Veronica And Other Friends | Page 9

door of a house. She had to go early in order to get in a good day's
work, for she was to come home at night, and it was an hour's walk
each way. She knew well the old cottage with the beautiful carnations
illuminating its windows, which was the home of lame Sabina. The
windows were already open, and the door also. She entered and her
new life began.
Up in Tannenegg, Dietrich sat at his work, singing and whistling
merrily. His mother, busy with her household affairs went hither and
thither about the house, from sitting room to kitchen, and then with the

feeding-bucket, out on the grass plat before the house, where a flock of
handsome fowl were pecking about. All was still quiet in the
neighboring houses, but over by the well stood the never-idle Judith,
beating and turning her clothes as she washed them. Along the road
with uncertain steps came the old sexton, swinging the big church-keys
in his hand; he had been ringing the early morning peal. As he lifted his
cap a little to salute Judith at the well, she called out,
"Good day, neighbor, I was just thinking it would be a good exchange
if the old folks were to lie abed at this hour and let the young ones pull
the bell rope."
"Well, some one must be doing it," said the other, and passed on his
way.
Judith had been busy at her washing full two hours longer, when in the
doorway of the sexton's house appeared a young fellow, whose figure,
almost as broad as it was long, filled the opening, with scarce anything
to spare. He tried to yawn, but there was not room enough to stretch his
arms, so he stepped outside for the purpose, and there he gaped so
heartily that all the inside of his big mouth and throat was distinctly
visible.
"There's nothing in it, Blasi! I've had a good look at it," cried Judith. "If
you had been here two hours ago, you might have seen a sight. A girl
with a whole mouthful of gold! What do you say to that?"
Blasi caught at this, and brought his jaws together with a snap.
"What! full of gold?" he exclaimed, and opened his sleepy eyes to their
utmost extent. "Why doesn't the foolish thing carry it in her pocket?
Where does she come from?"
"That's no concern of yours. You will never come up with her," replied
Judith.
"Tell me, for all that," urged Blasi, coming toward Judith, "I can go
after her, and I've no doubt I shall come up with her, and then there's no

telling what may happen. Come, where did she go, now? Do you know
her name?"
"Her name is Early Morn, Blasi," said Judith pleasantly. "Did you
never hear the saying, 'There's gold in the mouth of the early morn.'"
Blasi made a wry face and began in an angry tone,
"There's nothing very clever in that"--but just then he remembered that
when he came out of the house he had intended to come over and say
something quite different to Judith; so he changed his tone quickly, and
said,
"Can you lend me a franc or two; I have just time to do a little business
before eleven o'clock, and then I must be back to ring the noon bell; I
must try to help father, a little."
"No, no, Blasi, I have no francs for you," said Judith decidedly. "It
wants three hours yet of being eleven o'clock. Use those big arms of
yours, and they'll bring you francs enough." And so saying, she lifted
her clothes-basket on her head, and walked away.
Blasi stood looking after her, a moment, then he sauntered off, with
both hands in his pockets, up the road towards, the shoemaker's old
house. There sat Jost before the door, hammering away at something as
if for dear life. Blasi drew near, and stood watching the busy hands of
his friend, who presently cried out angrily,
"So it is holiday with you, is it, you lazy-bones? It is maddening to see
one fellow go wandering about with his hands in his pockets, while
another has to sit on his three-legged stool, hammering away at the
soles of these--these--these Tanneneggers' boots. To-morrow is
Cherry-festival in Fohrensee, and every one is going; and I, I must get
their boots ready! I wish a thunder-storm would come and wash this
away, and that, and the whole lot of 'em!" As he spoke he tossed away
first the mended boots, then the hammer, and last of all the three-legged
stool, away, as far as he could throw them, down into the meadow. He
was white with rage.

"What stuff!" said Blasi, dryly. "You are paid for your