They found that Father had sold
all his things and was ready to go home.
They carried their empty baskets back to the boat, and soon were
on their way home. The Twins sat on one seat, holding tight to
their dolls, which were growing rather sticky.
The boat was so light that they went home from market much more
quickly than they had come, and it did not seem long before they
saw their own house. There it was, with its mossy roof half
hidden among the trees, and Vrouw Vedder waiting for them at the
gate.
Dinner was all ready, and the Twins set the four St. Nicholas
dolls in a row, in the middle of the table.
"There's one for Father, and one for Mother, and one for Kat, and
one for me," said Kit.
"O Mother," said Kat, "Kit can think! He thought just how many
dolls he could buy when they were one for one cent! Isn't it fine
that he can do that?"
"You've learned a great deal at the market," said Vrouw Vedder.
But Kit didn't say a word. He just looked proud and pleased and
put his hands in his pockets.
"By and by, when you are four and a half feet high and are called
Christopher, you can go with Father every time," said Vrouw
Vedder.
"I can think a little bit, too," said Kat. "Can't I go?"
"No," said Vrouw Vedder. "Girls shouldn't think much. It isn't
good for them. Leave thinking to the men. You can stay at home
and help me."
III
MOTHER'S DAY
"Yesterday was a very long day," said Vrouw Vedder on the morning
after Market Day.
Pages:
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38