CHRISTENING PRESENTS. 85 



made in the form of a cross, and some other articles 

 of dress and ornament, making a very tolerable show. 

 After considerable delay the child was brought out 

 for the inspection of its sponsors, and a poor little 

 wretch it looked ; dirty, shivering, and blind from 

 accumulation of serous matter, the result of neglected 

 ophthalmia. It was very soon withdrawn into the 

 recesses of its paternal dwelling, alike to its own and 

 our relief; and the ceremony wound up by an 

 interchange of good wishes, and the distribution of 

 some of our treasures of provision to the leading 

 members of the village, and a scramble of raisins to 

 the children, which put them in high glee. 



The fiddle had been brought to aid in the fun, and 

 was soon in requisition to accompany the motions of 

 a troop of merry girls, who, hand in hand, crowded 

 full of glee round the performer, urging a speedy 

 commencement of his music, by mimicry and pan- 

 tomimic gibe. When he struck up a tune they 

 receded in a half moon mth mincing step and 

 fantastic evolutions of the head and arms ; the centre 

 then approached, and wings receded; then all 

 alternately approached and retired en masse, as if to 

 tempt their musician to follow, who soon willingly 

 humoured their bent and imitated their motions. 

 This continued for a while, when the dancers broke 



