The young men looked around, and when they saw the children cried, “Nearer; come over here.”
The children came, Franzelie timidly holding fast her brother’s hand. The large man with ruddy face and heavy beard stretched out his long arm and drew Barty to his side.
“Now let them sing, Barbarossa,” cried the others.
“Sing on,” he said; “don’t be afraid.”
Barty sang with clear tones, and his sister joined with voice like a little silver bell, and this was the song:
“With joy we hail the glad New Year:
The old one has departed.
May blessed health and happy cheer
E’er keep you merry-hearted.”
“Gracious goodness! We are on the other side of the globe,” cried Barbarossa, “and here it is the New Year”; and howls of laughter rang out.