Why should not I and my little boys exert ourselves as well as
my husband and Fritz? Why should not we too try to accomplish something
useful?
`"If we could but exchange this melancholy and unwholesome abode for
a pleasant shady dwelling-place, we should all improve in health and
spirits. Among those delightful woods and groves where Fritz and his
father saw so many charming things, I feel sure there must be some
little retreat where we could establish ourselves comfortably; there
must be, and I will find it."
`By this time the boys were up, and I observed Jack very quietly and
busily occupied with his knife about the spot where Fritz's jackal lay.
Watching his proceedings, I saw that he had cut two long narrow strips
of the animal's skin, which he cleaned and scraped very carefully, and
then taking a handful of great nails out of his pocket, he stuck them
through the skin points outwards, after which he cut strips of canvas
sailcloth twice as broad as the thongs, doubled them, and laid them on
the raw side of the skin so as to cover the broad flat nail heads.
`At this point of the performance, Master Jack came to me with the
agreeable request that I would kindly stitch the canvas and (moist)
skin together for him. I gave him needles and thread, but could not
think of depriving him of the pleasure of doing it himself.
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