“We will meet by the windmill,” they said, “and we will go along the dike to grandmother’s house.” So they met at the windmill, and away they went all together. Grandmother was looking for them. She took them into the house. She gave them each a bowl of curds and whey and some nice, fresh honey cakes. “Oh, how good this is!” cried Kassie. [Illustration] “Yes, yes, Grandmother, no one can make curds and whey like yours,” said Jan. “Or honey cakes either,” said Karl. When the children went home, grandmother gave each one of them a honey cake cut like a heart. She gave each one a pretty shell. The children said, “We have had such a good time, grandmother.” And grandmother said, “I have had a good time, too, children. You must come to see me again soon.” JAN AND KATRINA ON THE DIKES Jan and Katrina like to run on the dike. It is wide, and quite like a road. They take Rink and the cart up on the dike too. Rink likes to run on the dike. He likes to feel the fresh air blow in from the sea. When they are up on the dike, Jan and Katrina can see all around. They can see far, far away. They can look out over the broad ocean. They see the big boats and the little boats sailing to and fro. Jan points to the ocean and says, “Katrina, away, away over the ocean, where those big boats are sailing, is America. American boys and girls live there. It is a fine country and very large.” “Do you think we will ever go to America, Jan?” asks little Katrina. [Illustration] “Perhaps, some day,” answers Jan. When Jan and Katrina are up on the dike, they can look over their own land. They can see the canals and the bridges and the boats. They can see the beautiful gardens. They can see the bright houses, and the big windmills that whirl round and round. They can see the girls tending geese in the fields. They can see the black and white cows eating grass in the meadows. They can see the men with their dog-carts going along the road to town. JAN’S BIRTHDAY It is Jan’s birthday. He is eight years old. He is a very happy little boy. He has many fine birthday presents. Father gave him a beautiful little toy boat. It has sails on it and it can go very fast. Mother gave him a book. In it is a story of a boy named Peter. Jan will tell you about it when he reads his book. Katrina gave Jan a red cap that she knit herself, and Grandmother gave him a beautiful little green and yellow bird in a cage. Jan says, “Everybody is so good to me on my birthday.” [Illustration] O, Jan was very happy! And then in the afternoon, mother asked Hilda and Bram and Karl and Kassie to come over. She set the table out in the garden. In the middle of the table was a big pink birthday cake. It had nuts on the top of it. It was very good. The children all said so. And they knew, for they ate it all! [Illustration] LITTLE WOODEN SHOES