Assign to each of eight people one of the following characters. Whenever one's character is mentioned in the story, he is supposed to repeat the sounds here given.

The story-teller should pause a moment after the mention of a character in the reading.

At the end of the story, all perform in unison.

1. Sweet Young Thing: "Tee-hee-hee."

2. Strong Young Chap: Sings a bar of "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life."

3. Canary in the Cage: "T w i t t e r. twitter."

4. Cat on the Hearth: "Prrow."

5. Dark and Stormy Night: "Hoo-oo-oo."

6. Dying Dog: "Ki-yi."

7. Cruel Old Father: "Gr-humph."

8. Gray Ghost: "O-o-oh."

Once upon a time a sweet young thing was in love with a strong young chap. But she had a cruel old father who opposed their marriage.

One Hallowe'en night the sweet young thing was sitting in her parlor, with the canary warbling in the cage and the cat dozing on the hearth. It was a dark and stormy night. Hearing a strange noise outside, the sweet young thing went to the door. There in the yard lay a. poor, dying dog.

"Oh," said the sweet young thing, "I will bring him in where it is warm and will give him something to eat."

"No, you don't," growled her cruel, old father, appearing at just that moment. "Let dying dogs lie." And he compelled the sweet young thing to return to the parlor with the canary in ,the cage and the cat on the hearth. Through the chimney she could hear the howl of the wind on this dark and stormy night. Suddenly there came a knock at the door, and the strong young chap entered.

"I have come to take you to marry me," cried the strong young chap.

"Goody-goody," laughed the sweet young thing.

"No, you don't," growled her cruel old father. "You can't marry my daughter. Get out."

And the sweet young thing began to weep. And so did the canary in the cage, and the cat on the hearth, and the dying
dog outside.

"Oh, what shall I do?" cried the sweet young thing. At that instant the lights went out, and down the chimney came the gray ghost.

"I'm going to get you," the gray ghost whispered, Hoating toward the cruel old father.

"Help-oh, don't-" screamed the cruel old father as the gray ghost touched him, and he sat down and behaved himself.

"At last you're mine," the strong young chap cried joyfully.

And then the sweet young thing, and the strong young chap, and the cruel old father, and the canary in the cage, and the cat on the hearth, and the dark and stormy night, and the dying dog, and the gray ghost, all of them together laughed and laughed and laughed.

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(Before beginning this story each guest has been asked to select from a magazine the name of some advertised product. When the story-teller asks, "What was it?", he points in turn to various guests,' and they reply with the name they have selected.)

It was a dark, dark night, and the young man walking along the lonely road could hardly see his hand in front of his face. The way was rough, and he stumbled and fell at times. Off in the west there were occasional flashes of lightning, and after a few seconds would come threatening mutters of thunder. Then the wind began to rise, and he could hear its low moan as it sifted through the pine trees along the roadside, and its shrieking wail as it rushed past the telephone poles. Suddenly it started to rain; a few swift drops at first, then a lull; then the storm broke furiously.

By a flash of lightning, the young man saw to his left, at the end of a short lane, a house, and he began running toward it, hoping to find shelter. He could see, by the lightning, that it was a large, gloomy building made of stone. Not a light appeared in any window. The young man stumbled up the stone steps and lifted the great brass knocker in his hand, intending to give a loud knock. But the knocker slid from his hand as the door slowly swung open, creaking on rusty hinges. There stood a bent and twisted man with a candle in his hand.

"Come in," he said, and laughed horribly. "We have been expecting you." The young man stepped in, and the door was closed, bolted and barred.

"We have waited for you a long time. Follow me."

The young man decided that he was being mistaken for some expected guest but resolved to keep up the pretense temporarily. Up a long narrow stairway they crept, and their shadows behind them swayed and wavered on the floor. The hunchback stopped before a door, which he pushed open. He stepped in and placed the candle on the table, and then pointed to the wall.

"Look."

Stepping forward a pace or two, the young man strained his eyes, but he could see nothing. From the doorway there came a low, insane laugh, and as the young man turned, the door slammed and the key turned in the lock. He tried with all his might to force open the door, but it was impossible. Sitting down in a chair he pondered. Suddenly he saw the heavy window curtains part, with a hand holding a dagger slowly appearing. In terror he turned to the opposite side of the room only to see a hand thrust from the door of the clothes closet, painting a revolver at his heart.

There was a slithering sound from above, and looking toward the ceiling he saw a long green snake uncurling itself from around the chandelier. A strange clicking noise was heard, and the young man was struck motionless with fear to see hundreds of red-hot iron rods, thrust through holes in the opposite wall, slowly moving forward. There seemed to be no way of escape.

Then suddenly his eyes came to rest on a familiar object on the mantel. With a cry of joy he ran forward and grasped it.

WHAT WAS IT?

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The night of October 31st is called Hallowe'en or Halloweven, because it is the night before the ancient church festival of All Saints or All Hallows.  The people of England and Scotland, where this festival was celebrated, used to be very superstitious, and because this Halloweven was a watch night, or vigil, the belief grew up among them that it was a night when spirits were abroad.  They thought that the bad spirits, the witches, goblins, hobgoblins, and ghosts, went about the earth playing all kinds of mischievous pranks, and that the good fairies came out to baffle these bad spirits and to pretect men from them.

Because Hallowe'en was the night of spirits, the people believed that spells, charms and witchcraft were more powerful then; and so certain old customs were practiced then which have ever since been associated with Hallowe'en.  Some of them are almost unknown to us, but others, such as bobbing for apples and telling fortunes are enjoyd by the boys and girls of today.  And although the spirirts are no longer abroad on that night, it is still the time of pranks and mischief.

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