IN THE OLD BARN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

IN THE OLD BARN

TT was Hallowe'en night. Hallowe'en ■ in all its mystery, phantasy, and strangeness. The old barn had been decorated for the occasion. There were mysterious lamps hanging in the corners and the silvery light hung on the cobwebs. By the door was a pumpkin in the shape of a witch's head and a goblin slunk in the shadows of the loft' above. To Hazel, it all was very pretty and. very fearful. She had crept out after the party was over and had gone to the old barn to see the beauty of it just

—Copied by Jean McKay (12}. once more before it was taken away and the barn became once again the dull place it was. She crept in through the door. The pumpkin leered at her uncannily and seemed to move its flaming head. The goblin in the corner seemed to slink toward her through the shadows and all the other strange creatures which before had been the laugh of the party became weirdly alive. What was that! Surely she was dreaming? No—it was a witch —a black, sneering, stooping witch sitting on the rafters, her broom by her side. In another corner was a black cat with big green eyes. It evidently belonged to the witch, for every moment it looked up at her with an expression that seemed to say "are you not pleased with me?" A turnip by the window was waving to the moon while

—Original, by ELEANOR McKINNON (13), D.M.B.G.

up in the loft was a band of sprites and elfins singing and dancing and teasing the old witch. v Hazel drew her -coat about # her shoulders and stepped into the middle of the "barn. The old witfth cackhnl and threw a bundle of hay at-her. The cat. copying the example of the witch, extended a sharp claw. The turnip, hissed and leered and the pumpkin, stretched his fiery head until the hissing of the candle behind _ his carved h features sotinded loudly in her ears. The sprites and the goblins ceased .r their dancing and leaving the old witch,- gave, theii attentions to Hazel by pulling her ears and tugging her hair. Soon all the creatures joined "the sprites and goblins in their prancing." and soon the barn became, filled with leaping shadows. Hazel faintly heard the song that they sang.— "We are things of Mystery Land, Come dance with us, (five us your hand. Oh come you mortal, come with us, \ Come, come ... ... Now all the shadows were dancing too. and other shadows formed £n the walls and also joined the dance until they became a glittering, spinning mass. Hazel thought they were dancing so quickly. Faster, faster until they spun so fast that they were not visible at all.