It was just a year ago that I was so excited over my new house, but last year’s excitement was nothing compared to the adventure I have had this year. You would never be able to guess about it, so I shall have to tell you. It happened on Hallowe’en night. I felt all day that something was going to happen. The air seemed to be filled with a strange excitement. The pigeons kept flying by the windows all day long. I was sure they were carrying messages all over Boston, they seemed so active and busy. It made me feel very restless and finally after the shop closed I could stand it no longer. I couldn’t sit still and read and I kept running to the door and looking out across the quiet street towards the Gardens.

Suddenly I felt I must get out into the world to see what was happening. I thought of letting myself out by the window, but I remembered how brittle and stiff my bones were and how hard the floor was. I sat down in my wing-chair to consider what to do. The next thing I knew there I was flying in my wing-chair out of the alley window. What do you think of that? Up over the trees of the Garden I flew. I thought I had better keep very still and not lean over, because I remembered the fall I had had from Santa Claus’ pack. What really did happen was that I came down on the little rocky island in the upper half of the pond. I got out of my chair and looked around me.

The air was heavy with fragrance, for growing among the rocks were sweet smelling herbs and late blossoming flowers. The moon was high and its light on the big willow tree turned it to a shimmery grey. The pond lay black along its shadowed edges, and like soft grey satin in its open parts.

How wonderful night was! I I must admit, though, that I was a little bit afraid. Every rustle in the trees and bushes made me uneasy. When a great big black thing moved at the other end of the island, I covered my eyes and said to myself, “A witch! A witch! O dear! I wish I were safely at home!” But it wasn’t a witch. It was only the big black swan. He spread his wings and skimmed out on the water in the clear sweep of unbroken moonlight. 

This seemed to be a signal for the Gardens to wake up, for there was a stirring and a rustling all through them. A flock of pigeons alighted on the bridge and began to walk back and forth and converse. Coo-ee! Coo-ee! Coo-ee!

The elm at the end of the pond was filling with twittering English sparrows and some song birds gathered in the nearby shrubbery and began a musical chirping. Suddenly, far down the pond, I saw two white ghosts. They came gliding right towards me, nearer and nearer. I gave a little scream as they were nearly upon me, whereupon the black swan heard me and came close. Then, he spoke to me.

”Alice-Heidi, do not be afraid. My cousins, the white swans, will not hurt you. You are about to witness an unusual spectacle and to take part in it if you will. The century plant has blossomed and died down, and not until it again blossoms and dies down, not for a hundred years, will the Gardens be filled with the magic and mystery that lies over them this Hallowe’en. The pond itself has magical properties.” I noticed that even as he spoke many of the birds were flying above it, again and again dipping and rising, then circling back again and skimming very low with their wings trailing.

“What are they doing?” I asked.

“Every drop of the water gives new strength, new wisdom, and new beauty,” and with that his head disappeared under the water and he floated off into the shadows. The white swans had also floated away and I was left alone with the sound of wings and the splashing of water in my ears.

“This is my chance too,” I thought. “If only I have the courage to dip myself I shall become beautiful, strong, and wise. Then my visitors will no longer be able to say ‘Alice-Heidi is a nice child, but how plain!’ I do not know whether I can swim or not but I must try.” With that I took off my yellow dress and folded it carefully on the chair. Then off came my shoes and stockings. I crept slowly down towards the edge, and fortunately — I slipped. I say fortunately, because my courage might have failed. I slipped, and the next minute I was under the surface. Head first I went with a kick and a splash. The water must have had magic in it, for I came up to the surface and floated out into the moonlight. It was not cold and I laid on my back and looked at the stars and paddled slowly with my feet and my hands. How wonderful I felt! I was losing all the horrid, stiff, brittle feeling. Would they know me at The Bookshop when I returned? Anyway, they could not help but be pleased, I thought.

Dawn was coming and I heard the distant rumble of trucks. The light was creeping in under the trees and bushes and down the dusky paths. I knew my adventure was over and common, everyday life was beginning again. The birds were still and the swans nowhere to be seen. I hurried into my clothes and then sat myself down in my wing-chair. In another minute I was up in the air again and flying over the tree-tops. Back I went through the alley window and into my house.

And what do you suppose was the first thing I did? I ran to look at myself in the mirror, and I certainly did see a change. My hair was pretty and soft, my cheeks pink and smooth, and my eyes had lost their wide starey look. Yes, I was improved. Perhaps I am not so wise or clever even now, but I feel — oh, so much better for my wonderful Hallowe’en adventure.

From the November 1925 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.