  It was Easter time. All through the winter with its strict Lenten fast, Zoe had looked forward to the feast, while Petro had kept the fast days under his mother's strict supervision until he said he was ready "to eat a lamb's bones for Easter breakfast." All Grecians eat lamb at Easter time, and from every house in the village on Holy Saturday can be heard the bleating of imprisoned sacrifices ready to be slain for the morrow's festivities. Uncle Andreas and Marco were to be at home in the early morning, and Zoe was happy in the thought of seeing them. The little house was clean and neat, and Zoe with a light heart followed Aunt AngelikÉ up the hill to the Bright were the stars, and in the sky soft as the ocean, the moon full and radiant in beauty. The climb to the church at the top of the hill was steep, but many of their friends were climbing too, for all the villagers turned out to the service, since no Grecian would willingly miss it. They reached the open square before the church just as the Mass began. Zoe entered behind her aunt and kissed the eikon at the door, taking from the server a long taper of yellow wax and holding it unlighted, as did everyone else. Then the priest came to the altar carrying a lighted taper, and all the altar boys, of whom Petro was one, scrambled excitedly to see who could get his candle lighted first. Petro was the lucky one, and it was his proud duty to light the candles of the waiting worshippers. When all were lighted the priest led the The choir was singing their minor chants, the censers were swinging back and forth in a cloud of incense, the candles were flaring and flickering. As soon as one went out a bystander gave of his holy fire and it was relighted. One by one the worshippers came forward, knelt and kissed the cloth which covered the catafalque, blessing themselves as Papa Demetrios Zoe prayed earnestly and gave little heed to the service, so that she did not notice that in the crowd she was separated from her aunt. It was nearly time for the close of the service and she felt in her pocket to see if she had her hard-boiled egg. It would be a dreadful thing if she had forgotten it. But it was there, and she smiled to herself that the happy day would soon come. All over Greece, in every province, thousands of Grecians break a hard-boiled egg when the bells ring on Easter morning, a custom which has been handed down for centuries. The Grecians say that one must always eat hard-boiled eggs on Easter morning, and bowls of them are found in every house on that day. The custom arose in memory of a miracle performed when the Turks ruled in Greece. "Risen indeed!" said the unbeliever. "I shall never believe that until these eggs in my apron have turned red." "Open thine apron and see!" said the Grecian, blessing herself as she spoke, and lo! the eggs were red as blood! The unbeliever straightway believed, and from that day red eggs have been eaten at Easter. Suddenly Papa Demetrios raised his hand and blessed the people, saying in a loud voice, "Christos Aneste!" Immediately the bell-ringer seized the bell-rope which hung from the great tree beside the church, and rang the bell in a wild and joyous clamour. All over the land, far and near, other bells were rung, and from every voice on the square went up the glad shout, "Christ is risen! Christ is Zoe's taper suddenly went out. "Aunt AngelikÉ," she said, "please light my taper." Her aunt did not answer, and looking hastily over her shoulder, Zoe saw that she was not there and around her surged the crowd. For a moment she was frightened, then she said to herself, "There is nothing to fear. I must not be afraid. I shall soon find her," and she turned here and there, but could find no trace at all of her aunt. "Can she have started home without me?" she thought, and tried to reach the edge of the crowd. Her foot caught against a branch of olive thrown down, and she stumbled and would have fallen had not a strong arm caught her. "Oh, thank you," she cried as she struggled "Your name, child, what is your name?" he demanded. "My name is Zoe Averoff," she said. "I must find my aunt. Please let me go." He held her arm so tightly and looked at her so strangely that she was frightened. "I shall never let you go!" he exclaimed. "Zoe! Zoe! do you not know me?" Something in the voice seemed strangely familiar. She looked into his face, into the dark eyes which looked with such love and longing into hers, then she gave a glad cry, "My father! oh, my father!" and his arms closed around her. "Such a happy Easter!" said Aunt AngelikÉ, as Sunday morning dawned clear and beautiful. "My husband and Marco at home, Zoe's "Was it not wonderful that my father found me at Easter time?" said Zoe, a strangely radiant Zoe, with shining eyes and brilliant cheeks. "He had been ill for weeks in a strange place they call Chicago. There he met a Grecian from Argolis and from him he heard that the news had come from Thessaly that my mother and I were dead. At that he did not want to return home, but he wrote several times to Uncle Georgios to hear of us and had no answer. Of course those letters never came. At first he sold things from a little cart in the streets. Then he saved money and with another Grecian he had a shop with flowers to sell. The Americans are strange people. They have money to throw away! They buy fruit and flowers all the time. Think of so "I thought it was a miracle," said her father. "For though the child is grown older, she is just like the Zoe whom I left, and to see alive her whom I thought dead was indeed a marvel." "Shall you return to that far land?" asked Uncle Andreas, "and take Zoe from us?" "Not so," said Zoe's father. "I shall stay "I am glad you will not take her from us," Aunt AngelikÉ said