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diff --git a/38626-h/38626-h.htm b/38626-h/38626-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11515c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/38626-h/38626-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6444 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> + + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Heimatlos, by Johanna Spyri. + </title> + + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + + body { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + } + + div.center { + text-align:center; + } + + div.center table { + margin-left:auto; + margin-right:auto; + text-align:left; + } + + div.figcenter { + padding:1em; + text-align:center; + font-size:0.8em; + border:none; + margin:auto; + text-indent:1em; + } + + div.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + margin-bottom:1em; + text-align:left; + } + + div.stanza { + margin:2em 0 0 2em; + } + + div.stanza span.i0 { + display:block; + margin-left:0em; + padding-left:3em; + text-indent:-3em; + } + + div.stanza span.i2 { + display:block; + margin-left:2em; + padding-left:3em; + text-indent:-3em; + } + + div.trnote { + margin-left:15%; + margin-right:15%; + margin-top:5%; + margin-bottom:5%; + padding:1em; + background-color:#f6f2f2; + color:black; + border:1px dotted black; + } + + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { + text-align:center; + } + + h1.booktitle { + letter-spacing:3px; + } + + h5 { + margin-bottom:1%; + margin-top:1%; + } + + hr.chap { + margin-top:6em; + margin-bottom:4em; + clear:both; + } + + p { + text-align:justify; + margin-top:.75em; + margin-bottom:.75em; + text-indent:0; + } + + p.author { + text-align:right; + margin-right:5%; + } + + p.h1 { + font-size:2em; + margin:.67em 0; + } + + p.h1, .h2, .h3, .h4, .h5, .h6 { + font-weight:bolder; + text-align:center; + text-indent:0; + } + + p.h2 { + font-size:1.5em; + margin:.75em 0; + } + + p.h3 { + font-size:1.17em; + margin:.83em 0; + } + + p.h4 { + margin:1.12em 0 ; + } + + p.h5 { + font-size:.83em; + margin:1.5em 0 ; + } + + p.h6 { + font-size:.75em; + margin:1.67em 0; + } + + p.spacer { + margin-top:2em; + margin-bottom:3em; + } + + span.in2 { + margin-left:2em; + } + + span.pagenum { + visibility:hidden; /* comment out to reveal page numbers */ + position:absolute; + right:2%; + font-size:75%; + color:gray; + background-color:inherit; + text-align:right; + text-indent:0; + font-style:normal; + font-weight:normal; + font-variant:normal; + } + + td.tdl { + font-variant:small-caps; + text-align:left; + } + + td.tdr { + text-align:right; + padding-right:1em; + } + + td.tdrfirst { + text-align:right; + padding-right:1em; + font-size:80%; + } + + </style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Heimatlos, by Johanna Spyri + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Heimatlos + Two stories for children, and for those who love children + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Illustrator: Frederick Richardson + +Translator: Emma Stelter Hopkins + +Release Date: January 20, 2012 [EBook #38626] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEIMATLOS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1 class="booktitle">HEIMATLOS</h1> + +<p class="h3"><i>TWO STORIES FOR CHILDREN, AND FOR THOSE WHO LOVE CHILDREN</i></p> + +<p class="h4"><br /><br />BY</p> + +<p class="h3">JOHANNA SPYRI</p> + +<p class="h4"><br /><br />TRANSLATION BY</p> + +<p class="h3">EMMA STELTER HOPKINS</p> + +<p class="h4"><br /><br />WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</p> + +<p class="h3">FREDERICK RICHARDSON</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h3">GINN AND COMPANY</p> + +<p class="h4">BOSTON · NEW YORK · CHICAGO · LONDON</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h5">COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY EMMA S. HOPKINS<br /> +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /> +912.8</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h6">The Athenæum Press<br /> +GINN AND COMPANY · PROPRIETORS +· BOSTON · U.S.A.</p> +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + +<p>In the translation of "Heimatlos" an effort has been made to hold as +far as possible to the original, in order to give the reader of +English the closest possible touch with the story as it stands in the +German. This method retains the author's delightful simplicity, and it +leaves revealed, even in her roundabout way of telling things, her +charming adaptability as a writer for children.</p> + +<p>The adult reader will pardon the repetitions, where the same thought +is expressed in different ways, when it is remembered that the author +is making doubly sure of reaching the understanding of the young mind. +The literal rendering has been sacrificed only in a few instances, and +then because of local idioms and national standards.</p> + +<p>It is the hope of the translator that these two stories, so widely +read by the children of Germany, will help our own little ones, in +these days of general prosperity, to appreciate the everyday comforts +of home, to which they grow so accustomed as often to take them for +granted, with little evidence of gratitude.</p> + +<p class="author">E. S. H.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"> </td> + <td class="tdl">LAKE SILS AND LAKE GARDA</td> + <td class="tdr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrfirst">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdrfirst">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Quiet Home</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">In School</td> + <td class="tdr">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Schoolmaster's Violin</td> + <td class="tdr">10</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Distant Lake without a Name</td> + <td class="tdr">17</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Lake has a Name</td> + <td class="tdr">22</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Rico's Mother</td> + <td class="tdr">25</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">A Precious Legacy and a Precious Prayer</td> + <td class="tdr">28</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">At Lake Sils</td> + <td class="tdr">33</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">A Puzzling Occurrence</td> + <td class="tdr">39</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">A Little Light</td> + <td class="tdr">43</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">A Long Journey</td> + <td class="tdr">45</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Journey Continued</td> + <td class="tdr">54</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Lake Garda</td> + <td class="tdr">60</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">New Friends</td> + <td class="tdr">67</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">An Emphatic Appeal</td> + <td class="tdr">82</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Advice</td> + <td class="tdr">86</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Over the Mountains</td> + <td class="tdr">94</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Two Happy Travelers</td> + <td class="tdr">103</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Clouds at Lake Garda</td> + <td class="tdr">111</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">At Home</td> + <td class="tdr">117</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Sunshine at Lake Garda</td> + <td class="tdr">127</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"> </td> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> </td> + <td class="tdl">WISELI FINDS HER PLACE</td> + <td class="tdr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrfirst">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdrfirst">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IB">I.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Coasting</td> + <td class="tdr">133</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IIB">II.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Home on the Hill</td> + <td class="tdr">138</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IIIB">III.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Another Home</td> + <td class="tdr">155</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IVB">IV.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Gotti Home</td> + <td class="tdr">163</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VB">V.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">How Life continues and Summer comes.</td> + <td class="tdr">174</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIB">VI.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">A New Feature</td> + <td class="tdr">192</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIIB">VII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">Brighter Days for the Patient and for Some One Else</td> + <td class="tdr">205</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIIIB">VIII.</a></td> + <td class="tdl">The Unexpected happens</td> + <td class="tdr">216</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><br /> + <a href="#PRONOUNCING_VOCABULARY">PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY</a></td> + <td class="tdr">231</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<p class="h2">HEIMATLOS</p> + +<p class="h3">LAKE SILS AND LAKE GARDA</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE QUIET HOME</p> + +<p>In the Upper Engadine Valley, on the road leading up to the Maloja +Pass, lies a lonely town called Sils. Taking a diagonal path from the +street back to the mountains, one comes to a smaller village known as +Sils-Maria. Here, a little aside from the highway, in a field, two +dwellings stood opposite each other. Both had old-fashioned doors and +tiny windows set deep in the wall. One house had a garden, where herbs +and vegetables and a few straggling flowers were growing. The other, +which was much smaller, had only an old stable with a couple of +chickens wandering in and out of it.</p> + +<p>At the same hour every morning there came out of this forlorn little +house a man who was so tall that he had to stoop in order to pass +through the doorway. His hair and eyes were very dark, and the lower +part<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> of his face was hidden by a heavy black beard. Familiar as this +man's figure was to the people of Sils, they always spoke of him as +"the Italian." His work took him regularly up the Maloja, where the +roads were being improved, or down the Pass to St. Moritz Bath, where +some new houses were going up.</p> + +<p>Each morning a boy followed the man to the door and stood looking +wistfully after him. It would have been hard to say just what those +great dark eyes were fixed upon, their gaze seemed so far reaching.</p> + +<p>Sunday afternoons, when the weather was favorable, the father and son +would go for a walk together. So striking was the likeness between +them that no one could help noticing it, although in the bearded face +of the man the sadness was less apparent. They seldom spoke, but +sometimes the man would hum or whistle a tune, and then the boy would +listen eagerly. It was easy to see that music was their chief +pleasure. When they were kept in the house by bad weather, the father +would play familiar airs on a mouth organ or on a whistle that he had +made himself—perhaps on a comb or even on a leaf from a tree. Once he +brought home a violin, which delighted the boy beyond measure. He +watched the father intently as he played, and later tried to bring out +the same notes himself. He must have succeeded fairly well, for the +man laughed, and laying his own fingers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> over the little ones, played +several melodies from beginning to end.</p> + +<p>The next day, while the father was away, the boy practiced until he +succeeded in playing his favorite tune, but after that the violin +disappeared and was never brought back again. Sometimes, however, the +father would sing in his deep voice,—softly, perhaps, at first, but +louder as he caught the spirit of the music. Then the boy would sing, +too, and when the words failed him—for the songs were in Italian, +which he did not understand—he could still hum the air. There was one +tune that he knew better than all the rest, for it was one his father +had sung over and over again. It had many verses, and this was the way +it began:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Una sera<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Peschiera—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Though the music was sad, this song was the boy's favorite. He would +always sing it with much feeling, his clear, bell-like voice blending +smoothly with the father's rich bass. Often when they had finished all +the verses, the man would put his hand on his son's shoulder and say, +"Good, Enrico! that went very well." Only his father called him +"Enrico"; to all others he was simply "Rico."</p> + +<p>There was still another person who lived in the little cottage. This +was Rico's aunt, who kept house<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> for the father and himself. In the +winter, when she sat spinning beside the stove and it was too stormy +to be out of doors, Rico had to be very careful of his behavior. +Everything he did seemed to annoy her. The faultfinding made the +loneliness still harder to bear when, as often happened, the father's +work kept him away from home for days at a time.</p> + +<p>Sometimes when Rico tried to escape from the presence of his aunt, she +would say sharply: "Shut the door and sit down, Rico. You are forever +letting the cold air into the house."</p> + +<p>He was thankful that his bed upstairs offered a safe retreat after +supper; and then he always had the pleasant anticipation that his +father would probably soon come home again.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="h3">IN SCHOOL</p> + +<p>Rico was nearly nine years old and had attended school two winters. +There was no school in the mountains in the summer, for every one, +including the teacher, was busy farming. Rico did not mind this, +however, for he had his own way of passing the time. In the morning he +would go out to the doorsteps where he would remain watching the house +opposite until a girl with laughing eyes beckoned him to come across. +They always had much to say to each other of all that had happened +since they were together before. Her name was Stineli, and she and +Rico were nearly the same age. They had always gone to school +together, were in the same classes, and from the first had been the +best of friends.</p> + +<p>Rico extended his intimacy to no one else. It was little pleasure to +him to be with the boys of the neighborhood. When they wrestled in the +school yard, Rico either walked away or paid no attention to them. If, +however, they attacked him, he would face them with such a strange +look that they ceased troubling him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>With Stineli he was perfectly contented. She had a lovely face with +merry light-brown eyes. Her fluffy golden hair was gathered into two +heavy braids which hung loosely from her shoulders. She was scarcely +nine years old, but there were seven younger brothers and sisters. For +these she had to do a great many things, so that her time for play was +sadly limited. The other children were Trudt, Sam, Peter, Urschli, +Anna, Kunzli, and the baby. Calls for Stineli seemed to come from +every direction, and she willingly helped wherever she could. The +mother said that Stineli could put on three pairs of stockings for the +little ones while Trudt, the younger sister, was getting a child's +foot in place for the first one.</p> + +<p>Stineli went to school gladly, for there was always the pleasant walk +going and returning with Rico. So many duties fell to her share during +the summer that she had no leisure except on Sunday afternoons. Then +she and Rico, who had usually been waiting on the doorsteps opposite, +would go hand in hand over the wide meadow to the wooded hill beyond +that stretched far out into the lake. There they would sit and look +down into the water and watch the waves beat against the shore. Here +they enjoyed themselves so much that Stineli was happy all the week in +looking forward to the pleasure of the next Sunday.</p> + +<p>There was some one else who contributed greatly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> to Stineli's +pleasure. This was her aged grandmother, who made her home with the +family. She noticed how much was expected of Stineli and often gave +her bits of money to brighten a hard day's work. She was very fond of +Rico and occasionally made it possible for Stineli to play with him by +taking the household duties upon herself.</p> + +<p>The grandmother frequently spent the summer evenings sitting in the +front yard, and Stineli and Rico liked to sit with her and listen to +the stories she told them. When the vesper bell rang she would say, +"Remember, that is the signal for our evening worship." Then the three +would devoutly repeat the Lord's Prayer.</p> + +<p>"Your evening devotion ought never to be neglected," the grandmother +continued one evening; "I have lived many more years than you have, +and I have known many people, but I have observed that there is a time +in the life of every one when prayer is needful. I have some in mind +who did not pray, but when troubles came they had nothing to comfort +them. I want you to know that you need not worry so long as you use +this prayer."</p> + +<p>It was May and the school was still in session, although it could not +be kept open much longer, for the trees were beginning to show green +tips, and great stretches of ground were entirely free from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> snow. +Rico was standing in the doorway, observing these facts while waiting +for Stineli. Earlier than usual the door across the way opened and she +ran to him.</p> + +<p>"Have you been waiting long? No doubt you've been building air castles +at the same time," she said, laughing. "We shall not be late to-day, +even if we walk slowly. Do you ever think about that pretty lake any +more?" asked Stineli, as they walked along.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," replied Rico; "I often dream of it, too, and I see +large red flowers near the violet-colored hills I told you about."</p> + +<p>"But dreams don't count," broke in Stineli. "I have dreamed that Peter +climbed up the tallest tree, but when he got to the topmost branch I +thought it was only a bird, and then he called to me to dress him. +That proves how impossible dreams may be."</p> + +<p>"This one of mine is possible," asserted Rico. "It makes me think of +something that I have really seen, and I know that I have looked at +those flowers and the hills. The picture is too real to be a dream +only." As they neared the schoolhouse a company of children ran to +meet them, and they all entered the schoolroom together.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the teacher came. He was an old man who had taught in +this room many years, and his hair had grown thin and gray as the +years<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> passed by. This morning he began the exercises with a number of +questions on previous work, following this with the song, "Little +Lambs."</p> + +<p>Rico was looking so attentively at the teacher's fingering of the +violin strings that he forgot to sing. The children, being accustomed +to depending upon Rico's voice, sang out of tune, and the notes from +the violin became more and more uncertain until all was in confusion. +The song was abruptly ended by the teacher's throwing the violin on +the table in disgust. "What are you trying to sing, you foolish +children?" he exclaimed. "If I only knew who gets so out of tune and +spoils the whole song!"</p> + +<p>A lad sitting next to Rico ventured to say, "I know why it went that +way; it always does when Rico doesn't sing."</p> + +<p>"What is that I hear about you, Rico?" began the teacher, sharply. +"You are a very obedient little fellow, but inattention is a serious +fault, the result of which you have just seen. Let us try again. Now, +Rico, see that you sing this time."</p> + +<p>The children joined heartily, and Rico's voice sustained the song to +the end. Then the teacher gave the violin a few final strokes and laid +it on the table. "A good instrument that!" he said, and rubbed his +hands with evident satisfaction.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE SCHOOLMASTER'S VIOLIN</p> + +<p>After school Stineli and Rico found their way out of the mass of +children and started for home.</p> + +<p>"Were you dreaming about your lake when you forgot to sing this +morning?" asked Stineli.</p> + +<p>"No, something quite different," answered Rico. "I was watching the +teacher, and I am sure that I can play 'Little Lambs,' if I only had a +violin."</p> + +<p>The wish must have been a heartfelt one with Rico, for he said it with +such a deep sigh that Stineli's sympathy was at once aroused and she +said: "We will buy one together. I have ever so many pennies that +grandmother gave me—I think twelve in all. How many have you?"</p> + +<p>"Not one," said Rico, sadly. "My father gave me some before he went +away, but my aunt took them. She said that I would only squander them +anyway. I know we can't get those."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we have enough without them," said Stineli, consolingly. +"Grandmother will give me more soon, and it can't be, Rico, that a +violin costs much.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> You know it is only a piece of old wood with four +strings drawn across it. That ought not to cost a great deal. Ask the +teacher to-morrow how much one costs, and then we will try to get +one."</p> + +<p>So the subject was left, but Stineli secretly resolved to get up early +to build the fires, because grandmother would notice it and give her +some more pennies.</p> + +<p>The following day, after school, Stineli went out without Rico and +stood at the corner of the building waiting for him. Rico was to ask +the teacher concerning the violin. She waited so long that she +wondered what could be keeping him, but finally he appeared.</p> + +<p>"What did he say? How much does it cost?" inquired Stineli, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I didn't dare ask him," said Rico in a dejected tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a shame!" she exclaimed; but noticing Rico's sadness, she +added, "It doesn't matter, Rico; you can ask him to-morrow." Then, in +her cheerful way, she took his hand and they walked home without +further mention of the subject.</p> + +<p>Rico had no better success, however, on the second day nor on the +third. He remained nearly half an hour at the teacher's entrance, not +finding the courage to ring the bell. The fourth evening Stineli said +to herself, "If he doesn't ask the teacher to-night, I will." This +time, however, as Rico was standing at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the door, the teacher came out +suddenly and noticed the boy's hesitating attitude.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean, Rico?" he asked, standing surprised and +perplexed before him. "Why do you come to a person's door without +rapping? If you have no business here, why don't you go home? If you +wish to tell me something, you may do so now."</p> + +<p>"What does a violin cost?" asked Rico, timidly.</p> + +<p>The teacher's surprise and mistrust increased.</p> + +<p>"Rico," he said severely, "what am I to think of you? Have you come +purposely to ask useless questions, or what is your idea? Will you +tell me what object you have in asking me what you did?"</p> + +<p>"I only wish to find out what a violin costs," said Rico, still +trembling at his own boldness.</p> + +<p>"You do not understand, Rico; now listen to what I say. One asks +something for a reason, otherwise it would be a useless question. Now +answer me truthfully, Rico, did you ask me this out of curiosity, or +did some one who wishes to buy a violin send you?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to buy one," said Rico, a little more bravely.</p> + +<p>"What did you say?" broke out the teacher, impatiently. "Such a +senseless boy—and an Italian besides—to wish to buy a violin! You +scarcely know what a violin is. Can you imagine how old I was before I +was able to buy one? I was twenty-two years<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> old and ready to enter my +life work as teacher. What a child, to think of buying a violin! Now, +to show you how foolish you are, I will tell you the price of one. Six +solid dollars is what I paid for mine. Can you grasp an idea of the +amount? We will put it into pennies. If one dollar contains one +hundred pennies, then six dollars would contain six times one hundred, +which is—Now, Rico, you are not dull at your studies; six times one +hundred is—"</p> + +<p>"Six hundred pennies," supplemented Rico, softly, for his voice nearly +failed him as he compared Stineli's twelve pennies with this large +sum.</p> + +<p>"But further, Rico," continued the teacher, "do you suppose that one +need only to buy a violin in order to play it? One has to do much more +than that. Just step in and let me show you."</p> + +<p>The teacher opened the door as he spoke and took down the violin from +its place on the wall.</p> + +<p>"There, take it on your arm and hold the bow in your hand; so, my boy. +Now, if you can sound <i>C, D, E, F,</i> I will give you a half dollar +right away."</p> + +<p>Rico actually had the violin on his arm! His face flushed, as with +sparkling eyes he played firmly and correctly, <i>C, D, E, F</i>.</p> + +<p>"You little rascal!" exclaimed the teacher. "Where did you learn that? +Who taught you so that you can find the notes?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know something else too, if I might play it," Rico ventured to say.</p> + +<p>"Play it," directed the teacher.</p> + +<p>Rico played the melody of the song, "Little Lambs," with the greatest +confidence, his eyes speaking his pleasure.</p> + +<p>The teacher had taken a chair and put on his spectacles. He had looked +attentively at Rico's fingers, moving with easy grace, then at his +joyous countenance, and again at his fingers. The boy had played +correctly.</p> + +<p>"Come to me, Rico," said the teacher, as he moved his chair to the +window and put Rico directly in front of him; "I want to talk a little +with you. You see, your father is an Italian, Rico, and they do all +sorts of things down there, they say, that we know nothing of up here +in the hills. Now look me in the eyes and tell me the truth. How is it +that you are able to play this tune correctly on my violin?"</p> + +<p>Rico looked steadily at the teacher and said frankly, "I learned it +from you in school, where we sing it so often."</p> + +<p>The teacher got up and paced the floor. This put the matter in an +entirely different light. So he was himself the cause of this +wonderful intelligence! All his suspicions vanished, and he +good-naturedly took out his pocketbook.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is the half dollar, Rico; it belongs to you. You had better go +now, but keep on being attentive to the violin playing. It may be that +you can make it amount to something, so that in twelve or fourteen +years you can buy a violin for yourself. Good night."</p> + +<p>Rico had looked longingly at the violin when he realized that he must +go, and he now laid it very tenderly on the table. He was pondering +the last words of the teacher, when Stineli came running to meet him.</p> + +<p>"How long it did take you!" she exclaimed. "Did you ask him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it is all of no use," said Rico with frowning brow. "A +violin costs six hundred pennies, and in fourteen years, when +everybody will probably be dead, he thought I could perhaps buy one. +Who wants to live fourteen years from now? There, you may take that; I +don't want it," and he put the half dollar into Stineli's hand.</p> + +<p>"Six hundred pennies!" repeated Stineli in amazement. "And how did you +get this money?"</p> + +<p>Rico told Stineli what had passed between him and the teacher, and +again said, "It is of no use."</p> + +<p>Stineli urged Rico to keep the money, but he would not take it again.</p> + +<p>"Then I will keep it and put it away with the pennies, and it shall +belong to us both," she said.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even Stineli felt discouraged, but happier thoughts came to her as +they turned the corner to enter the field and she saw the indications +of spring on every hand.</p> + +<p>"See, Rico, it will be summer in a short time, and we can go to the +woods once more. Let us go this Sunday so that you will be happy +again."</p> + +<p>"I shall never be happy again, Stineli, but if you would like to go, I +will go with you."</p> + +<p>They arranged their plans so that they could go the following Sunday. +It was not an easy task for Stineli to get away, for Peter, Sam, and +Urschli had the measles, and a goat was sick at the stable. She was +kept busy from the time she returned from school until late at night. +Saturday she worked all day and much later than usual, but did it so +willingly and was so cheerful that her father said: "Stineli is a +perfect treasure. She makes us all happy."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE DISTANT LAKE WITHOUT A NAME</p> + +<p>When Stineli awoke the following morning, she instantly realized that +it was Sunday. The grandmother's words of the previous evening were +still fresh in her memory, "You deserve the whole afternoon to-morrow, +and you shall have it."</p> + +<p>After dinner, when Stineli had finished all the necessary duties and +was prepared to join Rico, Peter called from his bed, "Stineli, come, +stay with me!"</p> + +<p>The two others who were ill shouted, "No, no, Stineli, we want you!"</p> + +<p>The father said, "I should like to have you go to the barn and take a +look at the goat first."</p> + +<p>"Hush, everybody!" broke in the grandmother. "Stineli shall go in +peace. I will look after these things myself. Remember, dear, that +when the vesper bell rings, you are to come home like good children." +The grandmother knew that there would be two of them.</p> + +<p>Stineli flew away like a bird for whom the door of its cage had been +opened, and went directly to Rico,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> who was waiting as usual. The sun +was shining pleasantly, and the heaven was an unbroken blue above them +as they crossed the meadow to reach the hill beyond. They still found +patches of snow in the shaded places, until they got up where the +whole surface had been exposed to the sun; from here they could see +the waves beating steadily against the rocks on the shore. They +searched for a dry place on a cliff directly over the water, and here +they sat down. The wind was blowing a sharp gale at this height; it +whistled in their ears and swayed the woods above them like a living +mass of green.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see, Rico, how beautiful it is here!" exclaimed Stineli as she +looked about. "I am so glad that spring has come again. See how the +water sparkles in the sunlight. There really cannot be a prettier lake +than this one."</p> + +<p>"I should say there is!" exclaimed Rico. "You ought to see the one I +mean! No such black fir trees with needles grow by my lake. We have +shining green leaves and large red flowers there. The hills are not so +high and black, nor so near, but show their violet colors from a +distance. The sky and water are all a golden glow, and there is such a +warm, fragrant air that one can always sit on the shore without being +cold. The wind never blows like this, and there is no snow to cover +one's shoes as ours are covered now."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>This description convinced Stineli that Rico was not speaking of a +place that he had simply dreamed about, so she said half sadly: +"Perhaps you can go there sometime and see it again. Do you know the +way?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Rico, "but I know that you have to go up the Maloja. I +have been as far as that with my father, and he showed me the road +that leads ever and ever so far down toward the lake. It is such a +long way that you could hardly get there."</p> + +<p>"It would be easy enough," remarked Stineli. "All you have to do is +just to keep right on going farther and farther and at last you <i>must</i> +get there."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Rico, "but father told me something else too. You have to +go to hotels to eat and to sleep on the way, and it takes money for +that."</p> + +<p>"But think of the money we own together!" cried Stineli.</p> + +<p>Rico frowned and said: "That doesn't amount to anything. I found that +out when I wanted to buy a violin."</p> + +<p>"Then you had better stay at home and not go, Rico. It is always nice +to be at home."</p> + +<p>Rico sat lost in thought, his head resting on his arm. Stineli was +busy gathering some moss and shaping it into pillows, which she +intended to take to the sick ones when she and Rico went home. She +thought<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> nothing of Rico's silence until he said: "You say that I can +stay at home, but it seems to me exactly as if that were something I +did not have. I am sure I don't know where it is."</p> + +<p>"O Rico, what are you saying!" cried the astonished Stineli, letting +the moss fall unheeded in her lap. "You are at home here, of course. +You are always at home where your father and mother—" Here she +stopped abruptly as she remembered that Rico had no mother and that +his father had not been at home for ever so long, and she shuddered as +she thought of his aunt, of whom she had always been afraid. She +scarcely knew how to continue, yet it grieved her to see Rico so sadly +silent. She impulsively took his hand and said, "I should like to know +the name of the lake where it is so beautiful."</p> + +<p>Rico meditated a moment. "I don't know it, Stineli. I wonder what it +can be and why I can't remember it!"</p> + +<p>"Let us try to find out," suggested Stineli; "then, when we get money +enough, you will be able to find your way to it. We might ask the +teacher about it, and possibly grandmother could tell us."</p> + +<p>"I think my father will know, and I will ask him just as soon as he +comes back."</p> + +<p>They heard the vesper bell ringing in the distance. They rose +immediately and ran through the bushes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> and snow, down the hill and +across the meadow. In a few moments they were panting beside the +grandmother, who stood at the door waiting for them. She greeted them +hastily and motioned for Stineli to pass into the house; then she +added to Rico: "I think that you had better go in when you get to the +house to-night, instead of waiting awhile outside. It may be better."</p> + +<p>No one had ever spoken like that to him before, and he wondered why +she asked it of him. He wished to obey the grandmother, but he could +not help entering the house reluctantly.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE LAKE HAS A NAME</p> + +<p>The aunt was not in the living room when Rico entered, so he went to +the kitchen door and opened it. There she stood, but before Rico had +time to take a step nearer, she raised her finger in warning: "Hush! +don't open and shut all the doors as if there were four of you coming. +Go into the other room and keep still. Your father was brought home in +a wagon, and he is sick upstairs."</p> + +<p>Rico went to the bench by the window, where he sat motionless for +fully half an hour. Then he decided that he would go up quietly and +look at his father; it was past supper time, and perhaps the sick man +might be needing something. He heard the aunt walking about the +kitchen, so he silently slipped behind the stove and up the narrow +stairway into his father's room.</p> + +<p>In a moment he was again in the kitchen, saying faintly, "Come, aunt!"</p> + +<p>She was about to take him by the shoulders to shake him, when she +caught sight of his frightened<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> face. She shrank from him, exclaiming, +"What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"If you will go to my father," said Rico, "I will see if the +grandmother can come over. My father must be dead."</p> + +<p>"I will run for the pastor!" cried the aunt, and rushed out ahead of +the trembling boy.</p> + +<p>Later he heard his aunt tell the pastor that for several weeks his +father had been working down in the St. Gall district on a railroad. +He had received a bad wound on his head while blasting stone. The +journey home, part of which had to be taken in an open wagon, had +proved too much for him.</p> + +<p>The following Sunday the man was buried. Rico was the only mourner to +follow the coffin. A few neighbors joined him through sympathy, and +thus the procession moved through Sils. Here Rico heard the pastor +read aloud during the service, "The dead man was called Enrico +Trevillo and was born in Peschiera on Lake Garda."