When I was young, I was very fond of strawberries, but I have not tasted them since the death of my child.” “And why?” asked the Princess taking the basket from Barunka.

“O, your Grace, that is a custom among us. When a mother loses a child, she eats neither strawberries nor cherries till St. John the Baptist. It is said that at that time the Virgin goes about heaven giving this fruit to the little children. If a mother has not been self-denying, and has eaten of this fruit, when the Virgin comes to the child of such an one she says: ‘Poor child, there isn’t much left for you; your mother ate your share.’ For this reason mothers abstain from eating this fruit before St. John’s, and if they can do it till St. John’s they can do it after,” added Grandmother.

The Princess held in her fingers a large strawberry, as red as her own beautiful lips; but on hearing this tale, she placed it back in the basket, saying: “I cannot eat now, and the children would have nothing themselves.”

“O, your Grace, that makes no difference. Only eat, or take them home with you; we can gather some more,” quickly said Barunka, pushing back the basket that the Princess was offering her.

“Thank you,” replied the lady accepting the gift and smiling at the simple heartedness of the child. “To-morrow, however, you must come to the castle and get your basket; and be sure to bring your Grandma with you, do you understand?”

“We will!”exclaimed the children with as much assurance as they showed when they were invited to the mill by the miller’s wife. Grandmother, indeed,- wanted to raise some objections, but it was too late; the Princess bowed to her, smiled at the children, and was gone, disappearing among the trees like a beautiful vision.

“O Grandma, won’t it be delightful to go to the castle! Papa says they have so many beautiful pictures there,” said Barunka.

“And they have a parrot that speaks,” cried John, clapping his hands.

Little Adelka, looking at herself said: “I shan’t have to wear this dress, shall I?”

“Well, I declare, what a sight you are! What were you doing?”exclaimed Grandmother signing herself with the cross.

“I couldn’t help it. John pushed me down into some strawberries,” explained the little girl.

“You two are forever quarrelling. What will the Princess think? Most likely she will say you are two little imps. But come, we must get started or we shall not reach the gamekeeper’s to - day.”

“I want you to understand, boys, that if you cut up as you usually do, I will never take you with me again.”

The boys assured Grandmother that they would be very good.

“We shall see,” she said, as they approached their destination. A few more steps brought them into a dense wood, through which gleamed the gamekeeper’s white buildings. There was a large yard in front of the house, shaded by lindens and chestnuts. Beneath these there were several small tables and benches fastened to the ground. Several peacocks were seen strutting about on the green sward; Grandmother used to say that they had angel’s plumage, a thief’s step, and the devil’s voice. A little way from the peacocks was seen a flock of speckled, blear-eyed guinea hens; white rabbits, pricking up their ears, ready to flee from the smallest danger; a handsome fawn, with a red band around its neck, lying at the door; and several dogs lounging about. Hardly had the children spoken to the dogs, when they gave a joyous bark and bounded out to meet them. The fawn, called by Adelka, also came and with her blue eyes looked up lovingly at the child as if she would say, “Ah, it is you, who bring me those good morsels. Welcome here!” Adelka must have read this in her eyes, for she quickly put her hand in her pocket and brought out a piece of bread, which the fawn took and followed them to the house.

“What in the deuce is the matter here, you savage brutes!” cried a man’s voice from within, and directly after, the gamekeeper, clad in a green jacket and a house cap, made his appearance.

“What welcome guests!” he exclaimed seeing Grandmother and the children. Come in, come in! Hector, Diana, Amina be quiet! One cannot hear his own voice,” he said shaking his cane at the dogs.

The company entered the house, over the door of which was fastened a pair of deer’s horns. In the hall hung several rifles, but very high so that the children could not reach them. Grandmother was always afraid of fire arms, and when the game-keeper assured her that they were not loaded, she would still say: “Who can tell what may happen; the devil never sleeps!”

“Very true,” replied the gamekeeper, “when God permits, a hoe may go off.”

Grandmother was ready to forgive him anything, if only he did not swear; that, she could not stand. She put her hands on her ears, saying: “What is the good of such a foul mouth? one should sprinkle holy water when you leave.”

The gamekeeper liked Grandmother, and so in her presence was very careful not to touch on the devil, who he said was always getting mixed up with his words.

“Where is your wife?” asked Grandmother as she entered the room and saw no one.

“Just make yourself at home till I call her; you know she is always busied about something.”

The attention of the boys was attracted by a case in which gleamed hunters’ knives and other arms. The girls played with the fawn that had followed them into the house. Grandmother, taking in at a glance the order and cleanliness of the room, remarked: “That’s a fact, let a person come here on Friday or Sunday, everything is as clean as glass.” Just then her eye fell upon the spinning that lay near the stove, tied up and marked ready for the weaver. As she was examining it very attentively, the door opened, and the mistress of the house entered the room.

She was still young, and in her neat house-dress and white cap cut a very handsome figure. Her welcome was hearty, and her honest face showed that it was sincere. “I was out sprinkling the linen; I am delighted with it; this year it will be as white as cambric,” she remarked after excusing her absence.

“What industry!” replied Grandmother.