Dikes and Ditches by Oliver Optic

A crowd of people preceded the procession, as it came out of the Rue de Laeken into the Boulevard d'Anvers. At the head of it marched the military band, and the _cortege_ was flanked by soldiers of the Belgian army, indicating that the government felt an interest in the display. The students were on the tiptoe of excitement at the novel spectacle; and Paul asked his friend, the doctor, a great many questions which he could not answer. The composition and order of the procession were very nearly as follows: --

A man bearing a cross on a pole. Banner. Little girls dressed in white, with flowers in their hands. Little boys. Banner. Image of the Virgin borne by four men. A lamb, very white and clean, led by a string, and decorated with red ribbons, with boys on each side, carrying various emblems. Young ladies in white. Another image of the Virgin. About twenty priests, in white muslin robes, and in satin robes trimmed with gold. Two boys with censers. Silken canopy, borne by four men, under which walked two ecclesiastics, in full costume one bearing the Host.