hans brinker-第43节

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〃Now；　Annie；　I　know　you　would　never　mean　that！　　You　must　return　some　of　this　money。〃

〃But　I'll　not　do　any　such　thing；〃　insisted　Annie。　　〃They're　sold；　and　that's　an　end　of　it。〃　　Then；　seeing　that　he　looked　really　pained；　she　added　in　a　lower　tone；　〃Will　you　believe　me；　Hans；　when　I　say　that　there　has　been　no　mistake；　that　the　person　who　bought　your　skates　INSISTED　upon　paying　seven　guilders　for　them？〃

〃I　will；〃　he　answered；　and　the　light　from　his　clear　blue　eyes　seemed　to　settle　and　sparkle　under　Annie's　lashes。

Dame　Brinker　was　delighted　at　the　sight　of　so　much　silver；　but　when　she　learned　that　Hans　had　parted　with　his　treasures　to　obtain　it；　she　sighed　and　then　exclaimed；　〃Bless　thee；　child！　　That　will　be　a　sore　loss　for　thee！〃

〃Here；　Mother；〃　said　the　boy；　plunging　his　hands　far　into　his　pocket；　〃here　is　morewe　shall　be　rich　if　we　keep　on！〃

〃Aye；　indeed；〃　she　answered；　eagerly　reaching　forth　her　hand。　　Then；　lowering　her　voice；　added；　〃We　SHOULD　be　rich　but　for　that　Jan　Kamphuisen。　　He　was　at　the　willow　tree　years　ago；　Hans。　　Depend　upon　it！〃

〃Indeed；　it　seems　likely；〃　sighed　Hans。　　〃Well；　Mother；　we　must　give　up　the　money　bravely。　　It　is　certainly　gone。　　The　father　has　told　us　all　he　knows。　　Let　us　think　no　more　about　it。〃

〃That's　easy　saying；　Hans。　　I　shall　try；　but　it's　hard　and　my　poor　man　wanting　so　many　comforts。　　Bless　me！　　How　girls　fly　about！　　They　were　here　but　this　instant。　　Where　did　they　run　to？〃

〃They　slipped　behind　the　cottage；〃　said　Hans；　〃like　enough　to　hide　from　us。　　Hist！　　I'll　catch　them　for　you！　　They　both　can　move　quicker　and　softer　than　yonder　rabbit；　but　I'll　give　them　a　good　start　first。〃

〃Why；　there　IS　a　rabbit；　sure　enough。　　Hold；　Hans；　the　poor　thing　must　have　been　in　sore　need　to　venture　from　its　burrow　in　this　bitter　weather。　　I'll　get　a　few　crumbs　for　it　within。〃

So　saying；　the　good　woman　bustled　into　the　cottage。　　She　soon　came　out　again；　but　Hans　had　forgotten　to　wait；　and　the　rabbit；　after　taking　a　cool　survey　of　the　premises；　had　scampered　off　to　unknown　quarters。　　Turning　the　corner　of　the　cottage；　Dame　Brinker　came　upon　the　children。　　Hans　and　Gretel　were　standing　before　Annie；　who　was　seated　carelessly　upon　a　stump。

〃That　is　as　good　as　a　picture！〃　cried　Dame　Brinker；　halting　in　admiration　of　the　group。　　〃Many　a　painting　have　I　seen　at　the　grand　house　at　Heidelberg　not　a　whit　prettier。　　My　two　are　rough　chubs；　Annie；　but　YOU　look　like　a　fairy。〃

〃Do　I？〃　laughed　Annie；　sparkling　with　animation。　　〃Well；　then；　Gretel　and　Hans；　imagine　I'm　your　godmother　just　paying　you　a　visit。　　Now　I'll　grant　you　each　a　wish。　　What　will　you　have；　Master　Hans？〃

A　shade　of　earnestness　passed　over　Annie's　face　as　she　looked　up　at　him；　perhaps　it　was　because　she　wished　from　the　depths　of　her　heart　that　for　once　she　could　have　a　fairy's　power。

Something　whispered　to　Hans　that；　for　a　moment；　she　was　more　than　mortal。　　〃I　wish；〃　said　he　solemnly；　〃that　I　could　find　something　I　was　searching　for　last　night！〃

