her mouth is as well as ever; she does not let herself grow dumb,
although she does sit in the dark. Mother provides the baits; she
has also enough to do with the hooks."

"But Maria, the lively little Maria?" said Otto.

"The girl? She has gone this year with the other fishergirls to
Ringkjoebing, to be hired for the hay and corn harvest; we thought
we could do without her at home. But now, God willing! I must
travel on." Cordially he shook Otto's hand, and pursued his slow
journey.

The brothers of the eelman were active fishermen, as their father
had been before them; and although they were all married they lived
together. The swarm of children was not insignificant; young and
old formed one family, in which the old grandmother had the first
voice.

Otto approached the dwelling; before it lay a little plot of land,
planted with potatoes and carrots, and also beds of onions and
thyme. Two large bull-dogs, with sharp teeth and wicked eyes,
rushed toward Otto. "Tyv! Grumsling!" shrieked a voice, and the
dogs let fall their tails and drew back, with a low growl, toward
the house. Here at the threshold sat an old woman in a red woolen
jacket, with a handkerchief of the same material and same color
about her neck, and upon her head a man's black felt hat. She spun.
Otto immediately recognized the old blind grandmother.

"God's peace be in the house!" said he.