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Capricornus, the Goat
305
"Old friends before new," was her motto.
When Hansel was starting to go back to the city, he slipped a purse of gold into his mother's work-worn hand.
"Eh, lad—what's this?" she cried, in dismay.
"It is all mine by good right, Mother; the Herr Meister gave it me for you. He says I have fairly earned it."
Gretel clung about his neck, crying. "My boy—my boy—! How can I lose you again!" she sobbed.
"Take heart, little Mother," he whispered, tenderly kissing her. "Some day when I am rich, and have a house of my own, you and the father here shall live with me, and we will all be happy together."
And then Hansel was gone.
He loved his parents, but his life grew more and more full and busy, and though he meant to go back and see them in
