saying that another wedding party had stopped in there
today. The mother laughed out heartily, and Uli was amused too; but
Freneli grew red and angry and remarked that not all the parties on the
road today were wedding parties; that other folks, she supposed, had the
right to go driving on Saturday, too; the road wasn't reserved for
wedding parties.--She shouldn't get so angry, said the hostess; she
didn't know her, but it seemed to her that the young folks were just
right for each other; she hadn't seen such a handsome couple for a long
time. The mother appeased the hostess, saying that she needn't excuse
herself so much; they had had a great laugh about it at home, and had
thought that's the way it would be, and then too the girl had got so
angry.

"It's not nice of you, auntie, to help torment me," said Freneli; "if I
had known this I shouldn't have come along."

"Why, nobody's tormenting you," said her aunt laughing. "Don't be so
silly; many a girl would be tickled to be taken for a bride."

"That doesn't tickle me," said Freneli, "and if I'm not let alone, I'll
go home this minute."

"Why, you can't tie up people's mouths, and you ought to be glad that
they haven't anything worse to say about you," answered her aunt.

"It's bad enough, if folks marry me off to a man that I don't want and
that doesn't want me."

Freneli would have continued indefinitely if they had not hitched up and
driven on. They advanced rapidly. Uli had much to tell as to who owned
this house or that field. As he saw the first of Johannes' fields, his
heart laughed within him. All that he had formerly done there came back
to him; from a distance he pointed everything out, and praised its good
qualities. Then came another field and still another, and they were
driving up to the house before they knew it. Johannes' people were busy
putting up sauerkraut in the front shed; the whole household was
gathered there. All raised their heads as the unexpected little wagon
came along. At first the strangers were not recognized; then the cry
arose: "It's Uli, it's Uli," and the children sprang down from the
porch; then Johannes said, "Cousin Joggeli's wife is with him! What the
dickens has got into her? What does she want?"

He and his wife now stepped forward and reached up their hands in
welcome, and his wife said, "God bless you, Uli, are you bringing your
wife with you?"

Then the mistress laughed heartily again, and said, "There you have it,