k up the whole width of the path. He ran forward, and found that it
was Elsli, who was toiling along, her brother Rudi hanging to her skirts
on one side, and Heili on the other, while in her arms she was carrying
Hans, a solid child of two years. The poor patient girl was quite
weighed down under the burden of her three brothers.

"Oh, put that big boy down on his own feet!" cried Fred, who was shocked
at the sight of such needless labor, "you are not fit to carry such a
load."

"I can't put him down; he begins to scream as soon as I do, and he gets
so naughty," said Elsli, as she walked painfully along.

"Are you going to our house?" asked Fred, following her.

"Yes, I am going to fetch something; I have brought a bag to put it
into," and Elsli lifted her arm a little and showed a large bag hanging
from it.

"You can't carry anything more; do put that fat child down; he will
break you in two," said Fred indignantly.

By this time they had reached the house.

"Now I shall have to put you down a minute, Hanli," said Elsli wearily,
"for my arm aches so that I cannot bear it any longer." With these words
she put the child upon his feet; but he forthwith set up a shriek that
brought all the women out of the house with a bound; Mrs. Stein and her
sister and Kathri were on the spot in an instant.

"I should like to give you something to scream for!" cried the maid,
suiting a significant gesture to her words with the open palm of her
hand, as she turned away into the house again. Elsli snatched up the
child hastily, and tried to quiet him.

"Mamma, do tell that big cry-baby to stand on his own legs. He'll kill
Elsli at this rate; he is far too much for her to lift." Fred spoke in
great excitement.

This made the child cry louder than ever, and he clung to his slender
sister with such increased force, that she staggered a little and seemed
about to fall.

"You really ought to put him down, my child," said the mother; "he would
soon get used to it. Come here!" and she tried to take the child from
Elsli's arms. It was harder than she expected; for the little fellow
clung tight with arms and legs, and kicked with his feet and pounded
with his fists, and when at last Mrs. Stein succeeded in detaching him
and placing him on the ground, he flung himself upon his sister's
skirts, and screamed so lustily that she took him up again, saying
resignedly:--

"It's of no use; he's a very naughty little boy; and begins to call