Windmills and wooden shoes

Chapter 17: JAN’S DOG, RINK

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About This Book

The narrative follows Dutch siblings Jan and Katrina and their friends as they carry out everyday life in a small Dutch community: chores like milking cows, churning butter, selling milk; play and games; visits to windmills and barges; cultural details such as wooden shoes, storks' nests, blue-and-white dishes, dikes and canals; seasonal events including sleigh rides, St. Nicholas and Christmas; songs and simple illustrated scenes intended for classroom use. Episodes are short and episodic, combining practical descriptions of customs and landscape with domestic scenes to familiarize young readers with Holland's rhythms and material culture.

JAN’S DOG, RINK

Jan has a dog. He is a good strong dog. His name is Rink.

Jan has a big cart. It is a milk cart. It is always full of tall, shining milk-cans.

Rink draws the cart. He draws it to the town. Jan drives him.

When they go to the town, Jan sells his good sweet milk. Jan is kind to Rink. He helps him pull the cart when the way is rough. He pats Rink on the head and says, “Good Rink, good Rink. You are a good dog. I will give you a big bone when I get home.”

And Jan always does what he says. He always gives Rink a bone, and a drink of fresh water, when he comes back from the town.