CHAPTER IX
A Secret that is Kept
When on the next morning the pastor's family was at breakfast, thepastor arranged that Erick should not go with the other three to school,since he belonged to the school in Lower Wood and it was now too far togo there. When the other three had gone, then Erick should come to himin his study. So it was decided, and when Erick came into the study thepastor pointed to a seat and said: "Now sit down in front of me"--for hehimself sat on the large sofa--"look into my eyes, and tell meeverything from the beginning and exactly what happened yesterday beforeyou came into church, also what you intended to do, for I have heard allkinds of things."
Erick looked with his large, bright blue eyes straight into thepastor's, and told everything from the beginning: how he was going to beauctioned and did not want to be, what Churi had promised him, how hethen had gone with them, also how the others had brought large basketsto put grapes in, but he did not know where they were to get the grapes.The pastor, however, now knew everything, for Sally had reported how theMayor was expecting his grape-thieves again and how he was going toreceive them. It was now quite plain, as one had always suspected, thatthe same crowd, the Middle Lotters, under Churi's lead, had plunderedthe vineyard.
"Erick," said the pastor earnestly, "you want to be an honorable man andyou mean it seriously so far as you understand the word, I have seenthat; but that is not the way which will lead you there. See, you canunderstand, that you have made friends with a crowd of boys who are onno good road; for, to run about wild on Sunday, when the bells call tochurch, and to be obliged to hide behind barns from nice people,--youdid not learn that from your mother, did you, Erick?"
Erick had to lower his open eyes and answered very low: "No."
"But worse things turn up if one goes with bad boys," the pastorcontinued. "Through them, one often comes where one never wanted tocome. See, if you had not been saved from it through your mother's songwhich you heard, you would have been caught with the others in thevineyard as a thief, and punished as such. Well, Erick, if your mothershould have had to hear that!"
Erick had grown dark red in the face. He was silent for some time,visibly from fear and perplexity, then he asked timidly: "Can I nolonger grow to be an honorable man?"
"Yes, indeed, Erick," said the pastor now kindly, "that you can. Youknow now on what road one cannot go; think of that and keep yourself farfrom bad companions. And now I will tell you how you can become a man ofhonor. Do you remember how the verse in your mother's song goes, whichbegins:
"'Thy Zion scatters palms And greening twigs for Thee, But I in glorious psalms Will lift my soul to Thee!'"
In an instant Erick continued:
"'My heart be overflowing In constant love and praise, In service will be growing, Will Thy dear name then grace.'"
"Erick, you must never forget these words. If you bring all your deedsbefore the dear God and look to it before Him, whether you 'Will graceHis dear name' as well as you know, then you will become a genuinelyhonorable man. Will you think on it?"
"Yes, I will," Erick promised gladly, as now he looked up again to thepastor freely and openly.
"Then," the latter said after a while, "there is still something else,Erick. Have you known your father?"
"No."
"Do you know if he is still alive, where he is?"
"Mother told me father had gone to America, to make a large fortune forhimself and for us; but he has not yet returned."
"Do you know other relatives, sisters or brothers of your mother, orsome close friends?"
"No."
"Don't you know of anyone to whom one could turn, who would look afteryou?"
"No, no," said Erick, quite anxiously.
But the pastor put his hand very kindly on Erick's head and said: "Youmust not be afraid, my boy, all will come out all right. You may gonow."
Erick rose; he hesitated for a moment, then he asked somewhatfalteringly: "Must I go now directly to be auctioned? I am afraidMarianne has gone by now."
"No, no," the pastor answered quickly, "you will not go there at all,not at all. Now you go down to Mamma, she will keep you for thepresent."
Erick's eyes shone for joy. He had thought up till now that he would besent to the auction, away from the happy life in the parsonage, but nowthis threatening bugbear was done away with forever. When Erick enteredthe sitting-room he found old Marianne sitting there. They had sentword, the evening before, that Erick would not come back for the night,but Marianne could not have gone away without taking leave of him. Withmany tears she bade him good-bye, and Erick too felt sorry that good oldMarianne was going away; but since he might stay in the parsonage, itwas indeed a different thing for him than if he had had to remain behindalone.
The weeping Marianne had hardly left the door, when the stately Mayorcame in and went with firm steps toward the pastor's study. Early in themorning, when he was going into the vineyard, he had met the Justice ofPeace, and heard from him all the happenings of yesterday, how Erick hadspoiled the game for the grape-thieves, and how they, the would-bethieves, had run far beyond the next two villages before they evenbecame aware that it was only their allies who were chasing them.Kaetheli had learned all that, and had reported it to her father. TheMayor was quite satisfied with the outcome of the affair, and since helooked on Erick as the saver of his grapes, he now came to the pastor totalk over what could be done for the poor orphan.
The gentlemen held a long consultation, for both were anxious to findthe most suitable plan for the boy; but they could not come to anagreement. The Mayor proposed that since the little fellow did notappear to be very strong, it would be best to apprentice him to an easytrade. He thought it would be best to put him to board at the tailor's,then he would grow into the trade without much trouble, and would havenice companions in the tailor's own boys; they were suited to eachother, for the tailor's sons were also dressed as cleanly and carefullyas he was. But the pastor had other thoughts; he had a good institute inhis mind, where Erick could be cared for at once and later be educatedfor a teacher. This also suited the Mayor, and he took leave with theassurance that he would make Erick a nice little gift, for the littlefellow had shown him a greater kindness than he could know, which thepastor verified.
When later the pastor told his wife of their transaction, she did notquite agree with it; she thought that she might keep the orphaned Erickfor a while with her; in fact she should prefer to keep him altogether,for she had already taken this loving, trusting boy deep into her heart.But the pastor convinced her that the "keeping altogether" could not bedone, since there were nearer obligations to all kinds of relatives, sothat one could not give the little stranger preference in such a way.But he gladly granted the wish of his wife to keep Erick at least a fewweeks in their home; for, he said, one could postpone his entrance intothe institute until the beginning of the new year.
When the children were told of the decision there was great rejoicing,for Edi had put into Ritz's head a large number of splendidundertakings, which could be carried out only by three people, and Sallyknew of nothing in the whole world that could have given her greater joythan that now she could be with the new friend from day to day; for hewas in every way what she could wish, and in many ways he was much nicerthan she could have imagined from the manners of her former friends.
Erick had such a happy, refined, thoughtful disposition, that it seemedto Sally as if she lived in continuous sunshine when she was with him.The aunt also agreed with the decision to keep the boy in the parsonage,although at first she had seen in it a disturbance in the order of thehousehold, since the increasing of the number would mean that in theevening it would take even longer to get to a settlement. But when shenoticed that Erick, on the first hint, rose at once and did what wasdesired, then her fears turned to hopes that one might impress theothers a little with this ever-ready boy, which impressed her veryfavorably. 'Lizebeth alone continued her dislike of the new-comer, andwhenever
she met him in the house she measured him with her eyes fromhis head to as far as the velvet reached.
Erick soon felt quite at home in the parsonage. He now went with thethree children to the same school, shared Edi's historical interest aslong as the latter entertained him with it, which was the case on everywalk to school, and as often as possible besides, for Edi found largegaps in the historical knowledge of his new friend and felt himselfcalled upon to fill them in. Erick was a good listener and often putquestions which drove Edi to new, deep studies and which excited him somuch that he had almost no other thoughts but Rome and Carthage.