Gretel　laughed　merrily。　　Dame　Brinker　moaned。　　〃Shame　on　you；　Hans！〃　　And　she　went　wearily　into　the　cottage。

The　fairy　godmother　sprang　up　and　stamped　her　foot　three　times。

〃Thou　shalt　have　thy　wish；〃　said　she。　　〃Let　them　say　what　they　will。〃　　Then；　with　playful　solemnity；　she　put　her　hand　in　her　apron　pocket　and　drew　forth　a　large　glass　bead。　　〃Bury　this；〃　said　she；　giving　it　to　Hans；　〃where　I　have　stamped；　and　ere　moonrise　thy　wish　shall　be　granted。〃

Gretel　laughed　more　merrily　than　ever。

The　godmother　pretended　great　displeasure。

〃Naughty　child；〃　said　she；　scowling　terribly。　　〃In　punishment　for　laughing　at　a　fairy；　THY　wish　shall　not　be　granted。〃

〃Ha！〃　cried　Gretel　in　high　glee；　〃better　wait　till　you're　asked；　godmother。　　I　haven't　made　any　wish！〃

Annie　acted　her　part　well。　　Never　smiling；　through　all　their　merry　laughter；　she　stalked　away；　the　embodiment　of　offended　dignity。

〃Good　night；　fairy！〃　they　cried　again　and　again。

〃Good　night；　mortals！〃　she　called　out　at　last　as　she　sprang　over　a　frozen　ditch　and　ran　quickly　homeward。

〃Oh；　isn't　she　just　like　flowersso　sweet　and　lovely！〃　cried　Gretel；　looking　after　her　in　great　admiration。　　〃And　to　think　how　many　days　she　stays　in　that　dark　room　with　her　grandmother。　　Why；　brother　Hans！　　What　is　the　matter？　　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Wait　and　see！〃　answered　Hans　as　he　plunged　into　the　cottage　and　came　out　again；　all　in　an　instant；　bearing　the　spade　and　ysbreeker　in　his　hands。　　〃I'm　going　to　bury　my　magic　bead！〃


Raff　Brinker　still　slept　soundly。　　His　wife　took　a　small　block　of　peat　from　her　nearly　exhausted　store　and　put　it　upon　the　embers。　　Then　opening　the　door；　she　called　gently；　〃Come　in；　children。〃

〃Mother！　　Mother！　　See　here！〃　shouted　Hans。

〃Holy　Saint　Bavon！〃　exclaimed　the　dame；　springing　over　the　doorstep。　　〃What　ails　the　boy！〃

〃Come　quick；　Mother；〃　he　cried　in　great　excitement；　working　with　all　his　might　and　driving　in　the　ysbreeker　at　each　word。　　〃Don't　you　see？　　THIS　is　the　spotright　here　on　the　south　side　of　the　stump。　　Why　didn't　we　think　of　it　last　night？　　THE　STUMP　is　the　old　willow　treethe　one　you　cut　down　last　spring　because　it　shaded　the　potatoes。　　That　little　tree　wasn't　here　when　Father。　。　。Huzza！〃

Dame　Brinker　could　not　speak。　　She　dropped　on　her　knees　beside　Hans　just　in　time　to　see　him　drag　forth　THE　OLD　STONE　POT！

He　thrust　in　his　hand　and　took　out　a　piece　of　brick；　then　another；　then　another；　then　the　stocking　and　the　pouch；　black　and　moldy；　but　filled　with　the　long…lost　treasure！

Such　a　time！　　Such　laughing！　　Such　crying！　　Such　counting　after　they　went　into　the　cottage！　　It　was　a　wonder　that　Raff　did　not　waken。　　His　dreams　were　pleasant；　however；　for　he　smiled　in　his　sleep。

Dame　Brinker　and　her　children　had　a　fine　supper；　I　can　assure　you。　　No　need　of　saving　the　delicacies　now。

〃We'll　get　Father　some　nice　fresh　things　tomorrow；〃　Dame　Brinker　said　as　she　brought　forth　cold　meat；　wine；　bread；　and　jelly；　and　placed　them　on　the　clean　pine　table。　　〃Sit　by；　children；　sit　by。〃


