In a grand and colorful hall adorned with bats, black cats, and owls suspended by threads from the ceiling, a congregation of children assembled. Each of them was costumed and masked as characters from various corners of the world, their outfits adorned with national flags. They appeared as statues, their attire more playful than real, giving the place an air of humor and excitement. The tallest among them were boys and girls perched precariously on stilts, making the scene more whimsical.
In the middle of this charming pandemonium stood a boy older than the rest – Folly. His costume was the most ridiculous of all. Dressed as a court jester, half of his costume was black and the other half yellow. He wore a cap adorned with jingling bells and carried a loud rattle.
As the room darkened, only the Jack-o’-Lanterns cast a warm, flickering light. A song began, faint at first, but growing louder, it filled the air with an enchanting melody:
“On Hallowe’en Night, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, The Witches and Brownies, Ho, Ho. Ho, Ho; The Owls and the Cats. Ho. Ho. Ho, Ho, On Hallowe’en Night, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho.”
Suddenly, the room was lit. Standing amidst the crowd, Folly began to speak, his voice full of mirth:
“I am Folly, always jolly, Though I’m seldom seen; I am Folly, always jolly, Late on Hallowe’en.”
With his wand or rattle, he touched each character, and one by one, they sprang to life, reciting their lines.
Among them was Owl, a small boy who questioned, “I am the Owl, who—who—who? On Hallowe’en I follow you.” Cat, another small boy dressed in a fluffy costume, stated, “I am the Witch’s Cat, oft’ seen late at night on Hallowe’en.”
There was Witch, a older girl who suggested to Folly, “Oh Folly, you’re a cunning fellow, in your costume black and yellow; why not give a wax-work show, to entertain before we go?”
As the evening proceeded, Folly awoke more characters: the towering Stilt-Walkers, the Mad March Hare, Jack-o’-Lantern, and finally, the Poppy Ladies. The Poppy Ladies, four girls in crepe paper costumes, performed a pretty little dance and sang a soft lullaby, casting a spell of slumber over everyone.
The Witch then cast her spell on specific characters, transforming them into wax figures for the upcoming show. The hall was filled with magic and anticipation. The rest of the evening was a flurry of performances, as the characters from various nations shared their talents.
In between performances, girls with mirrors would take turns looking over their shoulders into the mirrors, and Folly would peep into each one. They chanted, “Mirror, mirror, what do you see? On Hallowe’en reveal to me.”
As the night deepened, the wax figures came to life, with Folly winding them up one by one. They danced, sang, and made everyone laugh with their antics. Their joyful song echoed in the hall:
“We’re Wax-Work Figures in the show, We’re very fond of singing; We’re talented as you must know, You’ll hear our voices ringing.”
The entire scene was enchanting, the children celebrating Halloween in their own fun, magical way.