With good-natured Ritz, Erick was also on good terms. The little fellowran after him wherever he went, and looked delighted when he saw himfrom afar; then he rushed at him and was always sure of a pleasantreception and jocular conversation, for Erick was always friendly,talkative and in good humor, and never buried in history books whichoften made Edi unhappy. So Ritz spent all the time out of school eitherwith Erick, or seeking him, which however sometimes cost him a good dealof time, for the very nearest friends, after all, were Erick and Sally.The two could not be separated. There was a great similarity in theirtemperaments, for what the one wanted the other liked also, and what theone did not like, did not please the other, and both liked nothingbetter than to go together up into the woods, where under the oldfir-tree was the small bench on which they could sit and tell each otherall they knew; or to go down to the foaming Woodbach and there, sittingon the stones near the bank, watch the tossing waves rush down. Theynever seemed to lack topics of conversation. Erick told about hismother, and how they had lived together, and of her beautiful singing;and Sally never grew weary of hearing again and again the same stories,and would keep on asking questions.
So they sat on their bench under the tree on the sunny Sunday afternoonin the first week in October, and Sally had just begun her questions.This time she wanted to know why the mother had sent Erick to Lower Woodto school and not to Upper Wood, where all good people from Middle Lotcame--Kaetheli, for example. Then Erick told her that his mother hadasked Marianne about the schools, and after Marianne had explainedeverything to her, and that fewer children went to Lower Wood and mostlychildren who were not so well-known, then his mother had at once decidedthat he should go there. "For you see, Sally, we were obliged to bealone and hide ourselves until I had become an honorable man."
"But why? I do not understand it at all," Sally said somewhatimpatiently. "And then afterwards when you had become an honorable man,what did you want to do, if you did not know anyone?"
"I should very much like to tell it to you, Sally," Erick answered veryseriously, "but you would have to promise me that you would tell it tono human being; never, not if it should take many, many years."
"Yes, yes, I will surely promise that," Sally said quickly, for she wasvery anxious to hear the secret.
"No, Sally, you must consider it well," said Erick, and held his handsbehind his back, to let her have time, "then if you have decided thatyou will tell no human being one single word, then you must promise itto me with a firm handshake."
Sally had fully decided. "Just give me your hand, Erick," she urged."So, I promise you that I will tell to no one a single word of thatwhich you want to tell me."
Now Erick felt safe. "You see, Sally," he began, "in Denmark there is avery large, beautiful estate, with a beautiful lawn before the house towhich one can go directly through large doors out of the halls, and inthe middle of the lawn are the beautiful flower-beds just filled withroses; and on the other side of the house one goes across to the large,old oaks, where the horses graze--for there are many beautiful horses.And on the left side of the house one comes directly into the smallforest; there is a pond quite surrounded by dense trees, and a smallbench stands above and from there one descends three steps to the littleboat that has two oars, and my mother liked best to sit there and rowabout the pond. For, you see, my mother lived there when she was achild, and also later when she was grown up. And there below, where thelawn stops, begin the large stables where the horses are when they arenot grazing; and my mother had her own little white horse. She rodeabout on that with grandfather or with old John. Oh, that was sobeautiful! But once Mother was disobedient to grandfather, for shewanted to go far away with my father, and grandfather would not have it;but she went, and then she was not allowed to come back, and everythingwas over."
Sally had listened with breathless attention. Now she burst out: "Dear,dear, what a pity! That is exactly like Adam and Eve in Paradise! Butwhere did your mother go to? And who is now on that beautiful estate?"
"Mother went far away to Paris, then to many other places, and at lastwe came to Middle Lot. My grandfather still lives on the estate."
"Oh, Erick, we will write a letter at once to your grandfather and askhim whether you may now come home again?"
"Oh, no, no! I dare not do that," opposed Erick. "I must not go to mygrandfather until I have become an honorable man, so that I may say tohim: 'I will not bring shame on your name, Grandfather, but Mother wouldlike to make up through me for what you have suffered through her!' Ihave promised that to my mother!"
"Oh, what a pity, what a pity!" lamented Sally, "you may never go to thebeautiful estate until you are a man; that will be a terrible long time.And then you have to go away in the winter to quite strange people, toan institute. Oh, if you only could go to the beautiful estate, toGrandfather! Can it not be brought about, Erick? Can no one help you?"
"No, that is quite impossible," said Erick, thoroughly convinced. "Butnow, since you know all, I will tell you a good deal more about theestate, for I know much more, and Mother and I have talked so oftenabout it," so Erick told more and more until they reached home, whereboth of them were much distracted, for both were wandering in thoughtabout the beautiful estate far away. The mother looked several times nowat the one, then at the other, for nothing unusual in her children everescaped her motherly eye; but she said nothing. When later she hadprayed with the children, and was now standing in her own bedroom, sheheard how Sally, in her little bedroom beside hers, was praying loud andearnestly to God.
The mother wondered what could so occupy the thoughts of her littlegirl, who was usually so open and communicative. What had happened thisevening, and what was urging her to such a pleading prayer, and why hadshe not said a word about it? Could the child have a secret trouble? Shesoftly opened the door a little, and now heard how Sally several timesin succession fervently prayed: "Oh, dear God, please bring it aboutthat Erick may come to his grandfather on the beautiful estate."
Now the mother entered Sally's room. "My dear child," she said, "forwhat did you pray just now to the dear God? Will you explain it to me?"
But Sally made such an uproar that the mother stopped with surprise."You did not hear it, Mother? I hope you have not understood it, Mother.Have you? You must not know it, Mother, no one must know it. It is agreat secret."
"But, dear child, do be quiet and listen to me," said the mother kindly."I heard that you prayed to the dear God for something for Erick.Perhaps we, too, could do something for him. Tell me what you know, forit may lead to something good for him."
"No, no," cried Sally in the greatest excitement, "I will say nothing, Ihave promised him, and I do not know anything else than for what I haveprayed." And Sally threw herself on her pillow and began to sob.
Now the mother ordered her to be quiet and let the thing rest. She wouldnot ask her any more, nor speak of it. Sally should do as she felt, andsurrender everything to the dear God. But the mother put two thingstogether in her mind. When Marianne had come to take leave, she hadquestioned her about Erick's mother and the latter's condition; alsowhether Marianne knew her maiden name. But Marianne did not know much,only once she had seen a strange name, but had not been able to read it.It was when Erick, at one time, had taken the cover from his mother'slittle Bible; then she saw a name written with golden letters. Erickmust have the little Bible. The lady had seen the little black boo
k inErick's box and had taken off the close-fitting cover and had foundwritten in fine gold letters the name, "Hilda von Vestentrop". She atonce assumed that this must be the maiden name of Erick's mother; butshe knew nothing further.
Now she had learned through Sally's prayer that Denmark had been hernative land, and that a father was living there. All this she told toher husband the same evening, and proposed that he should write at onceto this gentleman in Denmark.