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Rico that he was hearing something he had known very well +but had not been able to recall. He understood now why he had always +had the lake in mind when he and the father had sung his favorite +song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Una sera<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Peschiera."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>As Rico was returning alone from the funeral, he noticed that the +grandmother and Stineli were waiting in the yard. When he drew near +they beckoned him to come to them.</p> + +<p>The grandmother gave the boy and girl some bread, saying: "Now go and +take a walk together. Rico had better not be left alone to-day."</p> + +<p>She looked pityingly after the boy as the children walked away. When +she could see them no longer, she repeated softly:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Whatever in His care is laid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall have a happy end."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="h3">RICO'S MOTHER</p> + +<p>The teacher was coming down the path from Sils, leaning heavily on his +cane. He came directly from the funeral of Rico's father. He was +coughing and panting as he greeted the grandmother, and he sank +heavily to the seat beside her.</p> + +<p>"If you are willing," he said, "I will rest here a few moments. My +throat troubles me, and my chest is very weak. Of course, now that I +am seventy years old I must expect such things. What a pity that a man +of such powerful strength as the Italian must give up life! He was not +yet thirty-five years old."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the grandmother, "I, too, have been thinking how much +better I might have been spared than he."</p> + +<p>"I know how you feel," replied the teacher, "but I suppose the older +people have their place in life to fill as well as the younger ones. +Where would they find precept and example but for us? What will become +of the boy yonder?"</p> + +<p>"What will become of him?" repeated the grandmother. "I have been +asking the same question, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> I cannot tell you. I only know that +there is a Heavenly Father whom he still has, and he will doubtless +find a place for the homeless one."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, neighbor, how it ever happened that an Italian should get a +wife up here. There is no knowing what those strangers are."</p> + +<p>"I will tell you about them," said the grandmother. "You remember that +the girl's mother had lost her husband and several children, leaving +her only this one daughter. She was a charming maiden, with whom the +mother lived for years alone. I think that it is about twelve years +since the handsome young Trevillo first came here. He had joined a +group of men who were working on the Maloja. It was a case of love at +first sight with the young people. I am glad to be able to say that +Trevillo was not only a very handsome man but also very capable. The +mother was proud of her son-in-law and wanted them to remain with her. +They meant to do as she wished, but the daughter had a longing to see +the place that Trevillo described to her when they walked up the +Maloja. The mother objected strongly at first, but when she heard that +Trevillo owned a house and farm, having left it simply to see +something of the hills, she gave her consent and they moved away. She +heard from them regularly through the mail, but the daughter preferred +to remain in the new home, where they were very happy.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A number of years later, Trevillo came back to the mother, carrying a +little boy. 'There, mother,' he said, as he held the boy for her to +take, 'we have come back to you without Marie. She and the other baby +were buried a few days ago, and we cannot bear to live without her +down there. If you don't mind, we will stay here with you.'</p> + +<p>"It brought both happiness and sorrow to the mother. Rico was four +years old and extremely lovable and good. He was a comfort to her and +her last great pleasure, for she died a year later. People advised +Trevillo to get the aunt to keep house for him and the boy, and thus +they have lived ever since."</p> + +<p>"So that is their story!" remarked the teacher, when she had finished +speaking. "I never could imagine how it came about. It is possible +that some relative of Trevillo's may come to take the child."</p> + +<p>"Relatives!" said the grandmother, scornfully. "The aunt is a +relative, and what does he get from her? Few enough kind words, I am +sure."</p> + +<p>The teacher rose stiffly. "I am rapidly getting old, my friend," he +said. "I feel my strength leaving me to such an extent that I can +scarcely get about."</p> + +<p>"You should still feel young in comparison with me," said the +grandmother, and she wondered at his feebleness as he walked away with +slow, unsteady steps.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p class="h3">A PRECIOUS LEGACY AND A PRECIOUS PRAYER</p> + +<p>The pleasant summer days were at hand. The grandmother did not forget +Rico's loneliness, and she helped Stineli with the work as much as +possible, so that she and Rico might play together.</p> + +<p>In the early days of September, when every one made an effort to stay +out of doors for the last of the warm evenings, the teacher was forced +to remain in the house, for he was growing weaker and coughed more and +more. One morning, when he tried to rise as usual, he fell back upon +his pillow, exhausted. This brought to his mind serious thoughts of +how things would be left in case he died. He had lived among these +mountain people all his life and loved both his home and his work, but +he had no children, and his wife had been dead many years. The only +one who lived with him was a faithful old servant. He had made no +plans for disposing of his property. He loved his violin more than all +his other possessions, and it grieved him to realize that the time was +at hand when he must leave it. He remembered the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> day that Rico had +been there and had held it so lovingly, and the desire came to him to +leave it with the boy, so that it might always have the care it +deserved. It seemed a shame that he must actually give away things for +which he had worked so hard and cared so much. Many plans for +disposing of them presented themselves, but each was put aside as he +faced the grim messenger and realized that earthly things had served +him all they could.</p> + +<p>A fever was taking firm hold upon him. All the evening and through the +long night he lay restless, thinking of his past and the little he had +done for the world. He was seized by a longing to do some one a real +kindness before it was too late. He reached for his cane and tapped +the wall for his servant, whom he directed to summon the grandmother +to him. It was not long before she stood by his bedside. Without +waiting to extend his hand in greeting, he said: "Please be so kind as +to take the violin from the wall and carry it to the little orphan, +Rico. I want to give it to him. Tell him that I hope he will take good +care of it."</p> + +<p>The grandmother understood the restless impatience of the sick one, so +she immediately lifted the violin from its place, saying: "That is +truly good of you. How astonished he will be! I will come in later to +see how you are feeling."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rico was standing on the doorsteps when he saw the grandmother coming, +and he ran to meet her.</p> + +<p>"I have come with good news for you, Rico," she said. "The teacher has +asked me to bring you this violin. He wishes to give it to you. Take +it, Rico. It is your own now."</p> + +<p>Rico seemed suddenly petrified. The grandmother touched his shoulder, +repeating: "It is yours; take it, child, and be happy. The teacher +wants you to have it."</p> + +<p>Rico trembled as she laid the gift in his arms. "If that is true, I +will take it," was all he could say.</p> + +<p>"You will always be careful of it, won't you?" asked the grandmother, +to fulfill the teacher's request, but she smiled as she thought how +unnecessary the caution was. "Now, Rico," she added, "I will go home, +but I hope that you will not forget about the teacher's kindness, for +he is very sick."</p> + +<p>Rico went up to his room, where he could be alone with his treasure. +Here he examined it carefully and played softly to his heart's +content. So absorbed was he in his pleasure that he forgot to think of +the time until it began to grow dark.</p> + +<p>His aunt met him at the foot of the stairs, saying: "You may have +something to eat to-morrow. You are so excited to-day that you deserve +nothing."</p> + +<p>Rico had not thought about supper. He said<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> nothing to his aunt, but +walked contentedly over to find the grandmother. Stineli was lighting +the kitchen fire when he went in. Ever since she had heard the good +news in the morning, she had been wishing that she had time to run +over to tell Rico how glad she was. Now that he suddenly stood before +her, she could contain herself no longer. She exclaimed over and over +as she danced about: "It is yours, Rico! I am so glad! It is yours! It +is yours!"</p> + +<p>Before the rejoicing had subsided, the grandmother entered. Rico went +up to her and said, "Grandmother, will it be right for me to go over +to thank the teacher if he is sick?"</p> + +<p>She considered a moment, because the old man had looked so ill that +morning; then she said, "Yes; I will go with you."</p> + +<p>She led the way to the sick man's room, Rico following closely with +the precious violin, which had not been out of his arms since it had +been given to him.</p> + +<p>The teacher had become very weak since morning. Rico stepped to the +bed with such a happy, grateful face that he did not need to say a +word. The sick man gave the boy a loving caress and then asked for the +grandmother. Rico stepped aside and she took his place. "Grandmother," +said the teacher faintly,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> "I have been feeling so troubled that I +shall be glad if you will pray for me."</p> + +<p>Just then the vesper bell rang. Rico bowed his head as the grandmother +prayed by the bed. After an interval of silence she gently closed the +eyes of her old friend, for he had died during prayer. Then taking +Rico by the hand, she led him softly from the room.</p> + +<p>Rico understood what had happened. He and the grandmother walked in +silence until they reached her home.</p> + +<p>"Do not be unhappy, Rico," she said; "your teacher has been suffering +for some time, and we should rather rejoice that he is now at rest +with the Heavenly Father. I know you will always remember him for his +useful life and for his loving gift to you."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p class="h3">AT LAKE SILS</p> + +<p>During the week that followed Rico's good fortune Stineli was as happy +as a bird, in spite of the fact that there seemed to be ten more days +than usual before Sunday came. It arrived at last, and proved to be a +glorious day of sunshine. When she found herself with Rico, under the +evergreens on the hill overlooking the lake, she felt so thankful that +she could only dance about the moss-covered slope. After a while she +seated herself on the edge of the cliff, where she could see both the +lake and the village far down the hill.</p> + +<p>"Come, Rico," she said; "now we can sing."</p> + +<p>Rico sat down beside her and began tuning the violin, which, you may +be sure, he had not forgotten to bring with him. Then they sang +together:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come down, little lambs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the sunniest height—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and on through every one of the stanzas. Stineli was brimming over +with fun.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus040.jpg" width="400" height="612" alt="" /> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come," she said, "let's make some more rhymes. How will this do?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, climb, little lambs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the beautiful green,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the winds are all hushed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the clouds are unseen."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This made them laugh, and they sang the verses two or three times. +"More, Stineli!" cried Rico, encouragingly, and Stineli went on:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Little lambs, little lambs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Under heavenly blue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Mong numberless flowers<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of exquisite hue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There's a boy who is sad,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here's a girl who is gay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But all lakes are alike<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Made of water, they say."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>They laughed again and sang their verses over several times. "I wish +we had some more," said Rico; so Stineli added two more stanzas:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Little lambs, little lambs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So playful yet shy;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gay and happy are they,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though they know not just why.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Now the boy and the girl<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the lake are so glad;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If we think not at all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can we ever be sad?"<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Then they began from the beginning and sang all the verses over and +over again, and the more they sang them the better they liked their +song. They tried to sing other songs during the afternoon, but every +little while they would go back to what Rico called "Stineli's song," +but what she called "our own song."</p> + +<p>Once while they were singing, Stineli stopped abruptly and clapped her +hands for joy. "I have just thought of a way to get to your pretty +lake without money," she said exultantly.</p> + +<p>Rico looked inquiringly at his companion.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see?" she added hastily. "Now that you have a violin and +know a song, it is very simple. You can stop at the door of the inns +to play and sing; then the people will give you something to eat and +let you sleep there, for they will know that you are not a beggar. You +can keep on going until you get there, and you can come back in the +same way."</p> + +<p>They were still discussing the plan when they noticed that it was +growing dark. They had not heard the vesper bell. Running down the +hill, they found the grandmother out looking for them.</p> + +<p>They ran joyfully to her, taking it for granted that she knew they +would have come earlier had they been aware of the time. "Oh, +grandmother!" exclaimed Stineli; "you will be astonished to find how +well<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> Rico can play. We have a song all our own that we want to sing +to you."</p> + +<p>The grandmother smiled. It was a pleasure to her to see the children +together. "I can see that you have enjoyed the afternoon," she said +when the song was ended. "I wonder, Rico," she continued, "if you can +play my favorite tune, 'With heart and voice to Thee I sing.' We will +all sing if you can play for us."</p> + +<p>The grandmother sang softly the first verses of the hymn and Rico took +it up readily, for it proved to be familiar. Then the three joined in +the singing, the grandmother speaking each verse before they began:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With heart and voice to Thee I sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lord of my life's delight!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O'er all the earth let love take wing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To make dark places bright!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I know that Thou the well of grace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And everlasting art;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou, Lord, to whom we all can trace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The pure and true of heart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Why then unhappy should we live<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And sorrow day and night?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, let us take our cares and give<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To Him who has the might.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He never will refuse His aid<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If you a prayer will send;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whatever in His care is laid<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall have a happy end.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Then let the blessing onward go,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And cause it not to stay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That you may rest in peace below<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And happy be alway."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"There, that was a real benediction," said the grandmother. "You may +go to rest in peace, children."</p> + +<p>"And I believe I like the violin just as well as Rico does," said +Stineli. "Aren't you glad he can play so well? And it's so nice here, +wouldn't you like to have him play some more?"</p> + +<p>"I am very glad, dear," said the grandmother, "but we will not play or +sing any more to-night. We'll let Rico go now, and let us all keep in +our hearts the thought of the last song. Remember the Father will care +for his own. Good night."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p class="h3">A PUZZLING OCCURRENCE</p> + +<p>That evening Rico was later than usual in returning to the house, for +the grandmother's singing lesson had taken some time. The aunt met him +at the door.</p> + +<p>"So this is the way you have begun!" she said sharply. "Your supper +has been waiting for you long enough, so you may go to bed without it. +I am sure it will not be my fault if you become a tramp. Any drudgery +would be better than taking care of a boy like you."</p> + +<p>Usually Rico made no response to her faultfinding. To-night he met her +angry look with an expression of determination that she had never seen +in his face before.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he replied quietly, "I will take myself out of your way." +He said nothing more, and as he went up to his dark bedroom he heard +his aunt bolt the door.</p> + +<p>The following evening, when the neighboring household had gathered +about the table for supper, the aunt surprised them by coming to the +door to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> inquire for Rico. She had not seen him that day.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," said Stineli's father, cheerfully; "he'll come when +he's hungry."</p> + +<p>As soon as the aunt saw that the boy had not taken refuge at the +neighbor's, she went on to explain that in the early morning she had +found the door unbolted. At first she had supposed that her trouble +with Rico had made her forget to fasten it, but when she saw that he +was not in his room and that his bed had not been slept in, she +concluded that he had run away.</p> + +<p>"If that is the case, something has surely happened to him," said the +father. "He may have fallen into a crevasse on the mountain. A boy +climbing about in the dark might easily break his neck. You were wrong +not to speak of it sooner, for how is any one to find him, now that +the daylight is gone?"</p> + +<p>"Of course everybody will blame <i>me</i> for it," the aunt retorted. "That +is the way when a person is uncomplaining. No one will believe" (and +here she told the truth) "what a stubborn, malicious, deceitful child +he has been, nor how he has made my life miserable all through these +long, long years. He will never be anything but an idle tramp."</p> + +<p>The grandmother could bear no more in silence. She rose from the +table, her eyes flashing with indignation.</p> + +<p>"Stop, neighbor, for pity's sake!" she protested. "I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> know Rico very +well. Ever since the father brought him here I have seen him almost +constantly. Instead of saying harsh things about the child remember +what danger he may be in this very minute. Don't you suppose that he +may also have some reason to complain?"</p> + +<p>The aunt had been thinking all day of Rico's words, "I will take +myself out of your way," and trying to justify her own position. Now +the grandmother's rebuke made her ashamed. "I will go back," she said, +as she stepped out into the dark field. "Rico may have come home while +I have been standing here." In her heart she knew that she would be +glad to find this true, but the little house was empty and still.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the neighbors set forth to search carefully in +the ravines and along the approaches to the glacier. When Stineli's +father noticed that she had followed the others he said, "That is +right, Stineli; you can get into places where bigger folk could not +go."</p> + +<p>"But, father," said Stineli, "if Rico went up the road he couldn't +have fallen into any such place, could he?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he could!" said the father. "He was such a dreamer that it +would have been easy enough for him to lose his way. He probably paid +no attention to where he was going, and wandered off toward the +mountains."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>A great fear entered Stineli's heart when she heard this. For days she +could scarcely eat or sleep and she went listlessly about her work as +if she did not know what she was doing.</p> + +<p>No one could be found who had seen Rico since the night he left home. +As time went on he was given up for dead. The neighbors tried to +console one another by saying: "He is better off as it is. The child +had no one to look after him properly."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p class="h3">A LITTLE LIGHT</p> + +<p>Stineli became more and more depressed as the days passed. The +children complained, "Stineli won't tell us any more stories and she +won't laugh with us any more."</p> + +<p>One day the mother spoke to the father about the change in Stineli, +but all that he said was: "It is because she is growing so rapidly. +Let her rest a little and give her plenty of goat's milk to drink."</p> + +<p>After about three weeks had passed in this way, the grandmother went +with Stineli to her room one evening and said, "I can understand, +dear, how hard you find it to forget about Rico, but I am afraid that +you are not resigning yourself to the inevitable as it should be your +duty to do for the sake of the dear ones about you."</p> + +<p>"But, grandmother," sobbed Stineli, "you don't know how it hurts me to +think that I gave Rico the notion of going to the lake; and now that +he has been killed, I am to blame for it."</p> + +<p>A great load seemed to fall from the grandmother as she heard these +words. She had given Rico up for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> lost, for she could not otherwise +account for his complete disappearance. A strong hope of his safety +now came to her.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, child," she said, "all that you know about his going to the +lake."</p> + +<p>Stineli told of Rico's longing to see the pretty lake he remembered, +and how she had advised him to make the trip. "I am sure," she said, +"that Rico started for the lake, but father says that he would get +killed anyway."</p> + +<p>"We have a right to hope for something better," said the grandmother. +"Have you forgotten the song we sang the last night that Rico was with +us?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Whatever in His care is laid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall have a happy end.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of course it was wrong of you to advise Rico without consulting your +parents, but you did it thoughtlessly and meant no harm, so you may +dare to hope that there will be a happy ending to Rico's going to the +lake. I feel satisfied now that the child is alive and that he will be +taken care of."</p> + +<p>From that time on Stineli began to be her old self. To be sure, she +missed her friend, but she cherished a secret hope that he would +return to her. Day by day she looked up the road to see if he might +not possibly be coming down the Maloja Pass, but the seasons came and +went and nothing was heard from the missing boy.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p class="h3">A LONG JOURNEY</p> + +<p>When Rico was so harshly dismissed by his aunt that Sunday evening, he +went up to his room and took a chair in the darkness. His intention +was to stay there only until his aunt had gone to bed. It seemed a +simple undertaking to him to find his lake, now that Stineli had told +him her plan. He dreaded the aunt's interference, although he knew +that she would be glad to have him gone. His first thought upon +reaching his room was, "I will go to-night, as soon as she has gone to +bed."</p> + +<p>A feeling of relief swept over Rico as he contemplated the future when +he should be able to live for days without seeing the aunt. He thought +of the beautiful flowers he would gather to bring back to Stineli, for +there was not the least doubt in his mind about his coming back to +her. Then, as he walked in fancy on the sunny shore of the lake, and +thought of its beautiful setting, he fell asleep.</p> + +<p>His uncomfortable position awakened him at last. The violin still lay +in his lap, and as he felt it his plan came to his mind. The room was +still as dark as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> when he had entered in the early evening. He was +glad that he was wearing his best suit. He put on his hat and, going +softly down the stairs, he quietly pushed back the bolt and let +himself out into the brisk morning air.</p> + +<p>Over the hills he could see the first glimmer of morning. Soon he +heard the cocks announcing the break of day, and he increased his pace +so that he might get beyond the town before it was light enough for +him to be recognized. He very much enjoyed the walk, combined with the +feeling of freedom, as soon as he got to the open country. It was +familiar to him, for he and the father had many times walked there +together. He had no idea of the distance to the top of the Maloja, but +after he had walked steadily for two hours, it began to seem like a +long way.</p> + +<p>Bright daylight came at last, and after another hour of brisk walking +he reached the summit of the mountain, where he and the father had so +often stood looking at the scenery about them. A sunny morning was +spread over the hills. The evergreen tops shimmered in the distance as +if sprinkled with gold. Rico sat down by the roadside, a very tired +and hungry boy, and well he might be, for he had eaten nothing since +Sunday noon. Perhaps, he thought, he should find it much easier now +that his way would be going downhill, and possibly it would not be +much farther to the lake.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Rico sat by the roadside, lost in thought, the large stagecoach +came rumbling by. Rico had often seen it and envied the coachman on +that high seat where he could look about him so well and have control +of those fine large horses. The coach halted in the driveway leading +to the inn at the summit. Rico came closer and watched the driver as +he came out of the inn; he had remained but a moment, and he was now +carrying a huge slice of black bread and a large piece of cheese. He +cut these into strips and began to eat them, occasionally giving a +bite to the horses. While they were contentedly eating, the driver +noticed Rico's interested attention.</p> + +<p>"Well, little musician," he said, "will you eat with us? Come nearer +and I will give you some."</p> + +<p>Rico had not realized how hungry he was until he saw the bread and +cheese, but he quickly stepped forward at the invitation. The coachman +cut such a large piece of bread and put such a thick slice of cheese +on it that Rico had to find a place to lay his violin in order to have +both hands free to hold his liberal portion. It pleased the man to see +the way in which Rico attacked his breakfast, and he took the occasion +to ask him a few questions.</p> + +<p>"You are a very young musician. Can you play anything?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, two new songs, and a few others."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is that so! And where do you expect your little legs to take you?"</p> + +<p>"To Peschiera on Lake Garda," was Rico's prompt reply.</p> + +<p>The coachman laughed so heartily at this that Rico was puzzled.</p> + +<p>"That is great!" said he. "Don't you know that a little one like you +could wear out the soles of his shoes, and his feet too, before he +would see a drop of water from Lake Garda? Who sends you down there?"</p> + +<p>"I go of my own accord," said Rico.</p> + +<p>"Bless me, did you ever see such a child! Where is your home?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; maybe it is at Lake Garda," said Rico, earnestly.</p> + +<p>The coachman looked thoughtfully at the boy. He did not look like a +runaway, neither did he have the appearance of neglect. His black +curly hair hanging over his Sunday frock was very pretty and +childlike. His attractive appearance and honest looks gained the man's +sympathy.</p> + +<p>"You carry your passport in your face, my lad," he said. "It is all +right, even if you don't know where your home is. What will you give +me if I put you on the high seat beside me and take you a long way on +your journey?"</p> + +<p>Rico stared in amazement. To think of sitting on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>that high seat and +riding down the valley! How he longed for the experience, but what had +he to pay? "I haven't anything to give but my violin, and I couldn't +part with that," he said at last.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus055.jpg" width="400" height="611" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well," said the coachman, laughing, "I shouldn't know what to do with +that if I had it, so you may keep it. Come, we will get on now, and +you can play for me anyway."</p> + +<p>Rico scarcely dared believe that the man meant what he said, but it +was true, and he was hoisted up to the seat. The passengers were +inside the coach, with the windows down, as the morning was cool. The +driver took up the reins and they started down the hill that Rico had +wanted to pass over for so long a time. In what a remarkable way was +his desire fulfilled! He felt as if he were sailing between heaven and +earth, and wondered how it had all come about.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, little traveler," began the coachman, "where is your +father?"</p> + +<p>"He is dead," answered Rico.</p> + +<p>"Is that so! Where is your mother?"</p> + +<p>"She is dead, too," came the answer.</p> + +<p>"That is too bad! How about grandfather and grandmother?"</p> + +<p>"They are dead."</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" exclaimed the man. "But you must have brother or +sister?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They are dead," was again Rico's sad reply.</p> + +<p>"What was your father's name?"</p> + +<p>"Enrico Trevillo from Peschiera on Lake Garda."</p> + +<p>This made the coachman conclude that the boy belonged rightfully to +Peschiera and that possibly he had been kidnapped by a mountaineer. +However that might be, he determined to help the boy to get back to +where he evidently belonged, and so he dismissed the matter from his +mind.</p> + +<p>After they had descended the first hill and were riding along on a +comparatively level stretch of road, the driver said, "Now, little +musician, play us a lively piece of music."</p> + +<p>Rico tuned his instrument, and feeling very grateful to the good man +for letting him ride, he not only began to play but to sing with all +the strength of his bell-like voice, "Come down, little lambs, from +the sunniest height."</p> + +<p>It so happened that there were on the coach three students who were +taking a vacation trip in the hills. To them the music was most +welcome, and Stineli's verses appealed to their sense of humor. Rico +was asked again and again to sing the song, and they joined in the +singing as soon as they had learned the words. Sometimes they laughed +so hard that they had to go back to the beginning.</p> + +<p>Thus the journey progressed merrily. If Rico<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> stopped playing, they +asked him for more, and threw him pieces of silver until he had quite +a sum in his hat which he held safely between his knees.</p> + +<p>All the windows were now open, and some of the passengers were leaning +out, trying to get a glimpse of the musician. The fun did not cease +until the noon hour brought them to an inn, where they were to stop +for dinner. The driver helped Rico transfer the money from his hat to +his pockets, saying, "I am glad that you have that, for now you can +buy your dinner."</p> + +<p>The students had not been able to see Rico from their position on the +coach, and were much surprised to find such a little boy. Their good +humor increased, and they took him in their midst, giving him a place +at their table and waiting upon him as upon an honored guest. Rico +could not remember of ever having seen so pretty a table or of ever +having eaten so good a dinner.</p> + +<p>"From whom did you learn that song?" asked one.</p> + +<p>"From Stineli; it is her song, because she made it herself," answered +Rico.</p> + +<p>"That was clever of Stineli," said another. "Let us drink to her +health and happiness, since her song has so richly entertained us this +morning!"</p> + +<p>The noon hour was gone all too soon. As the passengers began taking +their places in the coach, a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> large, heavily built man, clad in a +brown worsted suit and carrying a heavy cane, came to Rico and said: +"See here, little man, you sang very well this morning. I heard you +from my window, and I want to tell you that I am in the business of +buying and selling sheep, so I want to give you something, because you +sang to us about the little lambs." Then he pressed a large piece of +silver into Rico's hand.</p> + +<p>The man entered the coach, and the sturdy driver tossed Rico to his +seat as if he were but a toy in his hands. A moment later they were +speeding down the valley.</p> + +<p>Later in the afternoon Rico played again for them. He went over all +the tunes he knew and finally played the melody and sang the song that +he had learned from the grandmother the previous evening. This dreamy +air must have lulled the students to sleep, for he heard nothing more +from them. He put away his violin and watched the daylight fade and +the stars begin to twinkle. The evening breeze was cooling the air. +Rico thought of Stineli and the grandmother, and wondered what they +were doing. In imagination he heard the vesper bells, and then he +wondered no longer. He seemed to be with them as he folded his hands +and, looking up to the star-sprinkled heaven, prayed as they had +taught him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE JOURNEY CONTINUED</p> + +<p>Rico had fallen asleep. He was awakened by the coachman, who wanted to +help him from the wagon. Everybody had hurried away except the +students, who came to Rico to bid him good luck for the journey and +ask him to tell Stineli about them. Then with a merry "good-by" they +too departed. Rico could hear them singing Stineli's song as they +went.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If we think not at all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can we ever be sad?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The next moment found Rico standing in the darkness, without any idea +as to where he was or what he should do. It occurred to him that he +had not thanked the coachman for having taken him so far, and he +wanted to do so before going away. The man and the horses had +disappeared, and it was too dark to see where they were. Soon Rico +detected a faint glimmer to his left; this proved to be the light from +the lantern in the barn, and he could dimly see the horses being led +through the door into the stable. Rico hurried to the place, and +finding that the large man who carried the cane was standing in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> the +doorway, apparently waiting for the driver, the boy waited there also.</p> + +<p>The sheep buyer could not have noticed Rico at first, for suddenly he +exclaimed: "What, you still here, little one? Where are you going to +spend the night?