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Updated: July 6, 2025
He threw his hat into a corner and began to empty his pockets with great care, placing the paper bags on the table. "Dolf, I was sure you'd do it; you've forgotten the pint of milk," cried maman Nelle when everything was spread out. Dolf drew back, and made a grimace as if he really would have to go back to the shop. But, at the same time, he winked to Riekje to let her know that it was a joke.
"Come, Dolf, be brave," said Tobias, tapping him on the shoulder. "We have all gone through this!" "Riekje, Riekje, my heart!" said Nelle in tears, "no greater happiness could come to us on Saint Nicholas day. Poor folk rejoice more over a child that is born to them, than over all the treasures in the world, but the child whom God sends on Easter Day or St. Nicholas day is above all welcome."
Dolf! dear Dolf!" cried Riekje, each time. "Why does he not come back?" "I see the lamps in the houses and boats being put out one by one. Dolf will be in directly," said Nelle to quiet her. But Dolf did not return. Two hours after midnight Riekje was in such pain that she had to go to bed. Madame Puzzel sat beside her and Nelle told her beads. Two hours passed thus. "Dolf! Dolf!"
Nelle turned quickly to Riekje: "Get up, my girl, so that I may see whether I am to kiss your good-for- nothing husband." Dolf bent over Riekje and looked under her chair, pretending not to find anything at first; finally he held the jug of milk triumphantly out at arm's length. He laughed gayly, his hand on his thigh: "Ah! who'll be kissed now, mother? Who'll be kissed?"
All this could be seen by the light of the two candles, whose flicker made the shadows dance on the ceiling; but the fairest thing to see was beautiful dark Riekje sitting near the fire.
My Riekje, what is the matter with you?" "Ah! Dolf," replied Riekje, "if it were to happen to-day! I have been in pain all the afternoon, and now I feel worse. My child! If I die, you will love it, Dolf, dear?" "Mother! Mother!" cried Dolf, "I am sick at heart." Then he hid his face in his big hands and began to sob, without knowing the reason.
Then a little child began to cry in the boat, and it seemed to those who heard it sweet as the bleating of a lambkin. "Riekje! Riekje!" A distant voice called Riekje. It was Dolf who sprang over the bridge and rushed into the room. Riekje, who was asleep, opened her eyes and saw her loving lad kneeling beside her.
"Are you comfortable, Riekje?" asked Nelle, from time to time. "Do your straw-lined sabots keep your feet warm?" "Yes, maman Nelle, I am as happy as a queen," she answered, smiling. "As a queen, you say," replied Nelle. "You will be like a queen, soon, my girl, for you are going to eat some of my apple keikebakken.
"That's true, Tobias, but afterwards, I did not turn my head away and you kissed me all the same." "There is no greater happiness on earth, my Dolf," said Riekje, "than to grow old loving one another; the years don't then gloom as life lengthens, and when one dies, the other soon follows." "It is so, Riekje.
Now you can enjoy yourselves." They moved the big chest up to the table, for there were two chairs only, and Dolf sat on it near Riekje. Tobias took a chair, placed another beside him for Nelle, stretched out his legs and crossed his hands over his stomach. Then a cloud of smoke rose up to the wooden roof and the saucepan appeared on the table, making a sound like the melting of snow in the sun.
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