The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-26
A Charming Christening,


We were all trifle nervous over the
could see that the old cures hand trem-
bled as he held the holy chrism above
its head; his gentle eye beamed benevo-
lently, but he waited revorently until
she ceased her widest wriggle and her
lustiest yell before amounting her.
''Of truth, she will never be num-"
whispered one of the little congrega-
ton. when they scream so loud, my
godmother says they will be healthy and
lucky" whispered another. "Ah, now.
she is quiet, the petite. Bah! my good
ness, but she is pretty!''
She was. The weather has been so
bad, the spring has been SO late, that
baby's invalid mother delayed the christ
ening of her darling until sunshiny
day in May and baby full six weeks old.
1t was pretty picture, in which the
baby framed the light. The little cher
ub had fair, soft hair and deep blue eyes
that looked boldly at one; aristocratic
little ears and mouth. Her upper lip
was perfect Cupid's bow; dancing
dimple low down in her left cheek, and
her nose, though good enough in pros
pect, doubtless, was like all babies'-a
serene pug. The little one was robed
like a princess. The front of her christ
ening robe, too, was of solid lace, faint,
frothy and of delicate cream color,
the soft tone that only time can give
such fabrics. Over the lace there open
ed another robe of pale blue and soft
cashmere, turned back with old point
lace.
The ceremony was long and again
baby objected. In vain the big fat nurse
kept up her musical grooming under the
cures Latin and gently jolted her charge
up and down. Baby was sleepy and
hungry and wanted mamma; neither
the gentle hand of her tall, beautiful
eodmother, that was laid soothingly up
on her little shoulder, nor the entreaty
in the kind eyes of the priest could pacl-
! fy. The little old sexton, who acted as
assistant to the cure, was shocked, and,
| as he made the responses, looked over
| his spectacles at the baby as if he would
suggest '.heroic' remedies. In artistic
arcot they would tell you the picture
was "well composed" The tall figure
of the ecclesiastic bending over the
Queenly-robed infant; its beautiful, pale,
sad-faced godmother, dressed in mourn
ing; the fat old nurse in colors, the fun
ny little sexton and the extemporized
congregation, ion,openmouthed at the splen-
dor of millinery not often displayed
in little Canadian village. The cere-
mony had been called strictly private.
and so it was, in the sense of "no cards. "
The sexton had come hastily in from
the garden of the presbytery, where he
had been digging, put on his funny
spectacles and funny pair OF white
cotton gloves fully an inch too long in
the fingers, and hastily presented him
self in response to the cures call. he
made no other concession to the occa-
sion than the wriggling white gloves,
not even a white collar to apologize for
his gray flannel shirt. He was all funny
his figure, his dress, his spectacles, his
gloves; but all put together, was not as
funny as his Latin.
"Dominus vobiscum," said the cure,
gently.
''Et cum spiritty to-noo-noo," re
sponded the sexton.
''But he is intelligent and sympathe
tique," explained the cure to me aftel
the ceremony was over and we stooc
chatting on the porch of his house. "H'
can keep accounts and fish, shoot, Mak!