The Dutch Twins

ut early to feed their ducklings, t

ery day. Very soon wint

gs-now half grown-were standing on the bank, looking unhappy: there was

broken glass, were soon floating about; and the old goose, the gander,

they soon came up on the bank into the sun again and wiggled their tails to s

until their cheeks were red and they were warm as to

the air. Vrouw Vedder gave the Twins some in a large cup. She put in a

undays they sometimes had coffe

t is cold, and I thought a cup

talked about the ice, and what fun they would hav

ugh to have skates. Hans Hite isn't much bigger than I am, and

d and help mother all we can. I think maybe they will give skates to good Twins quite s

out her scrubbing brushes, so Kit and Kat

g to scrub to-day,

for the cows to stay all night in the pastures. Father means to bring Mevrou

" said Kit and K

rry the brushes." So they opened a door beside

er and her brushes and began to scrub. She scrubbed the walls, and the sides of the stalls, and the floor. The Twi

ere," said Kat. "

"I'll be the father,

ll be Twins

he ducklings

of course," said Kat

tame they always ran to Kit and Kat, when they saw them

ain, and they both sat down on a little box and held the ducks in

hes all dirty." She took two rags and tied them around the duc

said Kat. "You must do just as you

n and gave the Twins a drink, but

Kat. They rocked the ducks in their ar

id Kit. "You can have both the Tw

up the box they had been sitting on, and put som

. Kit and Kat ran away to play out

at night with Mevrouw Holstein. When he put the cow into the st

ack!" said

w into the stall and get some hay for her.

the world

ed Kit and Kat. "Don't let Mevr

Kit and Kat each took a duck and c

reat care," sa

Father Vedder had finished his supper and was lighting his pipe.

er. They put their feet together. Kit

rent," s

start," whisper

hat now?" said

e must be nearly four feet and a half high. Don't yo

ather Vedder. Then he

the canal this m

her Vedder, at last. Mother Vedder was clearing away the sup

you and I had when we were children. We might try them on and see if they a

almost screa

arge. I'm sure we can

kates. They had long curling ends on the runners. The Twin

e Twins. "You may have them if you will be very careful and

on the kitchen floor; and, when bedtime c

ever supposed we'd get

we're pretty big and very go

ood when people notice

r very soon St. Nicholas will come, and he leaves only a rod in the shoe

all the time too. I'm going to be good unt

It blew over the fields and over the canals all day and all night long; and in t

rom the stable with a g

set the pail down. "The canals are frozen over, and s

to him and sai

you please teach us to ska

d Father Vedder; and he went right down to the cana

e will go out as soon as you a

like to go too"; and Father

r in the whole village when she was a yo

Then they all put on their heavy shoes and wraps, took the

e you to town before the feast of St. Nicholas,

and Kit's, and the mother

do it almost righ

od the Twins up on the ice. They held each other's hands. The

went like two swallows, skimming over the i

ir father and mother flying along in that way. They weren't

Kit. "Let's try it.

em to belong to him at all! His left leg tried to follow his right, just as it ought to; but, instead, it slid out sidewise and kn

each time they tried, the

mixed up! Are those your feet or

p on any of them. I've tried them all! We'll just have to

ld to sit on, is

n. When they saw Kit and Kat, they laughed and skated

sband, "and they'll be skating in no time." So Kat's father took h

to want to do everything they could to bother them. They would s

ther Vedder had not held them up; but before the lesson w

und in a circle. Then she cut a figure like this 8 in the ice

aid Kit

kate the best of all the pe

to some day

I," sa

ile Vrouw

they all went back home with their cheeks as red as rose

were a little

ther and Mother did-they did so want to skate to town and see the sights before the feast of St. Nicholas! The

ll see a great sight on the canal very

er hadn't the least

ran down to the ditch. They put on their skates

and in hand, on the canal! They waved their hands to her. Vrouw Vedder was so ple

e Kit and Ka

ut a figure like this, S, and Kat cut one like this, 6. The roun

into the kitc

the Vink with us on our way to town! The ice is very hard an

las is coming, and the shops are ful

o-morrow to come. They polished the

ose the Vink is?"

