III

"You prattle, children. Fritz, bestir yourself!

The fire needs wood, so hungry is the wind;

And Elsa, bring the platters from the shelf

And lay the table. You, too, Gretchen, mind,

For you of late are carelessly inclined,

And brittle is the _blaue glocken_ ware.

Make haste, else will your father come and find,

For all his day's hard work, but churlish fare.

Full sure I am no man works harder anywhere."

Children of Christmas, and Others · 第 103 / 115 题