through somevillages without stopping in any, and were now beginning to feel veryhungry. It was early dawn when they had their drink of milk, and theyhad tasted nothing since. The little girl began to cry piteously, butToni comforted her, promising they would get something to eat the verynext place they came to. Just at that moment a cart filled withpotatoes passed them; and as they followed in its track they found, totheir great joy, that here and there one or two had fallen on the road,so they were thankfully gathered up and put into Nanny's apron, thecarter meanwhile having vanished out of sight. Some distance in frontwas a large meadow, where a flock of sheep was feeding. When they camenear they saw the shepherd in the act of warming his breakfast over afire of sticks he had just kindled. The boys, running up to him, askedleave to bake their potatoes in the ashes. This was readily granted;and not only that--the man kindly shared his meal with the hungrychildren, giving each of them some porridge and a slice of bread.
How nice it tasted! and how happily they sat round the fire, peelingtheir potatoes and talking to their new friend!
When they had finished breakfast, the boys, who had been on their feetall night, lay down on a green bank to rest, and being very weary soonfell asleep. Manny was quite refreshed after her nap and hearty meal,and amused herself meanwhile with the sheep and lambs, who soon becameso friendly that they would let her pat and fondle them as much as sheliked.
After an hour's time they were again on their journey, and had scarcelyproceeded half a mile when a cart laden with wood passed by. The manbelonging to it was walking by the side of his horses (his "browns," ashe called them), and stopping to speak to our little friends, he askedthem where they had come from and whither they were going. When he hadheard their simple tale he looked kindly at them, and said, "You havecome a long way, and must be weary, my boys; I will give you a lift.Step out, my little lass." So saying he lifted Nanny out of her cart,and hanging it at the back of his waggon, was going to help them, whenwith one leap they sprang up and placed themselves on a log of wood hehad put across to serve as a seat. "There now," he continued, "I cantake you ten miles on your way. I wish it had been farther, but I mustthen unlade my cart and return back again."
This was a pleasant and most unexpected rest. It passed only tooquickly. They were not long in reaching the place to which the man wasbound, when, having deposited his load of wood and taken a kind leave ofthe children, he drove off, followed by many a loud and hearty "Thankyou" from his grateful little friends.
It was now mid-day, and they began to wonder where they should dine. Ithappened, as they passed through the next village, that the peasantswere just returning from their work. As may be supposed, the littlepilgrims attracted observation, and many questions were asked by one andanother till their story was told. Hans, whose thoughts were at thattime naturally intent on the subject of dinner, could at last bear it nolonger, and said frankly, "You have questioned us about all sorts ofthings, but no one has asked if we are hungry."
"Well said, little fellow," they answered, much amused at this practicalhint. Then every one was more anxious than the other to showhospitality to the friendless orphans, till the schoolmaster settled thepoint by taking them home with him. His pretty house was close by, andhaving requested his wife, who was in the act of serving up the dinner,to let them have it on the grass, the table was brought out, and theysat down to baked fruit and pancakes--undreamt-of luxuries to the littletravellers, who five minutes before knew not where they were to get apiece of bread. To Nanny it recalled the old home, and, throwing herarms round the good woman's neck, she told her how sometimes, when shehad been a very good girl, her mother would give her that for a treat.
Dinner was over, and now it was time for the children to go on theirway. The peasants were waiting to take leave of them, and many hadbrought their little offerings of sympathy: one a loaf of bread, anothera pot of honey, while a feeble old woman came tottering along with abottle of milk. The children of the village said they must harnessNanny's horses, and admired her spirited steeds, playfully offering thema feed of corn.
So they went merrily forward, accompanied for some distance by a troopof the younger inhabitants, and followed by the blessings of all.
They had proceeded about a mile when they saw a boy in the distancerunning along the road they were going. They stopped when he came up,and, as he lifted a corner of his jacket, what was their delight to seesnugly lying there rolled up like a ball a Pomeranian puppy, about fourweeks old, with a soft, white, silky coat.