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where," answered Rico.</p> + +<p>"You don't know where! at eleven o'clock at night—a little one like +you! What does this mean?" the man's breath nearly failed him in his +astonishment, but he had no chance to finish his exclamation, for the +coachman came out just at that moment, and Rico immediately stepped up +to him, saying, "I forgot to thank you for bringing me so far, and I +wanted to."</p> + +<p>"Good that you did!" said the driver. "I was busy with the horses and +forgot that I meant to hand you over to a friend." The coachman turned +to the other man, saying: "Here, good friend, I intended to ask you if +you wouldn't take this child with you down the valley, since you were +going that way. He wants to go to Lake Garda, and he seems to be all +alone in the world—you know what I mean."</p> + +<p>"Stolen, perhaps," said the large man as he cast a pitying glance at +Rico. "I have little doubt of his belonging to those who would do well +by him if they had him. Of course I will take him with me." He +motioned Rico to follow him as he bade the coachman good night.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>A short walk brought them to the door of an inn; they entered and took +chairs at a small table in one corner of the room. "Let us count your +money," said Rico's new friend. "We can tell then how far it will take +you on your journey. Where is it that you wish to go?"</p> + +<p>"To Peschiera on Lake Garda," answered Rico. He took all the money +from his pockets and piled it on the table, putting the large piece of +silver on top.</p> + +<p>"Is that large piece the only one you have?" asked the friend.</p> + +<p>"The only one. I got it from you," answered Rico.</p> + +<p>It pleased the man to have Rico remember this, and he was glad to know +that of all the listeners he had been the most liberal. It occurred to +him to add another coin, but the supper he had ordered came in just +then, so he said instead: "Very well, you may keep what you have for +to-morrow. I will pay for the supper and lodging to-night."</p> + +<p>Rico was so tired that he found it difficult to eat anything. The man +noticed this and let him go straight to bed. He had scarcely touched +the pillow before he was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning Rico was aroused from a sound slumber by +his friend, who stood before him, cane in hand, ready for the journey. +A few moments later Rico joined him in the breakfast<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> room, where +their coffee was awaiting them. The man helped Rico to an abundant +breakfast, telling him that they had a long journey before them, so +that they must be fortified against hunger on the way. "A part of our +trip to-day will be taken on the water, and that always sharpens a +person's appetite," said he.</p> + +<p>The breakfast over, the travelers started on their way. They walked a +short distance and then turned a corner, where Rico caught his breath +in surprise, for a beautiful lake lay before them. "Aren't we at Lake +Garda?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, no, we are a long way from it yet," replied his friend. "This is +Lake Como, where we take a steamer."</p> + +<p>They were soon at the steamship landing, where they entered a small +vessel. The sunny shore seemed to speak a welcome to Rico. He and the +man had taken chairs at a table. Rico took his largest piece of silver +and laid it on the table in front of his friend, who was sitting with +his hands resting on his cane.</p> + +<p>"What is that for?" he asked. "Have you too much money to suit you?"</p> + +<p>"You told me that I must pay to-day," said Rico.</p> + +<p>"It is good of you to remember," said the man, "but you mustn't put +your money on the table like that. Let me take it and I will settle +the bill for you."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>He went to the ticket agent, but when he saw how full his own purse +was, he could not bear to use the only large piece the child +possessed, so he gave it back to Rico with his ticket, saying: "There, +you had better keep this; you may need it to-morrow. I am with you +now, and there may be no one to look after you when I am gone. Who +knows how much you may have occasion to use later! When you get to +Peschiera have you some one to whom you can go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know of any one," answered Rico.</p> + +<p>The man stifled his surprise, but he had a secret fear that all might +not go well with the child. He resolved to find out more about the boy +on his return trip, thinking that the coachman would be able to tell +him, and so he asked Rico no more questions.</p> + +<p>When the steamer had landed her passengers, the man said, "We must +hurry across to the railway station to catch our train, Rico, and I am +going to take you by the hand; then I shall be sure not to lose you."</p> + +<p>Rico had all he could do to keep up with the man, who walked on +rapidly. He wished for time to look about him, but he had to wait +until they reached the train, which was the first one he had ever +seen. He felt very strange in it, even with the man at his side. He +was glad that he was near a window, where he could look out, as +everything was of interest to him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>After about an hour's ride, Rico's friend said: "We are coming into +Bergamo, where I shall have to leave you, Rico. All that you have to +do is to sit still until the conductor comes to help you off, and then +you will know that you are in Peschiera. He has promised me that he +will tell you."</p> + +<p>Rico very earnestly thanked his benefactor, and then he and the good +man parted, each being sorry to leave the other.</p> + +<p>Sitting in the corner of the car, Rico meditated upon all that had +come to pass in the last few days of his life. No one in the +compartment paid any attention to him, and he was glad to spend his +time looking out of the window, thinking of whatever he wished. Three +hours had passed before the conductor came to him and took his hand to +help him down the steps. Then pointing toward the station he said, +"Peschiera." The train started on, and Rico watched it move away until +it was lost to view in the distance.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p class="h3">LAKE GARDA</p> + +<p>Rico walked a few paces away from the station and looked about him. +This large white building, the open space in front of it, the winding +street in the distance, were all strange to him. He was positive that +he had never seen them before. He had to confess to himself, "I have +not come to the right place, after all."</p> + +<p>He sadly followed along the path between the trees until he came to a +turn in the road which brought him to a sudden standstill, for before +him lay the sky-blue lake, the water shimmering in the sunshine. +Yonder were the towering hills in the distance, with the faint +outlines of the white dwellings in the valleys. How familiar it +seemed! Many a time he had stood just where he was at present. He +recognized the trees, but where was the house? Oh, there should be a +little white house near by, but it was gone! There was the street that +led to it. How well he remembered it! There were the red flowers in +the abundance he had been used to seeing. There ought to be a bridge a +little farther down. In his eagerness to see<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> it he ran toward it, and +sure enough, it was there, just as memory had pictured it.</p> + +<p>A flood of recollections overpowered him. It was here that a lovely, +loving woman had held him by the hand,—his mother. In fancy he saw +her face distinctly and heard the sweet words of her lips, and +understood anew the love revealed in her youthful eyes. Throwing +himself upon the grass, Rico wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>The sun was setting before he dried his eyes and began to think of +what he should do. The golden evening glow that his memory had +cherished was on the water, the hills had taken the violet tints, and +the fragrance of the roses perfumed the air. The beauty of the place +comforted him, and he thought, "How I wish Stineli could see this!"</p> + +<p>When Rico left the bridge, the sun had set and the light of day was +fast fading away into darkness. It seemed more like a home than +anything he had known for years, and he reluctantly left the place. +His first purpose was to take a closer look at the red flowers that he +had noticed in the garden. He found a path leading from the street, +where he could obtain a good view of them. It seemed to Rico that +there must be bushels of the buds among the trees, shrubs, and vines. +Again he thought, "If only Stineli could see them!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rico could see a sturdy boy in the garden, cutting grapes from the +vines. The side door of the attractive white house in front of the +garden stood wide open. The young man noticed Rico and stopped his +whistling to say, "Come here and play a tune if you can." This was +said in Italian, and Rico wondered at his own understanding of the +words, for he was sure that he could not <i>speak</i> like that. After the +young man had asked some questions and discovered that Rico could not +answer, he directed him to the house to play there.</p> + +<p>Rico stopped at the door and played and sang Stineli's song from +beginning to end. Through the open door he noticed a lady sitting +beside a child's bed, sewing. When Rico was about to turn away, a +little pale face was raised from the pillow and he heard a voice say, +"Play some more, please."</p> + +<p>Rico played another melody and again turned to go, but the child +repeated, "Play some more."</p> + +<p>So it happened time after time until Rico had played all the tunes he +knew. When the little boy saw that Rico was really going away, he +began to cry, begging Rico to come to him. The lady came out, offering +a coin to Rico, who had played for the child with no thought of money. +Then it occurred to him again that Stineli had said that people would +give him something if he played for them, so he took it and put it +into his pocket.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>The lady asked where Rico came from and where he was going, but he +could not answer.</p> + +<p>"Have you parents here?" she continued, and Rico shook his head in +reply, thus telling her that he could understand. Then she asked if he +were all alone, and Rico nodded. "Then where will you go?" she +questioned, and Rico shook his head with a little gesture to indicate +that he did not know.</p> + +<p>The lady called the young man from the garden, and Rico heard her +direct him to take the child to the hotel for the night, and to tell +the landlord that the bill for lodging and supper was to be sent to +her. "Perhaps the people at the hotel can understand the language he +speaks," she said. "He must have been away a long time to forget so +much. He is too young to be out alone, and I want you to tell them to +show him the way he wishes to go in the morning."</p> + +<p>The little invalid was still crying, and the mother at last asked Rico +if he would come to see him in the morning. As soon as he saw Rico nod +his assent, the boy was satisfied.</p> + +<p>It was about ten minutes' walk to the city proper. The young man led +Rico directly to the landlady and explained his errand. In the +meantime Rico noticed that the living room was filled with men who +were smoking and talking. He heard the landlady dismiss the boy with, +"Very well, I will do as you say."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>She looked Rico over from head to foot as she asked him where he came +from. He answered in German that he had come down the Maloja and could +understand what the people said, although he could not speak in the +same way. The landlord, who understood German, told Rico that he had +been up to the mountains himself.</p> + +<p>"We will talk about it later," he said, "if you will play for the +guests a few moments first." They had called for music as soon as they +saw the violin.</p> + +<p>Rico was very tired, but he obediently played and sang, beginning as +usual with Stineli's song. None of the guests understood German, and +they talked and laughed during the song. As soon as he had finished, +some one called for a lively tune, and Rico tried to think of +something they might like. He had never heard the music of the dance +halls, but he finally thought of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Una sera<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Peschiera."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The men joined Rico in the singing, much to his surprise, and they +made the strongest chorus he had ever heard. It was fine to lead so +many voices, and he played through the whole number of verses.</p> + +<p>When the song was ended, there was such a jubilee that Rico could not +imagine what it meant. They surrounded him, shaking his hands and +patting his shoulders, and then asked him to drink with them.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rico was bewildered, for he could not understand their surprise that +he, a stranger, should know their song,—the song that no one outside +their locality would care to learn. Moreover, he had played it with +feeling, like a loyal Peschieran; hence this hilarious gratitude and +brotherly welcome.</p> + +<p>Rico's supper, consisting of boiled rice with chicken, was brought in +and put on a corner table, and the landlady rescued him from his +embarrassment by explaining that the child must eat and rest. She led +him to the table, remaining to serve him.</p> + +<p>Rico was indeed hungry. It seemed as if a long time had elapsed since +he had taken breakfast with his friend in the early morning, and he +had tasted nothing since. He had scarcely finished eating when he +found it almost impossible to keep awake. He had told them, in +response to questions, that he had no home and that he was going +nowhere.</p> + +<p>"That is too bad," said the husband, kindly. "Don't worry about +anything now, for you must go to bed and get a good sleep. Perhaps +Mrs. Menotti, the lady that sent you here, will give you some work if +you go to see her to-morrow morning. I have no doubt of her helping +you, since you have no home." He did not notice that his wife was +trying to keep him from saying this.</p> + +<p>The guests called for another song, but Rico was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> sent to bed, the +wife taking him up to an attic storeroom that contained a quantity of +ear corn and had its walls decorated with harnesses. In one corner, +however, stood a bed, and Rico was soon tucked away in it and asleep.</p> + +<p>After the guests had departed, the woman said to her husband: "I don't +want you to send the boy to Mrs. Menotti. I can make him useful +myself. Didn't you notice how well he can play? They were all pleased +with him, too. Mark my words that the boy will make a better player +than any of the three that we now hire. He will learn the music +easily, and we can soon get along by hiring only two men on dance +days, for we shall have him for nothing, and we can hire him out +besides. You would be more than foolish to let him go. I like his +looks very much, and I say that we will keep him."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I am quite willing," the husband said amiably. He could +see how well she had reasoned.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p class="h3">NEW FRIENDS</p> + +<p>The next morning the landlady was standing in the doorway of the inn, +observing the signs of the weather and planning the work of the day, +when suddenly Mrs. Menotti's servant appeared. This young man was +manager as well as servant. He understood his work thoroughly, and the +place prospered under his care. He had a habit of whistling wherever +he went, and people thought it was because his life was such a happy, +contented one that he could not help expressing his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"If the boy I brought you last evening is still here," he began, "Mrs. +Menotti requests that you will send him over to her. Silvio wishes to +see him again."</p> + +<p>The landlady stiffened, but tried to say pleasantly: "Yes, to be sure, +if she is not in too much of a hurry. It so happens that the boy is +still in bed, and I would rather let him have his sleep out. You can +go back and tell Mrs. Menotti that I will send him over later, as he +is not going any farther. I have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> taken him for good and all. He is a +little neglected orphan, but I will see that he is provided for +hereafter."</p> + +<p>When Rico at last awoke, he felt as fresh as if he had not taken the +long journey the day before. The landlady admired his neat appearance +as he came down the stairway. She beckoned to him to come to the +kitchen, where she served him his late breakfast.</p> + +<p>"You may breakfast as well as this every morning, if you like, Rico," +she said, as she seated herself opposite him at the little table. "We +have a still better dinner and supper, for we cook for the guests +then. You might pay me by helping with the work and playing for us +when we want you to, but of course it remains for you to decide +whether you will stay or not."</p> + +<p>The landlady had spoken in Italian, but Rico had understood her, and +he found words enough to say, "Yes, I will stay."</p> + +<p>When Rico's breakfast was over, he was taken about the premises so +that he might become familiar with the house, barn, chicken shed, and +yard, and also the vegetable garden, for his help would be needed +about them all. He was later sent to several places of business to get +soap, oil, thread, and repaired shoes, and each time returned with his +errand correctly done. It was therefore evident to the landlady<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> that +Rico knew the language well enough to be of great service to her. The +afternoon was half over before she said to him, "You may take your +violin over to Mrs. Menotti's and stay until night, if you would like +to. She is expecting you."</p> + +<p>Rico was delighted, for that would take him near the place he loved. +As soon as he reached the lake, he went to the bridge and sat down. He +recognized this quiet, fragrant spot as all that was left to him of +his home, for it was still associated with the tender care of his +mother as no other place could be. Its restfulness appealed to him, +and the beauty of the scene was a feast after the years spent in the +hills. He longed to remain for the rest of the afternoon, but he +realized that his time belonged to those who had given him a home, and +so he resumed his way to the sick boy.</p> + +<p>The door was open at Mrs. Menotti's, and the little invalid heard +Rico's step as soon as he entered the garden. Mrs. Menotti came down +the path to meet him, and welcomed him so cordially and led him to the +living room in such a motherly way that she won his affection +immediately.</p> + +<p>Rico noticed how pleasantly the room opened to the garden. Each night +the boy's tiny bed was rolled into an adjoining room, where the mother +slept. Early every morning it was taken back to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> living room, +where the morning sun and pleasant outlook gladdened the heart of the +little sufferer. Beside the bed were the tiny crutches with which the +mother at times assisted him to move about the room, for he was lame +and had never been able to walk.</p> + +<p>As soon as the little one heard Rico, he lifted himself to a sitting +posture by means of a cord which hung suspended from the ceiling. He +could not raise himself without help. Rico noticed the frail hands and +arms, and the pinched look of the wan face. The little frame seemed +too delicate to be that of a boy. The child had seen but few +strangers, though he had often longed for company, and now his large +blue eyes fastened eagerly upon Rico.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" he asked at the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Rico," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Mine is Silvio. How old are you?"</p> + +<p>"I am eleven."</p> + +<p>"So am I," said the little one.</p> + +<p>"Why, Silvio, you are forgetting!" broke in Mrs. Menotti. "You are not +quite four, so Rico can see that you have made a mistake."</p> + +<p>Silvio changed the subject. "Play something, Rico," he said.</p> + +<p>Rico stepped some distance away from the bed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>before beginning to +play. Mrs. Menotti sat in her accustomed place at the head of the bed. +It was hard to tire Silvio by playing for him. Rico had exhausted his +entire list of pieces, and yet the boy called for more. Mrs. Menotti +tactfully brought in a plate of grapes and had Rico take her chair by +the bed, where he and Silvio might enjoy them together. She slipped +out of the room unnoticed by the children. She rejoiced to get out to +the garden, for it had been days since Silvio would consent to her +leaving him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus077.jpg" width="400" height="609" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>The children did not find it embarrassing to talk together. Rico could +answer all the questions that Silvio asked, and was never at a loss to +find a way of making himself understood where words failed him. The +mother had time to take a long walk about the garden without Silvio's +having once called for her.</p> + +<p>It was getting dark when she returned. Rico rose to leave, but Silvio +caught hold of his jacket and begged him to stay.</p> + +<p>"Unless you promise to come to see me every day I will not let you +go," he said.</p> + +<p>"But, Silvio," said the mother, "you must remember that Rico cannot +promise that, even if he would like to, for he must first ask the +people with whom he is living. I will go to see them to-morrow, and +perhaps we can arrange it so that Rico can come every day."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Silvio grasped Rico's hand lovingly as he said good-by. "I hope you +won't forget to come every day," he said. Rico was sorry to leave +them. He loved Silvio and his mother for being so good to him. A +homelike atmosphere filled the place and made him wish that his work +might be done for them instead of for the people at the hotel.</p> + +<p>The next afternoon Mrs. Menotti called at the Golden Sun. The landlady +was much flattered by this visit. She met her guest very cordially and +led her to the parlor upstairs. Mrs. Menotti at once made her errand +known, urging the landlady to let her have Rico at least a few +evenings a week, saying that she should be glad to pay well for the +favor.</p> + +<p>The landlady had been thankful that Mrs. Menotti had not interfered +with her keeping Rico, so she willingly promised to let him go any +evening that he did not have to play for dances. She was willing, she +said, to let Mrs. Menotti pay what she pleased.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that Mrs. Menotti should clothe Rico in return for the +time he would give her. This pleased the landlady immensely, for not +only would she have all his help for nothing, but he would soon be +earning something besides.</p> + +<p>The days passed quickly for Rico. In a short time he was speaking +Italian as if he had always known it. It came to him the more readily +because<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> he had once known it; then, too, he had a good ear, and +caught the true Italian accent with wonderful ease.</p> + +<p>The landlady found Rico much more useful than she had expected. She +praised his neat way of doing his work by saying that she could not +have done it better herself. If he were sent on an errand, he never +failed to return promptly. He was industrious, patient, and +good-tempered. When people questioned him about his past, he was very +reticent. The landlady respected his silence and did not ask any +questions. Thus he never gave his reason for coming to Peschiera. A +story was told around the town, however, that Rico had run away from +the people who had abused him in the mountains, that he had suffered +many hardships on the long journey before he came to Peschiera, and +that he had found the people there so kind-hearted that he had decided +to go no farther. Whenever the landlady told the story, she always +added that Rico deserved the good fortune of having found a home with +them.</p> + +<p>The first week of Rico's stay at the Golden Sun more people than usual +assembled for the regular dance out of curiosity to see the little boy +who had had such strange experiences, and to hear him play. In fact, +so many came that the capacity of the house was taxed. The landlady +flitted about among her guests<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> as rosy as if she herself were the +Golden Sun. Once, as she passed her husband, she whispered, "I told +you that Rico would help out our dances."</p> + +<p>Rico listened to the music as the pieces were played, and soon found +no trouble in playing with the others. When the dancing ceased, he was +asked to play the Peschiera song, and the dancers sang it +enthusiastically as a fitting close to their evening of fun. It seemed +to Rico that they had been boisterously happy all the evening. The +noise had hurt his ears and racked his nerves so that he was thankful +when it was over. The crowd dispersed after the song, and Rico hurried +away to his attic bed, where he could at least have quiet.</p> + +<p>Later that evening the landlady said to her husband: "You see how well +my plan works? The next time Rico can take the place of one of the +players, so that we need hire but two."</p> + +<p>The husband smiled at his wife's sagacity and added: "Yes, and he +ought to be a favorite with those who give tips. There is no question +of his getting something in that way."</p> + +<p>Only two days later there was a dance in Desenzano, and Rico was sent +with the other players. The people there did not sing the Peschiera +song, but they were as boisterous or worse than the Golden Sun crowd +had been. The coarse laughter made<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> Rico shudder, so that from +beginning to end he thought, "If it were only over!" He carried home a +pocketful of pennies, which he put uncounted into the landlady's lap. +She praised him for doing this and prepared a good supper for him.</p> + +<p>Rico had been promised for another dance in Riva the following week, +and he was glad to go, for it would give him the opportunity to see +closely what he had always looked at from a distance. Riva lies at the +opposite end of the lake from Peschiera, and the white houses of the +little towns built along the shore under the towering, rocky cliffs, +had always seemed to throw him a glance of welcome.</p> + +<p>The musicians crossed the lake in an open boat under a clear blue sky. +Rico's thoughts were mostly with Stineli. He wished again that she +might know how pretty the lake was, especially since she had at first +doubted its existence. He knew how much she would enjoy the beautiful +sight, and how much it would surprise her to see it. He meant to tell +her all about it when he went back to her.</p> + +<p>The boat landed at Riva all too soon, and a few moments later Rico was +playing for the same kind of people that he had played for at the two +preceding dances. It occurred to him that it was much pleasanter to +look at the white houses and friendly rocks from his accustomed place +on the opposite<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> shore, or to amuse Silvio at Mrs. Menotti's, than to +play amid the present tumult and applause. As they were returning to +Peschiera that night he found no time to look about the town, though +he had long wished to see the place.</p> + +<p>When there were no dances Rico was allowed to go to Mrs. Menotti's +every evening, for the landlady wished to prove herself grateful not +only to Rico but to Mrs. Menotti as well. These evenings were Rico's +greatest pleasure. He invariably went to the bridge for a short time +on his way over. It always gave him fresh comfort, for he knew to a +certainty that it was a place that had once been a part of his home. +He had found the exact spot where his mother used to sit most +frequently when she held and fondled him. He would sit there and think +it over and over, actually living in the spirit of the past. Each time +he had to force himself to realize that Silvio needed him and would be +waiting. Though it was always a little hard to leave the place, his +peace of mind was restored as soon as he came to Mrs. Menotti's, for +she had endeared herself to him, and he realized that from her he +received more affection than from any one else except Stineli.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti had heard the story about Rico's suffering in the hills, +and she considered it wise to forbear asking questions, for fear of +recalling to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> his mind painful scenes that had much better be +forgotten. She longed to take Rico away from the hotel, for she knew +that it was not the place for a sensitive nature such as his, but she +saw that this would be an impossibility. Once she fondly put her hand +on his head and said, "You poor little orphan, I do so wish I could +keep you."</p> + +<p>To Silvi, Rico became more and more necessary. He spoke of him at all +times of the day and was always listening for his coming. Rico could +speak fluently by this time, and it was Silvio's greatest comfort to +listen to the stories he would tell him. One day Rico told him about +Stineli. Silvio was so interested that Rico enjoyed telling him about +her. He told of Stineli's seeing her brother Sam fall into the creek, +and how she reached the place in time to catch one of his feet, +holding on to him until the father, for whom she called as loudly as +she could, should get to them. The frightened boy was in the meantime +screaming with all his might. The father, taking it for granted that +children are always noisy, did not trouble himself to go immediately, +but when he had leisurely strolled across the field to find out why +they called, he found Stineli still holding her brother.</p> + +<p>Rico told how she drew pictures for Peter and made playthings for +Urschli out of wood, moss, or rushes,—sometimes with all +combined,—and how all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> the children wanted her when they were sick, +because she could entertain them so well. He also told of the good +times he and Stineli had enjoyed together, and he became so animated +in the telling that one would scarcely have recognized the quiet, +sober Rico. Silvio's delight in these stories made both boys forget to +look at the clock in time for Rico to leave as early as usual. He was +startled to see how late it was and hastily rose to go.</p> + +<p>"Good night, Silvio," he said. "I am sorry that I cannot come +to-morrow or the next day, but I must play for some dances."</p> + +<p>This was too much for Silvio's patience, and he called to his mother, +who hastily came from the garden in the greatest anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Mother!" he cried, "Rico shall not go back to the hotel any more! I +want him to stay here and I wish that you would make him. You will do +it, won't you, Rico?"</p> + +<p>"If I didn't have to help at the hotel, I would," answered Rico.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti had feared such a scene for some time, but was troubled +to know how to meet it even now. She knew too well what Rico was worth +to the landlady and her husband in dollars and cents to entertain the +faintest hope of their letting him go from them. She tried to quiet +Silvio as best she<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> could, and affectionately drew Rico to her, saying +"You poor little orphan! I wish it were so that you might stay with +us."</p> + +<p>"What is an orphan? I want to be one, too," said Silvio.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid my little boy is naughty to-night," Mrs. Menotti +admonished him. "An orphan is one who has neither father nor mother, +and no place that he can call home. Don't ever wish that again."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti did not notice Rico's pathetic glance when she gave +Silvio the meaning of the word. Later when she saw that Rico was gone, +she supposed that he had slipped away without saying good night, for +the sake of keeping Silvio quiet, and she gave it no further thought.</p> + +<p>"Now, Silvio," she said, as she sat down by his bed, "I want to tell +you something, so that you will never make such a fuss again. We have +no more right to take Rico away from those people than they would have +to take you away from me. How should you like never to see the garden +again?"</p> + +<p>"I would come right home if they took me," was Silvio's valiant +answer, but the illustration had served to quiet him, and he was soon +tucked in his little bed and willing to go to sleep.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to tell just what passed in Rico's mind when he +quietly left the house that night and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> went down to the bridge. "I +know now that I am an orphan," he murmured, "and that there is no +place that I can call home." He longed to stay on the bridge all +night, for its sweet association with the past was his only comfort, +but he knew that the landlady would become alarmed at his absence, so +he forced himself away to his cheerless attic.</p> + +<p>He did not need a candle to find his way to the bed, and he much +preferred not to see his surroundings. An eager desire to see Stineli +possessed him. He meant to tell her how it comforted him to know that +she cared for him. It was late in the night before he could quiet his +thoughts for sleep.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p class="h3">AN EMPHATIC APPEAL</p> + +<p>The matter, however, was not at all satisfactorily settled for Silvio. +He understood that he must do without Rico for two days, but it wore +upon his patience as the hours dragged along. He fretted and tossed +about, wishing continually for Rico. Before the second day was over +Mrs. Menotti's strength had been severely taxed.</p> + +<p>When Rico understood that he was really homeless, his thoughts turned +to Stineli more than ever before. A new feeling of satisfaction came +to him as he considered how much her friendship had meant to him and +how much the future might mean if they could be again together as in +days past. So continually had she been in his mind the last few days, +that he had scarcely reached Silvio's side before he said, "Silvio, it +seems to me as if no one could be quite happy without Stineli."</p> + +<p>"Mamma, I want Stineli," said Silvio, as he pulled himself to a +sitting posture. "I want her to come to me because I can't have Rico, +and he says that no one can be quite happy without her."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti knew of whom they were speaking, for she had often heard +Rico mention her during the years he had been with them. "Yes," she +said, "it would be delightful if we could have her, but my little boy +must not forget to be reasonable."</p> + +<p>"But we <i>can</i> have her, mamma," broke in Silvio. "Rico knows where she +is, and he can go to-morrow and bring her to us."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti had for some time secretly wished that Rico might find +for her some one to assist in the care of Silvio, but she would not +for a moment consider letting the boy go back to the perils from which +he had so fortunately escaped. She sought to change the subject of +conversation between the children, and endeavored to interest them in +other things, but she failed to keep them from going back to the +original subject. Silvio would invariably say, "Rico knows where she +is and he must get her."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose that Rico will deliberately go among those wicked +people to get her, when he can stay here in safety?" asked the mother.</p> + +<p>"Will you?" said Silvio, fastening his large blue eyes upon Rico.</p> + +<p>"Surely, I will go," said Rico enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Rico, have you lost your senses?" exclaimed Mrs. Menotti. "What do +you suppose I can do with you when you both begin to be unreasonable? +You<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> had better play something for Silvio, Rico, and I will go to the +garden for a while. By the time I get back I shall hope to find two +good, sensible boys."</p> + +<p>The boys, however, did not care for music to-night, and they talked, +instead, of possible ways of bringing Stineli to them and of how it +would seem to have her there.</p> + +<p>When she returned from the garden, where she had enjoyed the quiet +evening, Mrs. Menotti had to remind Rico that it was time to go home. +Silvio urged his mother for a promise that Rico might be allowed to go +for Stineli, and both boys eagerly awaited her answer.</p> + +<p>"You may feel differently about it in the morning, children," she +said. "I want you to go to sleep in peace; possibly before the night +is over I can think of a way to satisfy you."