dren, too, got out of their Sunday clothes, and felt
happy and light. "To the wood! to the wood!" cried Felix, executing
some of his highest jumps.

"But don't you want to see what Herrmann and Adelgunda have brought you
before you set off?" said their mother. And Christlieb, who had been
contemplating the boxes with longing eyes even while her clothes were
being changed, thought that _that would_ be a good thing to do first,
and that it would be plenty of time to go to the wood afterwards. Felix
was very hard to convince of this. He said, "What that can be of any
consequence can that stupid pump-breeked creature have brought us?--and
his ribbony sister into the bargain? About the 'sciences,' as you call
them, he clatters away as finely as you please. He talks about bears
and lions, and tells you how to take elephants, and then he's afraid of
my dear dog Sultan; has a sword on, and goes and crawls under the
table!--a nice sort of sportsman _he_ is!'

"Ah, dear, good Felix! just let us see, for a minute or two, what's
inside the boxes." Thus prayed Christlieb; and as Felix always did
anything he could to please her, he at once gave up the idea of being
off to the wood immediately, and patiently sat down with her at the
table on which the boxes were. The mother opened them; and then!--oh!
my very dear readers! you have all been so happy when, at the time of
the yearly fair, or at all events at Christmas, your parents and your
friends flooded you with presents of every delightful kind. Remember
how you danced for joy when pretty soldiers, and little fellows with
barrel-organs, beautifully-dressed dolls, delightful picture-books, and
all the rest, lay and stood before you. Such great delight as was then
yours, Felix and Christlieb now experienced. For a really splendid
assortment of the loveliest toys came out of those boxes, and all sorts
of charming things to eat as well; so that the children clapped their
hands again and again, crying, "Oh, how nice that is!" One paper parcel
of bonbons, however, Felix laid aside with contempt; and when
Christlieb begged him not to throw the glassy sugar out of the window,
as he was going to do, he gave up that idea, and only chucked some of
the bonbons to Sultan, who had come in wagging his tail. Sultan snuffed
at them, and then turned his back on them disdainfully.

"Do you see, Christlieb," Felix cried, "Sultan won't have anything to
do with the wretched stuff."

But, on the whole