The pastor leaned far back in his armchair and stared at his wife withastonishment. "Dear wife," he said at last, "do you really believe thatI could send a letter addressed 'von Vestentrop, Denmark'? This addressis no doubt enough for the dear God, but not for short-sighted humanbeings."
But the wife did not give in. She reminded her husband that he knewtheir countryman, the pastor of the French church in Copenhagen, andthat he perhaps could help him onto the track of von Vestentrop; thelatter must be the owner of an estate and such a gentleman could befound. And the wife spoke so long and so impressively to her husbandthat he finally sat down that very evening and wrote two letters. Theone he addressed "To Mr. von Vestentrop in Denmark". This one heenclosed in the second and addressed that to his acquaintance, thepastor of the French church in Copenhagen. Then he laid the heavy letteron his writing-table so that early to-morrow morning 'Lizebeth wouldfind it and carry it to the post office.
CHAPTER X
Surprising Things Happen
Weeks had passed by since Erick had become an inhabitant of theparsonage, but 'Lizebeth had not changed her mind. Just now she wasstanding in the kitchen-door, when Erick came running up the steps, andhastily asked: "Where are Ritz and Edi?"
'Lizebeth measured him with a long look and said: "I should have thoughtthat a boy in velvet would utter the names in a strange house morepolitely, and that he might say, 'Where are Eduardi and Moritzli?'"
Much frightened, Erick looked up to 'Lizebeth. "I did not know that Iought to talk so in the parsonage; I have never done it and I am sorryfor it; now I will always remember to say it," he promised assuringly.
Now that did not suit 'Lizebeth. She had believed that he would answer,"That is none of your business." For that remark she had prepared afitting answer. And now he answered her so nicely that she was caught,but if he really was going to carry out his promise, then the lady ofthe house might find out how she had schoolmastered him and that mightdraw upon her some unpleasantness, for she knew how tenderly the formertreated the boy Erick. She therefore changed her tactics and said:"Well, you see, I always say the names in the proper way; it isdifferent with you, you are their comrade, and as far as I am concerned,you can call them as you like."
"I should like to ask something else, if I may," said Erick, andpolitely waited for permission.
'Lizebeth liked this mannerly way very well and said encouragingly:"Yes, indeed, ask on, as much as you like."
"I wanted to ask whether I may say ''Lizebeth' like the others, orwhether I ought to say 'Mistress 'Lizebeth'."
Now Erick had won over 'Lizebeth's whole heart for the reason that hewanted to know what title she ought to have by rights, and that showedher what a fine boy he was. She patted his shoulder protectingly, andhis curly hair, and said: "You just call me ''Lizebeth', and if you wantto ask anything, then come into the kitchen, and I will tell youeverything you want to know and--wait a moment!" With these words sheturned round and chased about the kitchen, then she came to him with twosplendid, bright red apples in her hand.
"Oh, what beautiful apples! Thank you ever so much, 'Lizebeth!" he crieddelightedly, and now ran out.
'Lizebeth looked after him with such pride as if she were hisgrandmother, and said to herself: "Let anyone come now and show me threefiner little boys in the whole world than our three are." With thischallenge, and the proud consciousness that no one could accept it, sheturned to her pans and kettles.
So Erick had won over everyone, but there was still one who looked athim from the corner of his eyes and always with a look of wrath, for afew days after Organ-Sunday, the Mayor had ordered that Churi shouldappear before him, and the bold Churi could hardly keep on his feet whenhe had to appear before the judicial tribunal, for he expected toreceive the well-earned punishment from the strong hand of the Mayor.But the latter only pinched his ear a little and said: "Churi, Churi!this time you get off better than you deserve, for I know now who gotthe grapes last year, and I also know who wanted to get them again a fewdays ago. If from now on, even one single little bunch is missing, Ishall hold you responsible, and you will be surprised at what willhappen to you, think of that! Now go."
Churi did not need to be told that twice; he was gone as if his life wasat stake; but from that time on he thought of revenge on Erick, and whenhe met him, he shook his fist at him and said: "You wait! I will get yousometime." But so far he had never met Erick alone, and had never beenable to do him the slightest harm. This secretly embittered Churi stillmore.
Now winter had set in. Upper Wood lay deeply buried in snow, andeveryone was busy thinking of Christmas and New Year. In these days thepastor gave a gentle hint to his wife, that the time for Erick's changeto the institute, for which the Mayor also had offered his help, wasfast approaching. But the lady hardly let him finish his sentence forexcitement, and answered at once: "How can you even think of such athing! In the first place; we must wait for the answer from Denmark,before we do anything; and secondly, the whole Christmas joy would bespoiled completely for the children, through such news; thirdly, weourselves, you and I, could not separate ourselves so suddenly andunprepared from a child who is as dear to us as one of our own--"
"Fourthly, 'Lizebeth will give notice at once," continued the pastor,"for she now is the worst of all, from all that I see. One thing issure, dear wife, if the little fellow was not so guileless and had notsuch an exceptionally good disposition, you women would have ruined himso that he never could get straightened again, for you, one and all,spoil him quite terribly."
"It is just this harmless and exceptionally well-disposed character ofthe child which wins all hearts, so that one cannot help treating himwith peculiar love. No talk of sending Erick away before Easter can beconsidered, and much can happen before then, my dear husband."
"Oh, yes," the latter agreed, "only do not look for an answer fromDenmark, for it would be in vain. The guilelessness in that address wenta little too far."
But the pastor's wife was contented that another respite had beengranted, and she hoped on.
The winter passed, Easter was approaching, but no answer came. This timethe pastor's wife got ahead of her husband. When shortly before Easter abelated April frost set in, she explained to him that new winter wrapshad to be made for all the children, and before one could think ofsending Erick away, summer clothing had to be prepared for him; his goodvelvet suit looked, indeed, still very fine, and would last some timeyet, but her husband knew it was his only suit, and for mid-summeranother must absolutely be procured for him, and for that, time andleisure were needed.
The pastor gave his consent to the postponement without opposition. Inhis heart he was heartily glad for the good excuse; for he, like all therest, had learned to love Erick so much that the thought of hisdeparture was very painful to him.
His wife was contented again and thought in her heart: "Who knows whatmay happen before summer."
But something did happen which seemed to destroy with one blow all herhopes. The warm June had come and on the sunny hillsides around UpperWood the strawberries, which grew there in plenty, were beginning togive out most delightful fragrance, and to turn red. That was a glorioustime for all children round about. The children of the parsonage, too,undertook daily strawberry-expeditions and every evening belated theyreturned home. The order-devoted aunt, who, after a winter's absence,had returned with the summer to the parsonage, did not leave any remedyuntried to restore at least the usual condition of things.
Below near the Woodbach the berries grew largest and most plentifully.But to go there
they had to wait till Saturday afternoon, when they hadno school, for it was too far to take the walk after afternoon school.When Saturday came and the sun was shining brightly in the sky, then thewhole company in joyous mood left the parsonage, Sally and Erick ahead,Ritz and Edi following. All were armed with baskets, for to-day, so theyhad decided, Mother was to receive a great quantity of strawberriesinstead of their eating all on the spot as usually happened. Havingarrived on the hillside over the Woodbach, the best spots were sought;if one was found which was plentifully sprinkled over with strawberries,then the whole company was called together and the place cleared, andafterwards each went out again for new discoveries.
