Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St John

Author:Patricia St John [John, Patricia St]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781575679587
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

14

The Handwork Competition

The sun woke Dani early next morning, and he lay for a few minutes trying to remember what important thing was going to happen that day. It soon came back to him, and he sat up in bed and shouted for Annette.

“’Nette,” he called, “come quick! I’m coming to see you get the prize! Bring me my best black velvet suit and my embroidered braces and my waistcoat. Quick!”

Annette pretended not to hear until he had said it four times. Then she sat up.

“Be quiet, Dani,” she called back rather crossly. “I don’t suppose I shall get that prize at all, and anyhow it’s much too early to get dressed. Papa’s only just got up.”

Dani sighed and lay down again, but he was too excited to stop talking. He pulled Klaus into bed with him and began whispering into one of her silky white ears.

“I shall go in the cart, Klaus,” he murmured, “and I shall see all the things the children have made. But Annette’s is the best, and I shall see her get a lovely prize, and I’ll clap as loud as I can. And I shall wear my best braces.”

Klaus yawned. So did Dani. After all, it was very early in the morning. When Annette came down later, she found them curled up into two little balls, fast asleep in the sun.

One and a half hours later they were off, with Dani dressed in his best clothes. Papa pulled the cart and Annette walked beside him, feeling dull and sad and rather cross.

What could be making Annette so miserable on such a morning? The sun was shining, the river was glistening, and Annette was going to win a prize. There was everything to make them happy, and anyhow Dani never felt sad or cross except when he had a pain in his leg.

“Have you got a tummy ache, ’Nette?” asked Dani suddenly.

“Of course I haven’t, Dani,” answered Annette sharply. “Why should I have a tummy ache?”

“I just thought you might,” replied Dani. “Oh, ’Nette, look. There’s a blue butterfly sitting on my shoe.”

But Annette did not even turn around to look at the blue butterfly. She walked on, staring at the ground.

Whatever could be the matter with Annette? Already the schoolroom was filling when they arrived. The desks had been stacked on one side and the children’s work was laid out on long tables knitting, embroidery, lace, and crochet work—making a very pretty show. Parents walked around admiringly while children jostled and nudged each other, pointing and chattering like magpies.

Pierre, the postman’s son, was standing by the wood-carving table, close to his own piece of work: a wooden inkstand with a bear standing over the inkwell. It was quite a good piece of work for a child of his age. Pierre, who was a nice boy, blushed a little and looked the other way as his friends slapped him on the back and congratulated him. Still, he was pleased with that little bear himself, and he looked up and smiled proudly at his mother, who was coming toward him across the room.

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