The Advocate and news., 1898-10-26
BY MAeLE DIccs.

/ Tor small DOyS Threw SaNu al ME, BlTlS
pulled my hair, and big boys saucily in
quired, docs mamma know you're
out?" No, she didn't know was out, or
| probably would not have been; but that
was oneOf the times mamma was away off
in California campaigning for the Pops,
and when the cats away the mice will
play" But papa had said might go II
l kept with the other girls, so trudged
rapidly on, securely clinging to my sack
Of flour which l had taken care to pur-
chase at the corner grocery. You may
wonder what l was going to do with
flour; one thing sure, we had no inten-
tion Of wasting our valuable time mix
ing bread with 1t. No. we did not feel
domestic that night; we felt more like
marauders or reckless knights Of CEN
turies gone by. But at last had reached
the girls. There was Emma Jones and
Frances Pike, Sadie Queen and all the
others
Hello, girls, did you all bring your
flour? Yes, see you have said, as
spled brown paper sacks under the arms
Of group Of giggling girls. How they
did giggle. Why, they seemed to be
made Of giggles. It became Infectious;
| caught it, and began, too; something
very seldom do.
And then we began in earnest "There
are the boys" whispered Francis, as a
crowd Of boys came stealthily around
the corner seeking whom they might de-
vour, never suspecting that they were to
be the victims They were all school
mates, so we did not hesitate to make
short work Of them. Come on" called
Emma, soto voice Oh, but we show
cred those boys with flour; there was not
a creVice of their clothes that was not
thiCkly powdered And their hair-well
the gray-haired youths that came to
school for the next week told the story
better than words can describe IL. They
ran for their lives, but we could run, too
and up First street we few; the girls
seeming to have special grudge against
one boy who had looked (before they
began their attack as though he had
just stepped out of a handbook, his
clothes were so spick and span. He had
intended going to dance with his best
girl Let us hope he changed his mind
or his clothes.
It did not take many such onslaughts
to make our -four a minus quantity.
Then we began on door-bells. These we
rang and then ran and hid behind the
most convenient doorstep. But the
most delightful time of all was when
Emma invited the whole crowd of us to
her home. OF course we all went. And
what fine old time we did have, crack
ing nuts and telling fortunes. Emma
had big tub full of water in which were
swimming around three or four of the
most beautiful apples And we bobbed
after those apples with our teeth and
tried in vain to keep from wetting our
hair. Francis even became so excited
that she ducked her head clear under the
water in a wild endeavor to catch the
apple. For the apples were named after
some one we very much admired, and
II we could succeed in taking bite out
Of one, then 1t was sure sign that we
were to be happy all the rest Of our lives
with the apples namesake.
The rest of the evening was spent in
reading, telling stories and in having
general good time. / hope all my young
friends will have as good a time this
Halloween as had several years ago.
Turn your boots toward the treet.
Leave your gaPterS on your feet,
Put your stockings on your head.
You'll dream of the one you're going
To Wed!"
Maude-"He calls ma an anpnl -