Page:The disobedient kids and other Czecho-Slovak fairy tales.pdf/37



"Where is father," asked John? "Perhaps he has gone home and forgotten us".

Now Mary had perfect trust in her father. She could not think that he would wilfully desert them. She said to John. "Why do you think that? Surely he is somewhere near and will come for us, no doubt". So they waited for quite a while. They ate from their little baskets, till the berries were all gone. Then they filled them again. And so the time was flying.

Before it grew quite dark, the sound of the mallet ceased and the children began to be frightened. They took their baskets and once more looked for father. The sun had set and evening had come. They called, "Father, where are you"? but no sound came to answer them. Mary who was older and wiser than John, but just as much afraid, would not let him see that tears were so near her eyes. Then she tried to comfort him, by saying. "Wait a minute, I will climb up in a tree from which I can perhaps see a light. Then we will go towards it". Up the tree she scrambled. It was so high that she could see from its top in all directions.

After awhile she saw a light gleaming in the distance. "Oh, John! I see a light! Let's go towards it."

Down she came and they started.

Following the light, they came to a tiny little house. It was such a funny little house; they felt of it with their hands and then they saw that it was made of candy. 1em