They often sat in front of their shops while working
It was lots of fun. It was almost as good as a real picnic. Each morning while they were eating, they planned what they should do during the rest of the day.
Some days they spent the forenoon visiting interesting little shops. They liked to watch the pretty Swiss girls at work on their fine embroidery. These girls, dressed in their quaint Swiss costumes, often sat on the sidewalk in front of their shops while working.
But the boys liked best the carved wood shops. Sometimes they saw boys, not much older than themselves, carving jumping-jacks and bears and queer little dwarf men out of blocks of pear wood.
Many Swiss boys learn wood carving when they are quite young, so they can earn their living in that way when they are grown up.
The Overall Boys coaxed their father to buy a fine carved bear to take home with them. The bear was as tall as Joe. He sat on his hind legs, crossing his fore paws in front of him, and he looked as if he might growl any minute.
The boys' mother said the bear should stand by the front door at home, where he could hold umbrellas for people when they came to call.
"What fun we shall have when we introduce the Sunbonnet Babies to Mr. Bear!" said Joe.
"I know a fine way to do it," said Jack. "We will stand him under the big maple tree in the back yard at home. Then, the first time Molly and May come to see us, we will take them out to meet our new playmate."