AN ACADIAN VILLAGE 
and has instinctively calculated its weight and 
value, for one can easily count the fishes, — 
they are very accurately done and are not 
painted in the impressionist style. I was very 
glad that it rained hard one Sunday morning, 
so that I should not be tempted afield, and I 
went to church for the principal service. As 
the bells jangled from the steeple, mine host 
led me up the front steps which were crowded 
with men, who politely touched their hats 
and made way for us as we entered the church. 
Up the main aisle I meekly followed my guide, 
feeling the penetrating gaze of all the congre- 
gation fixed upon me. With a flourish I was 
given the front pew and left to my meditations. 
The vacant places in the pews must have been 
soon filled, I imagined, as I did not at first dare 
to look back of me, for I could hear the stamp- 
ing of heavy boots as the crowd of men filed 
into the church at the last moment. When I did 
summon up courage to look around, I was 
impressed with the black clothes of the wor- 
shippers, — the brilliant sweaters, dresses and 
handkerchiefs of the workaday life had van- 
ished, to be replaced in the women by black 
caps and black dresses, and in the men by coats, 
75 
