or, The Silver Skates 29

Hans was clever at carving in wood; and both he and
Gretel were good gardeners. Gretel could sing and sew and
run on great high, home-made stilts better than any girl for
miles around. She could learn a ballad in five minutes, and

 

HANS AND GRETEL GATHERING PEAT.

find, in its season, any weed or flower you could name. But
she dreaded books; and often the very sight of the figuring-
board in the old schoolhouse would set her eyes swimming.