Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-29

ths ssitisnssK Thee domselic fcv1 ~
seem % common 70 ~ ana ~ v$S
everywhere at afst oame non The ~ Iln1.s
snd had Il that time only bssn 800 g
large cities and towns. And tkeee mcun'
tam folks had never evan heard Of sacn
strange birda."
Macy LITTLE czDcxs.
So the Countess decided 10 repay their
kindness. She secretly oent her old eer-
want down TO their old home. There he
found the castle almost wholly Destroyed.
but was lucky enough 10 gather mp large
number Of tho chickens that still roasted
about their old home. He brought them
up to the mountains and great was tho
surprise of all the peasants - they saw
the queer birds. But . few weeks efsor,
wards they were still more sstonishsd
was shown to them by the kind Countess:
o. how the village children laughed and
clapped their hands at the sight OF the
little. downy, bright-eyed creatures. wno
were so strong and spry and who foi-
lowed the old hen about to PICK up
their food on the very day they came out
Of the shells, Such contrast TO the bind,
bald. ugly little lodgings that they saw IN
the nests In the hedsesl
GREAT FEAST.
Now the Countess saved mp her eggs I'M
til she had enough for feast, when she IN
yited all the housewives 10 come and tasse
the new food and learn how to prepare It.
At the close Of the feast she gave eacn
family a number of fowls to take home and
use for her family. When Easter came sne
was anxious to do something. for the chil-
Cren. and il occurred TO her that az the egg
q q 49,, 10. ~ xr,stff In a ntCo
thing TO have an egg festival for the chill
dren's Easter treat. So she took mosses
and roots. and with them colored some. OF
the eggs--saying that the earth Law aside
her mantle OF snow in the spring. and God
himself made the fruit and berries not only
good 10 eat but pleasant to look upon.
ON EAsrER-suSpAY
On Easter-Sunday, after the villagers had
met for their simple service, she called all
the little ones, and after talking pleasantly
to them for awhile, she led them into .
grove near by. There she told them TO
play about. and pretend they were little
brides. and make themselves some cute
little nests. Then she called them to her
house, or cottage. and gave them little
feast OF the best she could prepare. 1t was
only some nice milk-soup, with cooked
eggs. and egg-cakes. When they had
finished their feast. they heard Q great
whistling, and cooling, and squeaking IN
the grove where they had left Their nests
What could be the matterl The chill
dren ran back TO see, and 10! in every
nest there were five beautiful colored
eggs, and on one of these little
rhyme was painted. Imagine the surprise
and delight of these simple children. They
talked among themselves and wondered
where they came from. What strange
hen it must be to lay eggs of so many
colors /" SAID one. "0h. do not think
that hens lay such hard eggs" said an
other. But third one said. =" am sure
it was that dear little hare saw jumping
out from behind the bushes where | made
my nest" This idea seemed TO please the
little ones and they all shouted together
"Yes. yes, the little hare laid the colored
eggs" And they kept on repeating II
until they began to believe 1t.
THE RETURN OF THE rATHrR.
Not long afterward. as the Countess sat
talking TO the children. who was It that the
little daughter saw coming up the noun.
tainp II was the dear father, the husband
whom they all thought must be dead: And
as he came to them on this yesterday, II
was another reason why the Countess loved
the day and wished TO have il always cele-
brated. SO when she went back with
her husband and children to rebuild
their old home. she left a sum OF money
to be expended in giving the children an
Easter-egg feast every year. she Also
started the fashion OF the "egg-feast In
her own Duchy. and 80 il grew, and by do
grees the custom spread all over the land
and the eggs also at length became q sort
of a symbol of restoration to Happiness:
and redemption from sin. The custom hai
spread to our own country, but thins
none but German children believe that the
eggs are laid by the timid little hare.