lapped up the dew in the early morning, like
the rabbits.

Antonia had opinions about everything, and
she was soon able to make them known. Al-
most every day she came running across the
prairie to have her reading lesson with me.
Mrs. Shimerda grumbled, but realized it was
important that one member of the family
should learn English. When the lesson was
over, we used to go up to the watermelon patch
behind the garden. I split the melons with an
old corn-knife, and we lifted out the hearts and
ate them with the juice trickling through our
fingers. The white Christmas melons we did
not touch, but we watched them with curios-
ity. They were to be picked late, when the
hard frosts had set in, and put away for winter
use. After weeks on the ocean, the Shimerdas
were famished for fruit. The two girls would
wander for miles along the edge of the corn-
fields, hunting for ground-cherries.

Antonia loved to help grandmother in the
kitchen and to learn about cooking and house-
keeping. She would stand beside her, watch-
ing her every movement. We were willing to
believe that Mrs. Shimerda was a good house-
wife in her own country, but she managed

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v?