The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-21

mere hamlet i'm the midst OF Woe
forest. and the villagers were lniseranlF
poor and ignorant. The easue III lne
,.ioi,itv belonged to "a nobleman whose
,,l-,,e vas I'm "a distant part of the land,
and the buildings had long peeh "ii"-
habitcd.
Tho man inquiring his way gave no ac-
count of himself TO the curious peasants
hut after getting the desired direclloha'
proceeded TO the castle remained tnere
over-right. and the next day departed
After some days he returned IlAlns ne
side a carriage containing laly I'D ueep
mourning. closely veiled Two enli'Ioh 1ll'
"A maid. The man was eNluehug St'"-
ara or upDer servant and namei Hans.
Al grsf after taking up her abode In
fto castle the lady maintained The strlcl-
sst -oclusion. never being seen by the
no9eqnts. and Hans. VIXEN ing on ne
ccesary orrands ID the village tNaded an
questions. and spcke Il his mistress ohiy
SIS my lady" or the countess. bul fl''I
81 time the lady no loncer secluded her-
self and having learned from Hans OF
the miserable condition Of the villagers De
stirred herself 70 help the D. teachihs'
them habits Of neatness ana cleanliness
rousing them to industry, ana gather-
ing the children together TOT regular III
e.r,iction. Very patiently and lovingly
wretcLedncss gradually gave place 10
comfort. and the lady and her children
were regarded with the deepest respect
and love.
one day Hans. returning from the
market town 10 which DE went at rare
intervals. brought with him cage con-
tanning some fowls None Of these crea-
lures had ever been seen before by the
villagers. who stared at them with won
der. Easter was now at hand ana tne
countess planned a festival for the emil
dren of the hamlet In her own grounds.
After an afternoon passed merrly IN
games. the children We're called to sup
Der. the table being spread I'm a pleasant
part Of the garden. When the meal was
nearly ended. one Of the ladys own
children who was in the secret discover
ed. as II by accident a bright-colored egg
half hidden i'm the grass. Another was
soon spied and Immediately livel,
search was q gaged i'm by all the chill
drcn. who. with shouting and laughter,
found eggs Of various cOlOrs, some Of
which bore notices. such as, "Childre1,
obey your parents" Love one another
ard so on. where could the eggs have
come frOm2' was the wondering question:
for though by this time they had become
familiar with hens eggs. the cOlOred
ones were new mystery. At that NOM
ent a hare ran across the garden. where
upon one of the youngest children ex-
claimed that the hare must have laid the
eggs a suggestion which was really ac-
ccpted by all the others
Meantime. while the childrens merri-
mont was al the highest, a strange youth
travelling through the country missed mis-
way, and wandering through the park
had been Hospitality made q sharer in
IL.
were given souvenir eggs. Continuing his
Journey he came to a rocky pass among
the hills Suddenly he thought he heard
a faint groan lie stopped, listened and
heard IL again. over cliff he saw be-
low man lying On the ground
with his horse grazing beside him. The
young man made his way to the stranger
10 render what aid he could. The man had
been thrown from his horse and was In
danger of dying from exhaustion and
starvation, for his injuries, though not
serious. had been such as 10 render him
unable TO rise without assistance The
young man brought water from brook
then broke some of the eggs for the
fainting man. As these had been given as
souvenirs, he was reluctant 10 Use them
but the mans need was great. The youth
however reserved one egg. Revived by
the food and drink the wounded man
was now able TO be placed on his horse
The young man walked by his side. and
! presently the stranger glanced at the
egg became deeply agitited, and asked 10
hear again how the young man came by
Il. his agitation increasing with every
word. After telling his own story to the
youth, he learned from him the exact
route TO the castle. and few days after
set out on his way thther
When near the place he dismOunted,
SECURED his horse, and made his way on
| foot through the park. Hearing voices
! in an aTb0r. he paused 20 listen. IL was
| the lazy in conversation with her boy
| and girl. lie steps before them; there
a.c startled cries, joyful recog lition, a
/ happy reunion. for the lOng-lost husband
and father is restored.
Long before this The Count had done
with the Crusaders 10 the Holy Land,
leaving his household IN he care OF the
/ faithful Hans. This was N feudal times
and certain baron, an enemy of the
| Count. had ha-assed HIS -otliaers during
his absence In various ways. and when
| the report. supposed o. be authentic,
! came OF the Counts delth in The East.
| tho Countess feared that he baron per-
sccuuons would cndanser the safety OF
herself and family. and therefore fed
with hor children and two trusty SER
| wants TO the loug-lesertec castle. IL was
from fear of the baron tlat she at first
kept herself so closely, hut. finding that
they were secure, she trgan her work
among the peasants.
The Count, meanwhile. escaping from
! long captivity. reached MS home only 10
find it deserted. and no one who could
give him any information about his
family or any cleW by which to seek
them. No thought OF the long-deserted
| castle In the remote forest entered his
MIND, as neither he nor my OF his fam
| lily had ever visited II. and il had been
so long fOrsaken that thy had thought
Of IL as almost a ruin. Aeartbroken, he
BEGAN desperate journey 10 ana fro
through the land in seaIch OF his loved
ones. The fall from his horse. the con
sequent meeting with TIE young man.
and the recognition Of lis wife's hand
writing on The egg led Il the joyful end
OF his quest.
In grateful commemoraion OF this. and
the means which led to ii. they held
similar festival for the children every
Easter season. The custom thus originat-
Ell spread through the lind among high
and low. the popular idea remaining
among children that TIE hare laid. or
brought. the eggs. and by some mex
planned confusion the NINE "Bun-Bun. -
or Bunny" which we bestow on the
rabbit, was given to IA, hare
Such is the legend whcl is related with
variations, but the idea IA all is the same
the reunion OF the separated family bv
means OF the egg, and tfe egg associated
with the lady's benevoent work for
others despite her own dep sorrow. Even