"What are you going to do with the pretty creature?" they all exclaimedwith one breath.
"Give him to whoever will take him," said the boy, "for we have threemore of the same sort at home. Would you like to have him?" hecontinued.
"That I should dearly," said Hans, holding out both hands to receive thelittle fellow, "and thank you a thousand times."
"You are heartily welcome," returned their new friend; "indeed, I amobliged to you for taking him off my hands."
The bottle of milk was at once opened, and, there being no cup, Hans'shand was filled again and again for the dog to lap from, which he didmost gratefully; after which a bed was made up of Nanny's cloak, and,with her apron to cover him, he was soon asleep.
And now they start off afresh, and their way being for a time in thedirection of the boy's home, he proposed harnessing himself to make athird, and away they went full gallop.
STORY TWO, CHAPTER FOUR.
It was far on in the afternoon when they passed through a beautifulwood. The Tyrol abounds in fir forests, beeches, and chestnuts. We mayfancy our little friends, then, enjoying themselves under the shade ofthe trees. Many hours having passed since their mid-day meal, the loafof bread was produced, and Toni cut a slice for each with hispocket-knife, spreading it with honey. This proved very grateful to thehungry children, who had tasted nothing since their dinner with the goodschoolmaster. Toni and Hans, tired enough by this time, were glad aftertheir meal to stretch themselves on the grass and go to sleep, butNanny, who had been spared all fatigue, ran about playing with the dog,going here and there, and looking with wondering pleasure at the treesand wild flowers, all of which were so new to her, and talking to thelittle birds that hopped from bough to bough twittering their prettysongs. The light was playing between the trees, flecking the turfbeneath with shadows, and illuminating the trunks of the old firs with aruddy glow. The little girl skipped about in great delight, getting asshe went along a lap full of flowers, which she amused herself byforming into bouquets and wreaths. In stooping down, her eyes fell uponsome wood strawberries, which were quite ripe and growing in greatnumbers. "Oh, what a nice surprise for my brothers!" she said, and setto work gathering as many as she could. Three large leaves were spreadon the top of a small rock which served as a table, and when the boysawoke, they were called to partake of the feast. A merry little partythey were. And now, having finished their repast by taking a drink ofmilk from the old woman's bottle, no more time must be lost, Nanny wastold to take her seat, and, the dog being laid at her feet, they againset out.
The sun was sinking lower and lower in the bright sky, till at length itvanished below the horizon. And now the next question was, where theyshould sleep? Should they go on to the next village, and beg a night'slodging? For money they had none wherewith to pay for one.
"No, no," cried little Nanny, quite in love with the pretty green wood:"let us make this our home for the night; the stars will be our lamps,the moss and flowers our pillow, and the little birds will sing usasleep." She clapped her hands with joy at the thought.
The boys were not unwilling to agree to this proposal, and having drawnthe cart under a large oak-tree, they all knelt down upon the grass, andToni prayed aloud. "Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for havingbrought us in safety so far; we thank Thee for giving us food when wewere hungry. We are sure Thou wilt be with us in the darkness, and Thouwilt hold Thine hand over us, and not let any wild beast or snake comenear to hurt us.
Please cover Nanny, that the night dew may not giveher cold: do, good God, for Thou knowest she is not strong, and we wouldlike to take her quite well to grandfather. Hear us for Jesus' sake.Amen."
They rose from their knees, and oh! how full of delight Nanny was! foraround on every side, both on the ground and flying about among thebushes, were numbers of the most brilliant sparks; I am sure if she hadtried she could not have counted them.
"Toni! Hans! look," she exclaimed. "Are these stars? But stars, I amsure, never live in the grass. What can they be?"
"They are glow-worms and fireflies," said Toni, and explained to her howthat by day they looked brown and ugly, and it was only in the darknessthey were so bright.
We see Nanny was not without reason in likening these fireflies tostars.