do as I say," answered the wife, "we must all starve together:" and she let him have no peace until he came into her plan.
Meantime the poor children too were lying awake, restless and weak from hunger, so that they heard all that their mother said to her husband. "Now," thought May-bird to herself, "it is all up with us!" and she began to weep. But Roland crept to her bed-side, and said, "Do not be afraid, May-bird, I will find out some help for us." Then he got up, put on his jacket, and opened the door and went out.
The moon shone bright upon the little court before the cottage, and the white pebbles glittered like daisies on the green meadows. So he stooped down, and put as many as he could into his pocket, and then went back to the house. "Now, May-bird," said he, "rest in peace;" and he went to bed and fell fast asleep.
Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, the woodman's wife came and awoke them. "Get up, children," said she; "we are going into the wood; there is a piece of bread for each of you, but take care of it and keep some for the afternoon." May-bird took the bread, and carried it in her apron, because Roland had his pocket full of stones, and they made their way into the wood.
After they had walked on for a time, Roland stood still and looked towards home, and after awhile turned again, and so on several times. Then his father said, "Roland, why do you keep turning and lagging about so? move you legs on a little faster." "Ah! father," answered Roland, "I am stopping to look at my white cat that sits on the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me." "You little fool!" said his mother, "that is not your cat; 'tis the morning sun shining on the chimney top." Now Roland had not been looking at the cat, but had all the while been staying behind to drop from his pocket one white pebble after another along the road.
