"I have not yet given you any reward, Martin," said Herr Feland. "To you above all the rest I must prove my gratitude in a way to give you a real joy. Tell me, have you some special desire?"
Martin turned his cap around for a while in his hands, then said hesitatingly:
"I have had a great desire for a long time, but I dare not tell you what it is; no, no, it should not have come into my mind."
"Speak it out fully," said Herr Feland encouragingly, "perhaps I can help you."
"I have always thought," continued Martin, hesitatingly, "if I could only get on as well as my neighbor over there, I would venture to think of buying a cow. I have quite a good deal of hay and then could take care of my family without any anxiety."
"That is good, Martin," said Herr Feland, "we shall see each other again." Then he took Rita by the hand and started with her on the way back.
"And what did your friend Seppli wish for?" he asked.
"Oh, he is stupid," exclaimed Rita. "He only wants a whip with a yellow lash! That is nothing at all."
"Surely that is something," asserted her papa. "You see, every child has his own pleasures: to Seppli such a whip would give exactly as much pleasure as the most beautiful doll-house would to you."
At this explanation Rita seemed contented and could hardly wait for the wishes to come true.