</p> + +<p>Early the following morning Silvio raised himself in bed to see if his +mother was awake and said, "Have you thought of a way, mamma?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti could not say that she had, and again the child's +discontent broke out. All that day and the next and for many days +thereafter he would not be comforted. Mrs. Menotti thought it was only +a fancy and would wear itself out, but the extra strain upon the boy +began to tell upon his health to such an extent that the mother became +alarmed. She was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> convinced that Silvio ought to have a companion, and +she resolved to consult with some trustworthy person, to see if it +were possible to get a child from the hills in safety. Mrs. Menotti +understood that Rico had escaped from ill treatment in the hill +country, and she avoided asking him questions about his past life, +hoping that he was young enough to let silence efface all unpleasant +memories. On this account she felt quite unwilling to let him +undertake the journey, and even the consideration of such a +possibility brought to her a fuller realization of how necessary he +had become to their own happiness.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE ADVICE</p> + +<p>Under these conditions it was a pleasure and relief to Mrs. Menotti to +see the pastor walking up the garden path. He came frequently to +inquire after the health of the little one. As usual he was dressed in +his long black coat.</p> + +<p>"Silvio, the pastor is coming; isn't that nice?" said Mrs. Menotti, as +she went to the door to meet him.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to see him. I wish it were Stineli," said Silvio, +pouting. Then seeing that the pastor had heard him, he covered his +head with the bedclothes.</p> + +<p>"My little boy is out of humor to-day, and I am sure he didn't mean +what he said," apologized the mother.</p> + +<p>They heard the boy under the covers say, "I did mean it."</p> + +<p>The pastor must have suspected where the voice came from, for he +walked straight over to the bed, although there was not a bit of +Silvio in sight. He said: "God bless you, my son, how are you feeling, +and why do you hide yourself like a little fox? Creep out of there and +tell me what you mean by Stineli."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>Instantly Silvio's head was out and he said, "Rico's Stineli."</p> + +<p>"You must be seated, pastor," said Mrs. Menotti. "I will tell you what +Silvio means, for I want your advice very much."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti recited in detail all that she knew about Stineli, the +reason why they wished for her, and the obstacles in the way of +getting her. "I have thought," she said, "that it might be a good +thing for the girl to get away from those wicked people, and I wonder +if you can think of a safe way to bring her here."</p> + +<p>"I think," said the pastor, "that you have been misinformed about +those people in the mountains. I am sure that there are kind-hearted +men and women living there as well as here. People travel so much in +these days that I am sure that it cannot be much of a task to get up +there. One thing I am positive about is that the journey can be taken +in absolute safety. I know some live-stock dealers who regularly make +the trip from Bergamo to the mountains, and who will be able to tell +me all about it. Since you are interested, I will see one of the men +as soon as I go to Bergamo and I will let you know when I return."</p> + +<p>Silvio's eyes had grown larger as the pastor spoke, and he began to +feel a great respect for the man who could so ably take his part. When +the pastor extended<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> his hand to Silvio in parting, the boy fairly +plunged his little palm into the larger one, as much as to say, "You +deserve it now."</p> + +<p>Weeks passed by as Mrs. Menotti waited to hear further news from the +minister, but Silvio's patience did not again fail him. He felt sure +that the good man would help him to get what he wished.</p> + +<p>When Rico heard that there was hope of his being sent for Stineli, he +forgot that he had ever been sad. The expectation of having her there +to enjoy the beautiful scenes and to share his companionship fairly +made the world over for him. His serious expression gave way to a +happy one, and his purpose so animated him that it added a new charm +to his manner. He went often to see Silvio, and took pleasure in +entertaining him by relating incidents of his active life among the +people with whom he lived. He stopped playing the dreamy airs and +substituted those more suited to his present mood. He played so well +by this time that Mrs. Menotti was proud of his ability, and she often +gave up a walk in order to listen to him. It was here, with those who +loved him, that Rico enjoyed the music he had learned. The only regret +of the day came when he had to bid them good night and go away, for it +always brought afresh the longing for a home of his own.</p> + +<p>The change in Rico was noticed at the hotel where<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> he lived. The +landlady was much astonished one morning to have him ask her to hire +some one else to care for the chickens and outbuildings. He thought +that he had performed those duties as long as was necessary, and he +preferred to be released also from blacking shoes and from similar +work. The landlady remarked that he was indeed getting fastidious, but +she was too wise to remonstrate, for she knew that there would still +be enough for him to do.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti had liberally provided Rico with wearing apparel. She +selected as carefully in material and workmanship as if he were her +own child. The landlady said that he always went about looking like a +little prince, and she meant to find no fault in regard to the work he +chose to do. "I am sure," she said to her husband, "that since he +brings so much money from the dances where he plays, I ought not to +object to the slight expense of hiring a boy to do the menial work +about the house and garden. Rico has been a credit to us so far."</p> + +<p>The years had passed rapidly since Rico came to Peschiera. The vague, +dreamy look in his eyes had given place to one of purpose and +determination. He had the appearance of one much older than he was.</p> + +<p>Another autumn was at hand. The purple grapes were temptingly ripe on +the vines, and the oleander blossoms sparkled in the sunshine. One +morning,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> about the usual time for Rico to arrive at Mrs. Menotti's, +Silvio was listening for his step on the garden walk. He heard the +gate open, but when he raised himself to look, there was the pastor +instead of Rico! Silvio did not hide under the covers; instead, he +clapped his hands, shouting, "Mamma, the pastor is here," and +stretched his arms to him as soon as he entered the room.</p> + +<p>This cordial welcome pleased the minister, and he went directly to +Silvio's bed, although he had seen the mother gathering some figs in +the garden. He took the little one in his arms and said, "How is our +Silvio to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Well, thank you. When can Rico go?"</p> + +<p>The good man laughed. "To-morrow morning, my son; he is to go at five +o'clock," he answered.</p> + +<p>Later the pastor explained to Mrs. Menotti that he had just returned +from Bergamo, where he had spent a few days. He had looked up a stock +dealer, according to his promise, and found that the man had made +regular trips to the mountains for the last thirty years; every bit of +the way that Rico would have to go was familiar to him. It so happened +that he had made his plans to go up again, and if they would send Rico +on the early morning train, he would take him along and see that he +was well cared for; moreover, he had said that as he was acquainted +with all the coachmen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> and conductors on the way, he would arrange for +a safe return trip, so that the young travelers could not possibly go +astray.</p> + +<p>"I wish that I could be certain that no harm would come to Rico," said +Mrs. Menotti to the pastor, as she accompanied him to the gate on his +departure that morning.</p> + +<p>"You have no reasonable cause for worry," replied the pastor. "Let the +child go in peace, and we will pray God to bless the journey."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Rico came in sight. Silvio saw him from the +doorway and shouted: "Don't tell him! Please don't tell him! I want to +tell him myself. Come, Rico; I have something wonderful to tell you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti left the boys alone while she packed some things for the +journey. In a large traveling bag she put a great piece of smoked ham, +a loaf of fresh bread, a package of dried fruit, some figs fresh from +the garden, and a bottle of her best fruit juice wrapped in a napkin; +next came shirts, stockings, shoes, handkerchiefs, and various other +things, so that one might suppose that Rico were going for a month's +stay instead of a week.</p> + +<p>"How much I have learned to care for that boy," she thought, as she +looked about to make sure that nothing had been forgotten, and her +heart sent up a silent prayer for a safe journey.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think you had better take this bag to the station now, Rico," she +said to him when she came downstairs. "Silvio has told you that you +are to go on the early train, and you will wish to explain matters to +the landlady. You must ask her if it greatly inconveniences her to let +you go so soon."</p> + +<p>Rico was astonished to find that he was expected to take a traveling +bag of such huge proportions, but knowing that loving hands had +prepared it, he did not remonstrate, but took it gladly and did as he +was directed.</p> + +<p>When Rico told the landlady that the pastor had planned for him to go +to the mountains in the morning to get Stineli, she took it for +granted that the girl was his sister, and inferred that the sister +would live with them. Rico's statement that Stineli was to live with +Mrs. Menotti undeceived her. It was a disappointment, but she gave her +consent, feeling thankful to Mrs. Menotti for not having tried to get +Rico.</p> + +<p>"It must be that Rico likes it here," said the landlady to some guests +that evening, "because he is going back to get his sister." She meant +to let those people in the hills know how good a place the boy had, so +she packed a large basket with sausages, cheese, and boiled eggs, and +spread a loaf of bread with fresh butter, saying: "You mustn't be +hungry on the trip. If I put up more than you need, they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> will no +doubt be glad to have some up there; besides, you must have something +on the way back, for you will surely come back to me, won't you, +Rico?"</p> + +<p>"In a week I will be here again," said Rico. He took his violin and +went over to bid Silvio and the mother good-by. He asked them to care +for his violin, for he would not have dared to intrust it to any one +else. Rico could not spend the evening with them, because he was +expected to go to bed early. Mrs. Menotti's motherly farewell made his +heart go out to her in gratitude, and Silvio's "Come back soon" rang +in his ears again and again as he walked through the darkness to the +hotel.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p class="h3">OVER THE MOUNTAINS</p> + +<p>Long before five o'clock the following morning, Rico was at the +station, impatient to be off. He had slept but little during the +night, for his mind was in a whirl at the thought that he was actually +going back to Stineli. How glad he was that he might bring her to his +good friends on his return! When he found that sleep was out of the +question, he dressed, and going to the station, paced back and forth +along the narrow platform until the train came in.</p> + +<p>When Rico selected his place in the car, he was reminded of his ride, +years ago, when he sat half-frightened in a corner of the seat, with +only his violin beside him. This time his luggage required more space +in the compartment than he himself did.</p> + +<p>The stock dealer did not fail to join Rico at Bergamo, and they both +enjoyed the lovely daylight sail on Lake Como. The boy recognized the +place where they landed and also the inn where they took the stage. He +looked especially for the door of the stable, where the lantern had +shown him the way to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> coachman on his former trip. He had not at +that time been able to see his surroundings very clearly.</p> + +<p>The sun had set when the stage left the inn, so Rico entered the coach +with his companion. He fell asleep almost immediately and did not wake +until morning, when the sun was shining over the mountain tops. To his +great surprise and joy he found that they were going up the zigzag +road of the Maloja, so familiar to him. He could, however, see nothing +but the sharp angles in the road, until they arrived at the summit, +where they alighted for breakfast and to give the horses a rest. After +breakfast Rico looked for the place where he sat years ago, when he +was a tired and hungry little boy. He remembered distinctly how he had +watched the stage which later picked him up and took him down the +valley. Everything about him was of interest now, and he said to the +coachman, "Will it trouble you if I sit up there with you so that I +can see better?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said the man; "come up if you want to."</p> + +<p>The passengers had already taken their places in the coach, and it was +but a moment later when they started at a lively pace down the long, +sloping grade. Rico presently saw the lake, the island with its pine +trees, and beyond, the white houses of Sils. Across the fields was +Sils-Maria. The little church showed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> up most distinctly at that +distance, but Rico's eyes were searching for something farther down +the hill; soon he saw, as he had hoped, the two familiar houses.</p> + +<p>Rico's heart began to beat wildly. Where and how would he find the +little girl he had not seen for years? Suppose she should not be there +any longer? Suppose she had forgotten him? It seemed but a moment +before the stage stopped in Sils, and Rico alighted with his luggage.</p> + +<p>Stineli had seen many hard days since Rico's disappearance. The +children had grown older, so that they were less care, but the work, +especially since the grandmother had died, had fallen more than ever +upon her. The children were wont to say, "Stineli is the oldest, so +she can do that," and the parents often said, "Stineli is young and +strong, so she can do that"; thus the willing hands were kept busy. +She sorely missed Rico and the grandmother, the only ones who had ever +regarded her comfort, but she tried hard to keep her cheerful nature +uppermost, although she often thought, "The world is not the same now +that they are gone."</p> + +<p>On this sunny Saturday morning Stineli came out of the granary with a +bundle of straw which she intended to braid into a broom. As she +reached the path leading to Sils, she let her eyes follow along the +dry, smooth way until her glance was arrested by the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> appearance of a +strange young man coming in her direction. She knew from his dress +that he was not a Silsan. He came more rapidly as soon as he noticed +her and when quite close, stopped and looked at her. She glanced +inquiringly at his face and immediately recognized her long-lost +friend. Dropping her bundle, she ran to him, exclaiming: "O Rico, you +are not dead after all! How glad I am to see you! How very tall you +have grown! I would never have known you if it had not been for your +face; nobody else has a face like yours. O Rico, how glad I am that +you are here again!"</p> + +<p>Rico was pale,—the joy seemed too great,—and he had not been able to +say one word. Stineli stood blushing in her pride of him, and waited +for him to speak.</p> + +<p>"You have grown, too, Stineli," he said at length; "otherwise you are +the same as ever. The nearer I got to the house the more afraid I +became that you would be different, so that it would not seem the same +here."</p> + +<p>"O Rico, if only grandmother could know!" said Stineli. "But I must +take you to the others; they will all be so astonished to see you."</p> + +<p>When Stineli took Rico into the house the children, unaccustomed to +strangers, began to hide. The two older ones, Trudt and Sam, came in a +moment later<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> and shyly said "Good morning" in passing. The mother +simply inquired if there was anything she could do for the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Don't any of you know him?" inquired Stineli. "Why, mother, it is +Rico."</p> + +<p>They were just exclaiming in surprise when the father came in to +breakfast. Rico advanced to shake hands cordially, but the man looked +at him blankly and said: "Are you a relative? There are so many I may +not know them all."</p> + +<p>"Now father doesn't know him either!" exclaimed Stineli. "It is Rico, +papa."</p> + +<p>"Why, Rico, to be sure," the father said, gazing at him from head to +foot. "You look prosperous, my boy; I suppose you have learned a good +trade. Let us sit down to breakfast, and then you must tell us about +yourself."</p> + +<p>When Rico noticed that the grandmother did not come to breakfast, he +asked for her. It was the father who answered that they had buried her +beside the teacher a year ago. Rico said nothing, for the news came as +a shock to him. He had counted upon the pleasure of seeing the dear +old lady who had always shown him so much kindness.</p> + +<p>Rico was immediately urged to tell about his wanderings and how he +happened to go away. He began his story from the night he left, but he +spoke in detail<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> only when he told of Mrs. Menotti and of Silvio's +home. This led him easily to tell them the object of his visit to the +hills, and to beg them to let him take Stineli back with him when he +returned.</p> + +<p>Stineli opened her eyes wide in astonishment, for she had not even +dreamed of such a possibility. How delightful it would be if she were +allowed to go with Rico to that beautiful place! The best part of it, +of course, would be to have him with her or near her again, and how +she would love Silvio for sending Rico back to her! Thoughts like +these kept surging through her brain while the father was considering +the matter.</p> + +<p>"It would, no doubt, be a good thing for Stineli," he said. "I should +like to have her get out among people and learn their ways; but there +is no use to talk about it, for she can't be spared. We could let +Trudt go just as well as not."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed the mother; "I couldn't possibly get along without +Stineli. I am willing that Trudt should go if she wants to."</p> + +<p>"Goody! goody! I am going and I am glad," and Trudt clapped her hands +and danced about.</p> + +<p>Stineli's face had clouded, but she made no protest, preferring to +have Rico say what was needful.</p> + +<p>"It so happens," said Rico, calmly, "that Silvio wants Stineli and no +one else. If Trudt went down there, he would only send her away, so +that is out of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> the question. Mrs. Menotti told me to tell you that if +Stineli got along well with Silvio, she could send home two dollars +and a half every month. I am just as sure that Stineli will get along +with Silvio as if I had already seen them together."</p> + +<p>Stineli's father pushed his chair away from the table and put on his +cap,—a habit of his whenever he wished to think seriously about +anything. The money was an important factor to him. How hard he had to +work to earn a dollar, and here was an opportunity to get two dollars +and a half every month without the least effort on his part! It was +not long before he hung up his cap and said: "She can go if that is +the case. I suppose one of the others can learn to do things here."</p> + +<p>Stineli's face beamed, but the mother sighed as she realized what it +would mean to her.</p> + +<p>In a moment the father put his cap on again. "I had forgotten," he +said, "that Stineli has not been confirmed; she will have to wait +until after that."</p> + +<p>"But, father," exclaimed Stineli, "I was not planning to be confirmed +for two years. I can go now and come back when the two years are +over."</p> + +<p>This plan was at last approved, and the parents consoled themselves by +thinking that they could then keep her at home if they wished.</p> + +<p>"Just as soon as she gets back, I am going," said<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> Trudt. They all +laughed at this, while Rico and Stineli exchanged glances and were +happy.</p> + +<p>"Now, Stineli, I want to tell you something," said the father. "I know +that pandemonium will reign here until you two are gone, so I say the +sooner it is accomplished the better; then we can have peace and +quiet." It was accordingly decided that they should leave the +following Monday.</p> + +<p>Rico realized how busy a day Stineli would have, so he asked Sam to +accompany him about Sils-Maria and the neighborhood. They stopped +first of all to look at the house across the way, that had at one time +sheltered Rico. He was informed that strangers lived there, that the +aunt had been gone several years, and that no one knew where she was.</p> + +<p>Wherever Rico and Sam went that day they failed to find a single +person who recognized the "foreign-looking young man," as they called +him. On their return Rico wished to visit the grandmother's grave, but +they could not find it.</p> + +<p>It was evening before they came back to the house, carrying with them +Rico's luggage from the station. They found Stineli at the well, +scrubbing the pails used about the barn. "I can't believe yet that I +am going, Rico," she said as they passed her.</p> + +<p>"I can," said Rico; "but you haven't thought about it so long as I +have."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Stineli was delighted with the change in Rico. "How well and forcibly +he speaks," she thought. "He was timid and shy before he went away. He +seems to inspire confidence, and he looks wonderfully strong and +capable."</p> + +<p>A bed was prepared for Rico in the attic. He did not unpack his lunch +until the following morning, when it provided a real feast for the +children. The figs were a novelty to them, and the abundance of good +things assured the parents that Rico was among friends in the valley. +They had no further fears about letting Stineli go with him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p class="h3">TWO HAPPY TRAVELERS</p> + +<p>The return trip had been fully explained to Rico, and he knew that +they must leave Sils in the evening. Sam was going with Stineli and +Rico as far as Sils; the rest of the family gathered about the door +and waved farewell to them until they were lost to view.</p> + +<p>"If grandmother could only see us!" said Stineli, as they neared the +little church. "Let us go over to her grave for a moment." This they +did, for Stineli knew exactly where it was.</p> + +<p>"Are the two children here who are to go to Lake Garda?" they heard +the coachman say as soon as he arrived.</p> + +<p>Rico and Stineli stepped forward. "All right," said the man. "I have +instructions to look after you. The coach happens to be full inside, +but I am thinking that you are young enough to like it up here with +me." He helped them up, tucked a large blanket around them because the +night was cool, and then the stage rolled on.</p> + +<p>This was the first time that Rico and Stineli had been alone since he +came back, and they were both<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> glad of the opportunity to sit so +cozily in the starry night and feel again the sweet companionship that +they had given up long ago. They had so much to say that they slept +but little during the night. They reached Lake Como in the morning, +and arrived in Peschiera on the same train that had carried Rico when +he came before. He led Stineli by a roundabout way in order to keep +the view of the lake hidden by the trees until they came to his +favorite place on the bridge.</p> + +<p>Suddenly it burst upon them in all its beauty, as Rico had often +wished to describe it, only it seemed much more beautiful to Rico now +that Stineli was seeing it, too. He rejoiced to hear her say +presently, "Oh, it <i>is</i> prettier than Lake Sils—ever so much +prettier."</p> + +<p>They sat down on the bridge, and for the first time Rico spoke to +Stineli about his mother. He told her how well he remembered her, and +how often they had been together on this bridge, and how much they had +cared for each other.</p> + +<p>"Then your home must have been here," said Stineli. "Where did you go +when you left the bridge? Can't you remember that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know just where we went, but I can't find the house. +Everything is just as it used to be until I get to the station; I +never saw that until I came<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>here by myself, and I think they must +have taken the house away."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus111.jpg" width="400" height="612" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>The sun was low in the heavens before they left the bridge. Rico was +secretly rejoicing over the fact that their coming would be a +surprise, for they were not expected for a week and here they were at +the garden!</p> + +<p>"What a lovely place!" exclaimed Stineli. "What gorgeous flowers!"</p> + +<p>Silvio's sharp ears heard this exclamation. He pulled himself up in +bed and called to his mother, "I do believe that Rico has come with +Stineli."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti hastily ran to her son, fearing that he was ill, but just +at that moment Rico appeared. How glad she was to see him safely back! +Her surprise and warm welcome were more than Rico had anticipated. +Before Rico had time to present Stineli the girl had gone directly to +Silvio's bed, speaking to him so kindly that he put his arms around +her neck and gave her the greatest hug his little arms were capable of +giving. Mrs. Menotti told Rico that she was more than satisfied with +the girl's appearance, and he had no fears about her conduct.</p> + +<p>Although she spoke no Italian, Stineli found various ways in which she +could immediately make herself useful. The Latin words she had learned +in school helped her, and she tactfully used motions<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> when Rico did +not explain for her. She carried the tray with Silvio's supper to his +bed and cut the food for him, propping him up comfortably with pillows +before she joined the mother and Rico in the dining room. After supper +Stineli made the others go to Silvio until she had finished the work, +and then she joined them.</p> + +<p>She began to amuse Silvio with a little gift that she had brought in +her pocket so that it might be convenient when she wished to give it +to him. It was simply a number of wooden figures, with faces and +dresses gaily painted on them, and put together on a central piece so +that they would dance comically when shaken out. This was Peter's +handiwork, and it afforded Silvio unceasing amusement. Stineli also +made the shapes of animals with her hands, and let Silvio watch the +shadows on the wall. The mother could hear him say, "A rabbit! An +animal with horns! A long-legged spider!"</p> + +<p>The clock struck ten before they thought it could possibly be so late. +Rico immediately arose, for it was his usual time to leave, but a dark +cloud seemed to settle on his face as he said good night and went out.</p> + +<p>Stineli noticed that something was wrong with Rico, so she followed +him to the garden. She took his hand impulsively and said: "You have +been so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> good to bring me here, Rico, that I shall be very sorry if +you are not going to be happy. You can come over every day; don't you +think we can be happy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and every night, no matter how happy we are here, I have to go +away and remember that I don't belong to anybody."</p> + +<p>"But you must not think that, because you and I have always belonged +to each other. If you only knew how I missed you all those long years +that you were away! Many times I had to work so hard that I would +rather not have lived at all, but I used to think that I would gladly +bear it if I could just see you once more. Now that everything has +turned out so beautifully, I am sure that we ought to be happy."</p> + +<p>"Really, Stineli, I will try," said Rico, and the cloud vanished as +they stood with clasped hands for a moment before he left the garden.</p> + +<p>Stineli bade Silvio good night when she returned to the house, but he +grasped her hand and begged her to stay with him.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the mother, "Stineli may stay, but to-morrow she +will be ill, and you will have to do without her."</p> + +<p>"Then go to sleep now, but come early in the morning," said the boy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti had prepared a cozy room upstairs<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> for Stineli. It +overlooked the garden, and the outdoor fragrance greeted them as they +entered. The girl went to sleep feeling assured that her new home +would prove to be a happy one.</p> + +<p>At first Stineli was handicapped in her new surroundings by her +ignorance of Italian, but it was remarkable how well she and Silvio +entertained each other. He was always obedient and cheerful in her +presence, and complained of loneliness whenever she was gone. Mrs. +Menotti noticed with gratitude how rapidly her son was gaining in +strength. He enjoyed his meals more than ever before, for Stineli +liked to arrange things prettily, and to plan surprises for him on his +tray. Then, too, he slept better and longer than had been his custom.</p> + +<p>Stineli was tireless in her efforts to please the sick child. She +adapted everything at hand to his entertainment. Having always lived +with children, she understood how to amuse them. In a remarkably short +time she had learned all the Italian that Silvio used. She soon began +to tell him stories, although some words failed her and others came +with painful slowness for a time.</p> + +<p>Now that Mrs. Menotti was freed from the care of Silvio, she formed +the habit of going to meet Rico when she saw him coming. She was +always eager to express her appreciation of Stineli.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hadn't supposed that a young girl could be so thoughtful," she said +at one time. "She does things for Silvio from morning until night as +if it were a real pleasure to her, and she knows as much about +housekeeping as a woman. I feel as if it were Sunday every day." Rico +never tired of hearing Stineli praised.</p> + +<p>Any one seeing the group sitting so cozily together when Rico was +there would have taken them to be a very happy family, and so they +were until the hour arrived for Rico to leave them. His face darkened +every night so that Stineli was worried, but Mrs. Menotti was too much +absorbed in Silvio's happiness to notice it.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<p class="h3">CLOUDS AT LAKE GARDA</p> + +<p>One evening when Rico came, he said that he could not be with them +again for two days, as he must go to Riva to play for a dance. This +was a disappointment to them all, and especially to Stineli. "I hope +the weather will be good," she said; "then you will have such a fine +sail on the lake. It will be beautiful, too, coming back in the +moonlight."</p> + +<p>Everything Rico played that night was sad, and he failed, in spite of +his efforts, to shake off his wretchedness. Long before it was ten +o'clock he put up his violin and rose to go. Mrs. Menotti urged him to +stay, but she did not notice his unhappy face.</p> + +<p>"I will go with Rico for a little way," said Stineli.</p> + +<p>"No, no; don't go away, Stineli!" cried Silvio.</p> + +<p>"Stay with him, Stineli; never mind me," said Rico, with the same +finality with which he had said, "There is no use to think of it," +after his interview with the teacher, when he had found out the price +of a violin.</p> + +<p>Stineli whispered to Silvio, "Be a brave little boy, dearie, and don't +cry for me; then I will tell you ever so many stories to-morrow." As +usual he obeyed her.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Rico and Stineli came to the garden gate he said: "Go back, +Stineli; you belong there and I belong to the street. I am only a +poor, homeless orphan, so just let me go and don't worry."</p> + +<p>"No, no, you shall not leave me while you feel in this way. Where can +we go to talk a little while?"</p> + +<p>"To the bridge," answered Rico, eagerly.</p> + +<p>They walked on in silence, and after reaching their favorite place on +the bridge, stood listening to the splash of the waves below them +until Rico said, "Really, Stineli, if it were not for you, I wouldn't +stay here any longer. I would go ever so far away, it would make +little difference where, since there is no one that cares for me and I +shall always have to live in hotels, and sleep in storerooms, and play +for dances where people act as if they were crazy. Since I have seen +you living with these good people, I have wished that my mother had +thrown me into the lake before she died, so that I need not have come +to be what I am."</p> + +<p>"O Rico, how dare you think such wicked thoughts, much less express +them! It must be that you have been neglecting the Lord's Prayer or +you would not be so unhappy," said Stineli.</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Rico; "I have not said it, and I am sure I have +forgotten it altogether by this time."</p> + +<p>"But how dare you live so?" asked Stineli. "Just<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>think how +grandmother would worry about you if she knew that! You must remember +how she said to us, 'The one that forgets to pray will have a hard +time.' You must learn the prayer again. Let us sit down here and I +will teach it to you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus119.jpg" width="400" height="612" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>After Stineli had repeated the prayer twice she said, "You can see +from this that the whole kingdom belongs to God, and you can trust Him +to find a home for you, because it also says that the power is His."</p> + +<p>"If He has a home for me in His kingdom and has the power to give it, +He clearly doesn't want to," retorted Rico.</p> + +<p>"Have you asked Him to give it to you?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Grandmother said that we must ask for things we want. It is very +likely that He thinks you can ask Him if you really want anything."</p> + +<p>After a moment's silence Rico said, "Say the prayer once more; I will +learn it."</p> + +<p>In a short time they were walking back to the garden, where they +parted for the night. On the way to the hotel Rico thought of the +kingdom and the power. He felt convinced that he had neglected a +sacred duty, and that night, in his cheerless attic room, he knelt by +his bed and prayed.</p> + +<p>Stineli meant to go in as soon as Rico left her,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> and tell Mrs. +Menotti of his unhappiness, hoping that she might help the boy to find +some more suitable employment, since he so disliked playing for +dances, but this intention was not carried out, for Silvio had been +taken suddenly ill while she was gone, and was lying exhausted on his +pillow, flushed and breathing heavily. The mother sat crying softly +beside him. Stineli had never seen him ill before, and she stood +wondering what she should do.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti soon noticed her presence and said: "Sit down, Stineli; +he is better now, and I should like to tell you about something that +troubles me greatly. You are young, but I feel sure it will do me good +to have you know about it.</p> + +<p>"When Mr. Menotti and I were first married, he brought me here from +Riva, where my father is still living. An old friend of my husband's +lived here, but he wished to go away for a few years, because his wife +had died and he found it too hard to live here without her; he wanted +us to live on his place while he was away. He had a little house and a +large farm of not especially good land, but since Mr. Menotti +understood perfectly how to manage a farm, it was agreed between them, +as intimate friends, that there was to be no rent; we were simply to +keep everything in good condition so that he would find his place in +order when he returned.