hans brinker-第39部分

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on　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　breath。

Raff's　voice　was　feeble　yet。　　〃Treat　you　WHAT　way；　Meitje？〃

〃What　way；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　mimicking　his　voice　and　manner。　　〃What　way？　　Why；　just　as　every　woman　in　the　world　is　treated　after　she's　stood　by　a　man　through　the　worst；　like　a〃

〃Meitje！〃

Raff　was　leaning　forward　with　outstretched　arms。　　His　eyes　were　full　of　tears。

In　an　instant　Dame　Brinker　was　at　his　feet；　clasping　his　hands　in　hers。

〃Oh；　what　have　I　done！　　Made　my　good　man　cry；　and　he　not　back　with　me　four　days！　　Look　up；　Raff！　　Nay；　Raff；　my　own　boy；　I'm　sorry　I　hurt　thee。　　It's　hard　not　to　be　told　about　the　watch　after　waiting　ten　years　to　know；　but　I'll　ask　thee　no　more；　Raff。　　Here；　we'll　put　the　thing　away　that's　made　the　first　trouble　between　us；　after　God　just　gave　thee　back　to　me。〃

〃I　was　a　fool　to　cry；　Meitje；〃　he　said；　kissing　her；　〃and　it's　no　more　than　right　that　ye　should　know　the　truth。　　But　it　seemed　as　if　it　might　be　telling　the　secrets　of　the　dead　to　talk　about　the　matter。〃

〃Is　the　manthe　ladthou　wert　talking　of　dead；　think　thee？〃　asked　the　vrouw；　hiding　the　watch　in　her　hand　but　seating　herself　expectantly　on　the　end　of　his　long　foot　bench。

〃It's　hard　telling；〃　he　answered。

〃Was　he　so　sick；　Raff？〃

〃No；　not　sick；　I　may　say；　but　troubled；　vrouw；　very　troubled。〃

〃Had　he　done　wrong；　think　ye？〃　she　asked；　lowering　her　voice。

Raff　nodded。

〃MURDER？〃　whispered　the　wife；　not　daring　to　look　up。

〃He　said　it　was　like　to　that；　indeed。〃

〃Oh！　　Raff；　you　frighten　me。　　Tell　me　more；　you　speak　so　strange　and　you　tremble。　　I　must　know　all。〃

〃If　I　tremble；　mine　vrouw；　it　must　be　from　the　fever。　　There　is　no　guilt　on　my　soul；　thank　God！〃

〃Take　a　sip　of　this　wine；　Raff。　　There；　now　you　are　better。　　It　was　like　to　a　crime；　you　were　saying。〃

〃Aye；　Meitje；　like　to　murder。　　THAT　he　told　me　himself。　　But　I'll　never　believe　it。　　A　likely　lad；　fresh　and　honest…looking　as　our　own　youngster　but　with　something　not　so　bold　and　straight　about　him。〃

〃Aye；　I　know；〃　said　the　dame　gently；　fearing　to　interrupt　the　story。

〃He　came　upon　me　quite　suddenly；〃　continued　Raff。　　〃I　had　never　seen　his　face　before；　the　palest；　frightenedest　face　that　ever　was。　　He　caught　me　by　the　arm。　　'You　look　like　an　honest　man；'　says　he。〃

〃Aye；　he　was　right　in　that；〃　interrupted　the　dame　emphatically。

Raff　looked　somewhat　bewildered。

〃Where　was　I；　mine　vrouw？〃

〃The　lad　took　hold　of　your　arm；　Raff；〃　she　said；　gazing　at　him　anxiously。

〃Aye；　so。　　The　words　come　awkward　to　me；　and　everything　is　like　a　dream；　ye　see。〃

〃S…stut！　　What　wonder；　poor　man。〃　　She　sighed；　stroking　his　hand。　　〃If　ye　had　not　had　enough　for　a　dozen；　the　wit　would　never　have　come　to　ye　again。　　Well；　the　lad　caught　me　by　the　arm　and　said　ye　looked　honest。　　（Well　he　might！）　　What　then？　　Was　it　noontime？

〃Nay；　before　daylightlong　before　early　chimes。〃

〃It　was　the　same　day　you　were　hurt；〃　said　the　dame。　　〃I　know　it　seemed　that　you　went　to　your　work　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　　You　left　off　where　he　caught　your　arm；　Raff。〃

〃Yes；〃　resumed　her　husband；　〃and　I　can　see　his　face　this　minuteso　white　and　wild…looking。　　'Ta