The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-04-09

Washington Star.
LITTLE GERTIE'S HALLOWEEN.
Gertie was six years old, and she
was much excited over the approach
of Halloween. She could not remem-
Der of there ever having been Hal
loween before. That was because she
was too young the year before to pay
any attention to Halloween, though
her brothers, Ned and Fred, had had
a merry enough time then.
And Gertie knew what one ought
to do on Halloween, or, at least, she
said she knew. zone wants to dis
turb fings, don't they, mammal" she
asked of her mother few mornings
before the arrival of Halloween.
Mamma laughed. "Why, what do
you mean by that, darling?"
ooh, to do like Ned an Fred do"
replied Gertie "They put fngs
where they. oughtn't to be. you know.
That's Halloween fun, isn't it, NAM
MAJ"
81 guess so," smiled mamma. kiss
cheek. Then she left Gertie to her
play and went about her household
duties. And Gertie laid her plans for
the forthcoming occasion. ''I'll have
Halloween all by myself" she de-
clared. "I'm a little girl, SO, of
course, can't go out wifi Ned an
Fred, putting fings where they
oughtn't to be-"
When at last Halloween arrived
Gertie crept off to bed earlier than
was her wont, and, after her mamma
had kissed her and tucked her in,
and said goodnight, she lay very still
till she knew she was entirely alone.
Then she sprang from bed and ran
into Ned's and Fred's room and gath
cred up their books-aH that she
could carry-and lugged them off to
the storeroom, big and dark. But
Gertie was not afraid-not bit of
it, and the dark storeroom held no
terrors for her. After she had hid
den the books under some old rub
bish she returned and found Ned's
school shoes Che was wearing an old
pair for the festive EVENING", and
Fred's mittens and ball. These were
hidden in the closet of her own
room. Then to mammals and papa's
room she went, getting papa's smok-
ing jacket and his box of collars and
cuffs. Next she gathered up NAM
mas morning wrapper and slippers.
These she carried to the guests
chamber, where they were safely
placed under the big bed.
'Now, l guess I've had some fun"
said Gertie to herself. And off to
bed she went, as happy as any real
little Halloween culprit could be.
But Gertie's real fun came the next
morning, when Ned and Fred set up
a cry about their books, shoes, nit
tens and ball. Gee, where're our
things gomez" cried Fred, under the
bed looking everywhere for his books.
"And somebody's stolen my shoes"
walled Ned, flying about the room
like hen on a hot griddle.
"Well, that's strange" said man.
ma Il have also had time hunting
my wrapper and slippers. And your
papa can I uuu HIS SulOhluS JdCheI
anywhere. The old Halloween witch
must have been busy in the house
last night. Everything is topsy-
turvy."
Maybe if you look in the store
room, and under the bed in the
guests chamber, and maybe in the
closet in my room, you may find some
of the fings you've lost" said Gertie.
"Ah, it's Gertie!" cried Ned, his
face lighting up. while we were up
setting things out of doors last night
she was busy inside. Well, who'd
have thought it,"
Well" she said, 81 wanted to feel
what Halloween is like. An l had
lots Of fun, did
''Well, I guess you did, Sis,
grinned Fred. But one thing about
you-you put people next to where
you've hidden their things. So, it's
not so bad after all"
"Oh, isn't that right?' asked Ger
tie, her face becoming serious.
We'll, maybe next Halloween |
won't tell the next morning. I'll let
you all hunt till you find 'em. -
Washington Star.