ee," said the children. But at this moment the cries
broke out again, coming just from their very feet it seemed. They
sounded so uncanny that the children did not dare to move, or to
investigate the tin.

"If you disturb him now, you certainly will not get any Easter eggs this
year," said mother. "He's sure to be very busy painting them just now, I
dare say he cries like that to frighten you away from his home."

"I don't think so," said father, "he can hide and hold his tongue if he
wants to; it is the little baby hares who make that noise; but just as
we pass by, the mother hare manages to keep them quiet for a few minutes
by giving them something to put in their little mouths, I expect."

"I _would_ like to see them," said Barbara.

"No, come along, Barbara," said Gretel, "leave them alone, it would be
horrid to get no Easter eggs wouldn't it?"

* * * * *

For many nights Barbara dreamt of the Easter Hare, and at last she made
up the following story about him, which she wrote out beautifully in
flowing German handwriting in an exercise-book. I thought little English
girls and boys would like to hear a story written by a little German
girl of nine years. So I have translated it for them here. It will give
them a good idea too of how the Easter Hare is regarded by German
children.

THE EASTER HARE FAMILY

_Story by_ BARBARA ARNDT

Two children, Paulchen and Luischen, were wandering about in the country
on Easter Day, they said sorrowfully to one another. "Has the Easter
Hare quite forgotten us this year?" For three hours they tramped about,
and hunted for eggs in every corner of the fields near the big forest.
Suddenly Paulchen found a huge egg; he called to Luischen to come at
once to see it, and she trotted along towards him, carrying a pretty
little nest filled with Easter eggs in her hands, which she had also
found.

The children were very happy; it was such a lovely sunny day, and they
were so delighted with their treasures. However they did not give up
hunting, and soon each of them found an Easter Hare made of the most
delicious chocolate. Then Luischen discovered an egg which she called an
April-fool's egg; for when she tried to lick it to see what it tasted
like, she found that it was made of soap.

"O, do come and see what a heap of eggs I've got," said Paulchen, in
tones of ecstasy.

Then little Luischen jumped up, calling out: "Look, look--O do come
here, qu