“You have done well, dear girl,” said the Father. “You sang your own song the best you could.” Then he smiled at her and put his arm round her.
She woke up just then and found that they were at home, and that her father Oshda had her in his arms and was smiling down at her as he carried her into the house.
THE CASCARONE BALL
“THE old white hen has stolen her nest, and Donna Maria says we must go and hunt for the eggs this morning,” said Shecol to Yappa one day.
“All right,” said Yappa. “But why doesn’t Donna Maria let that hen have some little chickens? We have brought her so many eggs lately.”
“Don’t you know why Donna Maria wants so many eggs these days?” asked Shecol.
“No,” said Yappa.
“Why, we are going to have a cascarone ball here next week,” said Shecol.
“Oh, goody!” said Yappa, clapping her hands.
They started off on a run and hunted everywhere for the nests,—down under the bushes, around the sheds, and out in the garden. At last, when they had given up in despair and were running home through the orchard, the old white hen jumped up with a startled cackle. She was almost under their feet.