streaming in the sunlight, cast back many a sparkling glance of
triumph as she floated onward.

Beautiful Katrinka! Flushed with youth and health, all life and
mirth and motion, what wonder thine image, ever floating in
advance, sped through one boy's dreams that night! What wonder
that it seemed his darkest hour when, years afterward, thy
presence floated away from him forever.




Hans and Gretel Find a Friend



At noon our young friends poured forth from the schoolhouse,
intent upon having an hour's practice upon the canal.

They had skated but a few moments when Carl Schummel said
mockingly to Hilda, "There's a pretty pair just coming upon the
ice! The little ragpickers! Their skates must have been a
present from the king direct."

"They are patient creatures," said Hilda gently. "It must have
been hard to learn to skate upon such queer affairs. They are
very poor peasants, you see. The boy has probably made the
skates himself."

Carl was somewhat abashed.