Helps and hints for Hallowe'en

by Laura Rountree Smith

The Hallowe’en Ghosts

[A dialog for twenty or more children, all ages. Eight wear sheet and pillow-case garments, enter from right and left on a darkened stage, make comical gestures, whirl round in couples, line up, recite]:

We’re the Hallowe’en Ghosts,

Much like lamp posts;

We make curious hosts,

We’re the Hallowe’en Ghosts.

Hush, hush, hush!

[One at a time, they tip-toe back to seats arranged at back of stage.]

First:

Oh! who will sing a ghostly song?

Second:

Ghostly hours to us belong.

Third:

We ought to act in a ghostly way.

Fourth:

The Harvest Moon makes it bright as day.

Fifth:

We try to speak in a ghostly voice.

Sixth:

On Hallowe’en we have no choice.

Seventh:

The time is late, the hours advance.

Eighth:

We soon will give a ghostly dance!

All:

To learn to be ghosts in any season.

Is difficult, do you know the reason?

First:

We might learn to groan and also moan!

[All moan.]

Second:

Who’s next to speak?

Why not learn to shriek?

[All cry.]

First:

I’m the ghost of a song, forgotten long,

I hum as I join this silent throng;

A ghost, of course, should properly grieve,

When he has lost “Sweet Genevieve.”

[They hum or sing, “Sweet Genevieve.”]

Second:

I’m the ghost of the flowers, for hours and hours

I’ve watered them with my tears, like showers;

What if the ghostly flowers should be seen

Here, late tonight on Hallowe’en?

[Tiny children enter with hoops of flowers, go through short drill and silently vanish.]

Third:

I’m the ghost of a dream, strange it may seem,

I ride up and down on a pale moonbeam;

The witch with her cat, neither lean nor fat,

Side by side on a broomstick sat!

[A witch, cat and broom, cut from paper, are slowly lowered from above and withdrawn.]

Fourth:

I’m the ghost of a turkey, who once strutted gay,

And came to his end on Thanksgiving Day!

All:

Ha ha; ho, ho; what did he say,

The turkey—a ghost on Thanksgiving Day!

[A large picture of a turkey, or one cut from paper, should be lowered from above.]

Fifth:

I’m the ghost of the leaves, my spirit grieves,

As my fancy a picture about them weaves;

They dance and they play in merry October,

The life of the leaves can never be over!

[Children wearing dresses covered with autumn leaves dance in; six at the right, six at the left; pass each other several times, form a circle. All go to center and back, holding hands high; every other one to center and back, every other one in place; every other one in center, remain there, form two circles, one circle right, one left; march right and left, meet in lines; march by twos, fours, sixes; march right and left, repeat; one line stands, the other line marches around them, weaves in and out between them; the line that marched, now remains still while the other line marches around them, and weaves in and out between them; form a circle at right and left of stage, skip out.]

Sixth:

I’m the ghost of a story book you know,

Left a whole year out under the snow.

All:

He left the book in some secret nook,

Tell us, has it a spooky look?

[Here a good ghost story may be told.]

Seventh:

I can neither retreat nor advance,

I tell you I’m the ghost of a dance;

I’m educated, but I regret,

I can’t remember the minuet.

[All shake heads.]

Eighth:

I’m the ghost of the cat, who for long hours sat,

Warm by the hearth, on a bright red mat.

All:

Meow—Meow—Meow.

[They now dance two and two and silently whirl off; or they may leave their seats one at a time, and the last one runs off shrieking.]