Harper's Round Table, October 29, 1895

Harper's Round Table was a weekly magazine that brought adventure, humor, and seasonal excitement to late Victorian-era children. This October 29, 1895 issue arrives with particular magic: it's a Halloween number, that rare Victorian treat where ghost stories and autumn spookiness filled the pages for young readers. The centerpiece is "English Eliza," a tale set in an old New England neighborhood where two bound apprentices, the fearful Obed and his level-headed companion English Eliza, face the terrors of Halloween night. As ghost stories swirl through the community and adults fuel the flames of superstition, Eliza musters courage to escort Obed through a graveyard, proving that bravery isn't the absence of fear but the choice to act despite it. The story captures something essential about turn-of-the-century childhood: the thrill of seasonal folklore, the warmth of unlikely friendships, and the quiet dignity of working-class youth navigating a world of shadows. For readers curious about how Americans first began celebrating Halloween, or those who love seeing brave female characters claim the spotlight in older fiction, this issue preserves a small gem of autumnal storytelling.