Cornelli Read online

  Winter had come. For the inhabitants of the garret lodging the dayswere filled with so much regular work that the nights were alwaysgreeted with loud regrets and complaints. They were always sorry whenthe day was done and no more time was left for their plans. Agnes wasespecially angry and ready to spit fire from disgust at the arrivalof the hated bedtime which always broke up everything.

  "We lose half of our lives in sleeping," she indignantly called outseveral times. "I wish you would let us sing all night long, Mother,"she said. "We should only be more keen for our other work next day,if we could really devote ourselves to music for a while, instead ofalways stopping off in the middle whenever we are in the mood to sing."The children's mother, however, did not agree with Agnes, so the nightshad to be used for sleeping as before.

  Cornelli's singing delighted Agnes more and more. Cornelli sangeverything as lightly and freely as a bird, and with such a clear andresonant voice that everybody got pleasure from it. There was no othervoice in the whole school which was as sure and as full as Cornelli's.Even the teacher said so, and during the singing lesson he placed herright in front of him, because she was the best leader of the chorus.

  In the middle of winter Mr. Hellmut wrote to Mrs. Halm to inform herthat he was taking a lengthy journey to foreign parts. As he felt thatCornelli was well taken care of in her household, he was anxious touse this opportunity for travelling. He also wrote that he had shortenedhis last trip in order not to tie his kind cousin and her friend toolong to his lonely house. He told her that he was very sorry not tobe able to pay her and Cornelli a visit before leaving, for he had tostart at once.

  Never before had spring come so fast. So at least it seemed to Cornelli,who was walking home alone one day from school. The winter had goneby and already a mild wind was blowing through the streets, and themelting snow was dropping from the roofs.

  From the top of a roof a little bird was whistling and singing a songof delight to the bright blue sky above. Cornelli's school had beenover sooner than the other children's, so she was in no hurry and stoodstill to listen. A ray of sunshine was flowing into the street, andthe bird kept on singing and whistling, on and on, a heavenly, familiarsound.

  Suddenly the lovely beech wood at home rose before Cornelli's eyes,and she saw the trees in their first green leaves, the first violetsunder the hedge, her beloved first violets; she saw the yellow crocusessparkling beside the bright red primroses in the garden. The birds athome used to whistle above her in all the trees in just the same wayas these in the city.

  Oh, how lovely the coming of the spring had always been at home! Howwonderful it would be to see all these familiar sights again! At thatthought Cornelli ran to the house as fast as she possibly could. Sittingdown beside her ink-well she wrote as follows:

  DEAR PAPA:

  I am sure it is more beautiful at home now than anywhere else. May Icome home soon? I am sure that the violets are out and that everythingis getting green in the woods. Soon there will be lots of flowers inthe garden, and later on the roses, and then all the berries andforget-me-nots in the meadows will come out. I know now that it isnowhere as beautiful as at home. I should love to show the mother andthe girls everything, and I know that Mux would adore the little kid.Dino already loves the meadows and the garden, and I hope that he willcome to Iller-Stream again. If I could only soon see it all again!

  A great many kisses, from your daughter, CORNELLI.

  Cornelli did not get an answer from her father for three weeks. Hewrote to her that his journey had been lengthened beyond hisexpectation. He also said how glad he was that his daughter had suddenlyrealized what a beautiful home she had, but that he disapproved entirelyof her leaving her school abruptly. He told her to stay in town tillthe summer holidays, for he was obliged himself to stay away till then.He gave her permission to invite for the holidays all the family whohad been so good to her, for he and Cornelli, too, had much reason tobe grateful to Mrs. Halm. There was plenty of room for all of them inthe house, and he would like to have them with him all summer long.

  Cornelli at first was a little disappointed that it was going to beso long before she could be home and see again the garden, the meadowsand the beech wood, for her longing for them had grown more and more.But when she thought of the prospect of having all the family with herall summer, including Dino and his mother, she was so happy that allher disappointment vanished.

  Her joy was supreme when that day at lunch time she gave the familyher father's invitation. On all sides she perceived signs of boundlessjoy. Nika and Agnes had had the firm conviction that they were to spendthe summer, as usual, in the hot garret dwelling without any specialholidays. And now they could spend all summer in beautiful Iller-Stream,about which Dino had told them so much. He had described Cornelli'shouse and garden as a perfect paradise, and now they would live therethemselves.

