XLI
THE FAIRY GODMOTHER
The sun had gone down quite out of sight when our hero--with a happyheart but with something like a sneer on his countenance, as he jerkedoff the wooden "runners"--trudged hopefully toward the tiny hut-likebuilding, known of old as the Idiot's cottage.
Duller eyes than his would have discerned two slight figures moving nearthe doorway.
That gray, well-patched jacket and the dull blue skirt covered with anapron of still duller blue, that faded, close-fitting cap, and thosequick little feet in their great boat-like shoes, they were Gretel's ofcourse. He would have known them anywhere.
That bright coquettish red jacket, with its pretty skirt, bordered withblack, that graceful cap bobbing over the gold earrings, that daintyapron, and those snug leather shoes that seemed to have grown with thefeet--Why if the Pope of Rome had sent them to him by express, Hanscould have sworn they were Annie's.
The two girls were slowly pacing up and down in front of the cottage.Their arms were entwined, of course, and their heads were nodding andshaking as emphatically as if all the affairs of the kingdom were underdiscussion.
With a joyous shout, Hans hastened toward them.
"Huzza, girls, I've found work!"
This brought his mother to the cottage door.
She, too, had pleasant tidings. The father was still improving. He hadbeen sitting up nearly all day, and was now sleeping as Dame Brinkerdeclared, "just as quiet as a lamb."
"It is my turn now, Hans," said Annie, drawing him aside after he hadtold his mother the good word from Mynheer van Holp. "Your skates aresold and here's the money."
"Seven guilders!" cried Hans counting the pieces in astonishment; "why,that is three times as much as I paid for them."
"I cannot help that," said Annie. "If the buyer knew no better, it isnot our fault."
Hans looked up quickly.
"Oh, Annie!"
"Oh, Hans!" she mimicked, pursing her lips, and trying to lookdesperately wicked and unprincipled.
"Now, Annie, I know you would never mean that! You must return some ofthis money."
"But I'll not do any such thing," insisted Annie; "they're sold, andthat's an end of it," then seeing that he looked really pained she addedin a lower tone:
"Will you believe me, Hans, when I say that there has been nomistake--that the person who bought your skates _insisted_ upon payingseven guilders for them?"
"I will," he answered--and the light from his clear blue eyes seemed tosettle and sparkle under Annie's lashes.
Dame Brinker was delighted at the sight of so much silver, but when shelearned that Hans had parted with his treasures to obtain it, shesighed, as she exclaimed:
"Bless thee, child! That will be a sore loss for thee!"
"Here, mother," said the boy, plunging his hands far into his pockets,"here is more--we shall be rich if we keep on!"
"Aye, indeed," she answered, eagerly reaching forth her hand. Then,lowering her voice, added, "we _would_ be rich but for that JanKamphuisen. He was at the willow tree years ago, Hans--depend upon it!"
"Indeed, it seems likely," sighed Hans. "Well, mother, we must give upthe money bravely. It is certainly gone; the father has told us all heknows. Let us think no more about it."
"That's easy saying, Hans. I shall try, but it's hard, and my poor manwanting so many comforts. Bless me! How girls fly about. They were herebut this instant. Where did they run to?"
"They slipped behind the cottage," said Hans, "like enough to hide fromus. Hist! I'll catch them for you! They both can move quicker and softerthan yonder rabbit, but I'll give them a good start first."
"Why, there _is_ a rabbit, sure enough. Hold, Hans, the poor thing musthave been in sore need to venture from its burrow this bitter weather.I'll get a few crumbs for it within."
So saying, the good woman bustled into the cottage. She soon came outagain, but Hans had forgotten to wait, and the rabbit after taking acool survey of the premises had scampered off to unknown quarters.Turning the corner of the cottage, Dame Brinker came upon the children.Hans and Gretel were standing before Annie who was seated carelesslyupon a stump.
"That is as good as a picture!" cried Dame Brinker halting in admirationof the group. "Many a painting have I seen at the grand house atHeidelberg 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 andHans, imagine I'm your godmother just paying you a visit. Now I'll grantyou each a wish. What will you have, Master Hans?"
A shade of earnestness passed over Annie's face as she looked up athim--perhaps it was because she wished from the depths of her heart thatfor once she could have a fairy's power.
Something whispered to Hans that, for the moment, she was more thanmortal.
"I wish," said he, solemnly, "I could find something I was searching forlast night."
Gretel laughed merrily. Dame Brinker moaned, "Shame on you, Hans!" andpassed 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 anddrew 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 forlaughing 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 merrylaughter, 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 afrozen ditch, and ran quickly homeward.
"Oh, isn't she--just like flowers--so sweet and lovely!" cried Gretel,looking after her in great admiration, "and to think how many days shestays in that dark room with her grandmother--Why, brother Hans! What isthe matter? What are you going to do?"
"Wait and see!" answered Hans as he plunged into the cottage and cameout again, all in an instant, bearing the spade and ysbrekker in hishands--"I'm going to bury my magic bead!"
* * * * *
Raff Brinker still slept soundly; his wife took a small block of peatfrom her nearly exhausted store, and put it upon the embers. Thenopening the door, she called gently:
"Come in, children."
"Mother! mother! See here!" shouted Hans.
"Holy St. Bavon!" exclaimed the dame, springing over the door-step."What ails the boy!"
"Come quick, mother," he cried, in great excitement, working with allhis might, and driving in the ysbrekker at each word. "Don't you see?_This_ is the spot--right here on the south side of the stump.Why didn't we think of it last night? _The stump_ is the oldwillow-tree--the one you cut down last spring because it shaded thepotatoes. That little tree wasn't here when father--Huzzah!"
Dame Brinker could not speak. She dropped on her knees beside Hans justin time to see him drag forth--_the old stone pot_!
He thrust in his hand and took out--a piece of brick--then another--thenanother--then, the stocking and the pouch, black and mouldy, but filledwith the long lost treasure!
Such a time! Such laughing! Such crying! Such counting, after they wentinto the cottage! It was a wonder that Raff did not waken. His dreamswere pleasant, however, for he smiled in his sleep.
Dame Brinker and her children had a fine supper, I can assure you. Noneed of saving the delicacies now.
"We'll get father some nice fresh things, to-morrow," said the dame, asshe brought forth cold meat, wine, bread and jelly, and placed them onthe clean pine table. "Sit by, children, sit by."
* *
* * *
That night, Annie fell asleep wondering whether it was a knife Hans hadlost, and thinking how funny it would be if he should find it, afterall.
Hans had scarce closed his eyes, before he found himself trudgingthrough a thicket; pots of gold were lying all around, and watches, andskates, 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 scarletjacket, and blue petticoat.
_"Good-night," they cried_]
Hans Brinker; Or, The Silver Skates Page 44