hans brinker-第7节

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place；　half　resolved　to　sell　it；　but　she　had　always　conquered　the　temptation。

〃No；　Hans；〃　she　would　say；　〃we　must　be　nearer　starvation　than　this　before　we　turn　faithless　to　the　father！〃

A　memory　of　some　such　scene　crossed　her　son's　mind　now；　for；　after　giving　a　heavy　sigh；　and　flipping　a　crumb　of　wax　at　Gretel　across　the　table；　he　said；　〃Aye；　Mother；　you　have　done　bravely　to　keep　itmany　a　one　would　have　tossed　it　off　for　gold　long　ago。〃

〃And　more　shame　for　them！〃　exclaimed　the　dame　indignantly。　　〃I　would　not　do　it。　　Besides；　the　gentry　are　so　hard　on　us　poor　folks　that　if　they　saw　such　a　thing　in　our　hands；　even　if　we　told　all；　they　might　suspect　the　father　of〃

Hans　flushed　angrily。

〃They　would　not　DARE　to　say　such　a　thing；　Mother！　　If　they　did；　I'd。　。　。〃

He　clenched　his　fist　and　seemed　to　think　that　the　rest　of　his　sentence　was　too　terrible　to　utter　in　her　presence。

Dame　Brinker　smiled　proudly　through　her　tears　at　this　interruption。

〃Ah；　Hans；　thou'rt　a　true；　brave　lad。　　We　will　never　part　company　with　the　watch。　　In　his　dying　hour　the　dear　father　might　wake　and　ask　for　it。〃

〃Might　WAKE；　Mother！〃　echoed　Hans。　　〃Wakeand　know　us？〃

〃Aye；　child；〃　almost　whispered　his　mother；　〃such　things　have　been。〃

By　this　time　Hans　had　nearly　forgotten　his　proposed　errand　to　Amsterdam。　　His　mother　had　seldom　spoken　so　familiarly　to　him。　　He　felt　himself　now　to　be　not　only　her　son；　but　her　friend；　her　adviser：

〃You　are　right；　Mother。　　We　must　never　give　up　the　watch。　　For　the　father's　sake　we　will　guard　it　always。　　The　money；　though；　may　come　to　light　when　we　least　expect　it。〃

〃Never！〃　cried　Dame　Brinker；　taking　the　last　stitch　from　her　needle　with　a　jerk　and　laying　the　unfinished　knitting　heavily　upon　her　lap。　　〃There　is　no　chance！　　One　thousand　guildersand　all　gone　in　a　day！　　One　thousand　guilders。　　Oh；　what　ever　DID　become　of　them？　　If　they　went　in　an　evil　way；　the　thief　would　have　confessed　it　on　his　dying　bed。　　he　would　not　dare　to　die　with　such　guilt　on　his　soul！〃

