It's worth trying."
Kit and hat were in a hurry to get home, for fear the Saint would
get there first.
It was growing late, so they all went to a waffle shop for their
supper.
In the shop a woman sat before an open fire. On the fire was a
big waffle iron. She made the waffles, put sugar and butter on
them, and passed a plate of them to each one. Oh, how good they
were!
When they had eaten their waffles, Father and Mother Vedder and
the Twins went back to the canal and put on their skates. It was
late in the afternoon: They took hold of hands and began to skate
toward home, four in a row. Father and Mother Vedder were on the
outside, and the Twins in the middle.
It was dark when they reached home. Vrouw Vedder lighted the
fire, while Father Vedder went to feed the cow and see that the
chickens and ducks and geese were all safe for the night.
Kit and Kat ran for their wooden shoes. They each took one and
put some hay in it. This was for St. Nicholas to give to his
horse. Father Vedder put the shoes on the mantel. Then they
hurried to bed to make morning come quicker.
Father and Mother Vedder sat up late that night. Mother Vedder
said it was to prepare the goose for dinner the next day.
When the Twins woke the next morning, the fire was already
roaring up the chimney, and the kitchen was warm as toast. They
hopped out of bed and ran for their wooden shoes. Mother Vedder
reached up to the mantel shelf for them. Truly, the hay was gone
and there in each shoe was a package done up in paper!
"Oh, he did come! He did come!" cried Kat.
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