Read Heimatlos: Two stories for children, and for those who love children Page 11

  CHAPTER X

  A LITTLE LIGHT

  Stineli became more and more depressed as the days passed. Thechildren complained, "Stineli won't tell us any more stories and shewon't laugh with us any more."

  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."

  After about three weeks had passed in this way, the grandmother wentwith 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 thatyou are not resigning yourself to the inevitable as it should be yourduty to do for the sake of the dear ones about you."

  "But, grandmother," sobbed Stineli, "you don't know how it hurts me tothink that I gave Rico the notion of going to the lake; and now thathe has been killed, I am to blame for it."

  A great load seemed to fall from the grandmother as she heard thesewords. She had given Rico up for lost, for she could not otherwiseaccount for his complete disappearance. A strong hope of his safetynow came to her.

  "Tell me, child," she said, "all that you know about his going to thelake."

  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 getkilled anyway."

  "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 withus?

  'Whatever in His care is laid Shall have a happy end.'

  Of course it was wrong of you to advise Rico without consulting yourparents, but you did it thoughtlessly and meant no harm, so you maydare to hope that there will be a happy ending to Rico's going to thelake. I feel satisfied now that the child is alive and that he will betaken care of."

  From that time on Stineli began to be her old self. To be sure, shemissed her friend, but she cherished a secret hope that he wouldreturn to her. Day by day she looked up the road to see if he mightnot possibly be coming down the Maloja Pass, but the seasons came andwent and nothing was heard from the missing boy.