She hung it on one of the hook and the brass milk can on
the other. Kat took the small pail, and they started back home.
The milk was quite heavy, so they walked slowly.
They had crossed the bridge and were just turning down the road,
when what should they see but their old goose and gander walking
along the road, followed by six little goslings!
"O Mother, Mother," screamed Kat; "there is the old goose that we
haven't seen for so long! She has stolen her nest and hatched out
six little geese all her own! They are taking them to the canal
to swim."
"Quick, Kit, quick!" said Vrouw Vedder. "Don't let them go into
the canal! We must drive them home."
Kit ran boldly forward in front of them, and Kat ran too. She
spilled some of the milk; but she was in such a hurry that she
never knew it, until afterwards, when she found some in her
wooden shoes!
"K-s-s-s!" said the old goose; and she ran straight for the Twins
with her mouth open and her wings spread! The old gander ran at
them too. I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then! She
stood right still and screamed.
Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and
shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo! Shoo!"
just as he did at the flies.
Vrouw Vedder set her pails down in the road and came up behind,
flapping her apron. Then the old goose and the gander and all the
little goslings started slowly along the road for home, saying
cross words in Goose talk all the way!
Father Vedder was working in the garden, when the procession came
down the road.
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