' He tramped out through the long cellar and
dropped the heavy door behind him.
After breakfast grandmother and Jake and I bundled ourselves up and climbed
into the cold front wagon-seat. As we approached the Shimerdas', we heard
the frosty whine of the pump and saw Antonia, her head tied up and her
cotton dress blown about her, throwing all her weight on the pump-handle as
it went up and down. She heard our wagon, looked back over her shoulder,
and, catching up her pail of water, started at a run for the hole in the
bank.
Jake helped grandmother to the ground, saying he would bring the provisions
after he had blanketed his horses. We went slowly up the icy path toward
the door sunk in the drawside. Blue puffs of smoke came from the stovepipe
that stuck out through the grass and snow, but the wind whisked them
roughly away.
Mrs. Shimerda opened the door before we knocked and seized grandmother's
hand. She did not say `How do!' as usual, but at once began to cry,
talking very fast in her own language, pointing to her feet which were tied
up in rags, and looking about accusingly at everyone.
The old man was sitting on a stump behind the stove, crouching over as if
he were trying to hide from us. Yulka was on the floor at his feet, her
kitten in her lap.
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