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A few years later the railway officials decided to build on the land, +and paid much more than it was worth to get it. Mr. Menotti took the +money, and being able to buy much better land, including this garden, +he built this house. There was money enough to pay for it all. The +land brought rich returns, and we prospered to such an extent that I +was worried, for it did not belong to us. Mr. Menotti was happy over +it because he had such a pleasant surprise for his friend, to whom he +meant to turn it all over as soon as he returned; but he never came.</p> + +<p>"As Silvio grew older, and I saw how weak he was, I feared that his +illness might be sent as a punishment to us for living upon the +profits of another's money, and I have felt the same to-night. Mr. +Menotti died four years ago. I am sure I would gladly give things over +to the rightful owner, if I could, but I don't know where to find him. +The man may be sick somewhere, or in need, and it worries me beyond +measure."</p> + +<p>"I think you have no reason to worry, since you have done the best you +could," said Stineli. "My grandmother taught me to ask God to make +things right, if it was beyond my own power.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> am worried about Rico," Stineli continued, "and I can do nothing +for him, so I have asked God to help him, and Rico has promised that +he will do<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> his part. I feel sure that this burden can be lifted from +you in the same way, if you will only ask Him to make it right in His +sight. My grandmother has taught me that we are all governed in +harmony by the Creator so long as we seek the divine will. It is like +a great chorus in which every member sings in tune because he is +governed by the harmony of music, and so I always try to put myself +back where I belong, when I feel any discord. I have never been +disappointed in trusting God with the results."</p> + +<p>"You are a wise girl, Stineli, and you have truly comforted me," said +Mrs. Menotti, as she kissed Stineli and bade her good night.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<p class="h3">AT HOME</p> + +<p>A glorious day dawned upon Peschiera the next morning, and Mrs. +Menotti hurried to the garden to enjoy it more fully. She took her +accustomed seat on a rustic bench near the gate and looked about her +with appreciative eyes. The oleander bushes were in full bloom beside +her, behind her was the hedge to screen the garden from the street, +and yonder were the loaded fig trees, while near by were the +grapevines, dotted with clusters of ripe fruit.</p> + +<p>"I realize," she said to herself, "that I shall never find so pretty a +home again."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Rico opened the gate. He had not been able to let +the beautiful morning pass without seeing his friends, as he was +obliged to go to Riva a little later. He had not noticed Mrs. Menotti, +and was going directly to the house when she called to him.</p> + +<p>"I want you to sit here with me for a few moments, Rico, if you will. +What a fine day this promises to be! I have just been wondering how +long I may still be here to enjoy it."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You alarm me, Mrs. Menotti. You are not thinking of going away?"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Rico, for speaking so thoughtlessly; I should not +have mentioned it." She changed the subject, and presently, recalling +what Stineli had told her the previous evening about Rico's trouble, +she began to wonder what it could be. She had been so absorbed in her +own affairs at the time that she had given it but a moment's thought.</p> + +<p>"Won't you tell me, Rico, why you came to Lake Garda? Stineli told me +last evening that you used to long to come here. Were you ever here +before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, when I was a child, but I was taken away."</p> + +<p>"How did you happen to come here as a child?"</p> + +<p>"I came into the world here."</p> + +<p>"You were born here? Who was your father, and why did he come here +from the mountains?"</p> + +<p>"He wasn't from the mountains; it was my mother who lived there."</p> + +<p>"Why, Rico, your father was not a Peschieran?"</p> + +<p>"He surely was, Mrs. Menotti; this was his home."</p> + +<p>"How very strange! And you never have told me this in all these years! +Feeling that you did not care to talk of your earlier life, I have +never asked you to tell me your last name. But 'Rico' is not Italian. +What was your father called?"</p> + +<p>"The same as I, Enrico Trevillo."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti sprang from the seat as if she had been struck. "What are +you saying?" she exclaimed. "What did you say just now?"</p> + +<p>"My father's name," said Rico. "Why, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti did not stay to answer him. She ran to the house and +hastily said to Stineli: "Get me a wrap, please. I must go over to see +the pastor, but I will be back soon and explain."</p> + +<p>Stineli, much astonished, put a cape around the trembling form.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Rico, for I want to ask a few questions," said Mrs. +Menotti, but she was so agitated that she could think of nothing to +ask except if he were sure that Enrico Trevillo was his father. Rico +returned to the house after leaving Mrs. Menotti with the pastor. +Stineli and Silvio were laughing over a funny story when he arrived. +As soon as Silvio saw the violin he shouted, "Let us sing 'Little +Lambs' with Stineli, because Rico is here to play."</p> + +<p>Rico had learned a great number of new songs, so that Stineli had +nearly forgotten all about "her song." She had not heard it since they +sang it for the grandmother the evening they had composed it. It +astonished her to find that Silvio knew anything about it. How was she +to know that Rico had been singing that song time after time, before +he knew any others?</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus127.jpg" width="400" height="605" alt="" /> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>She gladly consented to sing it with Rico. To her great surprise +Silvio began singing with them. To be sure, he did not know the +meaning of a word he was saying, but he remembered the sounds from +having heard them so often. He gave the words such a funny +pronunciation that Stineli had to laugh. Silvio laughed because she +laughed; then Rico could not help laughing, and so the song waited. +They began again time after time, only to stop as before, and when +Mrs. Menotti returned, she found them all still laughing and trying to +sing.</p> + +<p>She had been making a strong effort to adjust herself to the new order +of things which the eventful morning had brought about. She crossed +the garden hastily and came in where the children were. The laughter +hushed as she sank exhausted into a chair, and they gazed at her in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Rico," she said, as soon as she had gathered a little composure, "I +have just found out from the pastor that this home—the house, garden, +farm, and everything—is yours. It is your inheritance from your +father and belongs to you. Your name is recorded in the baptismal +record of the church; you are the son of Enrico Trevillo, who was my +husband's most intimate friend."</p> + +<p>Stineli had almost from the first grasped the meaning of it all, and +it gave her an unspeakable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> happiness. Her face was radiant, and Mrs. +Menotti thought, "How beautiful the girl looks!"</p> + +<p>Rico sat staring at the mother, speechless and bewildered. Silvio +shouted, "All of a sudden the house belongs to Rico; where shall he +sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Where, Silvio?" repeated the mother. "In all the rooms, if he +chooses. He can turn us out on the street at once if he likes."</p> + +<p>"Then I should certainly go out on the street with you," said Rico.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you good Rico! We will gladly stay if it will give you pleasure. +I was thinking on the way home of how we could arrange it if you +should wish to have us here. I could buy a half interest in the place, +and then one half would belong to you and one half to Silvio."</p> + +<p>"Then I will give my half to Stineli," declared Silvio.</p> + +<p>"And I my half too," said Rico.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! now everything belongs to Stineli," shouted Silvio, +gleefully. "The garden, the house, and everything in it—the chairs, +the table, the violin, and you and I too are hers. Now let's sing +again!"</p> + +<p>Rico, in the meantime, had been thinking, and now hesitatingly asked, +"How can it be that Silvio's father's house belongs to me, even if he +was my father's best friend?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>This reminded Mrs. Menotti that as yet Rico knew none of the +circumstances leading up to her discovery, so she began from the +beginning and related the events in the proper order. When she +finished, there was a grand jubilee among the children, because they +realized that there was nothing to hinder Rico's coming to live with +them immediately.</p> + +<p>After the commotion had somewhat subsided, Rico said to Mrs. Menotti: +"You must let nothing here be changed because this good fortune has +come to me. I will simply come and live with you, and we shall all be +at home, and you can be our mother."</p> + +<p>"O Rico, to think it should be you of all people!" exclaimed Mrs. +Menotti. "How well Stineli has advised us to let our troubles be made +right, and how soon the answer came! I gladly give the property over +to you, and I gladly remain here, too. I will be a true mother to you, +Rico, for I have long loved you as an own son. You and Stineli must +call me mother after this. We shall be the happiest family in all +Peschiera."</p> + +<p>"Now we <i>must</i> finish our song," burst out Silvio, who felt so happy +that his feelings needed an outlet. Rico and Stineli were no less +jubilant, and they sang merrily.</p> + +<p>Rico was about to put up his violin, when Stineli said, "I should like +to stop with a different song, Rico; can you guess which one?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I can." Then they sang in gratitude to God and in sweet memory +of the dear old grandmother who taught it to them:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He never will refuse His aid<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If you a prayer will send;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whatever in His care is laid<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall have a happy end.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then let the blessing onward go,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And cause it not to stay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That you may rest in peace below<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And happy be alway."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is needless to say that Rico did not go to Riva that day. The +situation was immediately explained to the hotel people, so that they +could hire a substitute to play for the dance. How glad Rico was to be +excused they could scarcely imagine.</p> + +<p>The landlady received the information with the greatest astonishment. +She hastily called her husband and told him the news. Later she +congratulated Rico and said to him that she heartily wished for God's +blessing upon his home. Not in the least did she begrudge him his good +fortune. She had really grown very fond of him, and her pleasure was +genuine. For some time the people of the hotel Three Crosses had been +making Rico liberal offers to come to live with them, and she was +relieved that now this could not happen. Her husband was glad for +Rico, because<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> he had known the father well; he wondered now that he +had never noticed the striking resemblance between father and son.</p> + +<p>Rico left word to have his belongings sent over to his house the next +day, and then bade them a friendly farewell.</p> + +<p>"We want you to give us your orders for all the entertaining you may +do in the future," the landlady said, as he was about to leave. Rico +thanked them in his usual quiet fashion and departed.</p> + +<p>Before night nearly all Peschiera had heard of Rico's good fortune. He +was a favorite in town, and the news caused much rejoicing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti spared no pains to make Rico comfortable in his new home. +The large front room upstairs was prepared for his special use. After +everything had been arranged to her satisfaction, she went to gather +some flowers as a finishing touch, and she had just placed them on the +table when she heard Rico coming.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Menotti has your room ready, and she is upstairs," said Stineli. +"Won't you go up to see it now?"</p> + +<p>Rico expected to see a pleasant room, but he was not prepared to find +the artistic effect which held him spellbound as he reached the +threshold. Mrs. Menotti understood his nature so well that she knew<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +what he would like, and she had arranged every detail herself. She met +him at the door, and taking his hand, led him to the windows +overlooking the lake. Rico wished to express his gratitude, but he +could only murmur, "I am so glad to be at home."</p> + +<p>In the sitting room downstairs, where the doors opened so pleasantly +into the garden, the family, after Rico had come to stay, spent the +most delightful evenings imaginable. Ten o'clock no longer brought +sadness to the happy circle, and the months slipped by quite unheeded.</p> + +<p>Rico was now supposed to manage his business, and he usually spent the +days in the field and garden with his foreman. The first day they were +out together the foreman thought, "I know more than my master," but +that evening, when the soul-inspiring strains of the violin and voice +came floating out to him across the garden, he thought, "My master +does know more than I"; and thereafter he had a profound respect for +Rico.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<p class="h3">SUNSHINE AT LAKE GARDA</p> + +<p>Two years had passed since Rico had come to his home, and it seemed to +them all that every day was filled with more pleasure than the +preceding one. Stineli knew that the time was at hand when she ought +to go home, and it made her sad whenever she thought of it. There was +the possibility that she might not be allowed to come back, and she +could think of nothing worse than that. Rico, too, began to be unhappy +about it, for he had promised that she should go back to be confirmed. +It seemed to be his duty to let her go, and though he put it off from +day to day, it weighed upon his mind to such an extent that he +scarcely spoke except when it was necessary.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Menotti saw that something was wrong, and inquired into the +cause; she had long ago forgotten that Stineli would ever have to +leave them. When they told her she said, "Stineli is still very young; +it will be just as well to wait until she is older"; so they had one +more year of undisturbed pleasure.</p> + +<p>One day, about a year later, a message came from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> Bergamo, saying that +some one was there who was to take Stineli back with him. There was no +way out of it now, so the preparations for the journey began. Silvio +cried and cried because his Stineli was going away.</p> + +<p>"You must be sure to come back," said Mrs. Menotti. "Promise your +father anything he wants if he will only let you come."</p> + +<p>Rico said scarcely a word when Stineli went, but it seemed to him that +she took all the sunshine in the world away with her. The clouds +remained from November to the following Easter. The days had dragged +along in monotonous fashion, with the zest of life completely gone.</p> + +<p>Now it was Easter Sunday. The festivities of the day were over, the +garden was one mass of bloom, and the fields gave promise of a +bountiful harvest. It ought to have made everybody happy, yet here was +Rico, sitting with Silvio in the midst of all this luxury and beauty, +playing the most melancholy tunes he could think of. To be sure they +suited Rico's mood, but they depressed Silvio and made him extremely +fretful. Suddenly they heard, "Rico, haven't you a more cheerful +welcome?"</p> + +<p>Silvio screamed for joy. Rico threw the violin on the bed and rushed +out. Mrs. Menotti came in from an adjoining room to see what had +happened. There<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> on the threshold stood Stineli. The sunshine was back +again. She had not had the slightest notion of the hearty welcome that +awaited her return. In fact, the others had not realized how necessary +she was to their happiness until she was gone. They gathered about +Silvio's bed as usual, and they asked questions and answered them and +rejoiced that the days of separation were over.</p> + +<p>A few years later something came about so naturally that it seemed as +if it could not have been otherwise. One lovely day in May—as fine a +day as Peschiera had ever seen—a long wedding procession moved from +the church to the Golden Sun. The tall, handsome Rico was at the head, +and by his side, with a wreath of roses on her fair brow, was the +beautiful Stineli. Next came Silvio, in a softly upholstered cart +drawn by two Peschiera boys. Next in line was the mother, in her +rustling festive attire, looking somewhat pale and tired. The flower +girls who came next were almost hidden in the roses they carried; +following them came the guests, and it seemed from their number that +all Peschiera must have turned out to do honor to the young bride and +bridegroom.</p> + +<p>The pride of the landlady of the Golden Sun, when she saw the +procession coming, can be better imagined than described. Ever after, +when anybody<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> told about a wedding, she would say scornfully, "That is +nothing compared to Rico's wedding at the Golden Sun."</p> + +<p>The loyal Peschierans rejoiced that Rico was to make his home among +them. The sunshine never again left him, and the home nestled in the +beautiful garden was always a happy one. Stineli never let the Lord's +Prayer be forgotten, and the grandmother's song could be heard every +Sunday night.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="WISELI_FINDS_HER_PLACE"></a>WISELI FINDS HER PLACE</h2> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IB"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="h3">COASTING</p> + +<p>Directly opposite the city of Bern lies a small village beautifully +situated on a hill. I cannot tell you what it is called, but I will +describe it to you so that you may know it if you are ever there. On +the summit of the hill there is but one house; it is surrounded by a +flower garden, which meets on each side of the house the stretch of +lawn at the front. This residence is called The Hill, and is the home +of Colonel Ritter. A short distance down the hill, on a level stretch +of ground, stands the church, with the parsonage beside it. This is +where Mrs. Ritter spent her happy girlhood as the pastor's daughter. +Still farther down, amid a group of houses, is the schoolhouse. On the +left of these, all by itself, stands an attractive little house with a +garden. In the front lawn are placed some flower beds containing +roses, carnations, and mignonette. The asparagus beds at the sides of +the house are screened from the front<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> by a low raspberry hedge. The +whole place presents a well-kept appearance. The road goes on down the +hill to the main road that follows along the Aar River to the open +country.</p> + +<p>This long, sloping hill provided excellent coasting during the winter. +The distance from the top of the hill to the Aar road below made a +continuous coast of about ten minutes' duration. This incomparable +sledge course gave to the children of the village the greatest +pleasure of the year. No sooner was school dismissed than they ran for +their sleds and hurried up the hill. The hours passed like minutes, so +that six o'clock, the time when they were expected at home, came much +too soon. The closing scene on the hill was usually an interesting +one, for they always wanted to go down once more before they broke up +for the night, and then once again, and after that just one single +time more, so that it might be inferred from their excited haste that +their lives depended upon making as many trips as possible.</p> + +<p>They were usually governed by a wise rule that compelled them all to +ride down and return in the same order, so as to avoid the possibility +of collision and confusion; but the rule was occasionally disregarded, +when the final excitement swayed them. This happened to be the case on +a bright January night, when the intense cold made the snow crackle as +it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> was crunched under the feet of the children, who came panting up +the hill, drawing their sleds after them, their faces glowing from +their exertions. The boys were shouting, "Once more! once more!" as +they turned their sleds and fell into line.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that three of the boys claimed the same place in the +file, and not one was willing to go behind the others. During the +dispute two of them crowded the big boy Chappi to one side into the +snow, where his heavy sled sank into the drift. This made him angry, +for it gave the others the opportunity to get ahead of him. In +glancing back he noticed a little girl standing near, watching him; +she had wrapped her hands in her apron to keep them warm, but she was +shivering in her thin dress.</p> + +<p>"Can't you get out of the way, you ragged thing?" he cried angrily. +"What business have you here anyway, since you have no sled? I'll +teach you how to get away."</p> + +<p>He kicked a cloud of snow at her and was just ready to repeat it when +some one behind him gave him a fierce blow. In great rage he doubled +up his fist and turned savagely to attack his unknown foe.</p> + +<p>It was Otto Ritter, who had just placed his sled in line and who now +stood looking calmly at Chappi's clenched fist and raised arm. "Strike +if you dare," was all he said.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Otto was a tall, slender boy, not nearly so stout as Chappi, but he +had already proved, in previous encounters, that he possessed a skill +in handling himself against which Chappi's weight counted for little. +Chappi was too wise to strike, but he shook his fist in the air and +snarled, "Clear out! I don't care to have anything to do with you."</p> + +<p>"But I have something to do with you," retorted Otto. "What business +have you to drive Wiseli into the drift and then pelt her with snow +besides? You are a coward to attack a defenseless child."</p> + +<p>Otto disdainfully turned his back upon Chappi and went toward the +girl, who was standing knee-deep in the snowdrift. "Come out of the +snow, Wiseli," he said gently. "Is it true that you have no sled?"</p> + +<p>"I was only looking at the rest," she answered timidly.</p> + +<p>"Take mine and go down once," said Otto. "Hurry, for they are going to +start in a minute."</p> + +<p>Wiseli glanced quickly at Chappi, afraid that he would interfere with +her going, but the boy seemed to have forgotten all about her. Otto +helped her to seat herself on the sled, and the next minute she was +going down the hill behind the others.</p> + +<p>Wiseli had watched them for ten or fifteen minutes, and had secretly +wished that she might be allowed to sit on one of the large sleds used +to carry several at a time, but to go down alone was more than she +had even hoped for; besides, this was the prettiest sled of all. It +had a lion's head for the front decoration, and was finished with +steel runners and made of light material so that it beat all the +others in a race.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus143.jpg" width="400" height="611" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seemed to Otto but a moment before the party returned, so he +shouted, "Stay in line, Wiseli, and go down once more."</p> + +<p>Wiseli immediately turned her sled and gladly led the line down the +hill. She murmured timid thanks to Otto when she returned with the +sled, but the happy, flushed face would have satisfied him even if she +had said nothing. She heard Otto calling his sister as she started +homeward through the panting crowd.</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" and a plump, rosy-cheeked little girl came to him with +her sled. Otto took his sister's warm little hand in his and they +hastened home. They had spent much more than the allotted time +to-night, but they had enjoyed themselves too much to entertain any +regrets whatever.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IIB"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE HOME ON THE HILL</p> + +<p>As Otto and his sister rushed into the long hall with its stone floor, +they were met by Trina, an old and faithful servant, who held the lamp +she was carrying high above her head to avoid getting the light in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"You are here at last," she said half impatiently and half +indulgently. "Your mother has been wanting you, and we have all waited +for you until long after supper time."</p> + +<p>Trina had been in the family before the children were born, and she +exercised the same authority over them as did the parents, while she +was even more indulgent. In fact, she idolized them both; but for +their good, according to her views, she did not wish them to be too +sure of it. Consequently she was always trying to be somewhat gruff +for their especial benefit.</p> + +<p>"Out of your shoes and into your slippers!" she commanded. She put the +light down, and kneeling before Otto she unfastened his shoes and put +the dry slippers on his feet. In the meantime she was urging<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> the +little sister to begin removing her wet shoes, but Miezi stood +listening intently to something she thought she heard from the living +room.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Trina, "are you going to wait until next summer? Your +shoes will be dry before then."</p> + +<p>"Hush!" warned Miezi with upraised hand; "I heard something. Who is in +the other room, Trina?"</p> + +<p>"Only people with dry shoes are going in there," said Trina, still +kneeling before Otto.</p> + +<p>Just then Miezi gave a startled exclamation. "There, I heard it again! +It is Uncle Max's laugh, I am sure."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Otto, and both children rushed for the living room +door. "Let me go in first, Otto; I heard him first!" cried Miezi, +endeavoring to push herself ahead of him; but Trina picked her up in +her arms and carried her to the hall seat, where the old servant had a +hard time trying to get the wet shoes from the impatient feet. The +moment the girl was released she bounded into the living room and into +Uncle Max's arms, for it was really he, sitting in the large armchair, +looking as happy and prosperous as ever.</p> + +<p>The children quite worshiped Uncle Max. He was their especial friend, +from whom they had no secrets. His travels kept him away much of the +time, and they seldom saw him more than once a year, but this seemed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +to make his visits the more appreciated, especially as he always +brought them remembrances from the remotest parts of the world. Each +time he came seemed a holiday to the children.</p> + +<p>To-night they were hurried to the table, where a steaming supper +awaited them. The children's excitement over the uncle's coming abated +somewhat before this enjoyment, for coasting always brought sharpened +appetites. Miezi was industriously engaged with her soup when her +father said: "I think my little girl has forgotten her papa to-night. +I missed my usual kiss and handshake."</p> + +<p>Miezi instantly let her spoon drop and pushed her chair back to run to +the neglected parent, but he stopped her with, "No, no, you need not +trouble now."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to forget you, papa," she said.</p> + +<p>"We will make up for it after supper, Miezchen," said the father. +"What did we christen the child, anyway?" he continued. "Wasn't it +Maria?"</p> + +<p>"I was there when she was baptized," said Max, "but I cannot remember. +It surely was not Miezchen."</p> + +<p>"Of course you were there," asserted his sister. "You were the child's +godfather, and we called her Marie. It was papa himself who first +called her Miezchen, and Otto made it still worse."</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, surely not worse," interposed Otto.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> "You see, Uncle Max, +it is like this: if she is a good little girl I call her Miezchen; +this she is so seldom, however, that I usually call her Miezi. When +she is angry and looks like a little ruffled hen, I call her Miez."</p> + +<p>"And when Otto is angry, what does he look like?" inquired Uncle Max, +addressing Miezi.</p> + +<p>Before she could think of a comparison, Otto answered, "Like a man!"</p> + +<p>They all laughed so heartily that Miezi stirred her soup violently in +her confusion.</p> + +<p>Uncle Max tactfully changed the subject: "It has been over a year +since I have seen you children, and I wish you would tell me what you +have been doing while I have been away."</p> + +<p>Naturally the latest news was related first, and, in their eagerness +to have Uncle Max know everything, both children wished to speak at +once. Among other things they told of the fun they had in school, and +that led Otto to tell about his experience with Chappi and Wiseli; how +she had been driven into the snowdrift and rudely treated, and how, +though she had no sled, she finally had had two rides on his.</p> + +<p>"That was right, Otto," said his father; "always take the part of the +weak and the oppressed, and honor the meaning of your name. Who is +this little girl you speak of?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I doubt if you know her," answered Mrs. Ritter, "but Max knew the +mother very well. You remember the frail linen weaver that lived near +us? She was his daughter and only child, and she used to come often to +the parsonage. She was a pretty girl with large brown eyes, and she +could sing beautifully. Do you remember whom I mean?"</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Trina brought in a message: "Joiner Andreas begs +permission to speak with Mrs. Ritter, if it will not disturb her."</p> + +<p>Quite a commotion followed this announcement. Mrs. Ritter dropped the +spoon with which she was serving, and saying hastily, "Excuse me, +please," left the room.</p> + +<p>Otto and Miezi immediately pushed back their chairs to go also, but +Uncle Max held Miezi fast. Otto stumbled over something in his haste, +and Miezi struggled hard to free herself. "Do let me go, Uncle Max! +Let me go!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to go, Miezchen?"</p> + +<p>"To see Joiner Andreas. Let me go. Help me, papa."</p> + +<p>"Tell me why you want to see Joiner Andreas, and I will let you go."</p> + +<p>"My sheep has but two legs left and no tail, and only Joiner Andreas +knows how to fix it. Now let me go."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miezi's papa and Uncle Max laughed as she ran from the room.</p> + +<p>"Who is this man that has the whole household at his command?" +inquired Uncle Max.</p> + +<p>"You ought to know better than I," answered Colonel Ritter. "Very +likely he is an old playmate of yours. I am sure you would enjoy +knowing him. Your sister makes us all love him. He is really the +corner stone of this household, without whom things generally would go +to rack and ruin. It doesn't matter what happens, for 'Joiner Andreas +will fix it.' In fact he is helper, adviser, comforter, and friend, +all in one."</p> + +<p>"You may laugh," said Mrs. Ritter, who returned just then, "but I know +that Joiner Andreas is a comfort."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said the husband, playfully.</p> + +<p>"So do I," echoed Miezi, as she seated herself at the table.</p> + +<p>"So do I," added Otto, who was rubbing the knuckles he had bruised in +his hasty exit.</p> + +<p>"Then we are all agreed," said the mother. "Now I want you children to +go to bed."</p> + +<p>"To which we are not all agreed," said Otto, teasingly.</p> + +<p>However, Trina came and they were obliged to go. The mother followed +after a time, as was her custom,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> to hear the children's evening +prayer and receive their last embrace for the night. This often +required some time, for they were eager to tell her many things, and +detained her for their own pleasure. To-night she remained until they +were quiet and then returned to the gentlemen in the sitting room.</p> + +<p>"At last," said Colonel Ritter, apparently as relieved as if he had +just conquered an enemy. "You see, Max, my wife's time belongs first +of all to Joiner Andreas, and then to the children; if there is any +left, it belongs to me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's not quite so bad as that!" corrected Mrs. Ritter. "You like +Andreas just as well as the rest of us do, even though you won't admit +it. That reminds me, he told me that he had received the money from +his yearly profit and wanted your advice about investing it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a fact," said the colonel, "that I never saw a more +trustworthy or energetic man than he. I would trust him with all I +have. He is by far the most reliable and wide-awake man in our +parish."</p> + +<p>"Now you know what he thinks of him, Max," said Mrs. Ritter, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure," said the brother, "but you have said so much about +this man that I am curious to see him. Did I ever know him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Max! to think of your asking!" his sister<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> admonished him. "You +used to go to school together and you knew him well. Don't you +remember the two brothers who were in your class, the older one such a +good-for-nothing boy? Not that he was stupid, but he didn't care to +study, so the younger one was in the same class. The older one's name +was George, and he was rather striking in appearance because of his +heavy black hair. Whenever he saw us he would pelt us with stones or +apples, and he invariably called us 'aristocrat-breed.'"</p> + +<p>Uncle Max laughed. "Yes, I should say I do remember him distinctly," +he said. "That word I shall never forget—'aristocrat-breed.' I should +like to know how he got hold of it. I remember very well what a tyrant +he was. I interfered once when I saw him unmercifully pommeling a much +smaller boy, and he took his vengeance on me by calling me +'aristocrat-breed' at least a dozen times. Now, of a sudden, I +remember the other one too. Can it be that little Andreas with the +violets has become your hero? Now I comprehend the intimacy, Marie."</p> + +<p>"The violets!" broke in Colonel Ritter. "I have heard nothing about +the violets."</p> + +<p>"Why, I see that scene before me as if it were but yesterday," +continued Max, "and I am going to tell you about it, Otto. You have no +doubt heard Marie tell about the teacher we had in those days,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> who +believed that the bad should be whipped out of children and the good +whipped into them. Consequently he was much of the time engaged in +punishing us for one or both purposes. At one time he was +administering this treatment to the little Andreas, and he struck the +boy such a heavy blow across the back that he screamed outright. Well, +my little sister, who had just begun to go to school, and who didn't +understand the teacher's well-meant methods, immediately rose from her +seat and marched down the aisle to the door.</p> + +<p>"The teacher stopped to see what had happened, holding his rod poised +in the air long enough to ask, 'Where are you going?'</p> + +<p>"Marie turned around and, with tears streaming down her face, answered +loud enough for the whole school to hear, 'I am going home to tell my +papa.'</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget how the teacher left the astonished Andreas and +rushed upon Marie. 'Just wait and I'll teach <i>you</i>,' he threatened. He +roughly took her by the arm and forced her back to her seat, +muttering, 'I'll teach <i>you</i>!' That ended the scene, however, for he +sent Andreas to his seat without further punishment, and nothing more +was said to Marie.</p> + +<p>"Andreas never forgot this kind act in his behalf, and he always +brought Marie a bunch of violets when he came to school; I used to +notice how they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> perfumed the schoolroom. Occasionally there would be +a cluster of strawberries or something else equally appropriate. How +the friendship has extended to the present state of affairs I shall +have to let my sister explain."