omething like a

is, so there," said Kat. "I

changed t

you to-morr

eat," s

see," s

, quite early in the morning: Vrouw

to buy some th

his pipe-"To keep my

own to the canal and

to race to the firs

hen to start," s

for the one who win

lew like the wind! Father and

ould show off a little. He went zigzag across the

kept her eyes on the windmill, a

t stopped playing and began to skate as fast

great long sweeps, as long as such short legs could make, but Kat kept ahead; and in anoth

I beat,"

ve beaten if I wa

the cake,"

aid Kit. But Kat

you a piece

Kat were rested, they all skated for a long time without sa

body! Were there ever such T

ev

men and women and children, all skating. They

and his wife was carrying a basket of eggs. But the man and woman were good sk

ace where one canal opened into another. A man stood near the tent.

ome in, and

milk on your w

ink," Kat said. "I do wonder what it

er tent. There a

eet cake; it c

buy, from the m

Vedder

ne who beat in the race. We

went to

of one. Kat broke the cakes and gave them

s grew more and more crowded. There were a good many ten

th crowds of merry skaters about it

Vink," said F

said Ki

d to the

id another word about what

e were many little tables about, crowded with people, eating an

said to the waiter. Soon th

st thing I ever

he town. All the shops were filled with pretty things. The bake shops had wonderful cakes with li

s against all the shop windows,

me that," said kit, pointing to

said, pointing to some cakes mad

it and Kat walked slowly along, waiting for her. Soon there was a great

ook!" cr

himself! He had a long white beard and red cheeks, and long robes, with a mitre on his head; and he

children were all shouting at once, "Give me a cake, good St. Nicholas

going?" asked

e good girls and boys," Father Vedder said. "For

e're so goo

come to our ho

shoes with beans or hay for his good horse, to-night; and then perhaps he

to get home, for fear the

they all went to a waffl

g waffle iron. She made the waffles, put sugar and butter on them

d put on their skates. It was late in the afternoon. They took hold of hands and began to skate tow

fire, while Father Vedder went to feed the cow and see that

in it. This was for St. Nicholas to give to his horse. Father Vedder put the

t night. Mother Vedder said it was to pr

warm as toast. They hopped out of bed and ran for their wooden shoes. Mother Vedder reached up to the

"O Mother, you're sure you didn't build the

ade the fire on many a St. Nicholas mo

to open their packages. In Kit's was a big St. Nicholas cake, like the one in

id Kit and Kat. "Do you s

is coming to see you to-night at six o'clock, and you must be read

that we are so

et dressed; for Grandfather and Grandmother will be here for dinner,

ful cakes up where they coul

ay were St. Nichol

" said Kat. "That w

e nice days, I t

Kat. "We tore our best clothes, and they'll never, nev

one time? You know how well I can think! You know how I thought about Vrouw

" said Kat. "But anyway,

called them to come a

and Kat stood up. Father Vedder said grace; and then they ate their salt herring and

and to see that the cow had something very good that she liked to eat. When they had done that, they c

bage and the onions and the potatoes ready; and when the goose was hung upon the fire to

around the room had little flames dancing in them, because they were so bright and shiny. Everything was rea

ndfather and Grandmother, who had skated all the way from town, on the canal. When they were warmed and dried, and all thei

d house-wife." Neltje was Vrou

er one, my dear." He m

t was! It makes one hungry just to think of it. They had roast goose and onions

the eggs; and the cow, the butter. The Twins helped Father and me to take care of the chickens, and

he best life there is

der told how Kit and Kat learned to skate; and Kit and Kat told how they saw St. Nicholas riding on a w

kle sat down in the chimney c

nd I'll tell you some sto

, one on each side. She took out her knitting; and as

hers went out one day to the woods to gather fagots.

