noon
The dogs were now unharnessed and father and Petrus had gone for a stroll in the orchard . The boys stood crowding against the table , looking at aunt undoing her parcels . In one were sweet biscuits , in another brandy-balls , peppermints , pear-drops and toffy . All this was carefully divided into little stacks and each child was given his share , with the strict injunction not to eat any before noon . Fonske hid his in the drawer , next to the canary-seed , Dolfke his in the cupboard and Bertje shoved his portion into his pockets . It was not long before three or four of them were fighting like thieves and robbers , while Stanse and Frazie went to look at the baby , which lay sleeping quietly in the cradle . First one more drop of cherry-gin apiece and then to dinner .