while Matreona was preparing some things to put in the oven and the children were running around the benches, when suddenly one of the latter stopped to look out of the window. Simeon was sewing some boot-legs and his assistant was making heels. As the boy ran around the bench he went to where Michael was sitting, and, leaning his head on his shoulder, he looked out of the window a second time. He had been there but a moment when he said:
"Oh, Uncle Michael! There is the merchant's wife and two little girls with her, and they are surely coming to our house! One of the girls is lame."
As the boy finished speaking Michael threw aside his work, and, turning to the window, he looked out. This movement on his part very much surprised Simeon. He had never seen Michael display such interest in anything before. He was leaning on the window-sill and gazing intently at something or some one outside.
Simeon's curiosity being aroused, he also