l three, twin

he woods and wandered ever so far, trying to find their way home. But instead of finding their way home, they just got

ne of those twins w

an away, or something of that kind happened," said Grandmo

d Kit ver

t lie down on the ground to sleep, when one of them saw a light shining through the leaves. He pointed it out to t

e light came from the window of a poor

was opened by a dirty old woman, who lived

could give them a place to sleep. She spoke to her husband, who sat crouched o

wn on the hay. They were so tired that they fell asleep at once. T

g boys; and well dress

nd I have no doubt they have

ly think so?'

mbed up to the loft and killed the three boys. Then he look

was very much afraid, wicke

d?" asked Kat. She wished ve

always," said Gr

s of the three boys where no one would find them. So he carried

r hands over her ears. Even Kit's eyes wer

d of the story. Didn't I tell you it was all ab

o sell. As he was sitting in the market, St. Nicholas appeared, before him.

to sell?" St. Nic

aid the

gs in your brine tub in the

as all wicked deeds are, sooner or later. He fell o

, "Show me the wa

ld in the market and went home at o

He waved his staff over the tub, and out jumped the three boys, hearty and well! The

icholas!" said Kit and

very mean man, who had a great deal of money, that often happens. H

han for anything else in the world more, even, than for his th

hat very night he went to the man's house an

e do that?

ughters to get money. If he had mo

ghter, and dropped it down the chimney. It fell down right in front of the man, as he was getting a coal to light his pipe. The third night

the Lord," he said, "why dos

n it is St. Nicholas who brings gifts in

ell his daught

was so ashamed of himself th

verybody presents so they

hat's why bad children get

im good," said Kit. "Why doesn't he give bad

ed for a minute without

is the present that will make

and it was now late in the afternoon. The sky was all red in the west; there were long

out a sheet and spread it in the middle of the kitchen floor. She stirred

ls. Their eyes were very big. At fiv

ew minutes, now. Get up, Kit

n the edge of the sh

las, good,

your be

h it to

terdam t

and a great shower of sweet cakes and candies fell onto the sheet, all around Kit and Kat! There in the doorway stoo

They looked at St. Nicholas with big, big eyes. In one hand St.

d children here?"

e, dear St. Nicholas," sai

fathers and grandfathers and grandmothers?"

ll, though the Saint looked ri

holas, they are very g

girl, if I find one," said St. Nicholas. "There seem to be very few about here. I hav

," said Ki

and waved his hand. Then the

ssed the cakes and candies around to each one. Vrouw Vedder lighted the cand

first," said Vro

re was a beautiful new Sunday dress much prettier than the torn one had ever been! Oh, how p

d hug dear St. Nich

ry own silver buttons on it! It had pockets in it! He put his hand in one pocket. It

f there's a pocket

and by she found a pocket. And sure e

der and for Grandfather and Grandmother Winkle; and such a time

nd Kat's dress, to see if they were the

n knows how big w

holas Day would las

"Half-past ten, and these children still up! Bless my heart, this w

ew clothes to bed

d Mother Vedder, "because

, and said their prayers like good children; and then they climbed up into their litt

ear little Twi

so s

IONS TO

of friendliness and good will for children of other nationalities. Respect for and an understanding of the life and customs of other races, are not only educationally valuable, but are fundamentally important in this "crucible of nations," where different races are fusing them

on if the narrative does not appeal strongly to children. The delight with which the book has been recei

f the book in order to get glimpses of "Kit" and "Kat," in the various scenes in which they are portrayed, in the illustrations, thus arousing t

grade it may be well to have the children read it first in the study period in order to work out the pronunciation of

about Holland and its people. The legend of "The Hole in the Dike" is an illustration of this kind of colla

nt makes them especially useful for this purpose. An excellent oral language exercise would be for the children, after they have read the story, to take turns telling the story from

occur to resourceful teachers of making the book a va