Madame M. At First Looks Dismayed At The Appearance Of Such A Group Of
Strangers At Her Door, And Is Sure She Cannot Accommodate Us; But Her
Daughters Slyly Jog Her Elbow, Saying Something In An Undertone, As If
Urging Her To Consent, And We Are Made Most Comfortable.
At first the family are a little shy, but in a couple of days we become
quite well acquainted; and, when the time comes for our departure they
"wish we could stay longer", - a wish which we heartily re-echo.
Madame proudly displays her treasures in hand-spun and home-woven linen
and blankets; also a carpet, the material for which she first spun, then
dyed, and finally wove; and, though it has been in use for ten years,
it is still fresh and shows no apparent wear. In response to our
entreaties, she shows us the loom, and brings out her spinning wheel to
instruct us in that housewifely accomplishment. How easy it looks, as
the fleecy web moves through her fingers, and winds in smooth, even yarn
on the swiftly turning reel; and, oh, what bungling and botching when
we essay that same! The two pretty, modest, and diffident daughters are
quite overcome at last, and join in our peals of merriment.
One - oh bliss! - is named Evangeline, and, if we understand correctly,
there is an old name similar to this among these people. Though they
sing some charming old French chansons for us, the two sweet girls
cannot be induced to converse in that language.
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