Easter-Day.

BY J, P. M’CORD,

 

 

WONDER whether the readers of
_ the Caniner pay any special re-
_ gard to Easter-day. It was a great
day among the children, in the
es where I was born and bred. We,
that is, my brothers and sisters, were
accustomed, when winter was taking its
leave, to look into the almanac, to see
on what Sunday in April the feast
would fall. We did not call it Easter,
however, but, in accordance with some
Dutch usages which still remained in
my native place, we commonly called it
poss, Iam not sure that 1 have spelled
this word as a learned Dutchman would
spell it, but it is pronounced so as to
rhyme with Joss. When the season ap-
proached, we always engaged right
heartily in preparing for it. You must
know, that eggs were essential to its
proper observance; we were careful,
therefore, to collect a good supply of
them. We narrowly searched every
spot where a hen would be likely to de-
posit such articles. After school-hours,
in particular, away we ran to the nests,
each trying to secure as much spoil as
possible before the arrival of the others.
We would then severally disappear to
some secret place, to hide our eggs. In
this way, we usually treasured up a suffi-
cient store, which we did not fail to
produce: when the proper time arrived.
My books inform me, that Easter is a
feast designed to commemorate the re-
gurrection of Christ. It corresponds, in
season, to the passover of the Jews, and
is considered, in some sense, as a con-
tinuation of it. But why, as in some
parts of our country, at least, Easter-

‘nip, or other coloring matter.

THE YOUTHS CABINET.

day should be celebrated by a free use
of eggs, rather than in any other manner,
I never could find out. I could guess a
reason, but then it might not be the true
one; so I will not trouble my readers
with it. Besides, in our childhood, we
never inquired into the origin and history
of the feast; we were satisfied if we
could observe it according to the estab-
lished custom. This privilege our kind
parents always granted us. And some-
times we had other pleasures besides
those of the table. Some older mem-
bers of the family would color a few
eggs for us, by throwing into the water
where they were cooking some green cat-
If our
names, or any device, had been previous-
ly marked on them with the end of a tal-
low candle, they would not take color in
the parts so marked. We valued these
fancy articles highly, and would keep
them some time.

I thought I would say this much about
Easter-day, that those of my readers
who live in places where it is not ob-
served in a similar manner, might the
better understand the following fable.
I would not teach you, by the fable, to
be penurious or illiberal, but only to
spend money with prudence. One thing
more: when you come to the fourth line,
please stop, and consider how many dol-
lars there are in a million dimes.

THE BOYS AND THEIR EGGS,

Some spend a dime because ’tis small,
Nor deem it, squander’d, waste at all:
The diligent and prudent know

One dime may to a million grow.
When merry Easter roll’d around,
And cooks, by ancient custom bound,
Prepared to load the festive board
With eggs for that occasion stored,