A story for children

Said Tamar, as he hung his long staff on a branch of the oak and leaned his back against its trunk:

I forgot to tell you, Nono, what I heard about Lama, the sister of Renn... She told me of it herself. She said:

"I was living with my mother and my brother Renn in happiness and contentment, and my mother would always talk of our future, especially the future of dear Renn, who excelled among the boys of the quarter in his intelligence and his diligence...

My mother intended to send my brother to a big school, to learn the higher sciences and obtain the greatest diploma; but she left the two of us, to look after each other.

And I began to care for my brother in her place: I would send him to school, and pay his fees and the price of his books from the work of my needle — until the day came when I fell ill... My pain was made worse by thinking of my little brother; I would pass

night and day thinking of him, without arriving at any solution...

One morning — the pains had left me, and I was waiting to be discharged from the hospital —

I sat up in bed, looking out the window at the gardens and the singing sparrows, and talking to Nani, my faithful little dog, who had kept me company the whole time and always slept at the door of my room... I talked to her a great deal, for she was the only one near me, and I asked her: where shall I get the money to pay the doctor, and the hospital?.. And I saw Nani leap onto the bed, then throw herself upon my breast and murmur, saying:

— Do not grieve, my little mistress; you are happier than you think!..

— What are you saying, Nani?.. What are you saying!..

— I know that no harm will come to you, for you are a good girl; you love all people, and you love merriment and life!..

Nani said this, and bent over my hand, sniffing it and