picture, he would sweep it out with his elbow and make another--faces,
and dogs' heads, and men on sleds, and old women in their furs, and
pine-trees, and all sorts of animals. When they had been playing in
this way for some time, Hilda, the eldest sister, said:--

"It is time for you all to go to bed, children. Father is very late
to-night; you must not sit up for him."

"Oh, just five minutes more, dear Hilda," they begged. "Hirschvogel is
so warm; the beds are never so warm as he is."

In the midst of their chatter and laughter the door opened, and in
blew the cold wind and snow from outside. Their father had come home.
He seemed very tired, and came slowly to his chair. At last he said,
"Take the children to bed, daughter."

Karl stayed, curled up before the stove. When Hilda came back, the
father said sadly:

"Hilda, I have sold Hirschvogel! I have sold it to a traveling
peddler, for I need money very much; the winter is so cold and the
children are so hungry. The man will take it away to-morrow."

Hilda gave a cry. "Oh, father! the children, in the middle of winter!"
and she turned as white as the snow outside.

Karl lay half blind with sleep, staring at his father." It can't be
true, it can't be true!" he cried. "You are making fun, father." It
seemed to him that the skies must fall if Hirschvogel were taken away.