〃He　may　not　be　dead　yet；〃　said　Hans　soothingly。　　〃Any　day　we　may　hear　of　him。〃

〃Ah；　child；〃　she　said　in　a　changed　tone；　〃what　thief　would　ever　have　come　HERE？　　It　was　always　neat　and　clean；　thank　God；　but　not　fine；　for　the　father　and　I　saved　and　saved　that　we　might　have　something　laid　by。　　'Little　and　often　soon　fills　the　pouch。'　　We　found　it　so；　in　truth。　　Besides；　the　father　had　a　goodly　sum　already；　for　service　done　to　the　Heernocht　lands；　at　the　time　of　the　great　inundation。　　Every　week　we　had　a　guilder　left　over；　sometimes　more；　for　the　father　worked　extra　hours　and　could　get　high　pay　for　his　labor。　　Every　Saturday　night　we　put　something　by；　except　the　time　when　you　had　the　fever；　Hans；　and　when　Gretel　came。　　At　last　the　pouch　grew　so　full　that　I　mended　an　old　stocking　and　commenced　again。　　Now　that　I　look　back；　it　seems　that　the　money　was　up　to　the　heel　in　a　few　sunny　weeks。　　There　was　great　pay　in　those　days　if　a　man　was　quick　at　engineer　work。　　The　stocking　went　on　filling　with　copper　and　silveraye；　and　gold。　　You　may　well　open　your　eyes；　Gretel。　　I　used　to　laugh　and　tell　the　father　it　was　not　for　poverty　I　wore　my　old　gown。　　And　the　stocking　went　on　filling；　so　full　that　sometimes　when　I　woke　at　night；　I'd　get　up；　soft　and　quiet；　and　go　feel　it　in　the　moonlight。　　Then；　on　my　knees；　I　would　thank　our　Lord　that　my　little　ones　could　in　time　get　good　learning；　and　that　the　father　might　rest　from　labor　in　his　old　age。　　Sometimes；　at　supper；　the　father　and　I　would　talk　about　a　new　chimney　and　a　good　winter　room　for　the　cow；　but　my　man　had　finer　plans　even　than　that。　　'A　big　sail；'　says　he；　'catches　the　windwe　can　do　what　we　will　soon；'　and　then　we　would　sing　together　as　I　washed　my　dishes。　　Ah；　'a　smooth　wind　makes　an　easy　rudder。'　　Not　a　thing　vexed　me　from　morning　till　night。　　Every　week　the　father　would　take　out　the　stocking　and　drop　in　the　money　and　laugh　and　kiss　me　as　we　tied　it　up　together。　　Up　with　you；　Hans！　　There　you　sit　gaping；　and　the　day　a…wasting！〃　added　Dame　Brinker　tartly；　blushing　to　find　that　she　had　been　speaking　too　freely　to　her　boy。　　〃It's　high　time　you　were　on　your　way。〃

Hans　had　seated　himself　and　was　looking　earnestly　into　her　face。　　He　arose　and；　in　almost　a　whisper；　asked；　〃Have　you　ever　tried；　Mother？〃

She　understood　him。

〃Yes；　child；　often。　　But　the　father　only　laughs；　or　he　stares　at　me　so　strange　that　I　am　glad　to　ask　no　more。　　When　you　and　Gretel　had　the　fever　last　winter；　and　our　bread　was　nearly　gone；　and　I　could　earn　nothing；　for　fear　you　would　die　while　my　face　was　turned；　oh！　　I　tried　then！　　I　smoothed　his　hair　and　whispered　to　him　soft　as　a　kitten；　about　the　moneywhere　it　was；　who　had　it？　　Alack！　　He　would　pick　at　my　sleeve　and　whisper　gibberish　till　my　blood　ran　cold。　　At　last；　while　Gretel　lay　whiter　than　snow；　and　you　were　raving　on　the　bed；　I　screamed　to　himit　seemed　as　if　he　MUST　hear　me'Raff；　where　is　our　money？　　Do　you　know　aught　of　the　money；　Raff？　　The　money　in　the　pouch　and　the　stocking；　in　the　big　chest？'　　But　I　might　as　well　have　talked　to　a　stone。　　I　might　as〃

The　mother's　voice　sounded　so　strange；　and　her　eye　was　so　bright；　that　Hans；　with　a　new　anxiety；　laid　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder。

〃Come；　Mother；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　try　to　forget　this　money。　　I　am　big　and　strong。　　Gretel；　too；　is　very　quick　and　willing。　　Soon　all　will　be　prosperous　with　us　again。　　Why；　Mother；　Gretel　and　I　would　rather　see　thee　bright　and　happy　than　to　have　all　the　silver　in　the　world；　wouldn't　we；　Gretel？〃

〃The　mother　knows　it；〃　said　Gretel；　sobbing。




Sunbeams



Dame　Brinker　was　startled　at　her　children's　emotion；　glad；　too；　for　it　proved　how　loving　and　true　they　were。

Beautiful　ladies　in　princely　homes　often　smile　suddenly　and　sweetly；　gladdening　the　very　air　around　them；　but　I　doubt　if　their　smile　be　more　welcome　in　God's　sight　than　that　which　sprang　forth　to　cheer　the　roughly　clad　boy　and　girl　in　the　humble　cottage。　　Dame　Brinker　felt　that　she　had　been　selfish。　　Blushing　and　brightening；　she　hastily　wiped　her　eyes　and　looked　upon　them　as　only　a　mother　can。

