All four children were standing in the door-way awaiting her.

They cried out with joy when they espied her, and ran to meet her, and when she took little Lenchen up in her arms, the child almost choked her in her close embrace.

The boys too were so glad to see her, and pressed so near her side, that she began to feel as if she were surrounded by a tenderness and love such as she had never before received; the poor, lonely little girl! The mother's welcome was warm, and the grandfather raised both arms in the air and cried out:-- "God be praised! I had begun to think that there was no chance for to-day!" He asked her to help him go directly out into the sun; for it was pleasant and warm outside, but within he sat chilly all day long.

It was no easy task, for the old man was heavy, and leaned upon her so that she could scarcely stand under his weight, but at last they struggled out to where the sun shone pleasantly on the water, and gilded the trunks of the old willows with his beams.

Here the old man sat down, and asked Elsli to sit by him.