By the time they paid Krajiek
for the land, and bought his horses and oxen and some old farm machinery,
they had very little money left. He wished grandmother to know, however,
that he still had some money. If they could get through until spring came,
they would buy a cow and chickens and plant a garden, and would then do
very well. Ambrosch and Antonia were both old enough to work in the
fields, and they were willing to work. But the snow and the bitter weather
had disheartened them all.
Antonia explained that her father meant to build a new house for them in
the spring; he and Ambrosch had already split the logs for it, but the logs
were all buried in the snow, along the creek where they had been felled.
While grandmother encouraged and gave them advice, I sat down on the floor
with Yulka and let her show me her kitten. Marek slid cautiously toward us
and began to exhibit his webbed fingers. I knew he wanted to make his
queer noises for me--to bark like a dog or whinny like a horse--but he did
not dare in the presence of his elders. Marek was always trying to be
agreeable, poor fellow, as if he had it on his mind that he must make up
for his deficiencies.
Mrs. Shimerda grew more calm and reasonable before our visit was over, and,
while Antonia translated, put in a word now and then on her own account.
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