</p> + +<p>"My dear wife, I am eager to have this brought up to date," remarked +the colonel.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter laughed with the others and began: "The strawberries and +violets were given as Max said, but you have forgotten how soon +Andreas left school after I entered. He went to the city to learn the +joiner's trade. I didn't lose track of him, however, for he often came +home. When Otto and I were married and bought this place, he came to +consult us about his own purchase of some property. The owner of the +place wanted cash, and Andreas, who had lost his parents, hadn't the +money. Otto lent him the sum he needed and has never regretted it."</p> + +<p>"I should say not," broke in the colonel. "He paid for that long ago, +and since that time has laid by a good sum of his own. He brings his +money to me, and I invest it for him. His interest is adding to his +capital, and he could now afford to build a much better house and live +with more comforts. It is a shame that he is all alone in the world."</p> + +<p>"Hasn't he a wife? And where is George?" asked Max.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Andreas lives all alone," answered the sister. "I think his history +is too sad for him ever to take a wife. George led a wild life around +here until Andreas refused to help him out of any more scrapes, and +now he has disappeared, for he couldn't pay his debts. People were +relieved to have him out of the neighborhood, but everybody respects +Andreas."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by his sad experience, Marie?" inquired Max.</p> + +<p>"I should like to hear about that, too," said the husband.</p> + +<p>"Why, Otto!" said Mrs. Ritter, "I have told you about it at least a +dozen times."</p> + +<p>"Is that so? It must please me," answered the husband, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Can you recall, Max, the girl whom we were speaking of at the table +to-night when Andreas came? We could hear her father's loom from our +garden, they lived so near us. I told you the girl was very pretty. +She had a charming manner and her name was Aloise."</p> + +<p>"Never in my life have I known anybody by that name," asserted Max.</p> + +<p>"I know why you say so," corrected his sister. "We never called her +that, and I am sure that you never did. We called her Wisi, much to +our dear mother's disgust. You often went over to get her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> when we +wanted to have some music, because she could sing so well."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I remember Wisi," said Max, "and I used to like the girl, +too; but I don't believe that I ever knew of her being named anything +else."</p> + +<p>"I know that you used to know, Max," persisted Mrs. Ritter. "Mother so +often deplored the fact that we would not use the pretty name Aloise, +and she never liked what we did call her."</p> + +<p>"What became of Wisi?" inquired Max.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Mrs. Ritter, "Wisi and I were much together, for we +were in the same class and went from grade to grade at the same time. +Andreas, through all those years, was her stanchest friend, and she +willingly accepted his attentions, often finding his friendship of +great advantage to herself.</p> + +<p>"For one thing we were supposed to bring certain examples worked out +on our slates when we came to school in the morning, but Wisi's slate +was usually blank. She was always light-hearted and merry, and she +would put her slate on her desk in a very unconcerned way and go out +to play; when she returned, the slate was filled with neatly copied +examples.</p> + +<p>"Once it was brought before the school that some one had broken a +windowpane, and again, that some one had shaken the teacher's fruit +trees, and I remember that we all knew it was Wisi's fault; but +Andreas<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> took the blame upon himself and the punishment also. The rest +of us accepted it as a matter of course, for we all liked Wisi and +were used to having her escape.</p> + +<p>"How it happened that the quietest, most earnest boy in school should +care especially about the most mischievous girl used to puzzle us, and +I often wondered if Wisi were not indifferent to Andreas's interest in +her. I asked mamma about it one day, and she said, 'I am afraid that +Aloise is somewhat vain, and that she may live to see the bad results +of her carelessness.' After that I worried about her myself.</p> + +<p>"Some time later we had Bible studies together, preparatory to our +confirmation, and she took such an interest in them that we began to +think she had given up her mischievous ways. She regularly came to +sing with us Sunday evenings, and we liked to have her with us, for +her cheerfulness infected us all. By this time she was a very pretty +young woman, not rugged, but perfectly well; and she far surpassed the +other girls of the neighborhood in grace, beauty, and accomplishments. +Andreas was still at his trade, but he managed to come home nearly +every Sunday. We could all see how much he cared for Wisi. He was the +only one that ever called her Wiseli, and he always accented the name +so softly that we thought it was very pretty.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One Sunday night, when Wisi and I were not quite eighteen years of +age, she came in radiantly happy and told us that she was soon to be +married. The man to whom she was betrothed had but recently come to +the village and was employed at the factory. I was so astonished and +grieved over the news that I could say nothing. Mother, however, asked +her to take some time to consider the matter thoroughly, because it +was too important a step to take hurriedly. Mother told her that she +was very young and that she must not forget that there was some one +else who had loved her for years, of whose intentions she could have +no doubt; then, too, her father needed her, and she ought to help him +a few years more.</p> + +<p>"Wisi cried because mother talked so earnestly, but she said that her +father had given his consent and it was all arranged that they were to +be married in two weeks. 'Then,' said mother, 'we must make the best +of it and try to be happy. I will play our favorite melody and we will +sing the words.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Commit thou all thy ways<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And all that grieves thy heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Him whose endless days<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Can strength and grace impart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He gives to wind and wave<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The power to be still;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A place to work His will."'<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"When Wisi left us that night she was as cheerful as ever, but I could +not help feeling that her happiest days were over. Then, too, I feared +for Andreas, but he said nothing, although he has never been the same +since. For several years he seemed to be far from well, but he did not +give up work."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" exclaimed Max; "and he never married?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, Max!" said Mrs. Ritter, impatiently, "how could he when he +is faithfulness itself?"</p> + +<p>"How was I to know that he possessed that virtue also, dear sister? He +seems to have them all. How did Wisi get along? I should be sorry to +hear that her marriage proved a failure."</p> + +<p>"I can plainly see that your sympathy is with her," replied Mrs. +Ritter. "To you, Andreas's fate does not matter so much."</p> + +<p>"Not so, sister, but those pretty eyes of hers ought never to have +been spoiled with tears. Isn't she happy?"</p> + +<p>"I fear not, Max. I have seen but little of her since her marriage. +There was a coarseness in her husband's nature that repelled me, and +he was always cross to her. Six children were born to them, and all +but one, a frail little girl, have died. She is called Wiseli, and is +about the size of our Miezchen, although she is three years older. She +is the little girl<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> whom Otto defended this evening. Her mother has +suffered so much during all these years, that there is little hope of +her ever being well again."</p> + +<p>"That is too bad," said Max; "we must try to do something for her. +Don't you think that we might help her?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that it is too late. Wisi was much too delicate for all +the work and worry that fell to her lot."</p> + +<p>"What is the husband doing?"</p> + +<p>"I forgot to tell you, Max. About six months ago he had an arm and a +leg badly crushed in the factory, and he died a few weeks after being +injured. Since then Wisi has been living alone with her little girl."</p> + +<p>"So that is her story," mused Max. "And one child is all that she has +left. What would become of her in case Wisi died? It is more likely, +though, that the mother will get well, and that Andreas will yet be +happy."</p> + +<p>"No, I am sure it is too late for that," asserted Mrs. Ritter. +"Although Wisi repented long ago, the wrong could not be undone, and +she has suffered in silence. But we are forgetting that we must have +some sleep to-night."</p> + +<p>Colonel Ritter had fallen asleep in his chair. It was past midnight. +Max roguishly went behind his sleeping brother and shook his shoulders +so roughly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> that the colonel sprang from his chair in alarm. Max +laughed and patted his shoulder by way of atonement, saying +apologetically, "I only intended to give you a gentle warning that my +sister says we must take to our beds."</p> + +<p>A few moments later the house stood dark and quiet in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the hill was another house where it would soon be quiet +also; from a tiny window a small lamp still sent a faint glimmer into +the night.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IIIB"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="h3">ANOTHER HOME</p> + +<p>While Otto and Miezi Ritter were going home after the coasting, Wiseli +was running down the hill as fast as her little feet could take her; +she realized that she was later than usual and was sorry to have kept +her mother waiting. The pleasure of her coast gave an added impetus, +for she could scarcely wait to tell her mother about it. In her haste +she would have run against a man coming from the house, had he not +quickly stepped to one side. She found her mother reclining in a chair +by the window, and she wondered at it because it was so unusual. She +threw her arms about her neck, saying eagerly, "Are you vexed with me, +mother, for not coming sooner?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, child; but I am glad that you are here now."</p> + +<p>She hastily told her mother about Otto's kindness, and how she had +enjoyed two long rides on the prettiest sled in school. "But, mother," +she added, "what is the matter? Why haven't you a light?"</p> + +<p>"You may get the lamp now and bring me a glass of water. I am so +thirsty."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wiseli went to the kitchen and returned carrying the lamp in one hand +and a bottle of fruit juice in the other.</p> + +<p>"What are you bringing me?" asked the mother.</p> + +<p>"I don't know myself. I found it on the kitchen table. See how it +sparkles." The mother drew the cork. "It is raspberry juice, as +fragrant as the berries fresh from the garden," she said.</p> + +<p>Wiseli poured some of the rich juice into a tumbler and diluted it +with water; this the mother drank in long draughts until the tumbler +was emptied. "Leave it near me, Wiseli," she said. "It seems as if I +could drink it all, I am so thirsty and it is so refreshing. I wonder +who was so thoughtful as to bring it to me! It must have come from +Mrs. Ritter's and very likely Trina brought it over."</p> + +<p>"Trina always comes in when she brings anything. Was she here to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No. No one came in."</p> + +<p>"Joiner Andreas may have left it when he was here," said Wiseli.</p> + +<p>"Wiseli!" exclaimed the mother. "Joiner Andreas has not been here +either."</p> + +<p>"But I saw him, mother. He came out of the house just as I came in. I +nearly ran into him in my hurry. Didn't you hear any one? It seems +strange that he should have been so quiet."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do remember that I thought the kitchen door opened, and I listened +for your footsteps, but you came in a few moments later, so I thought +I must have been mistaken. Are you sure that it was Andreas whom you +saw?"</p> + +<p>Wiseli was certain, but to convince the mother she described him as he +invariably looked. "I shouldn't wonder," she added, "if it were he who +brought that large jar of honey you liked so much, and also the cakes +you found that day. Don't you remember thanking Trina for them when +she brought you the hot dinner, and she told you that she knew nothing +about them? It must have been Joiner Andreas who did it."</p> + +<p>Tears filled the mother's eyes as she said, "I think that probably you +are right, Wiseli."</p> + +<p>"Surely you are not going to be sorry about it, mother," said Wiseli, +as she fondly stroked her mother's hair.</p> + +<p>"No, but I want you to thank him for me sometime, Wiseli. I am afraid +that I cannot do it myself. Tell him that it did me good; that I was +glad he was so kind. Give me a little more, please."</p> + +<p>Wiseli prepared the fruit juice and brought a pillow from the bed so +that her mother could rest her head on the window seat. She drew a +footstool to the window and made her mother comfortable.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> Then she sat +down beside her and said, "It is time for me to say the verses you +taught me.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Commit thou all thy ways<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And all that grieves thy heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Him whose endless days<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Can strength and grace impart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He gives to wind and wave<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The power to be still;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A place to work His will."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Remember that, Wiseli," said the mother, drowsily. "If the time ever +comes when it seems as if you were not cared for, take comfort and +courage from the verses you have just repeated."</p> + +<p>The mother's regular breathing soon told Wiseli that she was asleep; +but the child remained quietly by her side for fear of waking her. +Thus it happened that she too fell asleep, and the lamp burned on, +growing fainter and fainter until it burned itself out and left the +house dark in the quiet night.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning a neighbor passed the window on her way to +the well, and, glancing in as usual, she saw Wiseli crying beside the +mother, who had her head pillowed on the window seat. She ran to the +child, saying, "What is it, Wiseli? I hope your mother is not worse."</p> + +<p>Wiseli only sobbed. The neighbor bent over the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>mother in surprise +and alarm. "Go to your uncle quickly, Wiseli," she said; "tell him to +come immediately. I will wait here until you get back."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus167.jpg" width="400" height="615" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>The uncle's house was about fifteen minutes' walk from the church, and +Wiseli ran on obediently, although the tears would not be kept back. +Her aunt answered the knock at the door; seeing the child in tears she +said gruffly, "What is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"I have been sent over to get my uncle; my mother is dead," answered +Wiseli, for she had reasoned it out to herself that it must be so or +else the mother would speak to her.</p> + +<p>The aunt softened perceptibly. "He is not here just now," she said +almost kindly. "I will have him come as soon as possible, so you +needn't wait."</p> + +<p>It was not long after Wiseli's return that the uncle came. He directed +the neighbor to look after everything so that he might take the child +away at once.</p> + +<p>"But where shall we go?" inquired Wiseli.</p> + +<p>"You shall go home with me, for I am all that you have left now. I +will take care of you."</p> + +<p>In spite of this assurance a great dread seized Wiseli. To go home +with her uncle meant to live with the aunt of whom she was so afraid +that she had always dreaded even meeting her. Then there were the +three rude cousins, of whom Chappi was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> the oldest. The thought of how +Hans and Rudi were always throwing stones at children made her +shudder. How could she go there to live, and yet how dared she refuse?</p> + +<p>All these thoughts flashed through Wiseli's mind as she stood +hesitating. "You needn't be afraid," said her uncle kindly; "there are +a good many of us, to be sure, but you will find that all the more +interesting."</p> + +<p>Wiseli tied a few of her things in a bundle, put a shawl over her +head, and joined her uncle who was waiting near the door.</p> + +<p>"That is a good girl," said the uncle; "now let us be off. Don't cry +any more; that never helps anything."</p> + +<p>Wiseli choked back the sobs as best she could and followed the uncle, +whose stern nature had never been so touched before. Thus the little +home where Wiseli had lived, loving and beloved, passed out of her +life forever.</p> + +<p>They had a glimpse of Trina, who was crossing a vacant lot with a +basket on her arm, and Wiseli knew that she was going to see her +mother.</p> + +<p>Trina said to the neighbor who met her at the door; "I have something +good for the sick one's dinner; I hope I am not too late. We have a +visitor, and everything is late when he is there."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter now, for you would have been too late even if you +had come early this morning; she died in the night," said the +neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what will Mrs. Ritter say!" exclaimed Trina in alarm. "She tried +so hard to have me come yesterday, but we were all so taken up with +the uncle's arrival that it was put off. I am so sorry to have to tell +her of this because I know how she will blame herself for neglecting +her friend so long."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the neighbor, "we are all apt to do that. Yesterday I did +not suspect that she was any worse than usual."</p> + +<p>Trina sorrowfully returned to the Ritter home.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IVB"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE GOTTI HOME</p> + +<p>When Wiseli and her uncle arrived at Beechgreen, the three boys rushed +in from the barn and stood staring at her. Soon the mother came in +from the kitchen and did the same thing. Wiseli did not know what to +do except to stand and hold her bundle.</p> + +<p>Presently the father seated himself at the table and said, "I think we +had better have something to eat. I am afraid the little one has not +had much to-day. Put your things down, Wiseli, and sit here with me."</p> + +<p>Wiseli obeyed without a word. The aunt brought a large loaf of black +bread and some cheese, after which she went on staring at Wiseli as if +she had never seen a child before.</p> + +<p>The uncle cut a slice of the bread, put a piece of cheese on it, and +pushed it over in front of Wiseli. "There, little one," he said +kindly, "eat that. You must be hungry."</p> + +<p>The suppressed tears welled up in Wiseli's eyes, and her throat was so +choked that she could scarcely breathe. She knew that she could not +swallow a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> single crumb. "No, thank you," she managed to say; "I am +not hungry."</p> + +<p>"But you had better try," urged the uncle. "You mustn't be afraid."</p> + +<p>Still Wiseli left the bread untouched, and the boys and their mother +continued to stare at her. Presently the aunt dropped her hands from +her hips and said, "If it isn't good enough for you, then let it +alone." Wiseli was glad that she went out after this rebuke.</p> + +<p>"You had better put your slice of bread in your pocket, Wiseli, for +you may want it a little later," said the uncle, and then he too went +out to the kitchen, closing the door after him.</p> + +<p>Wiseli knew that her uncle meant to be good to her, and she wanted to +obey him, so she tried to put the bread in her pocket. Unfortunately +this was much too small, so she laid the bread back on the table.</p> + +<p>At this point Chappi snatched the slice saying, "I will help you." He +was just in the act of taking a bite when one of the brothers struck +his arm so that the bread dropped to the floor. Then the other brother +tried to get it, and a general scuffle ensued.</p> + +<p>The father opened the kitchen door to ask what the trouble was. The +boys answered together, "Wiseli didn't want it."</p> + +<p>"Unless you want me to come in with a strap you had better stop that +racket," threatened the father.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>He had just closed the door again when one of the younger boys seized +the other by the hair, with the idea of holding him at bay while he +got the bread, but this only made matters worse, and the bread +disappeared bite by bite as each found an opportunity to snatch it.</p> + +<p>The aunt was washing potatoes in the kitchen. When her husband came in +she said, "What do you mean by bringing the girl home with you? I +should like to ask what you intend to do with her."</p> + +<p>"The child had to go somewhere," he answered. "I am her uncle and the +only relative she has. She ought to be of some help to you. I am sure +she could do the kind of work you are doing now, and you could take +your time for something you like better. You have always said that the +boys make work, and you can surely find something for her to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, bosh! So far as that is concerned, she will be no better than the +boys. You can hear what is going on in there now, and she has scarcely +been here fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the uncle; "but I have heard the same thing many times +before she came, and I imagine she has little enough to do with it."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear them all lay it upon her when you opened the door?" +she asked angrily.</p> + +<p>"They have to blame some one," the husband<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> calmly answered; "they +always do, I notice. I am of the opinion that you will have little +trouble from the girl; she acts and obeys better than the boys."</p> + +<p>"You needn't set her up as a model for the boys already," retorted his +wife. "There isn't a place for her to sleep, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the husband, "one can't plan everything at once. She has, +no doubt, had a bed to sleep on, and it can easily be brought over +here. I will talk with the pastor about her to-morrow. She can sleep +on the bench behind the stove to-night; it will at least be warm. +Later we can partition off a part of our chamber large enough for her +little bed."</p> + +<p>"I never in my life heard of any one bringing a child and a week later +her bed!" sneered the aunt. "I should like to know who is going to pay +the bills if we have to go to building on her account."</p> + +<p>"If the church agrees to let us have her, they will also pay something +for her keeping," explained the husband. "I will take her for less +money than any one else would ask, because I am her uncle, and she +will be happier with us than with strangers. I wish you would tell +Chappi that I want him at the barn."</p> + +<p>The aunt called to Chappi, but the boys were still struggling on the +floor and he did not hear. She went into the room and gruffly ordered +quiet. Wiseli stood crouching against the wall, scarcely daring to +move.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder that you stand by and watch such a scene without trying to +stop it," scolded the aunt. "Can you knit?"</p> + +<p>Wiseli trembled as she answered, "Yes, I can knit stockings."</p> + +<p>The aunt handed Wiseli a large brown stocking, at the same time +sending Chappi to the barn. The two brothers followed him out. +"Remember that it is the foot you are knitting on, and don't make it +too short," cautioned the aunt, and then she returned to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Wiseli was glad to be alone. She sat down on the bench behind the +stove so that she might hold her work in her lap, for the stocking was +so heavy that she could not otherwise manage the needles.</p> + +<p>She had just begun her knitting when the aunt returned to say, "You +had better come to the kitchen now, so that you can learn how I do the +work, for I want you to do it next time."</p> + +<p>Wiseli followed to the kitchen, where she tried to help, but there +seemed to be little that she dared to do. She kept thinking how gladly +she would have done any number of tasks for her mother, because she +would have been kind. The comparison brought the tears, so she +desperately fought against thinking about herself.</p> + +<p>"Now pay attention!" cautioned the aunt, as she<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> walked about doing +the work while Wiseli stood by the stove; "I want you to know how to +do it the next time."</p> + +<p>They were still there when the father and sons came up the walk from +the barn, stamping the snow from their heavy boots.</p> + +<p>"They are coming; run, Wiseli, and open the door," said the aunt.</p> + +<p>Then the woman drained a large kettle of potatoes, which she took from +the stove, ran to the living room and dumped them in the middle of the +warped dining table. Next she brought a large pan of sour milk, and +said to Wiseli, "The knives and forks are in the table drawer; you can +put them on."</p> + +<p>Wiseli found five knives and five forks in the drawer and put them on +the table; then supper was ready. The father and the boys took their +places on the bench behind the table next the window. There was a +chair at one end of the table, and one at the side next the kitchen, +which the aunt took. The uncle motioned Wiseli to take the other +chair, saying to his wife, "She can sit there, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," snapped the aunt, and then went out to the kitchen on +pretense of being busy. She kept coming back for only a moment at a +time. The uncle, understanding her, said impatiently, "I wish you +would sit still and eat your supper."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't find the time to sit still," she retorted; "I should like to +know who is going to look after things out there if I don't." Just at +that moment she noticed that Wiseli was not eating her supper.</p> + +<p>"Why are you sitting with your hands in your lap?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"She hasn't anything to eat with," replied Rudi, who had already +solved the problem to his own satisfaction, for he could not +understand how anybody could help eating so long as there was anything +on the table.</p> + +<p>"So that is it," said the aunt. "How was I to know that all of a +sudden we must have six knives and forks when we have always needed +but five. I suppose we must get an extra spoon, too. Why couldn't you +have said something?" she went on, turning to Wiseli. "You must know +that one has to have a spoon to eat with."</p> + +<p>Wiseli timidly answered, "It didn't matter, because I am not hungry."</p> + +<p>"But why not?" snapped the aunt. "Are you used to something better? I +haven't any notion of making a change on your account."</p> + +<p>"I think you had better let the child alone," interrupted the husband. +"I don't want you to frighten her. She will get along well enough +after a while."</p> + +<p>Wiseli sat quietly while the rest finished their meal. Then the father +said that Speck, the goat, was ailing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> at the barn, so he would go +back. He put on his fur cap, took the lantern, and went out.</p> + +<p>Wiseli watched her aunt brush the potato peelings from the table into +the empty milk pan with her hands; then she wiped the table, after +which the other things were soon washed and put away. When all was +finished she said, "Now you have seen how I do up the supper work, +Wiseli; you can do it hereafter."</p> + +<p>When they came into the living room, Chappi was seated at the table +with his number book and pencil, as if he intended writing his sums on +the table; he now began to stare at Wiseli. She had picked up the +stocking on the bench by the stove, but had not dared to go near the +light on the table.</p> + +<p>"You ought to be working examples yourself," he said to Wiseli; "you +aren't the smartest one in school by any means."</p> + +<p>Wiseli did not know what to say. She had not been in school that day, +and did not know what examples had been given out. In fact, she seemed +to be out of harmony with everything.</p> + +<p>"If I have to do sums, you have to," continued Chappi.</p> + +<p>Wiseli said nothing, and did not stir.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Chappi, "I'll not do one single example more," and +he threw down his pencil.</p> + +<p>"Goody!" exclaimed Hans; "then I don't need<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> to either," and he put +his multiplication table back in his book sack. Study was the most +unpleasant thing he ever had to do.</p> + +<p>"I shall tell the teacher who is to blame for all this laziness," said +Chappi, threateningly; "you will find out what he will do to you."</p> + +<p>This might have been carried on indefinitely had not the father +returned from the barn. He brought two large mill sacks and asked +Chappi to take his things from the table; then he spread out the +sacks, folded them neatly, and laid them on the bench behind the +stove.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, "that is all right. Where is your bundle, little +one?"</p> + +<p>Wiseli brought it from the corner, where she had put it, and was +surprised to see her uncle place it at one end of the sacks and press +it flat with his hands.</p> + +<p>"There!" he repeated as he gave the bundle a last pat. Then turning to +Wiseli, he added: "You may go to sleep now; the bundle will be your +pillow and the stove will keep you from getting cold. You three boys +must be off to bed!"</p> + +<p>He took the lamp and followed the boys out, but he returned presently +and said: "I hope you will sleep well, Wiseli. Try hard not to think +about what has happened to-day. It will all come right later." Then he +left her to herself.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>A moment later the aunt came, carrying a small lamp, and wished to see +the bed. "Can you sleep that way?" she asked, almost kindly. "It will +be nice and warm for you. Some people haven't any bed and are cold +besides. It may happen to be the case with you yet, so you better be +thankful that you have a roof over your head. Good night."</p> + +<p>"Good night," answered Wiseli, but the door closed too quickly for the +aunt to hear.</p> + +<p>Wiseli was glad to know that she was to be alone for the night. The +moon dimly lighted the room. She had been in such constant dread of +those about her that she had scarcely dared to think of herself. Now +she lifted up her heart in prayer, simply saying, "Help me, Heavenly +Father, for I am afraid, and mother is not with me now."</p> + +<p>She felt comforted after a time because she had the assurance, from +her mother's teaching, that her prayer would be answered. She +remembered that it was only the evening before that her mother had +told her to take comfort and courage from the verses she had repeated. +The real meaning came to her now as she said the lines over.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A place to work His will."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The load she had been carrying all day seemed lifted. A quiet peace +filled her trusting heart, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> she resolved in her new-found strength +never to fear her cousins and the aunt again. She was soon sound +asleep.</p> + +<p>Wiseli dreamed that she saw a path before her which was beautiful with +roses and carnations on either side, and that the sun was shining +pleasantly overhead. She was so happy that she danced for joy. Beside +her stood the mother, holding her by the hand. She pointed down the +path and said: "See, Wiseli, God is giving that to you. Didn't I tell +you he would find the place?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A place to work His will."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Wiseli had forgotten all her sorrow and fear, and slept as well with +her head on the bundle on the hard bench as if she had been dreaming +in the softest bed.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VB"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="h3">HOW LIFE CONTINUES AND SUMMER COMES</p> + +<p>When the faithful Trina returned to The Hill with the unopened basket +upon her arm, a look of anxiety came over Mrs. Ritter's countenance. +Trina explained that the mother was dead and that Wiseli had been +taken to the home of her uncle Gotti. The news shocked the entire +household, for none of them had realized that the sickness would +terminate so suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Here I have tried for several days to visit the poor, lonely woman, +and now it is too late," said Mrs. Ritter. "If I had only gone I +should feel more reconciled to the loss."</p> + +<p>"It is a shame that Wiseli must go there," said Otto as he paced the +floor with his hands clenched. "I tell you if I catch him abusing her, +he will need to count his ribs to see if any are left."</p> + +<p>"Of whom are you speaking in that fashion?" asked Mrs. Ritter.</p> + +<p>"Of Chappi. Think of the mean things that he can do to her now that +she has to live in the same<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> house with him. It is unjust and ought +not to be allowed. I'll attend to him if I find out that—"</p> + +<p>Just then Otto's voice was nearly drowned by a loud stamping behind +the stove, and he paused to say, "What are you making such an +outlandish noise for, you Miez behind the stove?"</p> + +<p>Miezi came out in sight of the others, her cheeks flaming red from the +heat of the stove combined with her exertions in trying to get her +feet into a pair of wet shoes which Trina had but a short time before +taken off with the greatest difficulty.</p> + +<p>She continued her efforts, but managed to say, "You can see that I +have to do it; no one on earth could put on these things without +stamping."</p> + +<p>"Why must they be put on, when I have just taken the pains to get you +out of them?" asked Trina.</p> + +<p>"I am going to Beechgreen to get Wiseli; she can have my bed," replied +Miezi, with a finality that seemed to admit of no interference.</p> + +<p>Her operations were nevertheless cut short by Trina, who picked her up +in her arms and carried her to a chair.</p> + +<p>"That is nice of you, Miezchen," she said, "but I had better do that +errand for you. There is no reason why you should wear out your shoes +getting ready. You can let Wiseli have your bed and you can go to the +attic to sleep. There is plenty of room up there."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>This, however, was not in harmony with Miezi's plans; she had solved +the sleeping problem to her own as well as to Wiseli's advantage, for +nothing else would suit her so well as never to have to go to bed. So +long as she could remember, she had always been sent to bed when she +wanted very much to be up.</p> + +<p>It soon became evident to Miezi, not only that Trina was keeping her +from going to Wiseli, but that she had no intention of going in her +place. When Trina frankly refused to go, Miezi cried so bitterly that +Otto put his hands over his ears, and the mother came to make terms of +peace. She promised to talk the matter over with papa just as soon as +he and Uncle Max returned from a long-contemplated visit at a friend's +house some distance away.</p> + +<p>It was four days later when the colonel and Uncle Max returned. The +children brought the subject of Wiseli's coming to live with them +before the father at once, and he promised to investigate the +conditions the next morning.</p> + +<p>At noon the following day the colonel came home with the information +that he was too late to get Wiseli. "You know, children," he said, +"her uncle Gotti really wants to help the girl. He is a highly +respected man and he offered to take the child for very little money. +Wiseli's mother left her scarcely anything, so somebody had to offer +her a home, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> it seemed natural that her uncle should do so. +Everybody feels satisfied that she has been well placed. I believe it +is the best arrangement that could be made, for she is much too young +to go out to work. We cannot take all the homeless children unless we +put up an orphanage."