had some money. If they
could get through until spring came, they would buy a cow and chickens
and plant a garden, and would then do very well. Ambrosch and Antonia
were both old enough to work in the fields, and they were willing to
work. But the snow and the bitter weather had disheartened them all.

Antonia explained that her father meant to build a new house for them in
the spring; he and Ambrosch had already split the logs for it, but the
logs were all buried in the snow, along the creek where they had been
felled.

While grandmother encouraged and gave them advice, I sat down on the
floor with Yulka and let her show me her kitten. Marek slid cautiously
toward us and began to exhibit his webbed fingers. I knew he wanted
to make his queer noises for me--to bark like a dog or whinny like a
horse--but he did not dare in the presence of his elders. Marek was
always trying to be agreeable, poor fellow, as if he had it on his mind
that he must make up for his deficiencies.

Mrs. Shimerda grew more calm and reasonable before our visit was over,
and, while Antonia translated, put in a word now and then on her own
account. The woman had a quick ear, and caught up phrases whenever she
heard English spoken. As we rose to go, she opened her wooden chest and
brought out a bag made of bed-ticking, about as long as a flour sack and
half as wide, stuffed full of something. At sight of it, the crazy boy
began to smack his lips. When Mrs. Shimerda opened the bag and stirred
the contents with her hand, it gave out a salty, earthy smell, very
pungent, even among the other odours of that cave. She measured a teacup
full, tied it up in a bit of sacking, and presented it ceremoniously to
grandmother.

'For cook,' she announced. 'Little now; be very much when cook,'
spreading out her hands as if to indicate that the pint would swell to
a gallon. 'Very good. You no have in this country. All things for eat
better in my country.'

'Maybe so, Mrs. Shimerda,' grandmother said dryly. 'I can't say but I
prefer our bread to yours, myself.'

Antonia undertook to explain. 'This very good, Mrs. Burden'--she clasped
her hands as if she could not express how good--'it make very much when
you cook, like what my mama say. Cook with rabbit, cook with chicken, in
the gravy--oh, so good!'

All the way home grandmother and Jake talked about how easily good
Christian people could forget they were their brothers' keepers.

'I will say, Jake, some of