The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-11-22
The Peoples Journal,
PICkElNS 8. Q.
UNCLE Johns HALLOWEEN.

did you ever, on halloween, play
pranks with the gates and wagon wheels
and cabbage patchcs?' asked Herbert,
early Halloween evening.
eyes, once; just once,' answered
Mr.. IIalstead, while a slow smile spread
over his face at the recollection. "It
was when ! was 1872 continued the
uncle, "and come to think Of il, guess
we were all thirteen. That is a terrible
unlucky number: no wonder we met
with disaster. Henry Bales, Jim
Fowler, ED Jones and | got our heads
together after school and planned Il
midnight romp which should include
old Josiah Barncgat, who was the ter
ror of all the boys in that vicinity. lie
was rich, and lived on Il finely cult
vated farm; but he was stingy--pru-
dent, he called it--and croSscr than
two sticks. Not a boy III the whole
township dared to steal capful Of lis
apples or nuts, although he grew the
finest ones in that region. Jim and |
planned to do what no boy had ever
dared to attempt Il trick on old
Barncgat, as he was called. Ed and
Hen said they would 60 with us, but
we could see they were fninthcartcd
and fairly shaking in their shoes before
We started.
"Of course, it isn't nCccs sary to tell
you boys that we went to bed SuSpi-
cleusly early that night, and that ut | |
O'Clock We crawlCd out of the window
and slid down the porch post, or at
least did, and presume the others
got out in an equally surrcptitiouS
manner. We met ut tho corners, and
proceeded steathily in file toward the
Barncgat farm.
"I'l bet,' whispered jim, "that
Wen find every gate mailed fast and
every wagon locked up
"And every cabbage pullcd,' Sald
Id, with tremblc in his voice. In
those days throwing cabbagcs ON pco-
ple's porchcs was Halloween fashion
Ed's words proved very nearly true
We crept over the garden patch with.
out finding SO much as a cabbage
stump, and tried every gate without
finding one that would lit Oft. We
were discouraged, and about TO beat :,
cautious retreat, when Jim said:
"'Lct's try the wagon house: per.
haps he has forgotten to lock it,
"'Ilc wouldn't forget that. Lets
get back TO the corners" whispcrc,
Ed, then he jumped rs the 'To.whoo
of All owl echoed through the NIGHT.
"'l'm going to try II anyway
said jim. You boys stay here; IN b.
back in Il minute He crrrt aiou,
toward the wagon house and craw1
ed after hlm, Hen and Ed bringing II
the rear. Jim reached the house first
and against its whltc-panclcd Surtac,
could see hls black figure maxim
frantic gestures and bobbing up AN
down.
"1t's unlocked! It's unorkcd, |
whispered, shrilly, rs we drew nca
"Thc old gentleman wits must ha,
been ool-gathcring tonight. "
won't do thing to his Wagon, viii "
boys? II was 50 dark in the buildn
that we could not discern the outlil
of n single object and we dare II
strike 4 match, for fear some one miu
be watching from the house. ii
and 1 veilured in while Ed and II,
waited, poised Oh their tiptocs rca,
lor hight. We CROPPED around UNI
we found the enclosure was bare
everything except Il big onc-hor
wagon. We tried to get the Whcr
of but the pins which held them
place had been bent. After win
percd consultation we decided. in lie
OF wheel, to draw the wagon dow
the lane and desert it in the middle
big pasture field, if we could do
without awakening Il roar from {
vigilant shotgun, which rumor said
ways stood at the old mans bcds,I
We muillcd the reach with our co;
to deaden the sound somewhat, a,
crcpt at snail's pace past the hous
trembling every time one Of The hu
wheels dropped INTO chuckhol
When we got back fifty rods or
from the house what Il jolly time ,
had. We stopped and dane,
and turned somcrsaults on n
the dry October turf, and tossed o,
hats in the crisp air. We acted
turn as we thought Josiah Barncy;
would act when he missed his Wagon
oho, HieoSCtHCi l'ciloIlllcu Ike il qua
tet of luDatics. Finally we took II
our line OF march toward the pastur
field again, Jim and lugging away {
the thilla of the wagon, while Ed an
lien pushed from behind. Midwa
III Ihc lane was quite steep hill
down which we gaily raced at the IN
minent danger of jim and l. being ru
over by the heavy vehicle. Then W
pushed and tugged in desperate lasl
ion to get our load to the top Of Il,
gentle incline beyond. You viii II,
derstand that we were pretty tired !
the time we turned into the pas,u,
field.
"The night had been rather da>
thus far for frosty October, but Just
we left the lane the moon pccpcd ov
the belt of castcrn woods as if 81
were smiling upon our pranks. 7
keep up our spirits, which were fla
Slng with WEAKNESS, Jim sung I'll
first line of 'Wait for the Wagon
took up the next line, and then I,
and Hen followed. Hens clear youn
voice rang out with:
"Wait for the wagon, boys, and we
all take a ri-ah-h.h-h!'