That　night　Annie　fell　asleep　wondering　whether　it　was　a　knife　Hans　had　lost　and　thinking　how　funny　it　would　be　if　he　should　find　it；　after　all。

Hans　had　scarcely　closed　his　eyes　before　he　found　himself　trudging　along　a　thicket；　pots　of　gold　were　lying　all　around；　and　watches　and　skates；　and　glittering　beads　were　swinging　from　every　branch。

Strange　to　say；　each　tree；　as　he　approached　it；　changed　into　a　stump；　and　on　the　stump　sat　the　prettiest　fairy　imaginable；　clad　in　a　scarlet　jacket　and　a　blue　petticoat。




The　Mysterious　Watch



Something　else　than　the　missing　guilders　was　brought　to　light　on　the　day　of　the　fairy　godmother's　visit。　　This　was　the　story　of　the　watch　that　for　ten　long　years　had　been　so　jealously　guarded　by　Raff's　faithful　vrouw。　　Through　many　an　hour　of　sore　temptation　she　had　dreaded　almost　to　look　upon　it；　lest　she　might　be　tempted　to　disobey　her　husband's　request。　　It　had　been　hard　to　see　her　children　hungry　and　to　know　that　the　watch；　if　sold；　would　enable　the　roses　to　bloom　in　their　cheeks　again。　　〃But　nay；〃　she　would　exclaim；　〃Meitje　Brinker　is　not　one　to　forget　her　man's　last　bidding；　come　what　may。〃

〃Take　good　care　of　this；　mine　vrouw；〃　he　had　said　as　he　handed　it　to　herthat　was　all。　　No　explanation　followed；　for　the　words　were　scarcely　spoken　when　one　of　his　fellow　workmen　rushed　into　the　cottage；　crying；　〃Come；　man！　　The　waters　are　rising！　　You're　wanted　on　the　dikes。〃

Raff　had　started　at　once；　and　that　was　the　last　Dame　Brinker　saw　of　him　in　his　right　mind。

On　the　day　when　Hans　was　in　Amsterdam　looking　for　work；　and　Gretel；　after　performing　her　household　labors；　was　wandering　in　search　of　chips；　twigs；　anything　that　could　be　burned；　Dame　Brinker　with　suppressed　excitement　had　laid　the　watch　in　her　husband's　hand。

〃It　wasn't　in　reason；〃　as　she　afterward　said　to　Hans；　〃to　wait　any　longer；　when　a　word　from　the　father　would　settle　all。　　No　woman　living　but　would　want　to　know　how　he　came　by　that　watch。〃　　Raff　Brinker　turned　the　bright　polished　thing　over　and　over　in　his　hand；　then　he　examined　the　bit　of　smoothly　ironed　black　ribbon　fastened　to　it。　　He　seemed　hardly　to　recognize　it。　　At　last　he　said；　〃Ah；　I　remember　this！　　Why；　you've　been　rubbing　it；　vrouw；　till　it　shines　like　a　new　guilder。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　nodding　her　head　complacently。

Raff　looked　at　it　again。　　〃Poor　boy！〃　he　murmured；　then　fell　into　a　brown　study。

This　was　too　much　for　the　dame。　　〃'Poor　boy！'〃　she　echoed；　somewhat　tartly。　　〃What　do　you　think　I'm　standing　here　for；　Raff　Brinker；　and　my　spinning　awaiting；　if　not　to　hear　more　than　that？〃

〃I　told　ye　all；　long　since；〃　said　Raff　positively　as　he　looked　up　in　surprise。

〃Indeed；　and　you　never　did！〃　retorted　the　vrouw。

〃Well；　if　not；　since　it's　no　affair　of　ours；　we'll　say　no　more　about　it；〃　said　Raff；　shaking　his　head　sadly。　　〃Like　enough　while　I've　been　dead　on　the　earth；　all　this　time；　the　poor　boy's　died　and　been　in　heaven。　　He　looked　near　enough　to　it；　poor　lad！〃

〃Raff　Brinker！　　If　you're　going　to　treat　me　this　way；　and　I　nursing　you　and　bearing　with　you　since　I　was　twenty…two　years　old；　it's　a　shame。　　Aye；　and　a　disgrace；〃　cried　the　vrouw；　growing　quite　red　and　scant　of　bre