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SKETCHES. 383
out of what they had earned, and told them their own story,
and all about the naughty hand and the kind hand. But
never again did they see the naughty hand in their cot-
tage.
“ For look you, dear children, the naughty, ugly hand, that
was Want, which drags every thing out of the house, when
laziness, and extravagance, and carelessness enter into it;
and the kind, beautiful hand — do you know who that was ?
Well, that was Industry, which brings every thing into the
house, and makes comfort and independence dwell therein.
And the King, that was our own King Oscar, God bless
him! And the Queen was our Queen Josephine, and they
like to see their people happy and industrious, and to re-
ward them that are honest. So you see that this whole
story is nothing but the real truth. And now my tale is
finished, and just in good time, for now mother has just
baked the last pancake and we are going to have our
supper.”
Peter and Lotta jumped up from the floor; Granny also
got up from her chair, and all sat down round the table
where the pancakes were smoking. And the husband and
the wife winked at each other and smiled, as if they meant
to say: “ We know that story, we do!”
And when they had sat down to the table and were all
so pleased, they heard the swallows outside the window
chirping to their young ones: “ Be busy, be busy, be
busy!”
“ Hark!” said Lotta, “what the swallows are teaching
their young ones. That they have taught themselves.”
“ Lotta is stupid,” Peter said; “God has taught it them.”
CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS MATINS.
I sHALL now relate to you, my dear little children in
Stockholm, how Christmas is celebrated in the country, for
you probably do not know this; but I know it, for I have
often taken part in it myself, and seen it with my own eyes,
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