30 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



source of grief. How eagerly she would seize upon 

 a garment that showed signs of dissolution ! 



Jabbering a few hurried words in patois to a gargon 

 who quickly departed, Mrs. Jean Baptiste sat down 

 with the garment in her hands to await the arrival, as 

 I soon found, of the adult female population of Laudat. 

 When they had all arrived she arose and displayed to 

 their united view the broadest part of my inoffensive 

 nether habiliments. At first they were speechless with 

 admiration, but soon broke forth into a chorus of Mon 

 Dieus ! each one reaching forward for a closer inspec- 

 tion. 



The simple explanation of this is, they recognized 

 the work of a master-hand. Had some connoisseur 

 of paintings found in a garret — as some one is con- 

 stantly finding in a garret — a painting that, the dust 

 being removed, disclosed a Murillo or a Van Dyke, 

 he could not have been more delighted and surprised. 

 I say delighted, but sober reflection convinced them 

 that such handiwork should not be shown their lords 

 and masters ; and they grew troubled lest they should 

 see this masterpiece, and becoming dissatisfied with 

 their spouses' needlework, eventually sue for divorce 

 on grounds of incompetency, or some kindred cause. 

 Then they desired I should teach them ; but I pro- 

 tested that I never had taken lessons in that science, and 

 that unless they could puzzle it out for themselves, the 

 art, as an art, must be a lost one to them. Mine host 

 heard of it, however, and to him I gave the garment. 

 And it is said that he has caused to be preserved (by 

 framing or some other way) that design in darning, 

 and, having lopped off the legs for his youngest son, 

 regards the remainder as an art treasure of the highest 



