y Moravec to the castle. Every morning she
rode to the sheepcotes and remained till the evening. Once in a while
she also stayed overnight in Ondrejko's hut. At other times, she took
the boys along. In the castle under the supervision of Mr. Slavkovsky,
many changes were made, and when the gardener had the means at his
disposal and the advice of his master, he went joyfully to work. In
two weeks you would not have recognized the garden nor the castle. The
masons repaired broken places, the painters painted everything, the
joiners repaired doors, window-frames, and hardwood floors. In the
course of the repairs, chairs, bedsteads, and tables, and more that
was necessary in the cottage of Palko, was set aside, in order that
when the Lesinas came they might have plenty on hand to settle and
feel at home. Even for Dunaj they fixed a nice dog-kennel, so he
wouldn't have to suffer in rainy weather.

* * * * *

It was again a beautiful summer evening. In front of the sheepcotes
everything was ready for a big bonfire. Bacha Filina called all his
helpers and told them they would have a celebration such as none
of them had seen before. Through the woods in the direction of the
cottage wandered Petrik, Ondrejko, and between them, Palko. Ahead of
them, chasing one another, ran Dunaj and Fido. They also rejoiced to
see each other. The boys returned from a visit at Lesina's and carried
with them all kinds of gifts. A water-gun, by which you could squirt
the water to the top of the highest trees; singing tops which could
spin almost a quarter of an hour. From Palko's mother they got a whole
box full of prunes filled with nuts, which Ondrejko thought were
better than figs and dates.

"My mother is very glad today!" Ondrejko told Palko, "because a letter
came at last from my grandmother in America. They gave me a letter
written especially for me, in which grandmother writes very nicely. I
will show it to you afterwards, Petrik."

"They even sent greetings for me," said the comrade.

"What they wrote to mother, I don't know, but mother ran to
grandfather, threw herself into his arms and cried and laughed. I am
sure they did not want me to understand, because they spoke English,
but they will tell us all about it. Bacha Filina said we shall have a
celebration."

"We also have a song, such a beautiful one, and that will be sung
tonight, and I am sure your parents will like it," said Petrik.

It really