SAINT NICHOLAS EVE
BY CAMILLE LEMONNIER
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: 'Tobias, my lad, you must keep the festival of our blessed saint in a proper way, now that you have brought a wife to your boat.' With that, he put a five-franc piece into my hand. 'Mynheer Shippe,' I replied, 'I am more pleased with your five-franc piece than if I had been crowned.' I went out without saying
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