A witch comes on the stage with a basket full of letters to spell the word “Hallowe’en.” She pins one on each child, and they dance about and stand in groups; as she calls for the letters, one by one they arrange themselves in a line, come forward, hold up letter and recite.
All:
Witches, witches, leaping ditches,
Everywhere are seen;
Witches, witches, with their switches,
Late on Hallowe’en.
H.:
Hold your head up high, for passing by
The cat and owl do often cry.
All:
Meow, meow! Who, who!
A.:
Autumn time brings jolly fun,
From Jack-o’-Lantern we won’t run.
All:
He has terrible eyes, oh, my! oh, my!
L.:
Look for charm, and look for token,
Witches’ spell will then be broken.
All:
Four-leaf clover, four-leaf clover,
Look for it the wide world over.
L.:
Late at night upon the post
You may see a solemn ghost.
All:
Whist! be still, a ghost! a ghost!
O.:
Once a year you may discover,
In a mirror, friend or lover!
All:
Mirror, mirror, smile at me.
W.:
Well for you to say your prayers,
If you’re all alone upstairs.
All:
The wind may call for me and you,
OOO—OOO—OOO!
E.:
Every year, I always fear,
When the goblins are drawing near.
All:
They may be afraid of you—
Just bow and say, “How—do—you do?”
E.:
Echo hear the ghost’s shrill cry,
“It’s Hallowe’en—I’m passing by.”
All:
A ghostly cry, oh, my!
N.:
Now we all will say good night,
I hope, we gave no one a fright!
Witch:
Oh, no, my dears, you’re most polite,
It just takes me to scare you quite;
The witches often sigh, ’tis true,
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye to you!
[All march off.]