Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/287

Rh father and of the game he had shot, when he described to them the great masses of snow that lie on the tops of the mountains, sometimes rolling down their sides and burying whole villages, till the people have no outlet but their chimneys, and each one is obliged to make his own path from his house to that of his neighbor.

All this did not discourage John; he still wished to be old enough to go and live with Mr. Beyer.

"When you are with us, father will send me to the Riesenburg gamekeeper, so that I may have experience in easier gamekeeping," said Orel.

"That will be too bad, if you are not there," said John, quite vexed.

"You will not be lonesome; we have two other apprentices, and brother Chenek is as tall as you, and Sister Mary will like you," said Orel.

While the children, seated in the yard, were listening to Orel and looking through the crystals which he had brought them, Mr. Beyer was listening to Grandmother, who told him of the flood and all the other events that had happened during the year.

"Are the family of my brother at Riesenburg well?" asked Mr. Beyer.

"Quite well," replied Mrs. Proshek. "Anne is growing fast; the boys attend school at Red Hura; it is nearer for them than the town school. I am surprised that the gamekeeper isn't here yet; he said he would drop in to welcome you when he went to watch. He was here this morning and brought me news from the castle, that a letter had come from Vienna. I went to the castle and learned that the Countess is better, and that most