The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-08

pod but it is not related that the consomme
mixed by the witches in Macbeth was pre-
pared there. Apples hung from the ceiling
and were bobbed for in water; lead was
melted and it's prophecies noted and in
short "they burned their nits, and baud
their Halloween, fu' blithe," observig all
the time honored customs of the evening.
An "oracle" was handed each spirit and
the matrimonial forecast Of each was re.
vealed in writing when the missive was
subjected to heat
In the subsequent revelations OF the even
ing it was made to appear that there will be
no unmarried Themas by next Halloween
To each bachelor maid" was given light
ed taper, with the prophecy that II the hold
er extinguished its fame with q single
breath she would wed within the coming
twelvemonth. Each "vestal virgin" blew
with a will that made the sashes rattle, and
every taper instantly was out They walk
ed around cake cut into fragment each
taking piece, and to the fortunate befell
the prizes, ring, thimbe and piece Of
money. None embraced the privilege &C.
corded to any who wished to make the ven-
ture of walking down stairs backward. So
there are no vacancies in the Themas
ranks and no broken bones Fortunes
were told, there were stories and music
cider, nuts and pOpcorn-and an infinite
good time. The hostess had spared NJ art
or preparation to make this celebration OF
I1dllOWe6u gay anu IeSUlVo OCCdSlUu anu
her success was complete.
The Agathai were not disposed to allow
their elder sisters of the Themas monop-
oily of the fun OF a Halloween observance.
So, on the same street, in close proximity,
they were conducting at the home OF Miss
Daisy Peck rival celebration of the night
set apart for the walking abroad of spirits
of the visible and the invisible worlds. The
visible spirits passed the ancient burial
place of the dead with quickened step, on
their way to their place OF meeting, as if APP
pretending the appearance there OF an in
visible escort. Darkness and gloom shroud-
ed the home of the sister hostess. The
geni passed in through the keyhole. In
corner of the vestibule, a villainous mix
ture of burning alcohol and chloride OF so.
dunn shed a DIM irreligious light and odor
around. A ghostly sentinel mutely point
ed the way aloft and the guests silently
gathered in an upper room Having chalk
ed their names on black board, with their
right hand tied behind them and no in-
truders being discovered the fun began.
Besides the conventional devices for
peering into the future and discovering
their lot in life, such as bobbing for apples
in water and suspended by strings, etc,
etc, further assurance of the fate in store
for the girls in the all important matter of
matrimoDy was sought in a game of some
thing like hopscotch. Three tunnels were
placed on the floor at proper interv sis, and
tin cups were poised on the tunnels The
girl who could leap the three in succession
without displacing the cups was destined to
marry happily and in good time if one cup
were removed she would marry late in life,
but ii all three were disturbed the luckless
victim was destined 10 life Of single bles-
sedness. The record of the experience
with the tunnels is not for publication
A jolly tims was had with other devic IS
for unraveling the braided skein of future
happenings, and mindful of their proximity
to precincts that are said to yawn at mid
night, and are specially apt TO be in erup-
ton at the time of Halloween, and being
unattended by
1he lads sac trig, wi wooer-babs
Weel knotted on their garten,"
the Agathai betimes departed for their
homes, greatly indebted to their Daisy Of q
hostess for an evening Of rollicking enjoy
ment.