I-XIV

On the morning of the 22nd I wakened with a
start. Before I opened my eyes, I seemed to
know that something had happened. I heard
excited voices in the kitchen -- grandmother's
was so shrill that I knew she must be almost
beside herself. I looked forward to any new
crisis with delight. What could it be, I won-
dered, as I hurried into my clothes. Perhaps
the barn had burned; perhaps the cattle had
frozen to death; perhaps a neighbor was lost
in the storm.

Down in the kitchen grandfather was stand-
ing before the stove with his hands behind
him. Jake and Otto had taken off their boots
and were rubbing their woolen socks. Their
clothes and boots were steaming, and they
both looked exhausted. On the bench behind
the stove lay a man, covered up with a blan-
ket. Grandmother motioned me to the dining-
room. I obeyed reluctantly. I watched her
as she came and went, carrying dishes. Her
lips were tightly compressed and she kept
whispering to herself: "Oh, dear Saviour!"
"Lord, Thou knowest!"

[[108]]

p107 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p108w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p109

v?