There was great driving along the roads from the Oberland on Sunday morning to Farmer Landfried’s; there came the brothers and sisters-in-law, with all their relations. It was said that John had brought home a wife without consulting parents or pastor, or that any one had had a word to say about; and they added, “It must be some beauty he had picked up behind a hedge.” The horses in the wagons suffered that day in consequence of what had taken place at Farmer Landfried’s; they received many a cut, and if they reared it was still worse, causing many hard words from the women who sat in the wagons, who scolded and wept at such reckless driving.
There was a small wagon-house in the court of the farm, within which the whole family were collected. Some of them appeared with high water-boots, others with hob-nailed shoes. Some wore three-cornered hats, with the point in front; others sat there with the broad brim shading their faces. The women whispered among themselves, and winked to their husbands, saying, “We shall know how to thrust the stranger bird out of the family nest.” And there were seen bitterly angry smiles, when it was whispered here and there, that Amrie had kept the geese.
At length she appeared; but she could not give any one her hand, as she bore a flask of red wine, with glasses, and two plates filled with cake and biscuits; enough for seven hands, had every finger been a hand. She placed them all so quietly and gracefully on the table, over which the mother-in-law had spread a white cloth, that they all looked on astonished. After she had filled the glasses, without the least trembling of her hand, she said, “Our parents have given me the privilege of bidding you all, from the heart, a true welcome! Now drink!”
“We are not accustomed to drink in the morning,” said a heavy man with an immensely large nose, and spread himself out upon his chair.
“Or we drink only pure water, the wine of the geese,” said one of the women, when a not wholly concealed laugh ensued.
Amrie felt the sarcasm deeply, but took no notice of it. John’s sister was the first who took the offered glass, and looking at John, said, “God bless thee;” then she glanced at Amrie, who had held her the glass. The other women, not to fail in politeness, followed her example. The men allowed themselves to be moved, and for a long time nothing was heard but the clinking of glasses.
“Your father is right,” said at length the mother to her daughters, “Amrie looks as though she were your sister, and yet she more resembles our Elizabeth, that we lost.”
“Yes, you are no losers,” said the old farmer; “had Elizabeth lived, she would have had one portion of my estate.” The mother added, “And now we have her again.”
The old man hit the sore point, though all had persuaded themselves that Amrie’s want of family was the cause of their objection to her. While she was speaking aside with John’s sister, the old man said softly to his eldest son, “She does not look like it, but only think, she has in secret a sack full of crowns; however, you must not speak of it.”
This injunction was so well obeyed, that in a few minutes every one in the room was whispering about it. John’s sister took credit to herself, that she had been good to Amrie when she believed that she had not a farthing.