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Rh Hans had taken a string from his pocket. Humming a tune as he knelt beside her, he proceeded to fasten Gretel's skate with all the force of his strong young arm.

"Oh, oh!" she cried, in real pain.

With an impatient jerk, Hans unwound the string. He would have cast it upon the ground in true big-brother style,

had he not just then spied a tear trickling down his sister's cheek.

"I'll fix it, never fear," he said with sudden tenderness; "but we must be quick. The mother will need us soon."

Then he glanced inquiringly about him, first at the ground, next at some bare willow-branches above his head, and finally at the sky, now gorgeous with streaks of blue, crimson, and gold.