as you can amongst three.
And if you make nice feasts every day for me and Nickel, and never
keep us waiting for our food,
And always do everything I want, and attend to everything I say, I'm
sure I shall almost always be good.
And if I am naughty now and then, it'll most likely be your fault;
and, if it isn't, you mustn't mind;
For even if I seem to be cross, you ought to know that I mean to be
kind.
And I'm sure you'll like combing Nickel's hair for my sake; it'll be
something for you to do, and it bothers me so!
But it must be done regularly, for if it's not, his curls tangle into
lugs as they grow.
I think that's all, dear Grethel, for I love you so much that I'm sure
to be easy to please.
Only remember--it's a trifle--but when I want you, never keep that
headless doll on your knees.
I'd much rather not have her in my house--there, don't cry! if you
will have her, I suppose it must be;
Though I can't think what you want with Katerina when you've got
Nickel and me."
So I said, "Thank you, dear Fritz, for letting me bring her, for I've
had her so long I shouldn't like to part with her now;
And I'll try and do everything you want as well as I can, now you've
told me how."
But next morning I heard Fritz's garret-window open, and he put out
his head,
And shouted, "Grethel! Grethel! I want you. Be quick! Haven't you got
out of bed?"
I ran to the window and said, "What is it, dear Fritz?" and he said,
"I want to tell you that I've changed my mind.
Hans-Wandermann is here, and he says there are real sapphires on the
beach; so I'm off to see what I can find."
"Oh, Fritz!" I said, "can't I come too?" but he said, "You'd better
not, you'll only be in the way.
You can stop quietly at home with Katerina, and you may have Nickel
too, if he'll stay."
But Nickel wouldn't. I give him far more of my cake than Fritz does,
but he likes Fritz better than me.
So dear Katerina and I had breakfast together on the leads under the
old myrtle tree.

THE WILLOW-MAN.

There once was a Willow, and he was very old,
And all his leaves fell off from him, and left him in the cold;
B