DAY-DREAMS ON THE DIKE 113

doubled their tists, and pretended (to his great delight)
they were going to puminel him soundly.

“Ves,” said the mother. “He’s a bouncing little man,
and with a good head of his own. I was saying to myself
as I came along that I should n’t wonder if he should get
to be a grand burgomeister some day, and rule a city, and
lift us all to greatness—and so you shall, my little one!
There, there, don’t pull my skirt off, my Ludoff!” Then,
looking brightly from one to another of the group, Mev-
rouw Kleef asked:

“And what have you been doing—you, Dirk, Katrina,
and the rest of you?”

“Nothing,” answered the children; but they all looked
very happy. Day-dreams linger about us, you know, and
light our way even when they are half forgotten.

“And now, my children,” she continued, “ we are to have
a great pleasure, for I shall take you all to see the men
start Raff Ootcalt’s new windmill this very afternoon.
Raff is to make a short speech, and there will be music
and dancing and a little feast.”

“Good, good!” cried the happy little crowd, eager to
set off at once.

So the mother took up her little burgomeister, and, rosy
and smiling, started on her way back to the village, the
children trudging after.