294 Hans Brinker

charity, — he, always so wise and thrifty? No!” cried Hans
aloud, “ better a thousand times to part with the watch.”

“J can at least borrow money on it in Amsterdam,” he

thought, turning around: ‘that will be no disgrace. I can

find work at once, and get it back again. Nay, perhaps I can
even speak to the father about it.”

This last thought almost made the lad dance for joy.
Why not, indeed, speak to the father? He was a rational

‘© MEAT, JELLY, WINE AND
BREAD, A WHOLE BASKETFUL.””

 

being now. ‘He may wake,”
thought Hans, “quite bright and
rested; may tell us the watch is
of no consequence; to sell it, of
course. Huzza!” and Hans al-
most flew over the ice.

A few moments more, and the
skates were again swinging from
his arm. He was running to-
wards the cottage.

His mother met him at the door.

“© Hans!” she cried, her face
radiant with joy, “the young lady
has been here with her maid. She
brought everything, — meat, jelly,
wine and bread, a whole basketful !
Then the meester sent a man from
town with more wine, and a fine
bed and blankets for the father.
Oh! he will get well now. God
bless them !”

“ God bless them!” echoed Hans, and, for the first time that
day, his eyes filled with tears.