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 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 money--where 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 him--it 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 strangely, 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. VI 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' Eve almost here! What wonder the yarn pricks my fingers! Come, Gretel, take this cent,[11] and while Hans is trading for the skates you can buy a waffle in the market-place." [Footnote 11: The Dutch cent is worth less than half of an American cent.] "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 Hans--wait a moment. Three turns of the 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 Heireen Gracht.[12] 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." [Footnote 12: A street in Amsterdam.]