Two years in the French West Indies

by Lafcadio Hearn

—"Ça qui ka clairé conm, ça, manman?" (What is it that shines like that?)

And Yzore answers:—

—"Ça, mafi,—c'est ti limiè Bon-Dié." (Those are the little lights of the Good-God.)

—"It is so pretty,—eh, mamma? I want to count them."

—"You cannot count them, child."

—"One—two—three—four—five—six—seven." Gabrielle can only count up to seven. "Moin pride!—I am lost, mamma!"

The moon comes up;—she cries:—"Mi! manman!—gàdé gouôs difé qui adans ciel-à!" (Look at the great fire in the sky!)

—"It is the Moon, child!... Don't you see St. Joseph in it, carrying a bundle of wood?"

—"Yes, mamma! I see him!... A great big bundle of wood!"...

But Mimi is wiser in moon-lore: she borrows half a franc from her mother "to show to the Moon." And holding it up before the silver light, she sings:—