"You are right, father, and your daughter Catalina is one of the number,
for she's only a poor sick crow. But sometimes, father, you know the crows
envy the nightingales."
The comparison made my father laugh heartily, and he let himself be
persuaded by his elder daughter--that elder daughter whose voice was so
like that of that dear wife of his, now forever silent.
"Well, crows and nightingales let them sing together," he said; and
embracing all three of us, he bid us goodnight. He disappeared, but not
without turning for a moment to Paula with the remark, "Good-night, my
little Alpine nightingale."
And Paula, who did not seem to comprehend a single word of this
conversation, answered gravely, "Good-night, uncle."
CHAPTER TEN
IN THE COUNTRY
Once a year we were accustomed to visit our grandparents and this was
generally made a real family reunion. There we met with all our uncles and
aunts and cousins. It was also a joyful occasion for Teresa who was very
fond of Justina, grandmother's faithful old servant Grandfather had been a
very successful farmer, intelligent, hard-working and economical without
being stingy. After many years' work he had amassed a considerable fortune.
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