together. But is it true that the men sometimes take their families
along with them?"

"Certainly. They set up tents, or little huts, on the rafts, so
their wives and children can have a comfortable place to eat and
sleep. Then, too, if it rains, they can be sheltered from the storm."

"I'd like to go with you sometime. You pass close to Strasburg, and
I could stop and visit Uncle Fritz. Wouldn't it be fun!"

"Hans! Hans!" called a girl's voice just then.

"I don't see her, but I know that's Bertha. She came over to the
village with me this afternoon. One of her friends has a
coffee-party and she invited us to it. So, good-bye."

"Good-bye, my lad. Come and see me again. Perhaps I can manage
sometime to take you with me on a trip down the river."

"Thank you ever so much."

Hans hurried away, and was soon entering the house of a little friend
who was celebrating her birthday with a coffee-party.

There were several other children there. They were all dressed in
their best clothes and looked very neat and nice. The boys wore long
trousers and straight jackets. They looked like little old men. The
girls had bright-coloured skirts and their white waists were fresh
and stiff.