Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-17
NO.. 96.
Gales ano Skettbes.
EASTER EGGS.

They come to YOU of all sizes and of all
colors; purple and yellow, crimson,
orange. and puce. The children bring
them. beggars bring them, your friends
send them. Some come in china bowls.
some in baskets arranged with moss and
flowers, and some are simply presented
on plates. You are not bound to eat them,
that is one comfort. else The Inconvenience
might decidedly be very great. since every
egg is boiled to the consistcnce of bull
let. and is. of course. cold. Ncrverthe-
less, the custom is pretty. and the eggs
themselves are pretty, the bright hues
given them by the dye with which they
are boiled enduing them with most
picturesque look as they lie piled among
moss and and flowers. Sometimes they
are presented in company with gdteHes
and g0frrS-two kinds of cake very pop
ular in Belginm-the latter being aspecies
of pancake. while the other is the denti-
cal cake which in foreign pictures of Little
Red Ridinghood we see depicted in that
hapless damsel's basket, side by side with
the tradtionary butter.
During my first Easter in the Ardennes,
Il whole love story came to my ears
through an Easter egg and little basket
of galettes will not tell the tale; it
shall tell itself
II hear Monsieur is going to Liege,'
said a sweet voice
| lowered my gun with its muzzle to the
ground, and looked at the speaker. She
was the brightest, ncatest little figure /
had ever seen; a brunette, with sparkling
hazel eyes, and blue black hair, and cheeks
of a brownish ruddy hue-a very picture
of health and comely strength Not very
Il al; D,l.;
nevertheless having the happier beauty
of a sound mind in sound body, with all
that cheerfulpess about her which is one
of the best gifts of robust health.
"Mademoiselle. it is true go to
l.iege on Easter-even. Can | do anything
for You there %
just tiny tinge of crimson. which was
gone in "a moment, for these brunettes do
not show upon their faces every shade of
thought and feeling as the sensitive
blondes are fain to do
Monsieur is very good if only might
venture to ask Il favor?''
Ask, responded, smiling. II will
execute your commission with pleasure. ~
First, if Monsieur would let me explain
who am | am Fiiine, grand-niece to
Madame Rodiere''
Madame Rodiere was the old lady who
did me the honor to be my housekeeper,
and had heard her speak often of .Jo-
>ephine As a good, honest girl. who did
much of the work on the little farm which
her father rented.
"Mademoiselle Josephine, pray enter
and seat yourself; then you shall tell me
what You want at Lege."
This little conversation had taken place
in my garden, Just rs | was going out in
the hope of shooting some hoopoes which
had seen in a meadow close by The
April wind was cutting and hren, and
was glad, therefore, to get the pretty
Josephine into warm seat by the kitchen
fire. She did not use much circumlocution
in coming at her request.
'Monsleur, have Il friend at Liege;
will you charge yourself with a little bas-
ket for him ?''
She drew it from beneath her shawl as
she spokc-a pretty little covered basket
of colored straw.
1T is only galettes and an Easter egg;
but Felix always expects them from me at
Easter, and should be so sorry to dsar-
point him"
And is this all ?" said /, taking the
basket from her hand is there no mes
sage, no letter ?''
ALAS Monsieur, cannot write, neith.
er can Felix; but we do not forget each
other
Again the tinge of crimson deepened
her brown cheek, vet she gazed at me
with steadiast eyes, as she confined in a
firmer tone
I'VE are betrothed, Felix and /. And
we have not seen each other for two wears.
He was home on furlough, then, for a lit
tie while
$50 Felix, is u soldier" | reioined,
doubttully. is it wise thing for
an industrious girl like you to marry SOL
dier ?'
lie was drawn, " she answered, sigh
ing; ''he could not help being soldier.
His family was too poor to buy substi-
tute for him. so he is obliged to serve.
He has served five years. so in two years
more he will he free.
And will it he prudent reiterated,
'to expect man who has been seven years
Il soldier to return home and take up in
dustrious pursuits again? Felix will like
soldering too well for that at the expir-
alton of his seven years service he will
enlist and get his bounty
Fiiine opened her clear hazel eyes wide,
and looked ut me wonderingly.
"Mon>eur has not seen Felix when he
has seen him he will not say that. He
will not ask. either whether it will be wise
to marry him. | have known him and
loved him all my life long" she added in
nocentiy, rs she arose and made me a lit
tie courtesy by way of leave-taking
stay. Mademoiselle Fifine: YOU have
not told me where to find your friend.''
AT the barracks, if Monsieur will not
mind going"
And whom must ask for at the bar
racks 2"
Felix Roussel. And if Monsieur would
kindly put the basket in his hand and say
From Fitine Rodiere, with a thousand
kind thoughts, there will be no need of
more.
But if Felix asks questions, what shall
say ?"
please then tell him La Mere Vigner-
on's rheumatism is better and nv father
has bought new cow-we have called
her Blanchettee-and we have ten lamps
Al. =, 4 Ali L.