CHAPTER VIII.
WHAT THE WAVES BRING
BERTHA'S HOME.
Bertha's mother had just come in from a hard morning's work in the fields. She had been helping her husband weed the garden.
She spent a great deal of time outdoors in the summer-time, as many German peasant women do. They do a large share of the work in ploughing the grain-fields and harvesting the crops. They are much stronger than their American cousins.
"Supper is all ready and waiting for you," said Bertha.
The little girl had prepared a dish of sweet fruit soup which her mother had taught her to make.
"It is very good," said her father when he had tasted it. "My little Bertha is getting to be quite a housekeeper."