And sought the token true.”
For more than a week they sailed up the pretty river, but at last, one afternoon at sunset, they reached home. Quietly they stole up to the cottage and peeped in at the window.
There was Mrs. Poppelty-Poppett cooking supper, while Sniffy and Snuffy were peeling potatoes, and Gobble was eating an apple behind the door.
Nibbles tapped gently on the window-pane, and Mrs. Poppelty-Poppett turned quickly around. With a squeak of perfect delight, she cried: “Oh, here is Nibbles!” and ran to the door, upsetting the soup-kettle right into the fire in her haste. Of course, Sniffy and Snuffy, Gobble and the baby, all ran out, too, and then they all talked together so fast that no one knew what any one else was saying. Pretty soon they quieted down, and Nibbles told them of his wonderful adventures, and of the finding of the Lucky Ring. When he gave his mother the bag of gold, poor little Mrs. Poppelty-Poppett did not know whether to laugh or cry with happiness, so she did both. She had worked hard for her children, and now there would be comfort and plenty for the rest of her life.
After a little while she dried her eyes, and thought of supper. It was all in the fire and burned up!
“Never mind,” said Nibbles. “Teenie Weenie and I would far rather have some of your nice corn cake and toasted cheese than soup.”
