this needle will finish this toe, and then you may have as good a
pair of hose as ever were knitted (owning the yarn is a grain too
sharp) to sell to the hosier on the Harengracht. *{A street in
Amsterdam.} That will give us three quarter-guilders if you make
good trade; and as it's right hungry weather, you may buy four
waffles. We'll keep the Feast of Saint Nicholas after all."

Gretel clapped her hands. "That will be fine! Annie Bouman told
me what grand times they will have in the big houses tonight.
But we will be merry too. Hans will have beautiful new
skates--and then there'll be the waffles! Oh! Don't break them,
brother Hans. Wrap them well, and button them under your jacket
very carefully."

"Certainly," replied Hans, quite gruff with pleasure and
importance.

"Oh! Mother!" cried Gretel in high glee, "soon you will be
busied with the father, and now you are only knitting. Do tell
us all about Saint Nicholas!"

Dame Brinker laughed to see Hans hang up his hat and prepare to
listen. "Nonsense, children," she said. "I have told it to you
often."

"Tell us again! Oh, DO tell us again!" cried Gretel, throwing
herself upon the wonderful wooden bench that her brother had made
on the mother's last birthday. Hans, not wishing to appear
childish, and yet quite willing to hear the story, stood
carelessly swinging his skates against the fireplace.