Arrived at the location of the memorial post, Sanna was the first to notice that it stood no longer there.  They went up to the spot and saw that the round, red-painted post which carried the picture was lying in the dry grass which stood there like thin straw and concealed the fallen post from view.  They could not understand, to be sure, why it had toppled over—­whether it had been knocked down or fallen of itself; but they did see that the wood was much decayed at the place where it emerged from the ground and that the post might therefore easily have fallen of itself.  Since it was lying there, however, they were pleased that they could get a closer look at the picture and the inscription than they had ever had before.  When they had examined all—­the basket with the rolls, the whitish hands of the baker, his closed eyes, his gray coat and the pine-trees surrounding him—­and when they had spelt out and read aloud the inscription, they proceeded on their way.

After another hour, the dark forest on either side receded, scattered trees, some of them isolated oaks, others birches, and clumps of bushes, received them and accompanied them onward, and after a short while the children were running down through the meadows of the valley of Millsdorf.

Although this valley is not as high, by far, as the valley of Gschaid and so much warmer that they could begin harvesting two weeks earlier than in Gschaid, the ground was frozen here too; and when the children had come to the tannery and the fulling-mill of their grandfather, pretty little cakes of ice were lying on the road where it was frequently spattered by drops from the wheels.  That is usually a great pleasure for children.

Grandmother had seen them coming and had gone to meet them.  She took Sanna by her cold little hands and led her into the room.

She made them take off their heavy outer garments, ordered more wood to be put in the stove, and asked them what had happened on the way over.

When they had told her she said:  “That’s nice and good, and I am very glad that you have come again; but today you must be off early, the day is short and it is growing colder.  Only this morning there was no frost in Millsdorf.”

“Not in Gschaid, either,” said the boy.

“There you see.  On that account you must hurry so that you will not grow too cold in the evening,” said grandmother.

Then she asked how mother was and how father was, and whether anything particular had happened in Gschaid.

After having questioned them she devoted herself to the preparation of dinner, made sure that it would be ready at an earlier time than usual, and herself prepared tidbits for the children which she knew would give them pleasure.  Then the master dyer was called.  Covers were set on the table for the children as for grown-up people and then they ate with grandfather and grandmother, and the latter helped them to particularly good things.  After the meal, she stroked Sanna’s cheeks which had grown quite red, meanwhile.