There were hens and ducks and geese that cackled and quacked and hissed. There were rows and rows of cheeses, pats of yellow butter, and honeycombs dripping with honey. There were dog-carts filled with milk-cans, with apples, with potatoes, and other vegetables. There were Dutch girls selling lace and flowers. There were bakers with trays full of bread, rolls, and cakes. Katrina bought a wooden spoon to take home to her mother. Jan bought mother a big yellow bowl. “Mother will like to stir cake in it,” he said. “Yes, and she can stir it with this nice, wooden spoon,” said little Katrina. [Illustration] [Illustration] WINTER It is winter. The canals in Holland are frozen over. The ice is very smooth and thick. All the Dutch children have skates. Their fathers and mothers have skates, too. Everybody that is strong and well skates on the Dutch canals in Winter. Jan and Katrina and their little friends Bram and Hilda and Kassie and Karl all have skates. They skate up and down and around and around. They have skating matches. The one who can skate farthest and fastest beats. Sometimes Jan beats and sometimes Karl does. The girls cannot skate as fast as the boys. KIND HEARTED JAN One day Jan was down on the beach. There he saw a man with a dog and a cart. The man was putting sand in the cart. He was going to make the dog pull it into town. The poor dog was sick. His feet were sore and he was not strong enough to pull the heavy cart. The man had a whip. He whipped the poor dog. The dog moaned and cried. He fell down between the shafts of the cart. His master beat him, and tried to make him get up. Jan saw the cruel master whip the poor dog. He felt very sorry for the dog. He ran up to the man. “You must not beat your dog,” said Jan. “He is old and he is not strong enough to pull your heavy load.” [Illustration] “He is a good-for-nothing dog,” said the man. “I wish I could sell him.” So Jan asked the man how much he wanted for the dog. Jan had enough money, so he bought the poor old dog. He took him home. He washed the dog’s sore feet. He gave him food and drink. He made a soft bed for him to lie on. “He will be a playmate for Rink,” said Jan. “I will call him Kris.” Kris grew well and strong. He was always grateful to Jan for saving him from his cruel master. End of Project Gutenberg's Windmills and wooden shoes, by Maude M. Grant