  Agnes screamed for joy and Nika's face was radiant with happiness.Mrs. Halm was greatly moved with gratitude and delight. She had beenworrying lately about Dino, for she had been uncertain whether shewould be able to send him away long enough for the boy to be properlystrengthened. She had feared that the time would have to be exceedinglyshort and that the benefit therefore would be very slight. Now thegood God had suddenly taken all her anxiety from her and had changedit into a boundless blessing.

  Dino smiled with complete satisfaction, and said again and again: "Iwish you knew how wonderful it all is. Such a garden and such trees!Such a stable and such horses! Oh, how I love beautiful Iller-Stream!"

  Mux called out louder and louder: "Oh, Cornelli, take me along!" Hecould not realize that he was really going, too. There were still manydays and even weeks before their bliss would come true, but with thisheavenly prospect before them the children performed their remainingduties only too joyfully.

  It was different for Cornelli. Her longing for her home had grown moreviolent every day. Wherever she saw a green tree or a bush, she sawthe garden at home, the meadows, and the flowers in Iller-Stream beforeher mind's eye. So her desire to return there, to see it all again,became almost painful. She felt finally as if the day would never comewhen she could again see her home.

  It came, nevertheless. A large trunk was taken away on a cart, and thewhole family followed it towards the station. Trina came last. In herwondering eyes one could see that despite all the preparations she didnot yet believe the reality of the coming journey. Cornelli had beggedMrs. Halm so urgently to let her go, too, that the child's wish hadbeen granted. Cornelli had been willing to take the responsibility forthe unexpected guest. Mux was so excited that he kept on running infront of everybody and hindering them all in walking.

  "Be sensible, Mux!" Dino exclaimed. "If you go on like that, we'llmiss the train and there won't be any trip."

  These words disconcerted Mux to such a degree that he simply tore awaydown the street. Dino had to run after him to catch him, for Mux knewno road or way and had dashed ahead only in his fear of arriving toolate.

  At last they reached the station and entered their car. Now they weremoving out into the beautiful country. The sun was shining over thefields and woods, and there was not a single cloud in the sky. Cornelliwas sitting beside the open window, eagerly looking out. The journeylasted for a little more than two hours, and as soon as it was overthey got out.

  "Here he comes, here he comes!" Cornelli cried out, running towardsthe road which led into the valley. Here Matthew was just stopping thepair of horses from their lively trot.

  In a moment Cornelli was at the dismounting coachman's side, callingto him: "How are you, Matthew? I am coming home again. Is everythingat home still the same?"

  "Welcome, Cornelli, welcome home!" he said, radiant with joy, for hismaster's child was his greatest pride. "But how you have grown,Cornelli! Oh, how changed our Cornelli is!"

  Matthew shook her hand with great delight and then opened the carriagedoor for the family who had approached.

  "Oh, here is the young gentleman from last summer," Ma
tthew said again,shaking Dino's hand. "But you looked better when you were with us. Oh,yes, the young gentleman looked much better then, I think."

  "I should think so, Matthew," said Dino. "Of course, I looked betterwhen I could drink such good milk from the stable, in the fine, freshmorning air. It was different in town."

  Mrs. Halm had entered the carriage and the two girls had followed.Mux, gazing motionless at the shining horses, could not be taken awayin a hurry from that wonderful sight.

  "They are coming along, too," said Matthew, who enjoyed the openadmiration the little boy was showing. "You will be able to look atthem every day, and you can ride on them to the fountain."

  That helped the situation. Everybody was soon inside of the carriage,and Trina sat beside Matthew on the coachman's box. Now they gallopedgaily along into the valley.

  "Oh, mother, just look at the red daisies!" Cornelli cried out. "Oh,look at the golden buttercups! Oh, look, look; see all the blueforget-me-nots!"

  Cornelli had jumped up, for she could not sit still anymore, and waslooking forwards and backwards, to right and to left. The meadows hadnever been so full of flowers, and every few moments Cornelli criedout with delight. When the carriage drove into the courtyard, Cornelliwas the first to jump down.

  "Oh, Esther, how are you?" she called to her old friend. Full of dignityand covered with a spotless white apron, the cook stood ready to receivethe guests.

  "Oh, now I am home again! Is everything still the same? Is the gardenstill the way it was? And Martha and her house, too?"

  "Yes, yes, Cornelli. And how are you?" returned Esther, looking eagerlyat Cornelli. "How you have changed! In truth you have changedwonderfully. You are not the same."

