In front of the mansion, contrasting oddly with the living trees
around it, stood a high pole, the long, straight stem of a pine-
tree, carefully stripped of its bark, bearing on its top the
withered remains of a bunch of evergreens, with the fragments of a
flag and ends of ribbon which fluttered gaily from it. The pole was
marked with black spots from the discharge of guns fired at it by
the joyous habitans, who had kept the ancient custom of May-day by
planting this May-pole in front of the Manor House of their lady.
The planting of such a pole was in New France a special mark of
respect due to the feudal superior, and custom as well as politeness
required that it should not be taken down until the recurrence of
another anniversary of Flora, which in New France sometimes found
the earth white with snow and hardened with frost, instead of
covered with flowers as in the Old World whence the custom was
derived.
The Lady de Tilly duly appreciated this compliment of her faithful
censitaires, and would sooner have stripped her park of half its
live trees than have removed that dead pole, with its withered
crown, from the place of honor in front of her mansion.
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