant
the younglings, for lc had taken G
determined stand against the custom
of keeping this one special festival OF
theyear, with particular reference t.
the ghosts and hobgoblins which have
markedit for their own, as theWelsf
people ardently believe. ne invaded
Welshliterature to prove that such {
being as a fairy never existed, and h,
substantiated the statement from hi!
bible. He demanded a greater rev
erence for the holy office Of matrimon!
than the practice of pulling stalks
big or little, crooked or straight, IL
order to determine the appearance o
a future partner. He denounced tn,
fallacy Of eating an apple before
mirror, expecting the future husban,
would look over the shoulder.
mo man." he declared, would b.
willing to wed q woman who woul,
wind ball Of yarn, chanting doggere
manwhile, saying over words that ar
impious as defying fate, or challene
Ing Providence. Halloween is tn
DEVILS Sunday. 1t is the Witches
night, and we may well believe tina
the evil one sends out his myrmidon
on that night to do his bidding"
was only last year that on the follow
Ing morning a witch-ridden sig
"Beer Saloon" had been fastened owe
the door Of the sacred edifice. Thes
were tricks of the devil, and he wa
there to exercise him. Nut-crackin
was used as an Interpretation of til
future, and other unholy rites wer
used In the fireside revelries of tn
evening. He hoped his parishioner
would desist from this custom Of pal
an worship.
All were duly impressed with tn
earnestness of the pastor, but tn
Welsh people, as the Rev. David knee
to his cost, were naturally stubborn
and thcy loved their traditions. Chic
and Cynthia and Phillis, with Lubil
tIieir brother, might be Influenced
being American-born, but the LEV
ellxns and Gonerils, of welshlan.