eep-pens on the
other, a stable, and a barn.

"It is remarkable," said Karl, looking at the buildings from a distance,
"the thatch has no holes, and in the corner there is a stack of new
straw. By Jove! they have mended the roof."

"Here is our last hope," replied Anton.

As the carriage drew up, the heads of a young woman and a flaxen-haired
child appeared for a moment at the window, then rapidly retreated.

"This farm is the jewel of the estate," cried Karl, jumping over the
side of the carriage. "There are actually signs of a dunghill here; and
there go a cock and hens--something like a cock too, with a tail like a
sickle! And there is a myrtle in the window. Hurra! here is a housewife!
here is the fatherland! here are Germans!"

The woman came out--a neat figure--followed by the curly pate, who, at
the sight of strangers, put his fingers in his mouth, and crept behind
his mother's apron.

Anton inquired for her husband.

"He can see your carriage from the field; he will be here immediately,"
said the wife, blushing. She invited them in, and hastily rubbed two
chairs bright with her apron.

The room was small, but whitewashed; the furniture painted red, but kept
very clean; the coffee-pot was simmering on the stove; a Black-forest
clock ticked in the corner; on some hanging shelves stood two painted
China figures, a few cups, and about a dozen books; and behind the
little looking-glass on the wall there was a fly-flap, and a birch rod
carefully bound round with red ribbon. It was the first comfortable room
that they had seen on the estate.

"A song-book and a rod," said Anton, good-naturedly. "I do believe you
are a good woman. Come here, flaxen-hair." He took the scared, stolid
child on his knee, and made him ride there--walk--trot--gallop--till the
little fellow at last got courage to take his fingers out of his mouth.

"He is used to that," said his mother, much pleased. "It is just what
his father does when he is a good boy."

"You have had a hard time of it here," suggested Anton.

"Ah! sir," cried she, "when we heard that a German family had bought the
estate, and that we had to keep things together for them, and thought
they would soon come and perhaps drive over here, we were as glad as
children. My husband was all day just like one who has been in the
public house, and I wept for joy. We thought that at last there would be
some order, and we should know what we were working for. My husband
spo