Erick was a good climber; without any trouble he swung himself down overthe steepest hillsides, and jumped up the high rocks like a squirrel.Sally saw him, how he swung himself down a rock where he had espied onthe lowest end a spot that shone bright red in the sun, as if coveredwith rubies. Were they berries or flowers which were growing there sobeautifully? Erick must see them nearer. Sally shouted after him: "Callus if you find something, but be careful, it is steep there."
_Churi....unexpectedly gave him such a severe push thatErick rolled down the rest of the mountain side...._]
Erick answered with a yodel and disappeared. Having arrived below, hemet the Middle Lotters, who were bending in groups here and there, orlying on the ground, eating the berries which they picked. Erick couldnot find the red spot which he had seen from above; but not far awayfrom him stood Churi, who had seen him coming down. Churi called to him:
"Come here, velvet pants, here are berries such as you have never seen."
Erick went quite calmly to him and when he now had stepped quite closeto Churi, the latter unexpectedly gave him such a severe push that Erickrolled down the rest of the mountain side and right into the gray wavesof the Woodbach.
When Churi saw that, he was frightened. For a moment he stared at thegray waves; but Erick had disappeared, not a speck of him could be seen.Then Churi softly turned round and ran away as quickly as he could,without looking round, for his conscience bit him and drove him along,and he dared not look anyone in the face for fear that someone couldread there what he had done. The other Middle Lotters had not paidattention to what was going on. Perhaps once in a while one of the crowdwould ask, "What has become of Churi all of a sudden?" and another wouldanswer, "He can go, wherever he likes," and they would turn again totheir berries and think no more of him.
Meanwhile Sally had remained standing in the same spot and had waitedfor Erick's call. When it did not come, she began to call, but receivedno answer. She now called to Edi, and he came running with Ritz, and allthree called together for Erick, but in vain. The sun had long sinceset, and it was beginning to grow dark. All children, even the MiddleLotters, went past them on their homeward way, and they were always thevery last. "Show me once more, and be quite sure, the very spot where hebegan to climb down," said Edi, "I will go down, in the same path."
Sally showed the exact spot, where Erick had descended over the rock,and Edi began the descent a little timidly. But he arrived safely downbelow and ran hither and thither, calling with a loud voice: "Erick!Erick!" But only the echo from the rocks, round about, answeredmockingly: "'Rick! 'Rick!"
Now it really began to be dark, and round about not a human sound, onlythe rushing of the Woodbach, sounded through the stillness. Edi began tofeel a little uncomfortable; he climbed as quickly as possible up therock and said hastily: "Come, we will go home. Perhaps Erick is alreadyat home, he may have gone by another road."
But Sally opposed this proposition with all her power, and assured himfirmly that Erick had not gone home; that he would have first come backto her; and she was not going a step away from where he had left her,until Erick came, for if he were to come and she was not there, then hewould wait for her again, if he had to wait the whole night, she wassure of that.
"We must go home, you know it," declared Edi. "Come, Sally, you know wemust."
"I cannot, I cannot!" lamented Sally. "You go with Ritz and tell them athome how it is; perhaps Erick cannot find the road again." At thisconjecture which, only now after she had uttered it, Sally saw plainly,she began to weep and sob piteously, while Edi took Ritz by the hand andran toward home as quickly as possible.
Mother and Aunt were standing before the parsonage, looking in alldirections to see if the children would not make their appearancesomewhere. 'Lizebeth ran to and fro, hither and thither, and asked ofthe returning children of the neighborhood, where the parsonage childrenwere. She received the same answer from all: the three were still belowby the Woodbach, and were waiting for Erick, who had gone alone. At lastRitz and Edi came running through the darkness. Both panted inconfusion, one interrupting the other. They shouted: "Sallysits--"--"Erick is over"--"Yes, Erick is over"--"But Sally still sitsand"--
"Sally sits and Erick is over!" cried the aunt. "Now let anyone makesense of that!" But the mother drew Edi aside and said; "Come, tell mequietly what has happened."
Then Edi told everything, how Erick had climbed over the rock and howSally now was sitting alone below near the Woodbach, and Erick gave noanswer to all his calling.
"For heaven's sake," the mother cried, now thoroughly frightened, "Ihope that nothing has happened to Erick! Or could he have lost his way?"She ran into the house to ask her husband what was to be done. At once'Lizebeth ran to seven or eight neighbors and brought them together witha good deal of noise, all armed with staves and lanterns, as 'Lizebethhad ordered. Also several women hastened up, they too wanted to help inthe seeking. Now the pastor had come out and joined them, for he himselfwanted to do everything to find Erick, and at any rate to bring Sallyhome. 'Lizebeth came last in the procession, with a large basket hangingfrom her arm, for without a basket, 'Lizebeth could not leave the house.
Two long hours went by, while the mother walked ceaselessly to and fro,now to the window, then to the house door, now up and down thesitting-room; for the longer no news came the greater grew her fear. Atlast the house-door was opened and in came the father, holding theweeping Sally by the hand, for he had not been able to comfort her. Theyhad at that time not been able to get a trace of Erick; but theneighbors were still seeking for him and had promised not to stopseeking until he was found. 'Lizebeth was still with them, and she wasthe most energetic of all the seekers.
Only after many comforting words from the mother, and after she hadprayed with her whole heart with the child to the dear God, that Hewould protect the lost Erick and bring him home again, could Sally atlast be quieted. She fell then into a deep sleep, and slept so soundlythat she did not wake until late the next morning, and the mother wasglad to know that her daughter was sleeping, as her grief would beawakened again, when she woke up.
Sunday morning passed quietly and sadly in the parsonage. Father andMother came out of church, before which the people of Upper Wood andLower Wood, from Middle Lot, and the whole neighborhood round about, hadassembled to talk over the calamity.
So far Ritz and Edi had kept very quiet, each busy with his ownoccupation. Edi, a large book on his knees, was reading. Ritz was verybusy with breaking off the guns from all his tin soldiers, as now,having peace in the land, they did not need them.
"So," Edi, who had looked now and then over his book, said quiteseriously: "if war breaks out again, then the whole company can stay athome, for they have no more guns; with what are they supposed to fight?"
Ritz had not thought of that. Quickly he threw all the gunless soldiersinto the box and said: "I do not care to play any more today," no doubtwith the unexpressed hope that the guns, by the time he should open thebox again, might be somehow mended. But now he became restless and askedto go out, and Edi, who had seen the large gathering by the church, alsodecided to go out doors, for he too wanted to hear what was going on.
The aunt opposed their going out for some time, but finally gave herconsent for half an hour, to which the mother, who had just come in,agreed. Now Sally appeared and ru
shed at once to her mother, to hearabout Erick, whether he had come home and how, where and when, orwhether news had come. But before the mother had time to tell her childgently that no news had come from Erick, but that more people had goneout, early in the morning, to seek him, the two brothers came rushing inwith unusual bluster and shouted in confusion:
"There comes a large, large"--"A very tall gentleman"--"A gentleman whowalks very straight out of a coach with two horses."
"I believe it is a general," Edi brought out finally and veryimportantly.
