If they called out after him, "Now
it is Rico's turn to be thrashed," he stood perfectly still and did
nothing; but he looked at them so strangely with his dark eyes, that
no one meddled with him.
In Stineli's company he was always contented. She had a merry little
pug-nose, and two brown eyes that were always laughing; and around her
head were two thick braids of brown hair, that always looked smooth and
neat, for Stineli was a very orderly girl, and knew very well how to
take care of herself. For that her daily experience was excellent. It is
true Stineli was scarcely nine years old, but she was the eldest
daughter of the family, and had to help her mother in every thing, and
there was a great deal to be done,--for after Stineli came Trudi and
Sami and Peterli, then Urschli and Anne-Deteli and Kunzli, and last of
all the baby, who was not baptized. From every corner, at every moment,
Stineli was called for; and she had become so handy and skilful with all
this practice, that work seemed to turn itself out of her hands of its
own accord. She could always put on three stockings and fasten two shoes
before Trudi had even placed the legs of the little one she was helping
in the right position. And while her mother was calling for Stineli to
help her in the kitchen, and the little children wanted her in the
bedroom, her father was sure to shout out from the stable for Stineli to
come to his help, for he had mislaid his cap, or his whip-lash was in a
knot, and she found the one in a trice,--it was generally on the
meal-box,--and her limber fingers had no trouble in untying the knotted
lash.
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