The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-02

For two weeks have been trying to write
something about Easter eggs for the children,
but time and opportunity were both wanting.
1t IL the custom at Washington to observe Eas-
ter Monday as sort of carnival, in which the
children OF the poor az well as the rich take a
boisterous part in the rolling of Easter eggs
For two or three days beforehand little, deft
fingers are busy in preparing eggs for the
carnival, by boiling them and dipping them in
bright-colored dyes, or winding them tightly in
pretty colored prints and then boiling them
This last method renders them spotted, striped
or In flowers. just as the print may be- Many
are left in their natural state and others made
entirely black, though this is avoided as much
as possible, as the majority Of them are in
tended for the children of the poor colored
people, and an injudicious reference to color is
avoided
Monday morning sees a host of baskets
loaded, and old and young gather on Capitol
hill with their offerings, and the work of roll
ing Easter eggs begins. At the foot OF the hill
is gathered a motley crowd of eager colored chill
dren, with now and then a poor, stability
dressed white child, gazing eagerly up at the
merry throng gathered at the steps of the
Capitol
As the gayly-colored eggs come bounding and
tossing down the slope there is rush Of the
children below, and the scrambling and snatch
ing for the beautiful prizes lie kept up until the
supply is exhausted, and the merry group above
takes up series OF games in which they have
no place or part
This custom of rolling Easter eggs, while it
gives keen enjoyment to the children OF the
wealthy. is matter of vast importance to
the children of the poor, for, when
the beautiful shell is removed, the nicely cooked
delicacy is eaten by them with as fine relish as
eggs freshly gathered and prepared would be
by the children of the Home"
am sure we are all very fond of eggs, and
we'll remember a certain season, each year,
when the boys in the neighborhood went prowl-
ing about the straw stacks and hay ricks, and
when poor, dear mother expected q supply of
eggs for Easter the hens seemed to have taken
it into their heads to be obstinate possible.
l hope none of our very little readers will be
guilty of robbing nests, either those of the do
nestle fowl, or the beautiful birds.
Speaking OF eggs reminds me of an incident
in my experience which will relatein this con-
necton. No doubt, il will seem like a very big
story, and, had not been witness to the scene,
l should be very much inclined to doubt it.
1t was the haying season at the old home
stead. Brother and the hired man were busy
moving and curing hay preparatory to hous
ing 1t for the coming winter. 1t was a beauti-
full day. such as children choose for romping
in the meadows, and dashing amid the new
mown hay, the scent of which is delicious and
healthful. OF course l followed in the wake
Of the scythe, for brother was without mower.
Just az the 12 o'clock hour sounded for dinner,
the scythe went dashing through tuft of grass
from which darted timid quail, leaving nest
full Of pure-white eggs uncovered in the sun
shine. She was out of sight in a twinkling in
the tall grass. There were nineteen eggs in the
nest, of as sound appearance as any / ever
beheld. An hodr and half was allowed for
dinner and rest, and we made our way to the
hay field, wondering if the poor, frightened
bird had ventured home again.
Children, do you wonder that we were
amazed at beholding only empty shells in the
nesty
An eager yet faint, cluclling came up from
the grass, and we could see nearly score of
little golden balls waddling away from the nest
as fast as their little clumsy feet would carry
them. OF course l must needs handle them,
for they were such lovely little darlings; but /
tenderly placed them in the grass after mo-
ments fondling, that the mother bird might
not desert them. That ia the last
we saw of them, for by the time the
scythe was again under Roadway she had led
them to place of safety / hope my little
readers will never injure the darling birds,
either by robbing their nests or trying to kill
them, for they seem to be Gods especial favor
ties. And let us be careful to not ipjure any
living being, human or otherwise, for, il we can
not benefit them, let us not feel that, had it not
been for us, they might have been happy, or at
least well and contented.' There are great
many ways to do an injury. Let US choose
none of them. ORLENA
CHICAGO, April 20.