The outer door opened into the kitchen, and beyond was the living-room.

The door between stood open, and through it could be seen two very old cradles, and the wash-tub stood near the door in the kitchen, so that as she stood at her work Marget could watch the three little boys and the baby at the same time.
Although Hans was now two years old, he still had a cradle, which served as a bed at night, and as a means of quieting him by day.

Whenever he set up his accustomed scream, his mother laid him into the cradle, where, soothed by the rocking motion, he soon fell asleep.

The two older brothers, Rudi and Heirli, standing one each side of the cradle, pushed it back and forth with great good-will.
Aunty sat down by the wash-tub, and, after begging Marget to go on with her work, she began gently to unfold her story, winding up with the offer of writing immediately to Basel, to find out how Fani was situated, and on what terms his master had taken him.

Then, if everything was not satisfactory, he could be brought home again.