"I think that must be King Oscar's sleigh which has just come up the hill," said Sigrid as they turned away from Brita's booth.
"Sure enough. He is making his annual visit to the Christmas market. Let us stand here and watch him for a minute."
Just then the big Christmas crowd burst into a shout: "Long live King Oscar!" The white-haired old gentleman, who is so tall and stately that you would notice him anywhere, bowed graciously to his people.
"Would he ask me what I wanted for Christmas, if I stood near him?" asked Sigrid.
"No, he asks only the poor little children who don't look as though they would have a tree at home," replied Mrs. Lund. "Ah, he is talking to that ragged little fellow who watched us buy the accordion for Karl. By and by, his servant will buy a lot of things and give them to the children. He is a kind-hearted man as well as a good king."
"Hear all those birds singing!" exclaimed the child.
"Listen again and see if you cannot tell where they are," said Mrs. Lund.
"Why, I believe they are cuckoo whistles, only I never heard so many all at once," cried Sigrid.
"Suppose we go over and buy two or three," said Mrs. Lund. They threaded their way to the booth where these cheap little clay birds were so popular.