BY

CAMlLLE LEMONNIER

From "The Massacre of the Innocents and other Tales by Belgian Writers."
Translated by Edith Wingate Rinder. Published by Stone & Kimball.

Copyright, 1895, by Stone & Kimball.




I.


"This is the finest day of the year, Nelle," exclaimed a big stalwart
man of about sixty, with a bright smile, to a fresh clean-looking woman,
who at that moment came down the ladder of the boat with shavings in her
hand.

"Yes, Tobias," replied the woman, "it is indeed the day of days for
boatmen."

"Do you remember the first feast of St. Nicholas, which we kept
together, after we were married?"

"Yes, Tobias, it will soon be forty years ago."

"Hendrik Shippe, our master, came on to the boat and said to me: