[Illustration: BAKING RYE BREAD AT GRANDMOTHER'S] "Don't you think it is time for dinner? I am so hungry," said Anders. "Guess what we are going to have to-day," said Sigrid. "Pancakes and jelly," Anders replied promptly. "No, sour milk, with powdered ginger on top." "Let's run, then," said Anders, "because I don't want to be late and have father say I cannot have any." But they arrived in season and ate their full share of the white curds, which they always enjoyed. Inside of the old house, you would be amazed at the size of the rooms. Though they were simply furnished, there was much choice old carved furniture, lovely plants, and vines, so that the rooms were very cheery. The floors were scrubbed beautifully clean and covered with rugs. Everywhere was exquisite order and neatness. As in the city home, the children had a large nursery, where they always played during the little time they were indoors. A trapeze hung between the nursery and an adjoining room; a large cushion rested beneath. On rainy days, the children hung from this indoor swing and climbed the ropes like young monkeys. "One, two, three, four, five," counted Sigrid, as she sat on the porch a few days after their arrival. "Why, are all those old women going to help with the washing to-morrow, mother?" "Yes; we shall need them all. Larsson has arranged for them to sleep at some of the servants' houses, so they will be ready to begin very early in the morning." The queer procession of old women, with coloured kerchiefs tied over their heads, slowly filed down the road. Long before the children were awake the next morning, a fire had been lighted in the wash-house beneath the monster kettle, and the women were at work. Wasn't that a lively week, though! Sigrid's mother was an excellent housekeeper, but she never had all the clothes and linen of the family washed but three times a year! Such scores and scores of garments went into that copper kettle--enough to clothe a whole village. Even if her family had been quite poor, Sigrid would still have had many more dresses and aprons than her American cousin. By the time the oxen were harnessed to a long, low wagon with latticed sides, Sigrid and Anders were ready to climb in and ride to the lake with the old women and the tubs of clothes which had boiled in the kettle. As soon as they arrived at a clean, sandy beach near the wharf, the children hopped out of the wagon. "Let's sit in the rowboat at the end of the wharf," said Anders. "Then we can play we are pirates and watch the women on the shore." The washerwomen took off their shoes and stockings, pinned up their skirts, and waded into the water. Then there was such a splashing and rinsing of clothes, and bobbing of kerchiefed heads, and swinging of long arms!