The ancient Pagan inhabitants of Europe celebrated annually this same feast, which is yet continued over all the Christian world. This festival began with a week's indulgence in all kinds of sports, called the _carne-vale_, or the taking _a farewell to animal_ food, because it was followed by a fast of forty days. This was in honor of the Saxon goddess _Ostrt_ or _Eostre_ of the Germans, whence our _Easter_.[227:2] The most characteristic Easter rite, and the one most widely diffused, is the use of _Easter eggs_. They are usually stained of various colors with dye-woods or herbs, and people mutually make presents of them; sometimes they are kept as _amulets_, sometimes eaten. Now, "dyed eggs were sacred Easter offerings in _Egypt_;"[228:1] the ancient _Persians_, "when they kept the festival of the solar new year (in March), mutually presented each other with colored eggs;"[228:2] "the _Jews_ used eggs in the feast of the Passover;" and the custom prevailed in Western countries.[228:3] The stories of the resurrection written by the Gospel narrators are altogether different. This is owing to the fact that the story, as related by one, was written to correct the mistakes and to endeavor to reconcile with common sense the absurdities of the other. For instance, the "_Matthew_" narrator says: "And when they saw him (after he had risen from the dead) they worshiped him; _but some doubted_."[228:4] To leave the question where this writer leaves it would be fatal. In such a case there must be no doubt. Therefore, the "_Mark_" narrator makes Jesus appear _three times_, under such circumstances as to render a mistake next to impossible, and to silence the most obstinate skepticism. He is first made to appear to Mary Magdalene, who was convinced that it was Jesus, because she went and told the disciples that he had risen, and that she had seen him. They--_notwithstanding that Jesus had foretold them of his resurrection_[228:5]--disbelieved, nor could they be convinced until he appeared to _them_. They in turn told it to the other disciples, who were also skeptical; and, that they might be convinced, Jesus also appeared to _them_ as they sat at meat, when he upbraided them for their unbelief. This story is much improved in the hands of the "_Mark_" narrator, but, in the anxiety to make a clear case, it is overdone, as often happens when the object is to remedy or correct an oversight or mistake previously made. In relating that the disciples _doubted_ the words of Mary Magdalene, he had probably forgotten Jesus had promised them that he should rise, for, if he had told them this, _why did they doubt_?