with his fists, and when at last Mrs. Stein succeeded in detaching him
and placing him on the ground, he flung himself upon his sister's
skirts, and screamed so lustily that she took him up again, saying
resignedly:--

"It's of no use; he's a very naughty little boy; and begins to call to
me to carry him as soon as I get home from school."

"Such a big boy as Hans ought to be able to go alone by this time, and
then there is the baby besides; how do you manage to do it all, Elsli?"

"Oh, Hans is in a dreadful way if I take the baby; he screams and kicks
as hard as he can, and then his mother hears him, and she comes running
in, and says that she can't have such a noise, and I mustn't let the
children scream so. So I have to put the baby into the cradle to quiet
Hans, and then I rock the cradle with my foot to quiet the baby."

"Come into the house, Elsli," said the doctor's wife; "you look very
tired. Hans, if you will get down and come into the house yourself, you
shall have a piece of bread and an apple. Come."

"If you won't come," said her sister, "you can stay here, while Rudi and
Heili come with me and get bread and apples. They can walk, without
hanging on to Elsli's skirts and tearing her to pieces. Come, boys!"

The two boys did not need urging, but followed their kind friend into
the house. And even obstinate little Hans understood what bread and
apple meant; when his sister put him down on his feet, he made no
resistance, but, taking her hand, stumped along into the house without a
word. Fred followed them, switching a willow wand, as if to suggest the