United States or Turkmenistan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And all the children avoided Matilda, for, sometimes mistaking her for Katrinka and running close to greet her, they would have their noses tweeked for their trouble. Matilda's life was lonely and cold; no one went to see her. She was always unhappy. Katrinka's house always echoed with the laughter of children; everyone went to see her. She was always joyful and cheery.
One night while Matilda sat at her dark window looking across at Katrinka's house, she saw a crowd of people tip-toeing up to the stoop with baskets under their arms and flowers in their hands and when all had crowded upon the porch they stamped their feet and made a great noise. Matilda was very angry, but Katrinka ran laughing to the door and greeted all with her kindliest smile.
In the morning neighbors came to Katrinka's house, and Matilda, taking Katrinka's place met them with a smile, and soon in spite of herself she was laughing and enjoying herself. And when they left, Matilda felt that she enjoyed having them there. But what was the callers' surprise when they passed Matilda's cottage to see someone planting flowers around the stoop.
So Matilda went over to Katrinka's cottage and went to bed and Katrinka stayed in Matilda's cottage, but she did not go to bed. Instead she went all over the house and tidied everything up and placed pretty white curtains at the windows.
Katrinka's home, not a mile distant, was the finest of Dutch country seats. The garden was so stiffly laid out in little paths and patches that the birds might have mistaken it for a great Chinese puzzle with all the pieces spread out ready for use.
They stopped in wonderment and, as Katrinka looked up at them with a cheery "Good Morning!" and a happy smile they could scarce believe their eyes and ears, for they thought it was Matilda. And these callers told other neighbors and they called at Katrinka's house and visited with Matilda and Matilda was so pleased she laughed as cheerily as Katrinka could laugh.
As a girl I used to watch Katrinka's long-haired Alsatian putting her concert grand to rights, and I knew that my ear was dependable enough. So the second day after my baby grand's arrival I went at it with a monkey-wrench. But that was a failure.
Word Of The Day