"O how brave you are!" said Kat. "I should be scared. And besides
I'm afraid I should drop my shoes in the water."
"Well, of course," said Kit, "boys can do a great many things
that girls can't do."
When they reached the pasture, there was Mevrouw Holstein waiting
for them. Mevrouw Holstein was the cow's name. Kit and Kat named
her.
Vrouw Vedder tucked up her skirts--and that was quite a task, for
she wore a great many of them--and sat down on a little stool.
Kit and Kat stood beside her and waved their willow wands and
said "Shoo!" to the flies; and Vrouw Vedder began to milk.
Mevrouw Holstein had eaten so much of the green meadow grass that
Vrouw Vedder filled both the big pail and the brass can, and the
little pail too, with rich milk.
"I shall have milk enough to make butter and cheese," said Vrouw
Vedder. "There are no cows like our Dutch cows in all the world,
I believe."
"O Mother, are you going to churn today?" asked Kat.
"Yes," said the Vrouw, "I have cream enough at home to make a
good roll of butter, and you may help me if you will be very
careful and work steadily."
"I will be very steady," said Kat. "I'm big enough now to learn."
"All Dutch girls must know how to make good butter and cheese,"
said Vrouw Vedder.
"And boys can drink the buttermilk," said Kit.
"I'll drink some too," said Kat.
"There'll be plenty for both," said their mother.
When she had finished milking, Vrouw Vedder shook out her skirts,
put the yoke across her shoulders again and lifted the large pail
of milk.
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