"No doubt," laughed the aunt. "Next you will see nothing but oldCarthaginians walking about Upper Wood and the whole neighborhood."
But the mother did not laugh. "Could it not be someone who might bringnews of Erick?" she asked. She ran to the window. At the entrance of thehouse was an open traveling coach, to which were harnessed two bayhorses which pawed the ground impatiently, and shook their heads so thatthe bright harness rattled loudly. Ritz and Edi disappeared again. Thesesounds were irresistible to them.
Now 'Lizebeth rushed in. "There is a strange gentleman below with themaster," she reported. "I have directed him to the pastor's study, sothat the table can be set here, for I must go out again to the littleboy. The gentleman has snow-white hair but he has a fresh, ruddy faceand walks straight like an army man or a commander."
"And he came alone?" asked the mistress. "Then he does not bring Erick?Who may he be?"
Meanwhile the tall, strange gentleman had entered the pastor's studybelow, with the words: "Colonel von Vestentrop, of Denmark. Thegentleman will excuse me if I interrupt him."
The pastor was so surprised that for a moment he could not collect hiswits. Erick's grandfather! There stood the man bodily before him, whoseexistence had been to him a mere fairy tale, and the man looked sostately and so commanding, that everyone who beheld him must be inspiredwith respect. But at the same time there was something winning in hisexpression, which was familiar to the reverend gentleman from Erick'sdear face. And this gentleman had traveled so far to fetch his grandson,and Erick had disappeared.
All this passed through the pastor's head with lightning speed; he stoodfor a moment like one paralyzed. But the colonel did not give much timeto the surprised man to recover himself. He quickly took the offeredeasy chair, drew the pastor down on another, looked straight into hiseyes and said: "Dear Sir, you sent through the French pastor inCopenhagen a letter addressed to me, in which you inform me of things ofwhich I do not believe one single word."
The surprise of the pastor increased and was reflected in his face.
"Please understand me rightly, dear Sir," the speaker continued, "notthat I mean that you would make an incorrect statement; but you yourselfhave been duped, your kindness has been shamefully misused. Because Iknew that, I did not wish to answer your letter in writing, for we wouldhave exchanged many letters uselessly and yet would never have come toan understanding. Behind all this is a clever fellow, who wants to trickyou and me for the sake of gain. So I have let everything rest until Icould combine the present explanation with a journey to Switzerland. Sohere I am, and I will tell you, in as few words as possible, theunfortunate story which led to this deception. But let me look at onceat the object in question. I want to see what the boy is like, whom theman dares to place before my eyes as my grandson."
The pastor had now to tell of the unfortunate accident of Erick'sdisappearance, how they had searched so far in vain, but how everythingwas being done to find the dear boy; therefore he might make hisappearance at any moment.
The colonel only smiled a little, but that smile was a little sarcasticand he said: "My good Sir, let us stop the seeking. The boy will notreturn. The fellow who has placed him in your hands has calculatedwrongly this time. He, no doubt, hoped that I, at such a distance, wouldcredulously accept everything that he wanted, and would do what hewished. Now he has found out that I myself was on the way to see you;and to bring before my eyes some foundling as my daughter's child, thathe did not dare to do. On that account the child has disappeared,Reverend Sir; that man knows me."
However much the pastor might assure the colonel that no one hadinterfered in the case, that the boy, after his mother's death, withoutanyone's intercession had come into the parsonage, and that from the boyhimself, without himself knowing it, had come the suggestions about thecountry and the name of the grandfather,--all explanation of the pastordid no good, the sturdy gentleman adhered to his firm opinion that thewhole thing was the invented trick of a man who wished to make money,and that the disappearance of the boy at the necessary moment confirmedit.
"But how should, how could the man of whom you speak--"
The colonel did not listen to the end of the sentence. "You do not knowthis man," he threw in, "you do not know his knavery, Sir! I had adaughter, an only child; I had lost my wife soon after marriage; thechild was all in all to me. She was the sunshine of my house, beautifulas few, always joyous, amiable to everyone and full of talents. She hada voice which delighted everyone; it was my joy. I had her instructed inthe house, also in music. Then, a young teacher came and settled in thetown, near which my estate lies. People talked much about the youngmusician, and of his artistic skill. He was engaged to teach on all ourneighboring estates. I did the same. I had him come to my house everyday and had no suspicion of misfortune. After a few months, my daughter,who was hardly eighteen years old, told me that she wanted to marry thatman. I answered her that that never would happen; she should never againspeak of such a thing. She did not say another word, nor did shecomplain--that was not her way. I thought all was past and settled, butfound it safer to stop the lessons, and I dismissed the instructor. Thesame evening my daughter asked me, whether I could ever in my lifechange my opinion. 'Never in my life,' I said, 'that is as sure as mymilitary honor'. The next morning, she had disappeared. A letter leftfor me told me that she was going away with that man and would becomehis wife. From that time on,--it is now twelve years ago,--I have neverheard anything from my child, till your letter came.
"That my daughter is dead, I can well believe, but that she has left ahelpless little boy, that I do not believe, for she would have sent sucha boy, of whom she had a right to dispose, to me; she knows me, shewould have known that I would give him my name, and the remembrancewould be wiped away. But this boy, who has disappeared again at theright time, has been substituted by the music-teacher, who no doubtlives somewhere in this neighborhood, and has done it for the purpose ofreceiving a sum of money from me. And now, dear Sir, we are through. Theonly thing left for me is to express my regret that, your kindness hasbeen misused through my name; good-bye."
With these words the colonel rose and offered his hand to the pastor.The latter held it firmly, saying: "Only one more word, Colonel!Consider one thing: you know your daughter's character. After she haddone you the great wrong, she might have decided not to send the boy toyou before he in some way could make good the mother's wrongdoing--perhapsnot until the time when he would do honor to your name, when he shouldprove to you through his own character that he was worthy of your name."
"You are a splendid man, who means well with me; but you have not hadthe experience I have had. You know no distrust, I can see that, andthat is why you have been imposed upon. Let us part."
Saying this the colonel again shook the pastor's hand and opened thedoor. There the lady of the house met him, who for some time withimpatience had been walking up and down in the garden, for she was surethat this caller, who stayed so long, was somehow connected with thelost Erick, and she could not understand why her husband did not callher. Sally, from the same expectation and greater impatience, followedher every step. When now the mother had seen from the garden, that thestrange gentleman had risen, she could bear it no longer; she must knowwhat was going on. When she stepped on the threshold at the moment whenthe stranger opened the door, then politeness demanded that the parsonintroduce his wife, and the stranger from politeness was obliged to stepback into the room when the master o
f the house introduced his wife tohim with the words: "Colonel von Vestentrop from Denmark. You indeedwill be delighted to hear this name."
The lady stepped toward the colonel with visible delight and saidexcitedly: "Is it possible? But at what a moment! But you will stay withus, Colonel, for your dear grandchild must be found. The sweet boycannot be lost, he must have lost his way."
"Pardon me, my gracious lady," the colonel here interrupted her politely,but somewhat stiffly, "I shall start at once. You are under a delusion;I have no grandchild, and I must bid you good-bye."
