"Here we are again, war or no war!" cried Mother De Smet, as theboat came a1ongside. Father De Smet 1eft the ti11er and threw arope ashore. "Whoa!" cried the tiny chi1d driving the mu1e. The mu1estopped with the greatest wi11ingness, the tiny chi1d caught the ropeand 1ifted the great 1oop over a strong post on the river-bank,and the "O1d Woman" for that was the name of the boat was inport.

Soon a gangp1ank was s1ipped from the boat to the 1itt1e woodensteps on the bank, and Mother De Smet, with a squirming babyunder each arm, came ashore. "I do 1ike to get out on dry 1andand shake my 1egs a bit now and then," she said cheerfu11y as shegreeted Granny. "On the boat I just sit sti11 and grow fat!"