</p> + +<p>"I had only hoped," said Mrs. Ritter, "that we might help to find a +place more suited to the child. She has a sensitive nature as well as +a frail body, and she ought to be somewhere else. She will hear a +great deal that is coarse and rude where she is, and will have to work +much too hard for her delicate constitution. We shall have to accept +the situation, but I am sorry that we cannot help her in some way."</p> + +<p>Miezi cried, and Otto struck the table with his clenched fist to +emphasize how he would deal with Chappi if he were unkind to Wiseli. +It was only a few days, however, before the children grew accustomed +to thinking of the little girl in her new surroundings, and the weeks +sped on as rapidly as ever.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Wiseli was becoming reconciled to her new home. Her +bed had been brought over as her uncle had planned, and it was put in +a box-like apartment partitioned off from the aunt's sleeping room. +This was barely large enough for the bed and the small trunk which had +been brought over with the remainder of the little girl's things. +Wiseli had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> to stand either on the bed or on the trunk when she +dressed, and she had to climb over the trunk to get into bed. She had +to go to the well out of doors to wash her hands and face. When it was +so cold that the water would freeze, the aunt told her to let it go +altogether. "I am sure," she said, "that you can wash yourself enough +when it gets warmer." Since this advice was not in accordance with her +mother's teaching, Wiseli did not accept it.</p> + +<p>The life in Wiseli's present surroundings was so different in every +way from that to which she had been accustomed, that the comparison +often produced severe homesickness, although she was never again so +unhappy as on the first evening at her uncle's house. She remembered +her beautiful dream and she did not doubt that a better place would be +found for her, since she had prayed for it. "My mother will not let +God forget me," was the assurance that held up hope before her during +those trying days, and the thought of the verses was constantly with +her.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A place to work His will."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The winter had passed and a promising spring was at hand. The trees +put forth their green leaves and the meadow was dotted with primroses +and anemones. In the woods the birds were merry, and the warm<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +sunshine changed the barren waste of winter to a living beauty that +made all hearts rejoice.</p> + +<p>Probably no one enjoyed the balmy days more than Wiseli, and she felt +quite happy as she walked to and from school. At other times there was +scarcely a moment to spare, not even to notice the pretty flowers, for +not only did she have to work every moment, but she had to work hard. +She helped with the garden, and, since the aunt worked in the field on +the farm, she had to get the meals and wash dishes as well. She did +the patching for the whole family, made the gruel for the little pigs, +and carried it to them besides; in short, she did everything about the +house, so that she often had to stay away from school in order to +finish her duties.</p> + +<p>Going to school was Wiseli's greatest pleasure. It rested her tired +body and, best of all, she heard there kind and friendly words. During +recess and after school hours Otto was sure to speak to her in a +cordial way, and it did much to relieve the lonely feeling. Sometimes +a message came from Mrs. Ritter inviting Wiseli to spend the following +Sunday with her children. Wiseli was never allowed to accept these +invitations to The Hill, for the aunt would say, "It is the only day +that you don't have to go to school, and I can't spare you every day."</p> + +<p>Wiseli worked all day Sunday, but it was pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> to know that the +Ritter family had invited her, and there was always the hope that some +day she might be allowed to go.</p> + +<p>There was another reason why Wiseli liked to go to school. The road +went by the home of Joiner Andreas. She had not forgotten that she had +the message from her mother to deliver to him. She was too timid to go +to the house and ask for him, but she watched for the opportunity to +see him in his garden or near his home. She never passed his place +without looking over the garden fence to see if he was there. She had +not yet seen him, although the garden was in the best of trim and +indicated that he spent many hours there.</p> + +<p>May and June had passed, and now the long hot summer days had come, +bringing increased work on the farm. Wiseli had to go to the +haymaking. She was expected either to rake the hay together or to use +the fork in spreading it in the sun, working all day long until her +arms ached so wretchedly that she could not sleep. This, however, was +not what made her unhappy, for it did not occur to her that she ought +not to work as she did. Her great trouble was that she had to miss +school, except on rainy days, or occasionally when the aunt said that +she might go. Chappi often said in the evening, when he was doing his +examples, "Why don't you get your lessons, Wiseli?<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> You never know +anything, and you seem to think that you can live without working."</p> + +<p>It was this that hurt Wiseli, for she could rarely go to school two +days in succession, and so she was not able to keep up with the class. +One day, when she failed to give a correct answer, the teacher said, +"I did not expect that of you, Wiseli; you used to be a good scholar." +How it shamed the child, and how she cried all the way home that +night, no one but herself realized! It seemed to her that day that no +one cared for her after all, and when she got into her little bed at +night, she felt too miserable even to pray. But she could not sleep +until she had repeated her usual prayer, although it was said almost +hopelessly.</p> + +<p>This happened in July. The following morning Wiseli was standing at +the table when the boys went off to school, and she was wondering +whether or not she should be allowed to go. The aunt said nothing, and +the uncle was not in the room.</p> + +<p>The aunt had a large washing on hand for that day. Would she be asked +to carry it to the trough and help?</p> + +<p>Yes, she heard her aunt calling, and she was just about to answer when +her uncle came in, saying, "Hurry, Wiseli, the boys have gone already. +The hay is safe in the barn, and you shall go to school now. You may +tell the teacher that you will not be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> kept out any more for a while, +and explain to him that it was because we had so much work on our +hands that you had to stay away."</p> + +<p>Wiseli felt as free as a bird that morning. She knew that she might go +to school every day that week, and it was something worth living for. +How beautiful the morning was! The birds warbled their care-free notes +in the tree tops, the sunlight sparkled on the dewy grass, and the air +was fragrant with the perfume of the wild flowers. Wiseli had no time +to stop, but she noticed all this beauty as she ran along.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, just as the school children were about to rush out to +their freedom, the teacher asked, "Whose turn is it to care for the +schoolroom this week?"</p> + +<p>"It is Otto's; it is Otto's!" cried the children, and the next moment +they were gone.</p> + +<p>"Otto," said the teacher sternly, "you didn't do your duty here last +night. I will overlook it this time, but I want you to see that it +does not happen again, or I shall be obliged to enforce the penalty +upon you."</p> + +<p>Otto glanced around the room and saw the nutshells, apple parings, and +bits of paper that he was supposed to clean up; then he looked at the +children playing out of doors, and the first thing he knew he was +among them. The teacher had already left the room.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<p>Later, when the children were all gone, Otto stood for a moment +watching the golden glow of the evening sky and thought, "If I could +only go home now! I would pick my cap full of cherries and take a ride +out to the meadow with the hired man; now I have to go to that stuffy +room and sweep and dust it."</p> + +<p>Otto's patience forsook him as he started for the schoolroom. "I +shouldn't care," he said, "if a cyclone came along and shattered the +old house into a thousand pieces." There was no alternative, however; +he must either take his turn at cleaning the schoolroom, or he must +stay in at recess to-morrow. He had no sooner entered the room than he +noticed, to his great surprise, that the work was done. Not a speck of +dust was to be seen, and the windows had been opened wide, letting the +air enter freely, so that the room seemed as fresh as out of doors.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment the teacher entered hastily and looked in +astonishment at the staring Otto. Then he noticed the clean room and +said kindly, "You may be satisfied with your work to-night. I did not +expect you to do so well, although you are always good at your +lessons. Good night."</p> + +<p>Now that Otto was convinced that what he saw was real, he seized his +cap and, clearing the steps in two jumps, ran all the way up the hill. +It did not occur to him to seek for an explanation of what had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +happened, until he told his mother about it when he reached home.</p> + +<p>"You may be sure that no one did it for you by mistake," said his +mother. "You must have some good friend who has willingly sacrificed +himself for you. Perhaps you can think of some one who may have done +it."</p> + +<p>"I know who it was," said Miezi, who had been listening.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Otto.</p> + +<p>"Henry, because you gave him an apple about a year ago," said Miezi, +emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, or William Tell, because I didn't take his away from him about a +year ago; that would be just as sensible, you little Miezi," said +Otto, as he playfully stroked her cheek. Just then he saw an +opportunity to ride out to the hayfields, so the subject was dropped.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Wiseli was tripping down the hill happier than she had +been for many a day. She passed Joiner Andreas's house, but retraced +her steps in order to get a good view of the carnation bed.</p> + +<p>"It is a little late," she thought, "but I shall get home before the +boys, anyway, for they are probably playing somewhere."</p> + +<p>Just as she was admiring the flowers, the joiner came out of the house +and walked directly toward<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>her. "Wouldn't you like to have a few +carnations, Wiseli?" he said.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus193.jpg" width="400" height="612" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, very much," she answered. "My mother wanted me to tell you +something, too."</p> + +<p>"Your mother!" he gasped, and the carnations he had just picked fell +unheeded to the ground. Wiseli darted through the gate and picked them +up. "When my mother was sick and didn't eat anything any more, she +drank that nice fruit juice you put in the kitchen, and it made her +feel better. She told me to thank you for bringing it, and for all +that you did for her. She said you were very kind."</p> + +<p>Wiseli was surprised to see the tears in the good man's eyes. He tried +to say something, but he could not. He took Wiseli's hand in both of +his, patted it gently, and returned to the house without another word.</p> + +<p>Wiseli was amazed. Nobody else had shed any tears for her mother, and +she had not allowed herself to do so when anybody could see her; yet +here was a man so moved that he could not speak of her. How she loved +him for it! She started homeward for fear of being later than the +boys, and it was well she did so, for they had just turned in at the +gate when she got there.</p> + +<p>Wiseli felt so much better when she went to bed that night that she +wondered how she could have been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> so discouraged the evening before. +She resolved to keep herself cheerful in the future, if it were +possible. The good, kind face of Joiner Andreas was the last thing she +thought of before going to sleep.</p> + +<p>The following day (it was Wednesday) Otto had a repetition of his +strange experience. It had not occurred to him that the good fairy +would again appear, and, as usual, he was not able to keep from +rushing out with the others and frolicking until the children left the +playground. When he returned to do his work, the room was again in the +best of order.</p> + +<p>He began to be really curious as to whom he had to thank for this +favor. He decided to play the spy the next night and solve the +mystery. Accordingly, after the school had been dismissed the +following afternoon, Otto waited a moment at his seat, wondering how +he could get to a hiding place unseen, when the boys began to shout, +"Come on, Otto, come on; we want to play robber and you must lead."</p> + +<p>"I have to clean up this week, so I won't play to-night," he said.</p> + +<p>"What difference will fifteen minutes make? Come on."</p> + +<p>He gave up his scheme of playing spy and went with the boys. Instead +of the game's lasting fifteen minutes, it was half an hour before it +was over, and Otto felt anxious as to whether he must still do his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +work. He ran panting to the schoolroom and gave the door such a +vigorous kick that the teacher came in to see what had happened.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Otto?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Just to see if I did everything," stammered Otto.</p> + +<p>"Very well done," commented the teacher, as he looked about. "Your +zeal is praiseworthy, Otto, but you needn't be so boisterous when you +come to the door again."</p> + +<p>Otto went out more curious than ever. He determined to find out the +next night without fail, for, with the exception of Saturday morning, +it would be his last opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Otto," called the teacher as soon as he had dismissed school the next +day, "I wish you would take this note to the pastor's for me and wait +for an answer; you can be back in five or ten minutes to do your +cleaning."</p> + +<p>Otto was not in the least pleased to do the teacher's errand, but he +dared not refuse, so he started off at a run, hoping to be back in +time to capture the good fairy, if she appeared to do his work. When +he got to the parsonage, he was admitted at once, and told that the +pastor would see him directly. Then the minister's wife called him to +the garden to chat a moment, and it seemed an age to him before he +could free himself courteously, for she asked not only about himself +and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> his health, but that of his mother, father, Uncle Max, Miezi, and +apparently all the relatives in Germany.</p> + +<p>Finally the opportunity came to present the note to the pastor, and it +was but a moment later when he was speeding back to the schoolhouse +with the written answer in his hand. He fairly stumbled into the +schoolroom in his eagerness to see if any one was there, but, as +before, the room was in the best of order and not a soul to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Not once this week have I had to do that disagreeable task," he +thought. "Since there is some one who is doing such work without +needing to, I am at least going to find out who it is."</p> + +<p>The school closed at eleven o'clock on Saturday. Otto let all the +children pass out; when they had gone, he went outside, locked the +door, and stood with his back against it waiting to see who would come +back to do the work. He stood there waiting until half past eleven, +and still no one came.</p> + +<p>Otto remembered that the family at home were to have lunch promptly at +twelve, for an afternoon's outing had been planned and he had promised +to get home as early as possible. It became evident that he was going +to have to do the work himself, and he dared wait no longer. Greatly +disappointed, he unlocked the door and entered the room, but—Otto +could scarcely believe his eyes—the work was finished as usual.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>How very strange it seemed! For a moment a superstitious fear +possessed him, and he tiptoed to the door and went out, taking pains +to lock it securely behind him.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment Wiseli came quietly out of the teacher's kitchen +door; she listened intently for a moment, but hearing no one, started +on her way home, which led her by the schoolhouse door. The next +moment she and Otto were face to face. Each was startled at the +other's presence, and Wiseli blushed deeply, as if she had been caught +doing something very wrong. This partly betrayed her to Otto, who +said: "Surely, Wiseli, <i>you</i> have not been doing all that work for me +this week? How <i>could</i> any one who didn't have to?"</p> + +<p>"It has given me a great deal of pleasure," said Wiseli.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, don't say that!" exclaimed Otto. "To do such work <i>couldn't</i> +give anybody any pleasure."</p> + +<p>"But it did, really, Otto. I was always glad when night came and I +could do it again. I was all the time thinking how glad and surprised +you would be to find the task finished."</p> + +<p>"What made you do it for me, Wiseli?"</p> + +<p>"I knew that you didn't like to do it, and I have many a time wished +for an opportunity to do something for you."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sure you have done a great deal more for me than I did for you, +and I shall not forget it, Wiseli." Otto had taken Wiseli's hand in +his and she was very happy.</p> + +<p>"I waited to-day until everybody had gone, and even now I cannot see +how you got into that room," said Otto.</p> + +<p>"I never went out," she replied. "I hid behind my seat, for I expected +you to go out as usual."</p> + +<p>"How have you always before managed to get away without my seeing +you?" asked Otto.</p> + +<p>"You don't notice much when you are playing," said Wiseli. "Yesterday +and to-day, when I was not sure where you were, I went through the +teacher's room and asked his wife if she had an errand she would like +to have me do on the way home. I have several times done things for +her. I was behind the kitchen door yesterday when you stormed into the +schoolroom."</p> + +<p>Both children laughed heartily at the remembrance. Otto impulsively +pressed Wiseli's hand and said, "I am truly grateful to you. Good-by." +After they had gone their separate ways, they both rejoiced that they +had discovered each other.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VIB"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="h3">A NEW FEATURE</p> + +<p>The summer had passed, and now the late autumn was at hand. The nights +were getting cold and damp. The cows were eating the last bits of +grass in the chilly pastures, while the boys herding them built fires +to warm themselves and to roast potatoes.</p> + +<p>One such unpleasant evening Otto came home from school to tell his +mother that he was going over to see what Wiseli was doing, for she +had not been at school for a whole week. He took an apple and hurried +away. As he went up the path to Beechgreen he noticed Rudi sitting on +the ground in front of the door with a pile of pears beside him; he +was busily engaged biting into first one and then another.</p> + +<p>"Where is Wiseli?" asked Otto.</p> + +<p>"Outdoors," answered Rudi.</p> + +<p>"Where outdoors?"</p> + +<p>"In the pasture."</p> + +<p>"In what pasture?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You will not suffer from overpoliteness at least," remarked Otto. He +started for the large pasture near<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> the woods. Just then he noticed +some people under a pear tree near at hand, and soon he saw Wiseli +gathering pears into a basket. Hans had thrown himself face upward +across a filled basket and was rocking himself in a way which +threatened the overturn of the pears. Chappi was perched up in the +tree laughing at his brother's antics. When Wiseli saw Otto coming, +her face broke into happy smiles.</p> + +<p>"I have come to see how you are, Wiseli," said Otto, as he took her +hand. "Why have you been out of school so long?"</p> + +<p>"There was so much to be done that I couldn't go, Otto. See what a lot +of pears there are! I have to pick pears from morning until night."</p> + +<p>"Your shoes and stockings are soaked," remarked Otto. "Ugh, it is cold +here. Doesn't it make you sick to get so wet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sometimes; but the work usually keeps me warm."</p> + +<p>Just then Hans gave such a violent lurch that the basket went over and +the pears scattered in every direction.</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried Wiseli, "that is too bad! Now we must gather them all over +again."</p> + +<p>"And that one too," cried Chappi, and he laughed as the pear that he +threw hit Wiseli on the forehead hard enough to bring tears to her +eyes.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>It had scarcely happened, however, before Otto had pulled Chappi from +the tree and had taken a firm grip on his throat.</p> + +<p>"Stop, you're choking me," gurgled Chappi. He was not laughing any +more.</p> + +<p>"I will teach you that you are responsible to me when you treat Wiseli +in that way," said Otto, his voice strained in his anger. He tightened +his grip as he added, "Is this enough to make you remember what I told +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," gasped Chappi, whose face was turning purple.</p> + +<p>"I will let you go," said Otto, "but I want you to keep in mind that I +will give you such a choking as you will remember to your dying day if +you ever hurt Wiseli again. Good-by, Wiseli." Then Otto was gone.</p> + +<p>He went straight to his mother and indignantly protested against the +necessity of Wiseli's having to live with those boys at her uncle's +home. He declared his intention of going over to ask the pastor if +complaint might be entered against the whole family, so that Wiseli +might be taken from them.</p> + +<p>"My dear son," said Mrs. Ritter; "there is no lawful way of taking +Wiseli from them, and a complaint of that character would only lead +the whole family to treat her more unkindly than they do now.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> So long +as the uncle means well by her there is nothing we can do. I realize +fully what a hard time Wiseli is having, and I don't want you to think +that I have not taken the matter to heart, Otto. I am looking +earnestly for an opening to do something for her, and I hope that in +the meantime you will protect her as much as possible, without being +rude and rough yourself."</p> + +<p>Otto tried to help his mother think of a way to free Wiseli, but each +plan proposed proved impracticable, if not impossible. The children +had a custom of writing their Christmas wishes upon a slate, and Otto +wrote, "I wish Santa Claus would set Wiseli free."</p> + +<p>January had come and again brought to the children the great pleasure +of the year by providing them with snow for the coasting. One +beautiful moonlight night the idea came to Otto that it would be great +sport to coast by moonlight, and the next day he accordingly suggested +to the children that they assemble at seven o'clock for a moonlight +ride. The suggestion was enthusiastically received. When they broke up +that evening, there were cries of "All hands back at seven!" "Hurrah +for moonlight!" "Good-by till seven!"</p> + +<p>The Ritter children did not tell their mother of this plan until they +came home from school toward evening. Much to their surprise she was +not at all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> enthusiastic over what they considered such a capital +idea. She spoke of the intense cold of the evening, the danger, +especially to Miezi, in the uncertain light, and the likelihood of the +younger ones being frightened in the shadows. In spite of these +objections they wished to carry out their plan, and Otto promised not +to let Miezi out of his sight if she might go with him. Their request +was finally granted, and they started off as happy as birds on the +wing.</p> + +<p>It was great sport. The track had been worn as smooth as ice, and the +fear of the timid ones in the dark places gave zest to the +undertaking. Nearly all the children from the neighborhood were there, +and the best of humor prevailed. Otto let them all precede him with +their sleds, permitting only Miezi to follow him, so that there would +be no danger of any one's running into her from behind, and he looked +back every moment to see that she was coming safely.</p> + +<p>After several rides in this fashion some one proposed that they ride +"tandem fashion," that is, with all the sleds tied together. The idea +was immediately accepted, and they began tying their sleds together in +joyful anticipation. Otto, however, considered the sport too dangerous +for Miezi, as the sleds sometimes became tangled and the whole company +was piled up in a mass. He tied his sled last, letting his sister +follow with hers untied. In this<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> way it was expected that they would +go as usual, except that Otto would not be free to stop in case Miezi +did not keep up with them. Soon the children were off and went down +the slippery hill with the speed of the wind.</p> + +<p>They had gone but halfway down, when Otto heard a scream behind him in +which he recognized his sister's voice, but he was powerless to stop, +and he was going too fast to dare to roll himself from his sled until +their speed diminished near the foot of the hill. He found Miezi +halfway down the hill crying with all her might. Almost breathless, +Otto gathered her in his arms, saying, "What happened, Miezchen? Tell +me, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"He wanted to—he wanted to—he was going to—" sobbed Miezi.</p> + +<p>"What did he want to do? Who? Where?" asked Otto.</p> + +<p>"The big man over there, he wanted to—he was going to kill me—and he +said things."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Miezchen; be quiet now; he didn't kill you. Did he even +hit you?" asked Otto, somewhat puzzled by the occurrence, for he knew +Miezi to be a rather fearless child.</p> + +<p>"No," sobbed Miezi, "but he had a big stick and he raised it like this +and was going to strike and he said, 'You look out!' and he called me +dreadful names."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So he really didn't hurt you at all," said Otto, much relieved to +find it true, although Miezi was of a different opinion.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did—he was going to—and you were all gone ahead and I was +all alone," and from sheer self-pity came a fresh burst of tears.</p> + +<p>"Hush now, Miezchen," coaxed Otto. "I shall never leave you like that +again, so the man shall never get you. If you will be a happy little +girl now, just as soon as we get home I will give you the red candy +rooster I had on the Christmas tree."</p> + +<p>This promise restored Miezi to her normal self in a moment. She wiped +the tears away, but did not let go of Otto's hand for the rest of the +evening. The other children had joined them and as they climbed the +hill they discussed what had happened. Several of the children had +noticed a large man turn out of the road to let them pass, and it was +Otto's opinion that it must have made the man angry to have to step +into the snow, and he had threatened Miezi because she was the only +one within reach. This seemed a likely explanation to the children, +and the subject was dropped. The party broke up after the next ride, +as most of them had promised to be at home by eight o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Now, Miezchen," said Otto on the way home, "if you tell mamma about +your being so frightened,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> you may be sure that she will never let you +go with me again. No harm was done, and I think we had better not say +anything about it."</p> + +<p>Miezi promised to say nothing. All traces of tears had been removed by +the expectation of receiving the candy rooster, which Otto did not +fail to give to her as soon as they reached home, and the children +went happily to bed.</p> + +<p>They had been in bed and asleep for some time when a loud rapping at +the door startled the parents, who were sitting at the table in the +living room, talking about their children. Trina had gone upstairs, +but she leaned out of her window and called, "What is it you want?"</p> + +<p>"Something dreadful has happened," came the answer from the man below. +"Joiner Andreas has been killed, and we want the colonel to come over +at once."</p> + +<p>The messenger departed without waiting. Through the open window +Colonel and Mrs. Ritter had heard what he said. The colonel threw his +cloak over his shoulder and hurried to Andreas's home. A number of +people had assembled there when he arrived. The police and the pastor +had been summoned, and others, hearing of the misfortune, had come to +see what could be done. Colonel Ritter worked his way into the crowd +to where the joiner lay.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where is the doctor?" was his first question.</p> + +<p>"What is the use of getting a doctor when the man is dead?" some one +answered.</p> + +<p>"He may not be dead," said the colonel, impatiently. "Some one must go +for a doctor immediately; tell him I said that he must hurry. This +call should be answered before all others."</p> + +<p>Some one reluctantly started, then, with the help of others, the +colonel lifted the apparently lifeless body and carried it to the bed.</p> + +<p>The miller's son explained to the colonel that he had passed the house +about half an hour earlier, that he had noticed a light and the open +door and had decided to stop a moment to see the joiner, when, to his +horror, he saw that he was dead; that Meadow Joggi was standing in the +room, holding a gold piece in his hand; and that Joggi had laughed as +he looked at the gold.</p> + +<p>Meadow Joggi, so called because he lived in the meadow, was a man who +had lost his reason, but whom people had always regarded as perfectly +harmless. The neighborhood supported him, and he often helped them +with simple work, which he managed to do fairly well. The miller's son +had told him to stay where he was until some one came, and he had +obeyed, still clutching his gold piece and smiling, not in the least +concerned about himself.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>The physician came at last and hastened to examine the body.</p> + +<p>"He was struck on the back of his head; it is a bad wound," said the +doctor.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that he is dead, doctor?" asked Colonel Ritter.</p> + +<p>"No; he is not dead, but he is very near it. Bring me sponges, +bandages, and some water." The men searched the house in vain for the +things that were needed.</p> + +<p>"I wish there were a woman here to find things!" exclaimed the +exasperated physician. "A woman knows intuitively what a sick person +needs and where to find it."</p> + +<p>"Trina can come," said the colonel. "Will some one please run over to +my house and tell Mrs. Ritter to send her at once."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid your wife will not thank you, Colonel," said the doctor, +"for whoever comes must stay at least three days, and perhaps longer."</p> + +<p>"You need not worry about that," replied the colonel. "Mrs. Ritter +will gladly do more than give Trina's time if it will save the +joiner."</p> + +<p>Trina appeared sooner than they had thought it possible for her to get +there, and she brought with her a basket of necessary supplies which +she and Mrs. Ritter had in readiness for an emergency.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>The doctor was much pleased. "Now, Colonel," he said, "please dismiss +every one, and lock up the house for the night."</p> + +<p>The policemen decided to put Joggi in jail until they could +investigate matters. He walked along with them willingly, opening his +hand occasionally and laughing at his gold piece.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning Mrs. Ritter went to the home of the joiner +to inquire after him. Trina met her at the door and said that toward +morning the patient had recovered partial consciousness. The doctor +had just left, she said, and had expressed his opinion that the man +was doing better than he had dared to hope. "I have had to promise +him," she added, "that I would let no one come into the room, not even +my dear mistress."</p> + +<p>"I am sure he is right about it," said Mrs. Ritter smiling. "I am glad +to know that Andreas is in safe hands, and I will hurry home, so that +my husband may know that he is doing well."</p> + +<p>So eight days passed. Mrs. Ritter never failed to come every morning +to inquire. She supplied Trina with whatever she needed. No one had +yet been allowed in the sick room, and Trina was kept at her post.</p> + +<p>Several days later the doctor gave his permission to have the colonel +question Andreas in regard to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> accident, as the police were +anxious to know if he could give them any information.</p> + +<p>The joiner received the colonel warmly; he realized how much he was +indebted to him. The sick man could tell nothing about his injury +except that some one had entered his room as he sat counting his +money. "I was evidently struck senseless before I had time to look +around to see who it was," he added.</p> + +<p>This proved to the officers that Andreas had been injured for the sake +of his gold. They wondered what had become of the rest of the money, +if Joggi had committed the deed. This was the first that Andreas had +heard about Joggi's being suspected.</p> + +<p>"I want you to release Joggi immediately," he said. "I am positive +that he did not do it. Why, Joggi wouldn't kill a fly if he could help +it."</p> + +<p>"A stranger might have done it," suggested the doctor; "the windows +are low, and seeing them open and the pile of money at hand, he might +have felt a sudden desire to possess it."</p> + +<p>"That is very likely," replied the joiner. "I have never thought about +being careful, and my house has always been unlocked."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the colonel, "it is a good thing that you have enough +saved for a rainy day, so you will not suffer from the loss of the +money. The best of it all is that you yourself were saved."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, colonel," said the joiner, as he gave his hand in farewell, "I +have enough to be thankful for. I shall never use all I have, anyway."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you are more at peace with yourself than the man that robbed +you," remarked the doctor.</p> + +<p>A sad story was being told about the neighborhood concerning Joggi. He +had been so reluctant to give up his gold piece, that the police had +taken it from him by force after conducting him to the prison. The +policeman's son was supposed to have said to him: "You just wait, +Joggi; you will get your pay for this night's work. You'll see what +you will get after a while."</p> + +<p>This had so thoroughly frightened Joggi that he had moaned constantly +ever since; he would not eat or sleep, but sat crouched in a corner, +fearing that they would come to kill him.</p> + +<p>The police came to see him a few days after his imprisonment, and +promised him their protection if he would confess the truth to them. +He said that he had looked in at the window and had seen the joiner +lying on the floor. He went in, he said, and touched him with his foot +and saw that he was dead. Then he saw the gold piece on the floor and +picked it up a moment before the miller's son came in; other people +soon came after that. This was his simple story, and every one was +inclined to believe it, but Joggi did not get over his fright.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VIIB"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p class="h3">BRIGHTER DAYS FOR THE PATIENT AND FOR SOME ONE ELSE</p> + +<p>Since the day that Colonel Ritter had called with the physician to see +the joiner after his recovery, Mrs. Ritter had daily visited the +patient, and she rejoiced to see how rapidly he was gaining strength. +Otto and Miezi had been over twice and taken their friend everything +they could think of that might please him. They were glad to have the +joiner tell them that a king could not have had better care.