CHAPTER VII
A PRECIOUS LEGACY AND A PRECIOUS PRAYER
The pleasant summer days were at hand. The grandmother did not forgetRico's loneliness, and she helped Stineli with the work as much aspossible, so that she and Rico might play together.
In the early days of September, when every one made an effort to stayout of doors for the last of the warm evenings, the teacher was forcedto remain in the house, for he was growing weaker and coughed more andmore. One morning, when he tried to rise as usual, he fell back uponhis pillow, exhausted. This brought to his mind serious thoughts ofhow things would be left in case he died. He had lived among thesemountain people all his life and loved both his home and his work, buthe had no children, and his wife had been dead many years. The onlyone who lived with him was a faithful old servant. He had made noplans for disposing of his property. He loved his violin more than allhis other possessions, and it grieved him to realize that the time wasat hand when he must leave it. He remembered the day that Rico hadbeen there and had held it so lovingly, and the desire came to him toleave it with the boy, so that it might always have the care itdeserved. It seemed a shame that he must actually give away things forwhich he had worked so hard and cared so much. Many plans fordisposing of them presented themselves, but each was put aside as hefaced the grim messenger and realized that earthly things had servedhim all they could.
A fever was taking firm hold upon him. All the evening and through thelong night he lay restless, thinking of his past and the little he haddone for the world. He was seized by a longing to do some one a realkindness before it was too late. He reached for his cane and tappedthe wall for his servant, whom he directed to summon the grandmotherto him. It was not long before she stood by his bedside. Withoutwaiting to extend his hand in greeting, he said: "Please be so kind asto 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 goodcare of it."
The grandmother understood the restless impatience of the sick one, soshe immediately lifted the violin from its place, saying: "That istruly good of you. How astonished he will be! I will come in later tosee how you are feeling."
Rico was standing on the doorsteps when he saw the grandmother coming,and he ran to meet her.
"I have come with good news for you, Rico," she said. "The teacher hasasked me to bring you this violin. He wishes to give it to you. Takeit, Rico. It is your own now."
Rico seemed suddenly petrified. The grandmother touched his shoulder,repeating: "It is yours; take it, child, and be happy. The teacherwants you to have it."
Rico trembled as she laid the gift in his arms. "If that is true, Iwill take it," was all he could say.
"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 howunnecessary the caution was. "Now, Rico," she added, "I will go home,but I hope that you will not forget about the teacher's kindness, forhe is very sick."
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'scontent. So absorbed was he in his pleasure that he forgot to think ofthe time until it began to grow dark.
His aunt met him at the foot of the stairs, saying: "You may havesomething to eat to-morrow. You are so excited to-day that you deservenothing."
Rico had not thought about supper. He said nothing to his aunt, butwalked contentedly over to find the grandmother. Stineli was lightingthe kitchen fire when he went in. Ever since she had heard the goodnews in the morning, she had been wishing that she had time to runover to tell Rico how glad she was. Now that he suddenly stood beforeher, she could contain herself no longer. She exclaimed over and overas she danced about: "It is yours, Rico! I am so glad! It is yours! Itis yours!"
Before the rejoicing had subsided, the grandmother entered. Rico wentup to her and said, "Grandmother, will it be right for me to go overto thank the teacher if he is sick?"
She considered a moment, because the old man had looked so ill thatmorning; then she said, "Yes; I will go with you."
She led the way to the sick man's room, Rico following closely withthe precious violin, which had not been out of his arms since it hadbeen given to him.
The teacher had become very weak since morning. Rico stepped to thebed with such a happy, grateful face that he did not need to say aword. The sick man gave the boy a loving caress and then asked for thegrandmother. Rico stepped aside and she took his place. "Grandmother,"said the teacher faintly, "I have been feeling so troubled that Ishall be glad if you will pray for me."
Just then the vesper bell rang. Rico bowed his head as the grandmotherprayed by the bed. After an interval of silence she gently closed theeyes of her old friend, for he had died during prayer. Then takingRico by the hand, she led him softly from the room.
Rico understood what had happened. He and the grandmother walked insilence until they reached her home.
"Do not be unhappy, Rico," she said; "your teacher has been sufferingfor some time, and we should rather rejoice that he is now at restwith the Heavenly Father. I know you will always remember him for hisuseful life and for his loving gift to you."