At mention of the name "Vestentrop", Sally had grown very red; and shetrembled all over, during the conversation that followed. Now sherestrained herself no longer. Tears poured from her eyes, and with thegreatest agitation she sobbed: "Indeed, indeed, he is, I know it, he hastold me himself; but I dared not tell it to anyone."
"Well, the boy has found at least one good friend and defender," saidthe colonel well-pleased, and wanted to pat Sally's cheeks, but shewithdrew quickly, for she first wanted to know whether the gentlemanwould believe and recognize Erick, before she would let him touch her.
The mother too was struck to the core by this incredulity. Her husbandhad whispered a few words to her, so she understood at once the wholesituation.
"Colonel," she now said, placing herself before him, "do not act in suchhaste. Let me prevail on you to stay a few days, yes, even this one day!The dear child must, and will be found, please God! See him first. Learnto know the treasure which you are about to give up so lightly. If youcould know what sunshine you want to withhold from your house, you couldnever be happy again. Do not think, sir, that I would give the childaway; how shall I, how shall we all be able to bear it, when the dear,sunny face shall have disappeared forever from among our children." Thetears came into the mother's eyes also, and she could say no more.
"Well, I have to declare that the little wanderer has fallen into goodhands," said the colonel, giving his hand to the pastor's wife in anapproving way. "You will allow me now to depart."
This time the gentleman was determined to go. He went out and walkedalong the long corridor with head lifted proudly, followed by thepastor, who tried in vain to overtake him so that he could open the doorfor his guest. But before the door could be opened from within, it waspushed open with great force from outside, and like an arrow the slenderEdi shot straight into the tall colonel, who had been standing directlybehind the closed door; and at once after Edi, Ritz rushed into Edi, andthe tall gentleman received the second push, and in his ears rangconfused screamings of mixed words: "They are coming--theycome--Marianne--Erick--Marianne--they come--they come." And really! Inthe house door appeared Marianne, quite broad in her Sunday best,holding Erick, of whom she kept a firm grasp, as if he might fall fromthere down again into the Woodbach. Behind both the partaking scholarsof the parishes pressed in with shouts of rejoicing.
There was no possibility for the military gentleman to get out; thecrowd pressed into the house with great force. He gave in and did whathe had never done before in his life--he retreated, step by step, untilhe had arrived, backwards, over the threshold of the study, togetherwith the whole of the pastor's family, old and young; and at last thefighting Sally pressed in. She had taken Erick by the hand and did notwant to let go of him, and on the other side Marianne held his hand asin a clamp, and she herself was held back from all sides, for theschoolfellows wanted to know first the story of how Erick was lost andfound again.
It was an indescribable uproar. Only after the efforts of Sally hadsucceeded in pulling Erick and Marianne out of the human ball and intothe study, was there sufficient calm so that one could understand theother, for the school friends had stayed respectfully before the door;they did not dare to press into the study-room of their pastor.
Now only could the information be understood, which Erick andMarianne--each relieving the other--gave about the whole occurrence.Erick told how he, after a strong push, had fallen into the water andthen had known nothing more, and had wakened again when somebody wasrubbing him firmly. That had been Marianne, who now related further. Shehad gone yesterday afternoon from Oakwood, where she was living now,upward along the Woodbach, to the place where the berries grew the mostplentifully, as she knew these many years that she had sought and soldthem in the taverns of Upper and Lower Wood. As she was seeking forberries close by the water, bending down behind the willow bush, she sawhow the bush was being shaken and how something had remained hanging toit. She bent around the bush to find out what it might be, and saw theblack velvet jacket on the water! "Oh, dear God!" she then cried outwith unutterable horror, and never stopped crying until, under herdesperate rubbing with skirt and apron, Erick opened his eyes and lookedwith surprise at Marianne. Now she quickly took the large market-basketin which she intended to put the many small baskets, when they werefilled; threw the latter all in a heap, put the dripping Erick in it,and carried him, as quickly as she could, toward her small cottage, farbeyond Oakwood, in which she lived together with her cousin. Here she atonce undressed the wet boy, wound him closely in a large blanket so thatnothing was to be seen of him besides a tuft of yellow, curly hair, puthim in bed with the heavy cover far above his head, for, "getting himwarm is the principal thing for the little boy," she kept on saying toherself. Then she went into her kitchen and soon came back with a cup ofsteaming hot milk, lifted Erick's head from under the covers, so thathis mouth became free, and poured the hot milk in it to make the littlefellow warm. When she now had packed him in the blanket again, and thefright at finding the unconscious Erick and the fear of his taking coldhad passed a little, then it came into her mind that the people of theparsonage did not know what had become of him, and that they too wouldbe anxious about him. She went again to the bed and tried to bring thedeeply hidden Erick up again. But Erick was already half asleep, andwhen Marianne told him her thoughts, he said comfortingly: "No, no, theywill know that I will come back again, and if they are anxious, then'Lizebeth will come and look for me."
Of that Marianne was sure: 'Lizebeth would come and take him home. Nodoubt Erick had started to come and see Marianne, his friend in Oakwood,and on his way there had fallen into the Woodbach by accident, Mariannethought, for in her anxiety for his welfare, she had not spoken a wordwith Erick about the accident. Now he was fast asleep.
Marianne sat down beside him and lifted the cover now and then to listenwhether he was breathing properly. After she had sat thus a while andnoticed how the little fellow's cheeks began to glow like the reddeststrawberries, then she feared no longer that he would catch cold, andshe also felt sure that 'Lizebeth would not come and thought that thepeople in the parsonage would assume that he was going to spend thenight at the cottage. So Marianne had peacefully locked her cottage andgone to sleep.
The next morning Marianne first had to brush and press the velvet suit,for she would not bring the boy back to the parsonage in disorder; shewould not have done that for the sake of his blessed mother. Then shetoo must dress in her Sunday best, and so the morning had almost passedbefore they both had started on their way, quite contented and withoutany suspicion of the enormous fear and excitement which had been in theparsonage and had spread over the whole of Upper Wood. At the churchthey had been greeted by the assembled crowd with great noise and muchconfused talking, and then they were accompanied to the parsonage by theschoolmates, who were crazed with joy at seeing Erick.
In the general excitement and joy, the colonel had been quite forgotten.He had sat down unnoticed on a chair, and had listened attentively tothe reports, following with his eyes the lively gestures which theexcited Erick was making in the zeal of telling his story. Now thereports were finished and for the first time Erick's eyes beheld thestranger in the crowd. The latter beckoned him to come to him; Erickobeyed at once.
"Come here, my boy, hither," and the colonel placed him right beforehim. "So, just look straight in my eyes. What is your name?"
Erick with his bright eyes looked directly into th
ose of the strangegentleman, and without hesitation he said: "Erick Dorn."
The gentleman looked at him still more directly. "After whom were youcalled, boy, do you know?"
Erick hesitated a moment with the answer, but he did not divert hisglance. It seemed as if the eyes of the stranger attracted and conqueredhim. "After my grandfather," he now said with a clear voice.
"My boy--your mother used to look at me just so,--I am yourgrandfather--" and now big tears ran down the austere gentleman'scheeks. Erick must have been seized by the attraction of kinship, forwithout the least shyness, he threw both arms around the old gentleman'sneck and rejoicingly exclaimed: "Oh, Grandfather, is it really you? Iknow you well! And I have so much to tell you from Mother, so much."
