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;
But ere the rude winter could buffet him with snow,
There grew upon his hoary head a crop of Mistletoe.

All wrinkled and furrowed was this old Willow's skin,
His taper fingers trembled, and his arms were very thin;
Two round eyes and hollow, that stared but did not see,
And sprawling feet that never walked, had this most ancient tree.