〃Hoity！　　Toity！　　Pretty　talk　we're　having；　and　Saint　Nicholas's　Eve　almost　here！　　What　wonder　the　yarn　pricks　my　fingers！　　Come；　Gretel；　take　this　cent；　*｛The　Dutch　cent　is　worth　less　than　half　of　an　American　cent。｝　and　while　Hans　is　trading　for　the　skates　you　can　buy　a　waffle　in　the　marketplace。〃

〃Let　me　stay　home　with　you；　Mother；〃　said　Gretel；　looking　up　with　eyes　that　sparkled　through　their　tears。　　〃Hans　will　buy　me　the　cake。〃

〃As　you　will；　child；　and　Hanswait　a　moment。　　Three　turns　of　this　needle　will　finish　this　toe；　and　then　you　may　have　as　good　a　pair　of　hose　as　ever　were　knitted　（owning　the　yarn　is　a　grain　too　sharp）　to　sell　to　the　hosier　on　the　Harengracht。　*｛A　street　in　Amsterdam。｝　　That　will　give　us　three　quarter…guilders　if　you　make　good　trade；　and　as　it's　right　hungry　weather；　you　may　buy　four　waffles。　　We'll　keep　the　Feast　of　Saint　Nicholas　after　all。〃

Gretel　clapped　her　hands。　　〃That　will　be　fine！　　Annie　Bouman　told　me　what　grand　times　they　will　have　in　the　big　houses　tonight。　　But　we　will　be　merry　too。　　Hans　will　have　beautiful　new　skatesand　then　there'll　be　the　waffles！　　Oh！　　Don't　break　them；　brother　Hans。　　Wrap　them　well；　and　button　them　under　your　jacket　very　carefully。〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Hans；　quite　gruff　with　pleasure　and　importance。

〃Oh！　　Mother！〃　cried　Gretel　in　high　glee；　〃soon　you　will　be　busied　with　the　father；　and　now　you　are　only　knitting。　　Do　tell　us　all　about　Saint　Nicholas！〃

Dame　Brinker　laughed　to　see　Hans　hang　up　his　hat　and　prepare　to　listen。　　〃Nonsense；　children；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　told　it　to　you　often。〃

〃Tell　us　again！　　Oh；　DO　tell　us　again！〃　cried　Gretel；　throwing　herself　upon　the　wonderful　wooden　bench　that　her　brother　had　made　on　the　mother's　last　birthday。　　Hans；　not　wishing　to　appear　childish；　and　yet　quite　willing　to　hear　the　story；　stood　carelessly　swinging　his　skates　against　the　fireplace。

〃Well；　children；　you　shall　hear　it；　but　we　must　never　waste　the　daylight　again　in　this　way。　　Pick　up　your　ball；　Gretel；　and　let　your　sock　grow　as　I　talk。　　Opening　your　ears　needn't　shut　your　fingers。　　Saint　Nicholas；　you　must　know；　is　a　wonderful　saint。　　He　keeps　his　eye　open　for　the　good　of　sailors；　but　he　cares　most　of　all　for　boys　and　girls。　　Well；　once　upon　a　time；　when　he　was　living　on　the　earth；　a　merchant　of　Asia　sent　his　three　sons　to　a　great　city；　called　Athens；　to　get　learning。〃

〃Is　Athens　in　Holland；　Mother？〃　asked　Gretel。

〃I　don't　know；　child。　　Probably　it　is。〃

〃Oh；　no；　Mother；〃　said　Hans　respectfully。　　〃I　had　that　in　my　geography　lessons　long　ago。　　Athens　is　in　Greece。〃

〃Well；〃　resumed　the　mother；　〃what　matter？　　Greece　may　belong　to　the　king；　for　aught　we　know。　　Anyhow；　this　rich　merchant　sent　his　sons　to　Athens。　　While　they　were　on　their　way；　they　stopped　one　night　at　a　shabby　inn；　meaning　to　take　up　their　journey　in　the　morning。　　Well；　they　had　very　fine　clothesvelvet　and　silk；　it　may　be；　such　as　rich　folks'　children　all　over　the　world　think　nothing　of　wearingand　their　belts；　likewise；　were　full　of　money。　　What　did　the　wicked　landlord　do　but　contrive　a　plan　to　kill　the　children　and　take　their　money　and　all　their　beautiful　clothes　himself。　　So　tha