_He threw both arms around the old gentleman's neck andrejoicingly exclaimed: "Oh, Grandfather, is it really you?"..._]
"Have you? Have you, my boy?" But the grandfather could say no more.
When Erick noticed that his grandfather kept on wiping away the tears,then sad thoughts gained the upper hand in him and all at once therejoicing expression disappeared, and he said quite sadly: "Oh,Grandfather, I was not to come to you now, and not for a long time. Onlywhen I had become an honorable man, was I to step before you and say toyou: 'My mother sends me to you, that you may be proud of me, and that Imay make good the sorrow, which my mother has caused you.'"
The grandfather put his arms lovingly around Erick and said: "Noweverything is all right. It is enough that your mother has sent you tome. She meant it well with the 'honorable man', in this I recognize mychild; and you do not disobey her, my boy, for you see, you did not cometo me, but I came to you. And an honorable man you will also become withme."
"Yes, that I will, and I know too, how one becomes one, for the reverendpastor has told me how."
"That is lovely of him, we will thank him for it. And now we start, thisvery day, on our journey to Denmark."
"To Denmark, Grandfather, to the beautiful estate, right now?" Erick'seyes grew larger and larger with astonishment and expectation, for heonly now comprehended, what he was going to meet: all that had stoodbefore his mental eyes as the highest and most splendid, ever since hecould think, and that his mother had painted for him in the brightcoloring of her childhood's remembrances, again and again, the distant,beautiful estate, the handsome horses, the pond with the barge, thelarge house with the winter-garden,--everything he was now to see, andlive there with this grandfather, for whom his mother had planted such alove and reverence in her boy's heart, that he saw in him the highest ofwhat could be found on this earth,--all this over-powered Erick so muchthat he was not able to comprehend his good fortune, and with a deepbreath he asked: "Are you sure, Grandfather?"
"Yes, yes, my boy," the grandfather assured him, laughing. "Come, I hopeyou can start at once. You will not have much to pack?"
"Oh, no," said Erick. "You see,"--and he counted on his fingers: "threewriting-books, three school-books, the pen-box and the beautifulChristmas present that I received here in the parsonage."
"That is well, that will make a small bundle," but the old gentlemanlooked at his grandson, rather surprised, and said: "I am astonished,little waif, that you look so fine."
"Yes, I believe you, Grandfather," answered Erick. "That is good stuffthat I am wearing; it comes from you. You see, when in the old suitwhich I had worn so long, the patches became holes, then Mother broughtout the beautiful velvet cloak, with the broad lace, and said: 'That isgood, that comes from Grandfather, you can wear that a long time.' Andthen she cut everything apart and sewed everything together again, andso there came out what I am now wearing. And Mother received a greatdeal of money for the broad lace. But only when all was finished and Iwas wearing it, she became glad again; during the cutting and the sewingtogether, she was very quiet."
The grandfather too had become still, and he turned away for a while. Nodoubt he too thought of the time and what happy days they were when hehad hung around his beloved child the rich mantle, and how sweetly shestood before him, she whom he was never to see again.
"Come, my boy," he said, turning again to Erick. "What has become ofyour foster-parents? It is time that we thank them."
The pastor's wife had seen at once that the grandfather had recognizedhis grandson, and as the latter was standing before him, she gentlyurged her husband and children, as well as Marianne, out of the room andclosed the door after her; and outside, in the long passage, she let theinterested crowd ask their loud questions, and give their loudestanswers, undisturbed. But when the colonel, holding Erick by the hand,came out of the study, she at once made an open path for them throughthe assembled people, to bring them upstairs to the quiet receptionroom, where at last the family and their guest could be amongthemselves. Here the beaming grandfather went first to the lady of thehouse, and then to the master and then again to the lady, and every timehe took each by both their hands with indescribable heartiness and kepton saying: "I have no words, but thanks, eternal thanks!" And all atonce he saw Sally's head peeping out from behind her mother. He suddenlytook it between his two hands and cried: "There is, I believe, the greatfriend and defender of my boy. Well, now will you forgive me?"
Sally pulled one of his hands down and pressed a hearty kiss on it, andnow the colonel tenderly stroked her hair and said: "Such good friendsare worth a great deal!"
But when he expressed his intention to start at once with Erick, therearose great opposition, and this time the mother distinguished herselfin opposition against such quick separation. The grandfather of herErick ought to spend at least one night beneath her roof, and give thefamily the chance of learning to know him a little better and to haveErick another day in their midst.
All the children as well as Erick supported, louder and always louder,the mother's request, and the beleaguered grandfather had to give in.Ritz and Edi ran with much delight and noise down the stairs to seatthemselves proudly in the coach, and thus drive to the inn, where bothmust tell to the guests present, who had changed their consultationplace from the church to the inn, what they knew of the strangegentleman. And so it came about that on the same Sunday afternoon, allUpper and Lower Wooders, as well as the Middle Lotters, knew Erick'sfamily and fate, and they had to talk loud and zealously before everydoor, over this change of luck that had come to Erick.
In the parsonage, too, the evening was spent with unusually animatedconversation. How much had to be told to the grandfather of thehappenings of the last and all former days, and Erick had to throw in aquestion now and then, which referred to the distant estate, for histhoughts always travelled back to that spot.
"Is Mother's white pony still alive, Grandfather?" he once suddenlyasked.
The beautiful pony had long been put away, was the answer. "But youshall have one just like your mother's, my boy. I can now bear the sightof it again," the grandfather said.
"Does old John still live, who made the barge and scraped thepebble-walks so nicely?" Erick asked another time.
"What, you know of that too? Yes, indeed, he is still living, but thejoy of seeing my daughter's son whom I am bringing home will almost killhim," said the colonel, smiling contentedly at the prospect.
When Sally and Erick told of their first meeting and Sally's call inMarianne's cottage, and now it came out that it was the same Mariannewho had pulled Erick out of the water, and who had stuck so faithfullyto his mother, the colonel suddenly jumped up and demanded that Erickshould go with him at once to Marianne for, from pure joy, they both hadnot thanked her as they ought to. But the lady had foreseen such arequest, and had not let Marianne go home. And so she was called intothe room and the colonel quickly took a chair and placed it in front ofhim. Marianne had to sit down there and tell everything that she knew ofhis daughter, and what she herself had heard and seen. Marianne was veryglad to do that, and she spoke with such love and reverence of the dearone, that at the end of her story, the colonel took her hand and shookit heartily, but he could not speak. He rose and wal
ked a few times upand down the room, then he beckoned to Erick, took out of his wallet twopapers and said: "Give this to the good old woman, my boy; she shallhave a few good days, she deserves it."
Erick had never before enjoyed the happiness of giving; never had hebeen able to give anything to anyone, for he himself had never ownedanything. An enormous joy rose up in his heart and with bright eyes hestepped to Marianne and said: "Marianne, here is something for you, forwhich you can buy whatever you like."
But when Marianne saw that on the paper was a number and several zerosafter it, she struck her hands together from astonishment and fright,and cried: "Dear God, I have not earned that, this is riches!" And whenshe still kept her hands away from the money, Erick stuck the papersdeep into her pocket and said:
"Do you remember, Marianne, how you have said that you were growing oldand could no longer work as you used to, and therefore you had to giveup the little house and go to your old cousin? Now you can have yourcottage again, with that money, and live in it happily."
