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Damie let everybody give him things to eat, and thus became greedy, while Amrei was satisfied with a little, and thus acquired habits of moderation. Even the roughest boys were afraid of Amrei, although nobody knew how she had proved her strength, while Damie would run away from quite little boys.

Of course, that had been understood from the first no one had expected anything else; but still, now that it was an express condition, it seemed like a very formidable matter to have no home anywhere. Barefoot said nothing about this thought to Damie, who seemed cheerful and of good courage.

Now you may have your choice whether you'll be called 'Jack in Tatters' or 'Tattered Jack." This was not a happy frame of mind in which to greet her brother for the first time. And Damie seemed to realize this; for he stood at the entrance of the log cabin and looked on, until Barefoot had put everything back into the sack. Then he stepped up to her and said: "God greet you, Amrei!

And Damie said once to his sister: "Dame" for that is what he always calls her "Dame, your oldest boy takes after you, and uses just such words as you used to. What do you think? the boy said to me today: 'Uncle, your herd-cow is your heart-cow too, isn't she? Yes, the boy is just on your pattern."

"Damie says he'll go with me to America," said the uncle, as she came forward. Amrei, breaking up the straws in her hands, replied: "I've nothing to say against it. I don't know yet what I shall do, but he can go if he likes." "No," cried Damie, "I shan't do that. You did not go with Dame Landfried when she wanted to take you away, and so I shall not go off alone without you."

With hurried steps she went along the street, and did not look back again. Amrei put her hands up to her neck and bent down her face, wishing to examine the coin; but she could not quite succeed. Damie was chewing on the last piece of his switch; when his sister looked at him and saw tears in his eyes, she said: "You shall see you'll get the finest pair of breeches in the village!"

She could say no more. She laid her head on her brother's shoulder, and tears fell upon the paternal coat which had once more been brought to light. "You say that I am soft-hearted," said Damie, "and you are much worse yourself." And Barefoot was indeed deeply and quickly moved by anything; but she was strong and light-hearted like a child.

Right here, I promise you that I'll do all I can for you, all my life long, and give you everything I have. I didn't hurt you, Damie, did I? You may depend upon it, it shall not happen again as long as I live never again! never! Oh, mother! Oh, father! I shall be good, I promise you! Oh, mother! Oh, father!"

And there was, indeed, a perfect hailstorm of jeering, sometimes coarse, sometimes satirical, directed at Barefoot's Damie, whom people accused of having taken merely a pleasure-trip to America at the expense of the parish. Black Marianne alone received him kindly; her first question was: "Have you heard nothing of my John?" But he could give her no information.

Crappy Zachy had led Damie there by the hand, but Amrei had come alone, without Black Marianne; many were angry at the hard-hearted woman, while a few hit a part of the truth when they said that Marianne did not like to visit graves, because she did not know where her husband's grave was.