Page:Hallowe'en festivities (1903).djvu/99

Rh FAMOUS GHOSTS.

[Copyright by the Century Co. Used by permission of Publishers.]

When I first spoke to Gertrude about going down to our seashore cottage to spend Hallowe'en, she treated the idea with scorn. This pleased me, for I knew that she would soon be enthusiastically approving my suggestion, if, indeed, she were not offering it as her own.

I was not surprised, therefore, to hear her, a few days later, telling a neighbor that, just for the novelty of the thing, we were going to spend Hallowe'en at Beachhurst.

"We haven't quite decided," she continued, "but I think it would be great fun, and little Frederick would enjoy it so much. If my husband will only consent, I think we shall surely go."

I graciously allowed myself to be persuaded to consent to my own plan, and then Gertrude invited a house-party of a few friends to spend a few days with us.

The "Woodpile," our seaside home, was newly built, and as it was one of the finest cottages on the New Jersey coast, we were justly proud of it, and enjoyed the prospect of entertaining our friends with a novel and pleasing hospitality.

We arrived at the "Woodpile" two days before Hallowe'en, as there was much to be done.

However, as the servants were capable, though not very willing, and the guests were willing, though not very capable, we soon had the machinery in motion for a jolly old-fashioned Hallowe'en. The first evening we made jack-o'-lanterns and witches, and decorated the house with a determined enthusiasm that accomplished wonders.

Indeed, I never remember working so hard in all my life. I cut and tied and hammered and nailed, and ran up and down step-ladders, until I was so tired that when at last I found myself in bed I fell asleep at once.