sweetly. "I have learned to love her as my daughter." "I am glad, too," said Marco, and Uncle Andreas laid his hand upon her curls, saying, "We all love the child." Zoe smiled happily and nestled up to her father. "Such a happy, happy Easter," she said. "I have nothing in all the world to wish for." "Then wish for dinner," said Petro. "It seems to me that lamb will never be done." "You are a Turk!" said his mother, laughing, and all laughed too, all except Petro, for his mother had called him the very worst thing which one can call our little Grecian Cousin. THE END. FOOTNOTES:THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES The most delightful and interesting accounts possible of child life in other lands, filled with quaint sayings, doings, and adventures. Each one vol., 12mo, decorative cover, cloth, with six or more full-page illustrations in color. Price per volume $0.60
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The Little Colonel. (Trade Mark.) The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a small girl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on account of her fancied resemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and old family are famous in the region. The Giant Scissors. This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France. Joyce is a great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with her the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the "Holidays." Two Little Knights of Kentucky. Who Were the Little Colonel's Neighbors. In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but with added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure of the story, that place being taken by the "two little knights." A delightful little story of a lonely English girl who comes to America and is befriended by a sympathetic American family who are attracted by her beautiful speaking voice. By means of this one gift she is enabled to help a school-girl who has temporarily lost the use of her eyes, and thus finally her life becomes a busy, happy one. Cicely and Other Stories for Girls. The readers of Mrs. Johnston's charming juveniles will be glad to learn of the issue of this volume for young people. Aunt 'Liza's Hero and Other Stories. A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to all boys and most girls. Big Brother. A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Steven, himself a small boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale. Ole Mammy's Torment. "Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southern life." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tells how he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right. The Story of Dago. In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey, owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and the account of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing. The Quilt That Jack Built. A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love, and how it changed the course of his life many years after it was accomplished. Flip's Islands of Providence. A story of a boy's life battle, his early defeat, and his final triumph, well worth the reading.
A Little Puritan's First Christmas. A Story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christmas was invented by Betty Sewall, a typical child of the Puritans, aided by her brother Sam. A Little Daughter of Liberty. The author introduces this story as follows: "One ride is memorable in the early history of the American Revolution, the well-known ride of Paul Revere. Equally deserving of commendation is another ride,—the ride of Anthony Severn,—which was no less historic in its action or memorable in its consequences." A Loyal Little Maid. A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which the child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to George Washington. A Little Puritan Rebel. This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the time when the gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts. A Little Puritan Pioneer. The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement at Charlestown. A Little Puritan Bound Girl. A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great interest to youthful readers. A Little Puritan Cavalier. The story of a "Little Puritan Cavalier" who tried with all his boyish enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and ideals of the dead Crusaders. A Puritan Knight Errant. The story tells of a young lad in Colonial times who endeavored to carry out the high ideals of the knights of olden days.
A Dog of Flanders: A Christmas Story. Too well and favorably known to require description. The Nurnberg Stove. This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price.
The Little Giant's Neighbours. A charming nature story of a "little giant" whose neighbours were the creatures of the field and garden. Farmer Brown and the Birds. A little story which teaches children that the birds are man's best friends. Betty of Old Mackinaw. A charming story of child-life, appealing especially to the little readers who like stories of "real people." Brother Billy. The story of Betty's brother, and some further adventures of Betty herself. Mother Nature's Little Ones. Curious little sketches describing the early lifetime, or "childhood," of the little creatures out-of-doors. How Christmas Came to the Mulvaneys. A bright, lifelike little story of a family of poor children, with an unlimited capacity for fun and mischief. The wonderful never-to-be forgotten Christmas that came to them is the climax of a series of exciting incidents. back emblem Transcriber's Note: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. |
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