hans brinker-第59章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


park　will　in　time　equal　his　beautiful　Bosch；　near　The　Hague。　　He　often　thinks　of　the　Katrinka　of　his　boyhood；　but　he　is　glad　now　that　Katrinka；　the　woman；　sent　him　away；　though　it　seemed　at　the　time　his　darkest　hour。　　Ben's　sister　Jenny　has　made　him　very　happy；　happier　than　he　could　have　been　with　anyone　else　in　the　wide　world。

Carl　Schummel　has　had　a　hard　life。　　His　father　met　with　reverses　in　business；　and　as　Carl　had　not　many　warm　friends；　and；　above　all；　was　not　sustained　by　noble　principles；　he　has　been　tossed　about　by　fortune's　battledore　until　his　gayest　feathers　are　nearly　all　knocked　off。　　He　is　a　bookkeeper　in　the　thriving　Amsterdam　house　of　Boekman　and　Schimmelpenninck。　　Voostenwalbert；　the　junior　partner；　treats　him　kindly；　and　he；　in　turn；　is　very　respectful　to　the　〃monkey　with　a　long　name　for　a　tail。〃

Of　all　our　group　of　Holland　friends；　Jacob　Poot　is　the　only　one　who　has　passed　away。　　Good…natured；　true…hearted；　and　unselfish　to　the　last；　he　is　mourned　now　as　heartily　as　he　was　loved　and　laughed　at　while　on　earth。　　He　grew　to　be　very　thin　before　he　died；　thinner　than　Benjamin　Dobbs；　who　is　now　portliest　among　the　portly。

Raff　Brinker　and　his　vrouw　have　been　living　comfortably　in　Amsterdam　for　many　yearsa　faithful；　happy　pair；　as　simple　and　straightforward　in　their　good　fortune　as　they　were　patient　and　trustful　in　darker　days。　　They　have　a　zomerhuis　near　the　old　cottage　and　thither　they　often　repair　with　their　children　and　grandchildren　on　the　pleasant　summer　afternoons　when　the　pond　lilies　rear　their　queenly　heads　above　the　water。

The　story　of　Hans　Brinker　would　be　but　half　told　if　we　did　not　leave　him　with　Gretel　standing　near。　　Dear；　quick　；　patient　little　Gretel！　　What　is　she　now？　　Ask　old　Dr。　Boekman；　he　will　declare　that　she　is　the　finest　singer；　the　loveliest　woman　in　Amsterdam。　　Ask　Hans　and　Annie；　they　will　assure　you　that　she　is　the　dearest　sister　ever　known。　　Ask　her　husband；　he　will　tell　you　that　she　is　the　brightest；　sweetest　little　wife　in　Holland。　　Ask　Dame　Brinker　and　Raff；　their　eyes　will　glisten　with　joyous　tears。　　Ask　the　poor　and　the　air　will　be　filled　with　blessings。

But；　lest　you　forget　a　tiny　form　trembling　and　sobbing　on　the　mound　before　the　Brinker　cottage；　ask　the　Van　Glecks；　they　will　never　weary　of　telling　of　the　darling　little　girl　who　won　the　silver　skates。




End