Amrie remained in the kitchen, and gave such excellent assistance to the waiters, and knew so well how all the dishes should be arranged, that Dominic’s wife said, “You two Amries, you and my niece Amrie, can now manage every thing so well, that I will repair to the guests.”
Amrie, from Siebenhöfen, the niece, who by all the neighborhood was called proud and haughty, was so wonderfully friendly and condescending to our Amrie, that Amelia said to her, “It is a pity you are not a young man, for I believe Amrie would marry you at once, and not send you off as she does all her other suitors.”
“I have a brother at her service,” said Amrie; “but he is in America.”
“There let him stay,” said the other Amrie. “It is a pity we could not send all the young fellows there, and we remain by ourselves.”
Barefoot would not leave the kitchen till every thing was in its place. When she drew off her apron, her dress was as clean and unwrinkled as when she first put it on.
“You must be tired, and not able to dance,” said her friend, as, with a present, Amrie took leave.
“Why tired? This is only play. Believe me, I am better for having done something to-day. I could not be happy to pass a whole day in amusement; this was certainly the reason I was so melancholy this morning. Something was the matter; but now I am just in the humor for gayety. I could dance all day, could I but find partners.”
Amelia thought she could show Barefoot no greater honor, than to take her as an equal all over the house, and into the bride’s chamber, where she showed her the large chest with the wedding-presents. Then she opened the tall, blue painted presses, with the name and the year marked upon them, all filled with the dowry of numerous pieces of linen tied with gay ribbons, and with borders worked with pinks. In the clothes-presses were at least thirty dresses, and beside the high beds, the cradle, the distaff and beautiful spindles, it was hung round with children’s playthings, presented by her young companions.
“Ah,” said Barefoot, “how happy is such a child, in such a house!”
“Art thou envious?” asked Amelia; then remembering that she was showing all these things to a poor girl, she added, “Believe me, these things do not make one happy. Many are happy who have not received even a stocking from their parents.”