</p> + +<p>One day the doctor was just leaving his patient, when the colonel +came. "The joiner is doing well," said the doctor. "Your wife has +spared Trina so long that she ought to go back now, but the poor +fellow needs to have somebody with him a while longer. What a pity +that he has no relatives! I have been wondering if Mrs. Ritter might +not know of some one that we could get to take Trina's place for a +couple of weeks."</p> + +<p>"I will ask her as soon as I go back, although I am sure that she will +be in no haste about taking Trina away."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next morning, as Mrs. Ritter made her accustomed call, she said to +her friend, "Do you feel like talking over a little business matter +this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; I am feeling quite like myself," replied the joiner, as he +propped his head on his elbow.</p> + +<p>"I am thinking of taking Trina away, since you are doing so well," she +began.</p> + +<p>"Believe me, Mrs. Ritter, for several days I have been urging her to +go; I have realized what it meant to you to do without her."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't have let her in if she had taken your advice, but the +doctor assures us now that it will be safe for her to leave you, in +case some one can be found to take her place. It need not be any one +so proficient as Trina, because we could send you your meals from our +house. I have been giving the matter a great deal of thought, Andreas, +and I think that you ought to have Wiseli come over to stay with you."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Mrs. Ritter, of course not!" exclaimed Andreas in +astonishment. "Do you suppose I could expect that delicate child to do +my work? Oh, Mrs. Ritter, do you imagine I have forgotten for a moment +about the girl's mother? Please say nothing more about it, for I would +rather never get well."</p> + +<p>"But, Andreas, you do not understand me, and I want to tell you +something more about it. The child is given very hard work to do where +she is, and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> worst of it is that they are not kind to her. I +should feel so greatly relieved to have her here, because she would at +least be treated kindly. I know that Wiseli's mother would want you to +take her, so that she might have a real home, and you will be +surprised to see how gladly she will come to you and do the little +necessary tasks."</p> + +<p>"But how could I get the child if I wanted her?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be more than glad to arrange that for you if you will trust +me with it," replied Mrs. Ritter.</p> + +<p>"I must make you promise that she shall be brought only on the +condition that she wants to come," said the joiner.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Ritter; "Wiseli shall not come unless it is her own +wish. I will see you again to-morrow. Good-by."</p> + +<p>Instead of going home, Mrs. Ritter went to find Wiseli, for she was +eager to free the child from her present surroundings. When she +arrived at Beechgreen, she met Mr. Gotti, who was himself just going +into the house. "I am surprised to see you over here, and so early in +the morning, Mrs. Ritter," he said, as he cordially shook her hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am sure you are, Mr. Gotti," she replied. "I have come to see +if you could possibly spare Wiseli for about two weeks to care for +Joiner Andreas. The doctor thinks that he doesn't need Trina any<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +more, but that he must have some one. I hope that you will not refuse, +and that the cure so well begun may be carried to a successful +finish."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gotti joined them just then, and her husband explained the matter +to her before answering Mrs. Ritter.</p> + +<p>"Wiseli couldn't do anything if she went," said Mrs. Gotti.</p> + +<p>"The child knows how to do a number of things," corrected the husband. +"She is bright and learns readily. I am willing to let her go for two +weeks. The spring work will soon begin, and we must have her back +then. The joiner will no doubt be well by that time, so this +arrangement will be satisfactory to everybody."</p> + +<p>"It is very well for you to talk," broke in Mrs. Gotti. "I have just +gone through all the trouble of teaching her everything, and when she +comes back I shall have it to do over again. The joiner can afford to +train a girl for himself if he needs one."</p> + +<p>"But, wife, two weeks is not a long time. Mrs. Ritter has spared Trina +much longer, and we all have to ask favors sometimes."</p> + +<p>"I thank you for the kindness," said Mrs. Ritter, as she rose to take +her leave. "I am sure, too, that the joiner will fully appreciate your +sacrifice. If you will allow me, I will take the child now."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>The aunt objected seriously, but the husband said firmly: "That will +be the best way. The sooner she goes, the sooner she will get back, +and I want it distinctly understood that it is to be for only two +weeks."</p> + +<p>Wiseli was called, and told without further explanation to tie a few +belongings together; she silently obeyed, not daring to ask any +questions. It was just a year since she had come to the house with her +bundle. She had been given nothing new during that time except the +black jacket she had on; it was thinly lined, and her skirt hung +limply to her knees. It was only a moment before she appeared with her +bundle under her arm. She looked timidly from her dress to Mrs. Ritter +as she entered.</p> + +<p>"You are all right, Wiseli; we are not going far," said Mrs. Ritter. +Wiseli followed her down the path, after a hasty farewell to the aunt +and uncle, and she could not help wondering what was going to be done +with her. Mrs. Ritter cut across the fields to make the distance +shorter, for she felt as if she could not get the child away fast +enough.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were out of sight of Beechgreen, Mrs. Ritter turned to +Wiseli, saying, "You know who Joiner Andreas is, don't you, Wiseli?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," she answered, her face lighting up on hearing the name.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter was pleasantly surprised, and continued, "He is sick, +Wiseli; do you think that you would like to stay with him a couple of +weeks and wait on him so that he will get well again?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mrs. Ritter, I shall be very glad to go," Wiseli said, and +Mrs. Ritter wished that Andreas could have seen her as she said it.</p> + +<p>"You must remember to tell him that you are glad to be with him, if +you are," said Mrs. Ritter; "otherwise he might think we made you +come."</p> + +<p>"I shall not forget to tell him," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>When they reached the joiner's gate, Mrs. Ritter bade Wiseli enter +without her. "Since I know that you like to go to him, I shall not +need to go in, but you can tell the joiner that I will be over in the +morning, and you must come to me for anything you may want at any +time. Good-by."</p> + +<p>It was with a light heart that Wiseli ran up the path to the house, +for she rejoiced that she was to see the man who had been so kind to +her, and that this was to be her home for a few weeks. She understood +what was expected of her, and she knew that the joiner was in bed, +with no one else in the house, so she entered without ringing. How +homelike everything seemed as she looked about! At the farther end of +the room she noticed, through the parted curtains, a large bed freshly +dressed with a white<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>spread and pillows; she wondered who slept in +that room. Then she tapped lightly on the joiner's door, which she +opened as soon as she heard a response. The joiner raised himself on +his elbow to see who was there.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus219.jpg" width="400" height="615" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Wiseli!" he exclaimed, as if in doubt whether to be glad or sorry. +"Come over here and give me your hand." Wiseli silently did as she was +told.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that you had to come to me."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I only mean that perhaps you would a little rather not have come. +Mrs. Ritter is always so kind that you did it to please her, didn't +you?"</p> + +<p>"No, not at all. She never asked me to do it for her. She wanted to +know if I cared to come, and I said, 'Yes.' There is no place in the +whole world where I should have been so glad to go as to your house."</p> + +<p>This must have satisfied the joiner, for his head dropped back to the +pillows, and he tried to look at Wiseli, but the tears persisted in +filling his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What must I do?" asked Wiseli, when he said nothing further.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I don't know, Wiseli," said the joiner, gently. "I shall be +glad to have you do exactly as you please, if you will stay with me a +while first and keep me company."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wiseli could scarcely believe she had heard aright. Nobody but her +mother had ever spoken to her like that. Her first thought was that +her mother would be glad if she knew how kind he was. There was the +same tenderness in his tones that she used to feel in the mother's, +and she unconsciously loved him in the same way. She took his hand in +both of hers and chatted with him as freely as if she had always known +him.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I ought to be getting dinner," she said at length; "what +should you like to have me cook for you?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to have just what you like," replied the joiner.</p> + +<p>This, however, did not satisfy Wiseli, for she desired above all else +to please him, so she asked question after question until she found +out what she wanted to know. She knew how to make the soup he said he +liked, and she realized now that she had learned many useful things +from her aunt, even if they had been taught without kindness. Wiseli +prepared the joiner's dinner on a tray and carried it to him.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would draw the little table over here and eat your dinner +with me," said the joiner. "Mine will taste so much better if you +will."</p> + +<p>Wiseli was again surprised, but she said, "That is just what mamma +would have said."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>What a pleasant dinner that was! The joiner was so considerate of +Wiseli's comfort that it made the humblest task a pleasure to her.</p> + +<p>"Now what are you going to do?" he asked, when they had finished +dinner and Wiseli rose from the table.</p> + +<p>"I am going to wash the dishes," she replied.</p> + +<p>"I suppose such things have to be done," said the joiner, "but I +think, since this is your first day with me, that you might stack them +up and do them to-morrow; you know there are only a few."</p> + +<p>"Why, I should be so ashamed if Mrs. Ritter should happen to come in +that I shouldn't know what to do," said Wiseli, and she turned such a +serious face to him that he laughed.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said; "only remember that you are to do just as you +like while you are with me."</p> + +<p>Wiseli had not thought that it could be so much fun to do up the +dinner work. When it was finished, she said to herself, "Now this +kitchen is nice enough for any one to inspect."</p> + +<p>She had been told that the alcove opening off from the living room was +to be hers, so she hung her few garments in the closet opening from +one corner of the room. When she returned to the joiner's room he +said, "Good, I have been waiting for you a long time."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Haven't you a stocking that I could knit while I sit here?" she +asked, as she took the chair beside the bed.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," answered the sick man; "you have already done too +much, and I want you to rest now."</p> + +<p>"But I am not allowed to sit idle except on Sunday. Besides, I can +knit and talk at the same time."</p> + +<p>"If you will be any more contented with a stocking, get one, by all +means, but please remember that I don't want you to work unless you +prefer to do so," said the joiner.</p> + +<p>In this quiet way they passed one day after another. Everything Wiseli +did pleased the joiner, and she was thanked for every little service +as if it were of the utmost importance. The patient gained so much in +strength that he was soon clamoring for permission to get up. The +doctor told him that he might sit up whenever he wished, and much of +his time was now spent sitting in the bay window in the living room, +where the warm sunshine helped to make the days cheerful. He liked to +watch his little housekeeper moving about at her household duties, and +she succeeded in making his house more attractive than he had ever +hoped to see it.</p> + +<p>Wiseli so enjoyed herself in this comfortable home, where she had the +assurance of being cared for and protected, that she sometimes forgot +she must soon give it up and return to her uncle at Beechgreen.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VIIIB"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p class="h3">THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS</p> + +<p>In the home on the hill they talked often of the good joiner and +Wiseli. Mrs. Ritter went to see them every morning, and she always +brought encouraging news home with her. Otto and Miezi were planning a +surprise for Andreas and Wiseli in which they meant to celebrate their +friend's recovery. To-day, however, they had a celebration in their +own home, for it was their father's birthday. It had seemed like a +real holiday to the children ever since they got up in the morning, +and now they were about to enjoy the birthday feast. They were all in +the best of humor. After the first course had been served, there was +placed before Mrs. Ritter a covered dish which, when the cover had +been removed, displayed a cabbage head looking as fresh and natural as +if it had just come from the garden.</p> + +<p>"That dish is certainly pretty enough to be praised," said the father; +"but really I was expecting to see something else, Marie. You know at +every feast I am on the lookout for my favorite vegetable, the +artichoke. Isn't it on the menu to-day?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There," broke in Miezi, "that is just what he called me! Twice he +called me that, and he had his big stick raised like this, and he was +going—"</p> + +<p>Miezi had her arm raised to illustrate the man's attempt to strike +her, when she suddenly caught the warning look from her brother across +the table, and remembered her promise not to tell her parents about +what had happened that night. In her great confusion her face grew +scarlet, and she pushed her arms as far as possible under the table.</p> + +<p>"I am surprised to have my birthday celebration take this turn," said +the father. "On one side of the table my daughter speaks of something +about which we have heard nothing, while, on the opposite side, my son +kicks my leg until it feels as if it might be black and blue. I should +like to know, Otto, where you learned such gymnastics."</p> + +<p>It was now Otto's turn to blush, which he did to the roots of his +hair. He had intended to hush his sister with the kicks, but evidently +he had not struck where he intended. For a time he was too embarrassed +to look his father in the face.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miezchen, what was the rest of the story which Otto did not +allow you to finish? You say he called you a dreadful name, raised his +stick at you, and—?"</p> + +<p>"Then, then," began Miezi,—she realized, now,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> that she had told, and +must sacrifice the candy rooster in consequence,—"then he didn't kill +me, anyway."</p> + +<p>The father laughed heartily. "It was good of him not to kill my little +girl, but what then?"</p> + +<p>"That was all."</p> + +<p>"The story has a happy ending," said the father. "The stick remains +poised in the air and little Miezchen comes home as the artichoke. Now +let us forget everything except that this is my birthday and that we +are to do justice to the feast provided."</p> + +<p>Otto, however, still felt somewhat disturbed, and after dinner went +off to a corner by himself. He seemed to be reading, but instead, he +was thinking about what had happened, for he was very sure that his +mother would never again let him go with the others to coast by +moonlight.</p> + +<p>Miezi went to her room to take a last look at the candy rooster with +which she must part, now that she had failed to keep her promise. Mrs. +Ritter was seated at the window trying to explain to herself the +strange actions of her children. She became more and more restless as +she thought about it, and finally went in search of Miezi, whom she +found at the foot of the bed in a very unhappy state of mind.</p> + +<p>"Miezchen, mamma has come to have a talk with you. I want you to tell +me when it was that you were frightened by that man."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The night that we went coasting by moonlight. I know he called me +that word papa used at the table to-night."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter now went to find her husband. "I should like to tell you +something, Otto," she said.</p> + +<p>The colonel laid his newspaper aside and looked inquiringly at his +wife.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking about the scene at the table to-night, and I have +come to the conclusion that the children were frightened by the same +man that tried to kill the joiner. I have just found out from Miezi +that it happened the evening I gave the children permission to coast +by moonlight, and that was the very night the joiner was hurt. It is +much more likely that the man called her 'aristocrat' than +'artichoke.' If so, I should say that the man was Andreas's brother. +He is the only one in the world who would think of using that word, +and I am sure the only one who would hurt Andreas. Don't you think it +likely that it was Andreas's brother George?"</p> + +<p>"It does seem probable," answered the colonel, thoughtfully; "I will +see what can be done about it." He rang for the coachman to bring the +carriage, and a few moments later he was on his way to the city.</p> + +<p>For several days Colonel Ritter went frequently to confer with the +police, but it was not until two weeks later that they succeeded in +getting results. One<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> evening, when the Colonel returned to his home, +he told the members of his family that the thief had been captured, +and that it was, as Mrs. Ritter had surmised, the joiner's own brother +George. He had been living in the near-by hotels, confident that no +one had seen him in his home town, because he had passed through in +the night.</p> + +<p>He denied knowing anything about the affair when he was first +arrested, but when told that Colonel Ritter had weighty evidence +against him, he inferred that he must have been recognized after all. +He lost his temper, and said that of course those "aristocrats" would +like to make trouble for him. In answer to questions he said that he +had just returned from service in the Neapolitan War; and that he had +intended to go to his brother to borrow some money, but finding him +with the large sum before him, he saw the opportunity to get it all. +It had been his intention merely to knock his brother senseless, so +that he could make his escape, and he protested that he had never +wished to kill him.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, most of the money was still in George's possession. It +was recovered, and he was put in prison.</p> + +<p>This story caused quite a commotion in the little town, especially +among the school children.</p> + +<p>Several nights after George had been arrested, Otto<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> came home very +much excited. Although Joggi had been set free as soon as George had +confessed, he was still too frightened to take advantage of his +liberty. He thought that he should be killed if he went out. Finally +the police authorities turned him out by force, but he ran quickly to +a near-by barn where he hid himself in the farthest corner. Here he +had remained for three days, and the farmer had threatened to take the +pitchfork to him if he did not go away soon.</p> + +<p>"That is very sad indeed," said Mrs. Ritter, when Otto had finished +telling her about it. "The poor fellow suffers because his mind is too +feeble to understand what is said to him. It is hard that an innocent +man should be made so miserable. If you had told me that night about +what had happened to Miezi, we should not have caused Joggi so much +suffering. You had better try to do something for him, since you might +have spared him all this."</p> + +<p>"I will give him my red candy rooster," said Miezi, sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"A red candy rooster to a grown-up man!" laughed Otto. "You had better +keep it, since you are so fond of it."</p> + +<p>"They say he has had no food, mother," Otto continued. "I shall be +glad to take him some dinner."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter gave her consent, so the children<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> packed a basket with +good things to eat, and started for the barn to find Joggi. He was +there, crouched in the corner as they had supposed.</p> + +<p>Otto opened the basket for him to see and said, "Come out here, Joggi, +and you shall have all there is in this basket."</p> + +<p>Joggi did not move.</p> + +<p>"Come, Joggi," continued Otto, "you know the farmer may take the +pitchfork to you if you stay here."</p> + +<p>At this Joggi screamed and tried to get farther back in his corner.</p> + +<p>Miezi was very sorry for the poor man. Going up to him, she whispered +in his ear: "My papa will not let them hurt you, so you had better +come along with me. I brought you something from Santa Claus. See!" +She held out the candy rooster to him as she spoke.</p> + +<p>These whispered words restored Joggi's confidence. He looked +fearlessly about, took the candy rooster from her hand, and began to +laugh in his old way. He allowed Miezi to lead him out, but he would +not touch the basket, so they let him follow them home.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter was relieved to see Joggi with them. She opened the door +for them, and had a good supper placed before the hungry man, saying, +"Eat all you want, Joggi, and be happy."</p> + +<p>Joggi ate heartily and seemed as pleased as a child<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> over the rooster, +which he held constantly. As soon as he had finished eating, he rose +to go home, and they noticed that he looked at the rooster and laughed +as he went, his great fright apparently forgotten.</p> + +<p>For several days Mrs. Ritter did not see the joiner. It seemed a +longer time to her, for so much had happened in the meantime; she had +not worried about him, however, because she knew that he was well +cared for.</p> + +<p>The colonel had told Andreas about his brother's confession. "It is +like him to do things in that fashion," said the joiner. "I would +gladly have given it all to him, but he always takes the wrong way to +get what he wants."</p> + +<p>One bright sunny morning Mrs. Ritter went tripping down the hill like +a schoolgirl. She was going to see Andreas, and she had some plans in +mind, the carrying out of which would give her a great deal of +pleasure.</p> + +<p>When she reached his house and entered as usual, she was surprised to +see Wiseli run out of the room in tears, and the joiner sitting in the +deepest gloom, as if a great sorrow had befallen him.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" she exclaimed, as she stood still in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Ritter," he faltered, "I wish that the child had never come to +my house."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What!" she exclaimed, more amazed than ever. "Wiseli? What can she +have done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, for heaven's sake, don't misunderstand me, Mrs. Ritter!" he +cried. "It is only because she has been here and has made a little +paradise out of my humble home that I am so unhappy. They have sent +for her the second time, and she has to go back to Beechgreen. I shall +be miserable without her. You don't know how hard it is for me to let +her go. She would rather stay with me, too, so we are both unhappy +over it. I would give the uncle all I have saved in the last thirty +years, if he would only let me keep her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ritter sighed in relief and said, "I should do nothing of the +sort; I know of a much better way."</p> + +<p>He looked at her questioningly.</p> + +<p>"I should adopt Wiseli, if I were you and wanted her. Then you will be +her father and she will be your child and heir. Wouldn't that be a +better way, Andreas?"</p> + +<p>Andreas grasped Mrs. Ritter's hand as he asked eagerly, "Is such a +thing possible?"</p> + +<p>"Yes"; said Mrs. Ritter, "I thought that you might want to keep her, +so I have been looking the matter up, and Mr. Ritter is at home now, +so that, in case you want to settle the legal part of it, he can take +you to the city immediately, for you are not yet<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> able to go by +yourself. Then you will have nothing to worry about, and you can tell +Wiseli after you come back."</p> + +<p>It was the first time that she had ever seen the joiner excited. He +began to get into his overcoat as she rose to go.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure," he asked, "that we can get the matter settled to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am sure," she replied, "and I will send the carriage over at +once."</p> + +<p>A few moments later Wiseli noticed the Ritter carriage drive up to the +gate and the coachman come to assist the joiner down the walk. She was +surprised to see him get into the carriage, for he had not told her +that he was going for a drive. "Perhaps," she thought, "he did not +feel like telling me, because this is the last day that I can be with +him."</p> + +<p>Wiseli had the dinner ready at the usual hour, but the joiner was not +there. She did not wish to eat without him, so she waited and waited, +but still he did not come. Finally, she fell asleep. She dreamed that +she was again at her uncle's home and that she was very unhappy. She +was not aware of the beautiful evening glow in the sunset which +promised a pleasant to-morrow.</p> + +<p>Wiseli started from her slumber when the door opened. It was the +joiner, who had just returned, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> his face was as radiant as the +sunset. He had been in such a different mood in the morning that +Wiseli stared in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I have good news, Wiseli," he said, as he hung up his hat and stepped +about as lightly as a boy. "It is all settled. You are legally my +child, and I am your father. Call me father this very minute, my +little girl."</p> + +<p>All the color had left Wiseli's cheeks, and she stood uncomprehending +and speechless.</p> + +<p>"Of course you don't know what I am talking about," he said. "I begin +at the wrong end because I am so glad. This is what has happened, +Wiseli: the proper authorities have to-day given me the legal right to +take care of you. I have been to the city and the matter is arranged, +so that we really belong to each other. You shall never go back to +your uncle's again, for now you have a home of your own."</p> + +<p>His meaning dawned at length upon Wiseli, although it seemed too good +to be true. Impulsively she sprang into his arms. "Then I can always +call you father," she said. "I know who knew that this was going to +happen," she added.</p> + +<p>"Who knew it would happen, Wiseli?"</p> + +<p>"My mother knew it would."</p> + +<p>"Your mother! How, Wiseli?"</p> + +<p>"In my dream I saw the path that leads to your<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> house, and she was +pointing to it and saying, 'See, Wiseli, that is your path.' So mother +must have known it," she added. "Don't you think that she helped to +bring it about, father?"</p> + +<p>The good man could not answer, for his heart was full and his eyes +were dimmed with tears, but he looked at Wiseli so lovingly that she +understood.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the door was thrown open, and Otto fairly sprang into the +room. He threw up his cap and shouted, "Hurrah! We've won, and Wiseli +is free."</p> + +<p>Miezi came in next, almost breathless, and as she held the door open +she cried, "See what is coming for the celebration!"</p> + +<p>There was the baker's boy carrying so large a board on his head that +he stuck fast in the doorway, and they had to help him to get it into +the house.</p> + +<p>It was explained that Otto and Miezi, having permission to order as +large a cake as they wished for the occasion, had told the baker to +make them the largest he could, so he had baked one just the size of +his oven.</p> + +<p>Trina came with loaded baskets which contained a well-browned roast +and tempting vegetables, for Mrs. Ritter knew that the joiner had not +been able to eat his dinner, and surmised rightly that Wiseli would +not have eaten much by herself. Trina prepared things on the table so +that they could all sit down.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> It was a joyous occasion for every one +present. The feast was followed with merriment and song until a late +hour.</p> + +<p>At last Trina stood ready to return, and the guests rose to go.</p> + +<p>"To-night you have brought the feast to us," said the joiner, "but one +week from to-night I invite you all to come back to a feast that I +wish to provide in honor of my little daughter."</p> + +<p>Then they shook hands in the pleasant anticipation of coming together +again soon, and in general satisfaction that their little friend had +at last a home of her own. Wiseli followed Otto to the door and said: +"I thank you a thousand times, Otto, for all that you have done for +me. Chappi never hurt me again after you choked him, because he was +afraid that I might tell you, so you see how much reason I have to be +grateful."</p> + +<p>"I am much more indebted to you," said Otto. "I haven't had to do that +work in the schoolroom again, and that I disliked much more than +punishing Chappi, so we shall have to call it even."</p> + +<p>Miezi, who had been the gayest of the party all the evening, waved her +hand in answer to the last farewell, and then the guests were lost to +view. Joiner Andreas sat down by the window in his accustomed place, +but Wiseli first restored order to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> dishes and furniture. When she had +finished that task, she went to her father and said: "Shouldn't you +like to hear the verses that mother taught me? They have been running +in my mind all the evening, and I don't intend ever to forget them."</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad to hear them," said the joiner, as he took her +on his knee. Then Wiseli, leaning on his shoulder and looking out to +the stars, repeated with joyful heart:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Commit thou all thy ways<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And all that grieves thy heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Him whose endless days<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall grace and strength impart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He gives to wind and wave<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The power to be still;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thee He'll surely save<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A place to work His will."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>From this time on the little home of the joiner, nestling among the +flowers, remained one of the happiest in the world. Wherever Wiseli +went, people were so polite to her that she was quite astonished, for +they had scarcely noticed her before. Her aunt and uncle Gotti never +passed the house without coming in to see her, and they always invited +her to make them a visit.</p> + +<p>Wiseli was very much relieved to see their friendly manner, for she +had had secret fears as to how they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> would accept the situation. She +was glad to live in peace with all the people about her, but she said +to herself, "Otto and the rest of the Ritter family were kind to me +when I was unhappy and poor, but the others paid no attention to me +until my father took me, so I know where to look for my real +friends."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a id="PRONOUNCING_VOCABULARY"></a>PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF PROPER NAMES</h2> + +<p>The vowels are marked as in Webster's dictionary.</p> + +<p>In unaccented syllables, long vowels and ä should not be pronounced +too strongly; but they should not become indistinct, especially in the +names around Lake Garda (both persons and places). In unaccented +syllables the vowel [~e] should be very light and rather indistinct; a +very common pronunciation, though not the most exact, is to sound this +vowel in German names like the <i>a</i> in <i>sofa</i>.</p> + +<p> +<span class="in2">Aar (är)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Aloise (älōē'z[~e])</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Andreas (än drā'äs)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Bergamo (běr'gä mō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Bern (běrn)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Chappi (käp'pē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Como (cō'mō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Desenzano (dā sěn dzä'nō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Engadine (ěn gä dēn')</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Enrico (ěn rē'cō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Garda (gär'dä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Gotti (gŏt'tē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Hans (häns)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Heimatlos (hī'mät lōs): homeless</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Joggi (yŏg'gē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Kunzli (kunts'lē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Maloja (mä lō'yä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Maria (mä rē'ä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Marie (mä rē')</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Menotti (mā nŏt'tē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Miez (mēts)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Miezchen (mēts'chěn)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Miezi (mēt'sē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Peschiera (pě skyâ'rä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Rico (rē'cō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Ritter (rĭt'ter)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Riva (rē'vä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Rudi (r[u:]'dē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">St. Gall (saint gäl)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">St. Moritz (saint mō'rĭts)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Sils (zĭls)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Sils-Maria (zĭls-mä rē'ä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Silvio (sēl'vyō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Stineli (stē'n[~e] lē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Trevillo (trā vēl'lō)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Trina (trē'nä)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Trudt (tr[u:]t)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Una sera ([u:]'nä sā'rä): one evening</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Urschli (ur'shlē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Wiseli (vē'z[~e] lē)</span><br /> +<span class="in2">Wisi (vē'zē)</span></p> + +<div class="trnote"> +<p class="h3">Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p> +Not all letters can be shown as in the original text. The following +convention has been used to indicate letters which can not be +represented (where x denotes the letter).<br /> +<br /> +[~x] letter with tilde above<br /> +[x:] letter with dieresis below</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Heimatlos, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEIMATLOS *** + +***** This file should be named 38626-h.htm or 38626-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/6/2/38626/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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