Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/84

78 "Oh, never mind, I am not tired," she replied, as she seized little Nanny by the hand so she should not fall, for the little one was just learning to walk.

As soon as the mistress of the house stepped from the door, two tanned urchins were seen standing at the threshold; one fair-haired like the mother, the other dark like the father. They had followed their mother to the house, but when she entered into conversation with Grandmother, they did not know what to do; they felt bashful and remained standing outside.

"O you blue jays, is that the proper thing to do, to hide behind your mother's petticoats when your friends come to see you?" said the father. "Come forward and shake hands with our company."

They willingly obeyed. Grandmother gave them some apples, and said: "Next time you must not be bashful; it is not becoming for boys to hang about their mother's apron strings." The boys were silent, their eyes fixed upon the apples.

"Now, begone! show your friends the horned owl and give her that blue jay I shot to-day. Show them also the young pheasants and the puppies. But don't you race among the poultry like so many wild colts, or I'll—"

The last the children did not hear, for as soon as the father said 'Begone,' the whole crowd rushed like a hurricane through the door.

"What a whirl!" remarked the gamekeeper with a smile.

"Children will be children,—youthful blood!" added Grandmother.

"But if only those boys were not so wild! Believe me, Grandma, at times I am dying with ter-