"Come, on mystic Hallowe'en,
Let us seek the dreadful scene,
Where the witches, imps and devils,
Elves and ghosts will hold their revels!
1107 Carberry Avenue.
Seven o'clock."
THIS was the invitation received by Harry, Alice, Fred and even Bob, who had an inkling of what was about to happen, inasmuch as 1107 Carberry Avenue happened to be his own address. At seven o'clock that evening Bob was nowhere to be found. However, when four horribly disguised figures were ushered into the house, the witch who pointed the way up the stairs seemed satisfied. A few minutes later, the ghosts and demons having removed such garments as were needed only in the outer air, assembled in the weirdly lighted living-room. All of the electric lights were covered with yellow crêpe paper shades, with faces cut in them. Jack-o'-lanterns stood in every conceivable place, and a fire burned brightly in the open fireplace.
The two witches, who were evidently the hostesses, commenced a weird chant in a minor key. The male ghosts, three in number, immediately took up the music, if it could be so called, howling in loud and uncanny tones. Thereupon the witches beckoned the whole company with all speed to the dining-room.
The table was a mass of color and light. Potatoes, carrots and beets, with sticks for legs, held the lighted candles. At each place were individual favors, witches holding the place cards, and small Jack-o'-lanterns standing beside them. The center of the table was a miniature field of pumpkins and cornstalks.
The place cards were read and the places were found. The guest of honor, he who sat at the right of her who was evidently "witch-in-charge," discovered the following on his card, and the others were equally descriptive and illuminating:
This place is laid for one who soon
Will marry!
O youth bewitched by maid and moon,
Be wary!
But if you can't, then make it soon,
Dear Harry!
The supper, decorative as well as delicious, was all upon the table. Little individual pumpkin pies on paper doilies stood beside each place. The salad caused much delight among the guests, who at the invitation of the witches, had now removed their masks. A large red apple with a face cut on the outside, had been hollowed out, and the salad was within. On the top of the apple was a round wafer with a marshmallow upon it to represent a hat. The hat was further decorated with a "stick-up" of stick candy on one side. The apple stood on a leaf of lettuce, with a yellow salad dressing necktie. The favor boxes, which were under the witches, were filled with candy corn, while the popcorn balls, placed on a platter, had features of chocolate fudge, and bonnets of frilled paper.
The supper menu was as follows:
Oyster Patties Bettina's Surprise Salad
Hallowe'en Sandwiches Pickles
Pumpkin Pie
Cider Doughnuts
Jumbles Popcorn Balls
"Have another jumble, Harry," urged Ruth. "See, this one has unusual eyes and a particularly soulful expression."