The Tale of the Jack-o'-Lantern

The Tale of the Jack-o'-Lantern

A Jack-o'-Lantern played some pranks
One moonlit Hallowe'en,
He started out all by himself
Determined to be mean.

He scared a tiny pussy cat,
A little puppy, too.
He made a cunning baby cry -
A dreadful thing to do !

He laughed and thought of other schemes.
Oh, he was bad that night.
His one idea was what to do
To bring somebody fright.

At last the joke was turned on him,
He chased a pussy cat.
It was a witch's pride and joy,
But how could he know that?

The big black pussy turned around.
It arched its back and tail,
It launched its long sharp claws at him
With snarls and long-drawn wail.

Its mistress witch then came to sight
And whacked him with her broom.
So that is how one pumpkin head
Was cracked unto his doom.

October Wood

OCTOBER WOOD

Have you ever seen the glories
Of a dark October wood?
Have you seen the oaks and maples
Covered with a crimson hood?
Have you searched for nuts of brown,
When the frost was cracking nigh?
Have you tramped for bittersweet,
Out beneath an October sky?

Have you seen the golden pumpkins
When they lay upon the ground?
Have you stood beside the cornshocks,
When the fall comes slyly round?
Have you picked the clustered grapes
From their place upon the vine?
Have you seen the great, round moon
Rise behind a stately pine?

If you haven't seen these wonders,
Then you haven't lived at all;
You have missed a thousand pleasures
That are right within your call.
You have missed the joy of living,
You have missed a gift most dear
That Mother Nature on us bestows,
Each October of the year.

Halloween Signs

HALLOWEEN SIGNS

Have you ever seen,
Upon Happy Halloween,
How brightly the stars do shine?
Have you ever seen,
Upon Happy Halloween,
How stately is each forest pine?

The full moon above
Looks down on its love,
The beautiful world far below;
As it sails on high
In the blue-gray sky,
It sends down its brightest glow.
 

While the witches ride
And the goblins hide
All over the land and the sea,
The black cats prowl
And the night winds howl,
As the children laugh in their glee.

Did you ever know
A time could go
As quickly as Happy Halloween,
When witches and cats
And goblins and bats
Are everywhere sure to be seen?

Then hip, hip hurrah!
For Halloween
The delight of each girl and boy;
May ever it be
For both you and me
A time that all folks can enjoy!

The Unbeliever...

THE UNBELIEVER
[Recitation for a small child ]

I don't believe in ghosts, you know,
But still, the other night.
When everything was awfully quiet,
I had an awful fright.

Snug beneath the covers warm,
I'd been tucked an hour or more,
When I heard a rumbling racket,
Something like a muffled snore.

I wasn't scared, but, oh, my heart
Simply wouldn't stop a-jumping!
It bobbed about so in my bosom
That my very head was thumping.

Once again the grumbling, rumbling,
Sounded and it nearer seemed;
A light so white and scary-like
Upon my chamber wall gleamed.

Shadows seemed a-moving 'bout
And I felt a smothering fear
That I couldn't shake till safe
I was with Mother dear.

Now I don't believe in ghosts, you know,
And I'm not scared of any sound;
But I just don't take chances
When old Halloween's around.

My Choice

MY CHOICE

[Recitation for a lower-grade boy ]

Now, Christmas is a lot of fun,
When old Santa comes around,
And Christmas trees and holly
Deck 'most every store in town.
I like'to hear the lovely carols
And the tinkling of each bell;
But there's something coming now
I like more than I can tell.

Thanksgiving is a glorious day
On which to thank our Lord
For the blessings he has given,
From out his lavish hoard.
I like Grandma's good dinner, too,
On that bounteous fall day;
But there's another day, I'd pick.
If I were to have my say.

Old Halloween's the day I like,
With witches, owls and cats!
I like the shaky scarecrows,
With their queer old coats and hats!
I like the jack-o-lanterns,
With faces funny as can be.
In fact, I like, on Halloween,
Every single thing I see.

Is It?

IS IT?

Is that the wind a-howling
Round about my window pane?
Is that tapping, tapping made
By the steady drop of rain?

Is that rustling of leaves
I hear outside of the door?
Was that some one walking
On the upstairs bedroom floor?

Is that some one a-crying,
Or was it just the hoot of owl?
Was that some one moaning there,
Or was it just the wind's howl?

These and other questions
About things heard and seen
Keep a-crowding in my mind
Each year at Halloween.