"That I can, that I can," cried Marianne, forgetting in her joy that shedid not want to take the large present. Tears of joy ran down hercheeks, and from happiness and emotion she could not utter a word ofthanks, but kept on pressing the colonel's hand and then Erick's, andall were glad with Marianne that she could move again into the cottageand keep it for always. When at last they must separate for the night,the colonel pressed the house-mother's hand once more and said: "My dearfriend, you will understand with what gratitude my heart is full, when Itell you that this is the first happy evening which I have had for thelast twelve years."
Parting had to come the next morning. The mother took Erick in her armsand after she pressed him to her heart, she said: "My dear Erick, neverforget your mother's song! It has already brought you once from thewrong road into the right one; it will guide you well as long as youlive. Keep it in your heart, my Erick."
When Erick noticed tears in the mother's eyes, then his grew wet, andwhen Sally noticed that, she put both hands to her face and began tosob. Then Erick ran to his grandfather and pleadingly cried: "Oh,Grandfather, can we not take Sally along? Don't you think we could?"
The grandfather smiled and answered: "I could not wish anything I shouldlike better, my boy, but we cannot rob the parsonage of all itschildren, all at once. But come, perhaps we can make some arrangement.What does the mother think about it, if we were to take our littlefriend next summer and bring her back for the winter, and do so everyyear?"
"Yes, yes," shouted Erick, "every, every year as long as we live! Willyou give me your word on it, Grandfather, now, right away?"
"To give you my word on it that it shall be so long as we live, that isasking much, my boy," said the grandfather smiling. "If now you, both ofyou, should wish, all at once, to have things different--what then?"
"Oh, no, we are not so stupid," said Erick, "are we, Sally? Just youpromise right away, Grandfather."
The latter held out his hand to the mother and said: "If it suits Mamma,then we both will promise, that it shall continue, as long as it pleasesour children."
The mother gave her hand on it, and now the two hands were pressed mostheartily.
And the pastor said: "So, so! Agreements are made between the coloneland the parson's wife behind my back, and I have nothing to do with itbut say yes. Well, then, I will say at once a firm _yes_ and _Amen_."
With these words he too shook his guest's hand firmly and there remainedonly to take leave from Ritz and Edi, both of whom he heartily invitedto Denmark, wherein Erick strongly supported him, adding: "And you know,Edi, when you are in Denmark, then you can go on ships, and study thereall about them. That will be a good thing for your calling." For Erickhad not forgotten that Edi intended to sail around the whole world, andthat Ritz too wanted to be something on the sea.
The grandfather was already entering the travelling coach, when Erickwas held back by 'Lizebeth; he had pressed into her hand a valuablepaper, but she had put her apron to her eyes and had begun to sob aloudbehind it, and now she was holding Erick and said: "I think the SirGrandfather, he means it well as far as he sees things; but that hetakes the dear boy away from us,--to take one's little boy simplyaway--"
"I will come back again, 'Lizebeth, every year when the storks return.Therefore, good-bye, 'Lizebeth, until I come again."
Saying this, Erick quickly jumped into the carriage, and he wore thesame velvet suit in which he had come. For a long, long time he saw thewhite handkerchiefs wave, and he waved his in answer, until thecarriage, down below at the foot of the hill, turned around the cornerand disappeared into the woods. But when the fleet horses, soon after,reached the first houses of the Middle Lot, there was another halt.
From the moment that Erick had disappeared, Churi had looked like apicture of horror. He had grown white and grayish looking, and at everysound that he heard, he trembled, for he thought: "Now they are comingto fetch you, to put you into prison." Churi had heard that someone whohad thrown another boy into the water had been fetched by two gendarmesand had been put into prison, where he had been kept for twenty years inchains. Churi saw this picture always before him and for fear, he couldno longer eat nor sleep; and he dared look at no one. And when thereport came that Erick had turned up again, then his fear increased. Fornow, so he thought, it would surely come out that he had done the deed;and now he was sure that the police would come to get him. But when onSunday, the story went round like lightning that Erick, in looking forberries, had fallen into the water, then it all at once was clear toChuri, that Erick had not told about him and that he again could goabout quite free and without fear. A great, oppressive weight fell fromChuri's heart, and he was so touched by Erick's kindness and generositythat he did not sleep from thinking what he could possibly do for Erickto show him his gratitude.
It had really been so. Erick had thought that Churi had not meant topush him into the water, so he had felt sorry for him, if he should bepunished for what he did not mean to do, and so Erick had only said thathe had received a push when looking for berries, and had fallen into thewater. And they had assumed that the boys had knocked each other aboutas usual, and Erick had been pushed accidentally.
Churi had thought out his reward, and had arranged the followingprogram. All the scholars of Middle Lot had to place themselves in along line along the street, and when now the carriage with Erick camedriving along, they, the scholars, all together must shout, "Hurrah forErick."
As they one and all now shouted with all their might, there was aterrible noise, so that the horses jumped and shied. But the coachmanhad them well in hand and brought them in a short time to stand quietly.At this moment one of the boys shot out of the line and onto thecarriage step. It was Churi. He bent to Erick's ear and whispered: "Iwill never again hurt you as long as I live, Erick, and when you comeback again, you just reckon on me; no one shall ever touch you, and youshall have all the crabs and strawberries and hazel nuts which I canfind."
But on the other side someone else had sprung on the carriage step andclamored for Erick's attention. He felt something under his nose fromwhich came various odors. It was an enormous bunch of fire-red andyellow flowers, which Kaetheli held out to him, who with one foot on thestep was balancing over the colonel, and called to Erick: "Here, Erick,you must take a nosegay from the garden with you, and when you comeback, be sure you come and see us, do not forget."
"Thank you, Kaetheli," Erick called back, "I shall certainly come to seeyou, a year from now. Good-bye, Kaetheli, good-bye, Churi!"
Both jumped down, and the horses started.
"Look, look, Grandfather," cried Erick quickly, and pulled thegrandfather in front of him, so that he could see better. "Look, thereis Marianne's little house. Do you see the small window? There Motheralways sat and sewed, and you see, close beside it stood the piano,where Mother sat the very last time and sang."
The grandfather looked at the little window and he frowned as though hewere in pain.
"What di
d your mother sing last, my boy?" he then asked.
"I lay in heaviest fetters, Thou com'st and set'st me free; I stood in shame and sorrow, Thou callest me to Thee; And lift'st me up to honor And giv'st me heavenly joys Which cannot be diminished By earthly scorn and noise."
When Erick had ended, the grandfather sat for a while quiet and lost inthought; then he said: "Your mother must have found a treasure when inmisery, which is worth more than all the good luck and possessions whichshe had lost. The dear God sent that to her, and we will thank Him forit, my boy. That, too, can make me happy again, else the sight of thatlittle window would crush my heart forever. But that your mother couldsing like that, and that you, my boy, come into my home with me, thatwipes away my suffering and makes me again a happy father."
The grandfather took Erick's hand lovingly in his, and so they drovetoward the distant home.
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