"Come, my dear; we are not going
far away. You can go as you are."
Quickly taking leave, she waited only for Wiseli to give her cousin
Gotti her hand. He said,--
"Oh, you are soon coming back; this is not a separation."
Off trotted Wiseli in silence, and much astonished, behind Mrs. Ritter,
who walked rapidly across the snow-covered fields, as if she feared they
both might be recalled; but as soon as they were out of sight of the
beech grove, she turned about, and stood still. "Wiseli," she said
kindly, "do you know Andrew the carpenter?"
"Certainly, I do," said the child; and glanced at her friend with such a
happy expression, that Mrs. Ritter was rather surprised.
"He is ill," she proceeded. "Would you like to take care of him, and
wait upon him a little, for about two weeks?"
"Yes, indeed!" replied the child promptly; and her face, that
became suddenly rosy with pleasure, told Mrs. Ritter more than her
short answer.
The good lady was pleased, but did not understand the child's feeling,
for she knew nothing of her gratitude for Andrew's kindness to her
mother. After they had gone on a while, Mrs. Ritter said,--
"You can tell Andrew the carpenter that you are very glad to go to take
care of him, or he will not believe it. Don't forget to tell him that."
"No, no; I won't forget," said Wiseli.
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