Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/224

218 aside with a sigh, she cut Barunka's, and again the star was imperfect. She said to herself: "Neither one will be completely happy!" Then she cut Willie's and Adelka's, and in those the stars were clear and sound, but had only four rays. "These perhaps may be happier," thought the mother, when Adelka interrupted her by complaining that her boat would not go from the shore, and that her candle was almost burnt down.

"Mine, too, is going out, and did not get very far," said Willie.

At that moment somebody pushed the pan, the water was covered with waves, and the boats in the middle went down.

"See, see, you'll die before we do!" cried Adelka and Willie.

"No matter, since we shall go far," replied Barunka, and John agreed with her; but the mother looked sadly at the extinguished candles, and a presentiment took possession of her soul, that perhaps, after all, this innocent, childish play was the foreshadowing of their future.

"Will the child Jesus bring us something?" whispered the children to Grandmother, when the table was cleared.

"I cannot tell you that; you will hear, if he rings,” replied Grandmother. The smaller children took their post at the window, thinking that when Jesus went by they would hear him. "Don't you know that Jesus can neither be seen nor heard?" said Grandmother. "He is in heaven sitting upon a shining throne, and sends his gifts to good children by angels, who bring them down upon golden clouds. You will hear nothing but the bells."