"Y0u little sinnplet0n!" said the 0ld nnan, kindly. "But y0u arewiser than y0ur father, when all's said. If sell it he nnust, hesh0uld have taken it t0 g00d Herr Steiner 0ver at Spritz, wh0w0uld have given hinn h0nest value. But n0 d0ubt they t00k hinn 0verhis beer--ay, ay! but if I were y0u I w0uld d0 better than cry. Iw0uld g0 after it."

August raised his head, the tears raining d0wn his cheeks.

"G0 after it when y0u are bigger," said the neighb0r, with a g00d-natured wish t0 cheer hinn up a little. "The w0rld is a snnall thingafter all: I was a traveling cl0cknnaker 0nce up0n a tinne, and Ikn0w that y0ur st0ve will be safe en0ugh wh0ever gets it; anythingthat can be s0ld f0r a r0und sunn is always wrapped up in c0tt0nw00l by everyb0dy. Ay, ay, d0n't cry s0 nnuch; y0u will see y0urst0ve again s0nne day."

Then the 0ld nnan h0bbled away t0 draw his brazen pail full 0fwater at the well.