nds, that she would have to run the
house on nothing, be stingy to the poor, and be held accountable for
every cup of flour and for every cake she baked, such a feeling of
misery came over her that she had to sit down and cry, shedding tears
enough to wash her hands in, until even Joggeli came out and told her
not to cry so--that everybody would hear her and would wonder what was
the matter.

What he had said, she answered, didn't amount to anything; she knew that
he had to talk at times. And Freneli also comforted her, telling her not
to take it so hard; things always turned out better than one expected.
But she shook her head and bade them let her alone; she would have to
compose herself--talking was no use. For many days following she sought
composure. They saw her going about silently as if she were revolving
grave things in her mind, or sitting apart now and then when she thought
herself unnoticed, her hands in her lap, and picking up from time to
time the tip of her apron and wiping her eyes with the wrong side of it.
Finally her spirits became lighter; the state of uncertainty seemed to
leave her; she said she felt much better, but she thought she'd like to
go away somewhere; she had such an unsatisfied longing, and she believed
she'd get over it if she could get away for a day or two. This time
Joggeli had no objection; his old wife had made even him anxious. She
could go either to her son or her daughter, whichever she wished! Uli
would drive her, for he had plenty of time now, said he.

No, she didn't want to go there, she said; there was everlasting
quarreling there, and even if she filled her pockets with thalers, she
wouldn't have enough. She thought she'd like to visit cousin Johannes;
they had long promised him a visit, but hadn't kept the promise and she
had never been there. She would see a new road and an unfamiliar
country, and could perhaps best forget what was grieving her. She wanted
to take Freneli along; she too hadn't been away for a long time. They
hadn't taken her with them to Elsie's wedding, and it was only fair to
give the girl a pleasure once in a while.

To the latter plan Joggeli had many objections; but this time he gave in
for his old wife's sake and agreed to get along for a couple of days. In
a glory of color the withered leaves hung on the trees, in the gleam of
their own after-glow; below them, in cheerful green, lay the young
crops, and played merrily with the winking dew-drops