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SKETCHES. 393
When the mother saw that they had eaten enough, she
proposed that they should put aside a part of the supper
for the “flower-woman” in the parish poor-house. The
children were heartily willing to do this. Bread and meat
were accordingly tied up in a blue-checked handkerchief,
and the bundle was put away on the shelf until the follow-
ing morning. They would take it with them when they
went to church to attend the matins, and they got permis-
sion to go themselves to the poor-house and give it to the
“ flower-woman.”
Then the children went to lie down on a large sheaf’ of
yellow straw, which they had dragged into the cottage for
Christmas: because in the country people must dance and
sleep upon straw at Christmas, if every thing is to be done
properly. The children did not undress, that they might
the sooner be ready in the morning. And they got from
their mother each a white pocket handkerchief to put upon
the straw under their head, and then they lay down and
were soon fast asleep, side by side, while the light from the
fire-place was dancing over them and seemed to kiss their
cheeks.
Anders canie in silent and sullen, and went to bed with-
out saying good-night.
Last of them all the mother went to bed, after having
put all things to rights in the cottage, washed plates and
dishes, and put every thing in its proper place, and after
having, thrown more wood upon the fire, for it is the custom
in the country that the fire shall burn during the whole of
Christmas night.
As she was now lying on her bed, she could not sleep,
for she had anxious thoughts, and she heard that Anders
was turning and tossing about in his bed, as if uneasy
thoughts had been tormenting him also. And she said to
herself: “I wonder whether I ought to speak to him;
whether I ought to tell him that he has grieved me and
done me wrong; that I bear a motherly heart to him,
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