girls bobbed a
courtesy. Kit and Kat bobbed and courtesied too, and the Dominie smiled
at them and laid his hand on Kit's head.

"I wish he'd come to see us again," said Kit, after the Dominie had
passed by.

Father Vedder was pleased.

"I am glad to see that you love your pastor, my son," he said.

"Well," said Kit, "I don't really like him so very much, because we
have to be washed, and recite the catechism, and mind all our manners
when he comes. But Mother always has such good things to eat when the
Dominie comes--doesn't she, Kat?--cake and preserves and everything!"

"If it weren't for the catechism and such things, it would be something
like St. Nicholas day!" sighed Kat. "But the Dominie never forgets! And
last time I couldn't tell what saving grace was! The cakes are good,
but..."

"Good Dutch boys and girls always learn their catechism well," said
Father Vedder; "then they are glad to see the good Dominie as well as
the cakes. Now no more chatter! Here is a penny for each of you to put
in the bag when it is passed."

He gave them each a penny. Kit put his in his pocket. Kat didn't have a
pocket, so she held hers tight in her hand.

At the church door they met Grandfather and Grandmother.

Grandfather looked very fine indeed, in his black clothes; and
Grandmother was all dressed up in her best black dress, with a fresh
white cap, and a shawl over her shoulders. She carried a large psalm
book with golden clasps in one hand, and a scent bottle in the other.
She had some peppermints too. Kit and Kat smelled them.

They all went into the church together, and an old woman led them to
their seats. Kit and Kat sat one on each side of Grandmother.
Grandfather and Father Vedder sat on the other side of the church with
all the rest of the men.

"You must sit very still and look straight before you," said
Grandmother.

Kit remembered the peppermints and sat up like a soldier. So did Kat.

Pretty soon the schoolmaster came in and went up into the pulpit. He
read a chapter from the Bible, and then the Dominie stood up in the
pulpit and began to preach. He preached a long time.

Kit and Kat tried very hard to sit still, just as Grandmother had said;
but pretty soon their heads began to nod.

Grandmother gave them each a peppermint.

They waked up for a minute. But the Dominie kept right on preaching,
until they were both sound asleep with their heads on Grandmother's
shoulders, one on each side; and if