Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT 241
and as they paused in their song the sound of their
glad voices told that this was a night of merry-
making and. festivity. I ran downstairs and seated
myself in the veranda, where the master and
mistress of the manor, with their children, and the
governess and tutor, had already taken their places.
On came the procession—men and women, girls and
boys—and winding up the pathway that led through
the lawn to the house in regular order, the foremost
halted in front of the veranda, and made a speech
in the Lettish language to the master and mistress,
wishing them every blessing life could bestow. At a
motion from the latter, each person went singly over
to the baskets, and took his or her portion of bread
and cheese ; and as he retired, took o£f his wreath,
and laid it at the feet of the hosts. And what a
motley pile of these we had the next day ! Some
were simply made of two or three large fronds of
fern, twisted and bound together with little art;
others were made from the branches of trees, and
many were most fancifully fashioned of the loveliest
wild-flowers. As they retired towards the barn,
which had been arranged for dancing, one or two of
the leaders stepped forward, and wished each member
of the family some special form of the sort of good
luck which occurs to simple hearts as the best.
Their delicate little girl was to grow strong and tall
the boy was to be like his father ; the tutor was to
marry the governess ; and as I was the loved friend
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