“Oh yes, go there again to pick iris! Don’t you know, then, little rascal, there is a snake hidden in the grass, a big snake who swallows whole, both birds and children.”
She undressed me, taking off my small shoes, socks, and shirt, and while my clothes dried put me on my Sunday sabots and suit, with the warning:
“Take care now to keep yourself clean.”
Behold me again out of doors; on the new straw I executed a happy caper, then catching sight of a white butterfly hovering over the stubble, off I went, my blonde curls flying in the wind and—all at once there I was again at the moat!
Oh, my beautiful yellow flowers! They were still there, proudly rising out of the water, showing themselves off in a manner it was impossible to withstand. Very cautiously I descend the bank planting my feet squarely; I thrust out my hand, I lean forward, stretching as far as I can ... and splash ... I am in the water again.
Woe is me! While about me the bubbles gurgled and among the rushes I thought I spied the great snake, a loud voice cried out:
“Mistress, run quick, that child is in the water again.”
My mother came running. She seized me and dragged me all black from the muddy bank, and the first thing I received was a resounding smack.
“You will go back to those flowers? You will try to drown yourself? A new suit ruined, little rascal—little monster! nearly killing me with fright!”
Bedraggled and crying, I returned to the farm-house, head hanging. Again I was undressed, and this time arrayed in my festal suit. Oh, that fine suit! I can still see it with the bands of black velvet, and gold dots on a blue ground.