All Hallow Eve

All Hallow Eve.
244.4

Within the house the hearth-fire’s crackling blaze
Lights up with ruddy glare the an cient room,
And chisels fresh with its quick- darting rays
The oaken flowers that on the pan- els bloom
Then flickers o’er a troop of earth- born fays
Around it met, to learn tonight their doom,
Through russet nuts, that on All Hal- low Eve
Show anxious lovers whom they may belleve.

The fire burns low, the nuts are named, and near
The glowing embers laid in solemn state;
The girls’ aglow with mingled hope and fear,
Lift bright flushed faces, and ex-pectant wait,
To see if this nut from that other fly.
Or if close bound by love they duly mate,
And burn together in a love flame bright,
Enkindled by the magic of the night!

With merry laughter, yet with beat- ing heart,
For half they mock it, halt believe the spell.
Nor care to see those two nuts turn apart
And yet if they should burn to gether well,
Forthwith, though inly pleased, a doubt they start,
“As if such idle charms truth e’er could tell!
Yet love with fairy hand a web doth weave
From magie threads spun on All Hal low Eve.