every wish, had a decided objection to
Baldriane or Waltharia, and insisted that this tender spring blossom
should bear her grandmother's honest name, Friederike, to which, since
Reginchen, as the true daughter of a shoemaker, and knows how to put
down her little foot at times, he made no objection.

When Leah, as was her daily habit during Edwin's absence, came at
twilight to see her friend and neighbor, the latter had just nursed the
child and was holding it quietly in her lap, where it was falling
asleep.

"Excuse me if I remain seated," she said in a low voice, though the two
young bawlers, the twins, had no respect for their little sister's
slumber. "Riekchen is just going to sleep; I can lay her in the cradle
in a few minutes. I'm so glad you've come. We should have sent for you
to-day at any rate. Father's here; he arrived unexpectedly without any
other reason than because he couldn't live any longer without seeing
the two boys. He scarcely looked at Riekchen--to be sure, it will be a
long time," she continued with a low laugh, "before the dear child is
old enough for the 'explosive effect' father's always talking about. He
asked about you, too, and wanted to go at once to give you a message
from your parents, but he began to talk to my Reinhold in the old
strain about progress and the welfare of the people, and they didn't
stop till it grew dark, and as it's Sunday evening Reinhold took him to
the workmen's union. There, now she's asleep, now the pet can be put
down. Have you shaken hands with Aunt Leah, boys? They look horribly.
Their father brought home some chocolate cigars, and its no use to wash
them. Will you keep quiet, you little good for nothings?"

Little Edwin, after hastily shaking hands with Leah, had climbed on the
sofa, clasped both arms around his mother's neck, rumpled her cap, and
pressed his curly black head against her's, playing all sorts of tricks
and stammering loving words in his broken language. Balder was also
endeavoring to climb up the other side of the sofa, so that the
sleeping child opened her large blue eyes again and stared with a
frightened gaze at the black kobold. Leah could not help laughing, and
hastily went forward to take the sweet little thing in her arms. The
maid-servant was called in to assist, and her powerful arms at last
succeeded in pulling the wild twins away from their mother and out of
the room.

"They'll kill me!" exclaimed Reginchen in comic despair, as Le