his side, and of course had a very
complete view of the whole ceremony. I was very neatly-dressed, and my
father received many compliments upon my appearance. At last the
ceremony began. The church was lined with troops to keep back the
crowd, and the procession entered the church, the bishop walking under a
canopy, attended by the priests, then the banners, and pretty children,
dressed as angels, tossing frankincense from silver censers. The two
bells were in the centre of the church, both of them dressed in white
petticoats, which covered them completely, ornamented with ribbons, and
a garland of flowers upon the head of each--if I may so designate their
tops. The godmothers, dressed in white as on baptismal ceremonies, and
the godfathers in court suits, stood on each side. They had been
selected from the _elite_ of the families in the town. The organ and
the military band relieved each other until the service commenced. The
bishop read the formula; the godmothers and godfathers gave the
customary security; the holy water was sprinkled over the bells, and
thus were they regularly baptised. One was named Eulalie and the other
Lucile. It was a very pretty ceremony, and I should have liked to have
been present at their "_premiere communion_" if it ever took place.

My English readers may consider this as a piece of mummery. At the time
I did not. As a good Catholic, which I was at that time, and a pretty
Frenchwoman, I thought that nothing could be more correct than the
_decoration des belles_. I believe that it has always been the custom
to name bells--to consecrate them most certainly--and if we call to mind
what an important part they perform in our religion, I do not wonder at
it. By being consecrated, they receive the rites of the church. Why,
therefore, should they not receive the same rites in baptism? But why
baptise them? Because they speak to us in many ways, and with their
loud tongues express the feelings, and make known the duties imposed
upon us. Is there cause for the nation to rejoice, their merry notes
proclaim it from afar; in solemn tones they summon us to the house of
prayer, to the lifting of the Host, and to the blessing of the priest;
and it is their mournful notes which announce to us that one of our
generation has been summoned away, and has quitted this transitory
abode. Their offices are Christian offices, and therefore are they
received into the church.

CHAPTER THREE.