THE ALM HUTTE. 125 



on in the dale. And although perchance none of the 

 lasses is the sweetheart of the youth who is the most 

 frequent visitor at the hut, still the friendly intercourse 

 of many a summer and an interchange of little acts of 

 kindness will cause them to provide, with all a woman's 

 thoughtfulness, for the poor fellow's comfort when he 

 comes to spend a solitary night there in autumn, and 

 the hut is quite deserted ; so before leaving the moun- 

 tain pasturage they will set in order everything for the 

 friend and favourite, who is sure to visit it often when 

 they are gone. 



There was a door in the room in which we were sitting 

 that led immediately into the cow-house, and above it 

 was the hay-loft. Over this door was written, " Catha- 

 rina Hess." I asked Solacher if that was the name of 

 the dairymaid. 



" Yes," he said, " that is her name. She is the pret- 

 tiest girl on all the mountains round. Her sister Lisl is 

 a nice girl too ; such a pair you will not easily match." 



" ; T is a pity they are not here now," I observed. 



" Ay, if they were, what fun we would have ! They 

 should sing and jodeln, and we would make the old hut 

 ring with our merriment." 



But as they were not there, to cheer us with the music 

 of their laughter and their voices, we flung some more 

 wood on the fire, and tried to make the place look bright 

 with the ruddy blaze. 



" If I had but something to boil water in, Solacher, 

 we might have a glass of grog," said T ; " and that would 

 warm us well before going to bed." 



"Grog — what is that? As to boiling some water, 

 that is easy enough ; we shall be sure to find something 

 in the cellar." Taking a firebrand he went below and 

 brought up a couple of pipkins, in one of which we set 



