CHAPTER VIII
AT LAKE SILS
During the week that followed Rico's good fortune Stineli was as happyas a bird, in spite of the fact that there seemed to be ten more daysthan usual before Sunday came. It arrived at last, and proved to be aglorious day of sunshine. When she found herself with Rico, under theevergreens on the hill overlooking the lake, she felt so thankful thatshe could only dance about the moss-covered slope. After a while sheseated herself on the edge of the cliff, where she could see both thelake and the village far down the hill.
"Come, Rico," she said; "now we can sing."
Rico sat down beside her and began tuning the violin, which, you maybe sure, he had not forgotten to bring with him. Then they sangtogether:
"Come down, little lambs, From the sunniest height--"
and on through every one of the stanzas. Stineli was brimming overwith fun.
"Come," she said, "let's make some more rhymes. How will this do?
"Oh, climb, little lambs, To the beautiful green, Where the winds are all hushed And the clouds are unseen."
This made them laugh, and they sang the verses two or three times."More, Stineli!" cried Rico, encouragingly, and Stineli went on:
"Little lambs, little lambs, Under heavenly blue, 'Mong numberless flowers Of exquisite hue.
"There's a boy who is sad, Here's a girl who is gay; But all lakes are alike Made of water, they say."
They laughed again and sang their verses over several times. "I wishwe had some more," said Rico; so Stineli added two more stanzas:
"Little lambs, little lambs, So playful yet shy; Gay and happy are they, Though they know not just why.
"Now the boy and the girl At the lake are so glad; If we think not at all, Can we ever be sad?"
Then they began from the beginning and sang all the verses over andover again, and the more they sang them the better they liked theirsong. They tried to sing other songs during the afternoon, but everylittle while they would go back to what Rico called "Stineli's song,"but what she called "our own song."
Once while they were singing, Stineli stopped abruptly and clapped herhands for joy. "I have just thought of a way to get to your prettylake without money," she said exultantly.
Rico looked inquiringly at his companion.
"Don't you see?" she added hastily. "Now that you have a violin andknow a song, it is very simple. You can stop at the door of the innsto play and sing; then the people will give you something to eat andlet you sleep there, for they will know that you are not a beggar. Youcan keep on going until you get there, and you can come back in thesame way."
They were still discussing the plan when they noticed that it wasgrowing dark. They had not heard the vesper bell. Running down thehill, they found the grandmother out looking for them.
They ran joyfully to her, taking it for granted that she knew theywould have come earlier had they been aware of the time. "Oh,grandmother!" exclaimed Stineli; "you will be astonished to find howwell Rico can play. We have a song all our own that we want to singto you."
The grandmother smiled. It was a pleasure to her to see the childrentogether. "I can see that you have enjoyed the afternoon," she saidwhen the song was ended. "I wonder, Rico," she continued, "if you canplay my favorite tune, 'With heart and voice to Thee I sing.' We willall sing if you can play for us."
The grandmother sang softly the first verses of the hymn and Rico tookit up readily, for it proved to be familiar. Then the three joined inthe singing, the grandmother speaking each verse before they began:
"With heart and voice to Thee I sing, Lord of my life's delight! O'er all the earth let love take wing To make dark places bright!
"I know that Thou the well of grace And everlasting art; Thou, Lord, to whom we all can trace The pure and true of heart.
"Why then unhappy should we live And sorrow day and night? Oh, let us take our cares and give To Him who has the might.
"He never will refuse His aid If you a prayer will send; Whatever in His care is laid Shall have a happy end.
"Then let the blessing onward go, And cause it not to stay, That you may rest in peace below And happy be alway."
"There, that was a real benediction," said the grandmother. "You maygo to rest in peace, children."
"And I believe I like the violin just as well as Rico does," saidStineli. "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?"
"I am very glad, dear," said the grandmother, "but we will not play orsing any more to-night. We'll let Rico go now, and let us all keep inour hearts the thought of the last song. Remember the Father will carefor his own. Good night."