Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/227

221 their festival of the "Long Night." To be sure, at The Old Bleachery and at the mill it was not as in the village, where there were many young people; there they chose a king and queen, had a dance, trimmed the spinning wheel, and crowned the queen.

In The Old Bleachery a good supper was prepared, the spinners came, sang, ate and drank, and if by chance the hand organ was heard behind the door, they danced in the kitchen. Tomesh, the miller, and the gamekeeper, and several others came, and the party was complete. The floor of the kitchen was of bricks, but the girls did not mind it, though some of them, who were too careful of their shoes, took them off and danced barefooted.

"What do you say, Grandma, couldn't we have a little hop together?” said the miller, who had entered the kitchen among the young folks, where Grandmother was watching the small fry who, together with Sultan and Tyrol, were constantly getting in the way of the dancers.

"O, my dear miller, there were times when I did not care though my feet were full of bloody blisters, if only I could dance. As soon asI showed myself at the tavern, or in the summer on the threshing floor, the boys would say: 'Madaline is here, play Kalamajka vertak! Hurrah! Now for it!' and Madaline flew into the circle. But now, good heavens! I’m like the steam over the kettle."

"Indeed, I do not doubt it, for you are still as smart as a quail; come, let us try just a little dance."