who, having waived their claims, are entitled to sentence the culprit.

A "country" way of reading the future may amuse. A space is cleared and a heap of corn thrown on the floor, within which each maiden who hopes to learn her fate hides a ring. A cock is then admitted and is naturally attracted to the tempting grain. The first ring to be uncovered by his prying beak indicates its owner as the first bride from the bevy of girls.

The guests should dress in as "countrified" a manner as possible consistent with becomingness-the girls in gingham dresses, dainty white aprons, large garden hats (such as a country lass might wear, not a lady of Marie Antoinette's court masquerading as a rustic maiden), and sunbonnets, which, when bent back and put on coquettishly, are "vastly fetching." The young men wear knickerbockers, big hats, which may be trimmed with autumn leaves or carry a feather of some barn-yard fowl-lacking an eagle's.

The supper should consist of clam chowder, chicken. pot-pie, hot waffles and maple syrup, with apples, nuts, molasses cake, pop-corn, and cider.

N°

CHAPTER XXIII

October

HALLOWE'EN FROLICS

O holiday in all the year is so merry, informal, and so marked by fun unconstrained in its celebration as Hallowe'en, the eve of All Saints. This is the night when supernatural influences are in the ascendency, when fairies dance, ghosts are abroad, and witches are in power.

It is the night when charms, spells, and incantations are invoked to read the veiled future, by the young folk, who-perhaps deprecating all credulity-gradually come under the influence of the "creeps" as the ghostly hours advance and the contagious spirit of mystery takes possession as their fortunes are dimly shadowed forth in some occult manner.

Hallowe'en ghosts, however, have the reputation of being cheerfully minded spooks-"blythesome and bonny," as they say of them in Scotland, the home of Hallowe'en-and so the spirit of fun reigns supreme.

In getting up a Hallowe'en party, make everything as secret as possible, binding each guest to silence concerning the invitation.

Since to tell of a real happening is more convincing and helpful in suggestion than to suppose a case, let me describe a frolic to which I was bidden many years ago:

The cards of invitation were decorated with pen-andink sketches of bats, owls, black cats, and brooms, and bore the following doggerel:

"Come at the witching hour of eight,
And let the fairies read your fate;
Reveal to none this secret plot,

Or woe-not luck-will be your lot."
The address was on the back of the card.

At exactly the time appointed many of the guests stood before the house, full of gleeful and deliciously mysterious anticipations, and were admitted before the ringing of the door-bell by the unclosing of the portals without apparent human agency. The hall was almost dark, and an enormous hand, cut out of black paper, with one finger extended, was glued to the wall and pointed up the stairway. All followed the silent guidance, and wraps were removed in another dark room, indicated by a pumpkin lantern with grinning face, where other shades were seen silently divesting themselves of their cloaks. All spoke in whispers, the solemn attendant maid setting the example. We went down the stairs in twos and threes, feeling the need of friendly support.

The hostess was arrayed as a witch, with highpeaked cap, decorated with a life-sized bat of grayblack paper, elf locks, her face stained with walnutjuice, her clothes of sombre brown, and in her hand the traditional broom of twigs tied to the handle with twine. Two girl friends, who seemed to be her aids, were similarly attired. The large room was lighted only with grotesque-faced lanterns and with alcohol, burning a blue flame, in vessels scattered about.

Again, no one spoke above a whisper, though little