The Thousand Guilders
None seeing the humble supper eaten in the Brinker cottage that
night would have dreamed of the dainty repast hidden away nearby. Hans and Gretel looked rather wistfully toward the cupboard as they drank their cupful of water and ate their scanty share of black bread; but even in thought they did not rob their father.
"He relished his supper well," said Dame Brinker, nodding
sidewise toward the bed, "and fell asleep the next moment. Ah, the dear man will be feeble for many a day. He wanted sore to sit up again, but while I made show of humoring him and getting ready, he dropped off. Remember that, my girl, when you have a man of your own (and many a day may it be before that comes to pass), remember that you can never rule by differing; 'humble wife is husband's boss.' Tut! tut! Never swallow such a mouthful as that again, child. Why, I could make a meal off two such pieces. What's in thee, Hans? One would think there were cobwebs on the walls."
"Oh, no, Mother, I was only thinking--"
"Thinking about what? Ah, no use asking," she added in a changed
tone. "I was thinking of the same a while ago. Well, it's no
blame if we DID look to hear something by this time about the
thousand guilders but not a word--no--it's plain enough he knows
naught about them."
Hans looked up anxiously, dreading lest his mother should grow
agitated, as usual, when speaking of the lost money, but she was
silently nibbling her bread and looking with a doleful stare
toward the window.
"Thousand guilders," echoed a faint voice from the bed. "Ah, I
am sure they have been of good use to you, vrouw, through the
long years when your man was idle."
The poor woman started up. These words quite destroyed the hope
that of late had been glowing within her.
"Are you awake, Raff?" she faltered.
"Yes, Meitje, and I feel much better. Our money was well saved, vrouw, I was saying. Did it last through all those ten years?"
"I--I--have not got it, Raff, I--" She was going to tell him the
whole truth when Hans lifted his finger warningly and whispered, "Remember what the meester told us. The father must not be worried."
"Speak to him, child," she answered, trembling.
Hans hurried to the bedside.
"I am glad you are feeling better," he said, leaning over his
father. "Another day will see you quite strong again."
"Aye, like enough. How long did the money last, Hans? I could
not hear your mother. What did she say?"
"I said, Raff," stammered Dame Brinker in great distress, "that
it was all gone."
"Well, well, wife, do not fret at that; one thousand guilders is
not so very much for ten years and with children to bring up. . .but it has helped to make you all comfortable. Have you had much sickness to bear?"
"No, no," sobbed Dame Brinker, lifting her apron to her eyes.
"Tut, tut, woman, why do you cry?" said Raff kindly. "We will
soon fill another pouch when I am on my feet again. Lucky I told
you all about it before I fell."
"Told me what, man?"
"Why, that I buried the money. In my dream just now, it seemed
that I had never said aught about it."
Dame Brinker started forward. Hans caught her arm.
"Hist! Mother," he whispered, hastily leading her away, "we must
be very careful." Then, while she stood with clasped hands
waiting in breathless anxiety, he once more approached the cot. Trembling with eagerness he said, "That was a troublesome dream. Do you remember WHEN you buried the money, Father?"
"Yes, my boy. It was just before daylight on the same day I was
hurt. Jan Kamphuisen said something, the sundown before, that
made me distrust his honesty. He was the only one living besides
Mother who knew that we had saved a thousand guilders, so I rose
up that night and buried the money--blockhead that I was ever to
suspect an old friend!"
"I'll be bound, Father," pursued Hans in a laughing voice, motioning to his mother and Gretel to remain quiet, "that you've forgotten where you buried it."
"Ha! ha! Not I, indeed. But good night, my son, I can sleep
again."
Hans would have walked away, but his mother's gestures were not
to be disobeyed. So he said gently, "Good night, Father. Where
did you say you buried the money? I was only a little one then."
"Close by the willow sapling behind the cottage," said Raff
Brinker drowsily.
"Ah, yes. North side of the tree, wasn't it, Father?"