  Cornelli was already running into the house to the living-room and toher own wardrobe. Yes, everything had remained the same. She flewoutside again to the mother, to lead her into the house. The child'sface fairly beamed with joy.

  Cornelli's father was busy working in his office. Hearing the soundof the approaching wheels, he started. "Here they are already," hesaid to himself. He hastily threw off his working coat and putting ona good coat left the iron foundry. While he was walking across thecourtyard he sighed deeply. Freshly stamped in his memory, he sawbefore him his only child as she had looked when he had returned fromhis journey a year ago. Cornelli had stood before him shyly, withaverted glance, resembling a little savage, who had never been combed.

  "I wonder what the child is like now?" he muttered to himself.

  As he entered the living room Cornelli looked up at him. The Directorwas quite startled at what he saw. Now Cornelli flew up to him.

  "Oh, Papa, oh, Papa! It is so wonderful to be home again! Everythingis still the way it used to be. Oh, I am so glad to be home again!"

  The father wanted to embrace his child, but before he did so he heldher at arm's length to gaze at her once more.

  "Cornelli," he said with tears in his eyes, "you look at me the wayyour mother used to. You have grown just like your mother," he said,putting his arms lovingly about her. "How was it possible? How couldyou change in this way? How did it happen?"

  "Mother knows about it, Papa. Mother has helped me," said Cornelli,going with shining eyes to the mother, for Mrs. Halm had retreated tothe back of the room.

  The Director now turned to his new guest. "Welcome to our house," hesaid heartily, greeting both her and the children. Holding Cornelli'shand within his own, he continued with emotion: "How different youhave brought her back to me! How did you do it? Can this be the samechild that I brought you?"

  The happy father had to look at Cornelli over and over again, for hehardly yet realized that this was his child. Was this really Cornelliand not a creature of his imagination? So he held the child's hand andlooked again and again into her shining eyes; it really seemed as ifhe could not believe it.

  Esther, laden with the dinner dishes, now came into the room to setthe table. She informed her master that the guest rooms were ready andthat she supposed the ladies wanted to retire before the coming meal.

  Mrs. Halm and her daughter gladly followed her, but Cornelli said:"Oh, Papa, can I run over to Martha? I'll be back very soon."

  Dino also begged to go, for he longed to see old Martha again. As thepermission had readily been given, the two children started off. Theyhad meant to run down the path, but Cornelli could not go fast. Themeadow was so full of daisies, buttercups and especially of blueforget-me-nots, her favorite flowers, that she felt as if she had togather them all, and Dino had to remind her that their time was shortand that the flowers would still be there to-morrow.

  Martha had heard that Cornelli and her guests were expected that day,so she had several times glanced towards the garden to see if she coulddiscover trace of her or of Dino. Now both came flying up the steps,and Martha ran out to meet them. Oh, yes, here was Dino, Dino whom sheknew so well, and Cornelli, too--Martha looked at the child and triedto say something. Instead of that, however, bright tears started toher eyes, and she was unable to speak.

  "Oh, Martha, how I have looked forward to coming home and coming toyou right away!" Cornelli exclaimed. "Are you glad, too, Martha? Oh,I am so happy!"

  "I too, I too, Cornelli," Martha assured her. "What memories you bringback to me, child, for you have grown just like your mother. Oh, howdifferent you are now from what you were. God has blessed your lifein town. It seems like a miracle. Oh, how I have prayed for this!"

  After these words she shook Dino's hand, looking at him rather sadly,for her great joy at seeing him again was dimmed by his delicateappearance.

  "Oh, Dino, how pale and thin you look," she said. "Last year you wereso much stouter."

  "That is why I came again to Iller-Stream," Dino replied cheerfully."You must rejoice with us now, Mrs. Martha, for Cornelli and I aretremendously pleased to be here again. It is just as lovely here asit was last year, and now we can come to see you every day, for thisseems like home."

  Martha was so moved that she could not speak. Here was Cornelli, lookingas fresh and bright as ever; all the unspeakably sad expression hadvanished from her face, together with the awful disfigurement of thosedays. The old woman was deeply stirred by the happy look in the littlegirl's eyes. Her young mother had looked at her just that way. Andhere was Dino, too, full of his old attachment, and speaking such kindwords to her. She could hardly believe this great happiness.

  "We have to go, now, Martha," Cornelli said, "but we'll come every daythe way we used to; you know that, Martha. I'll run over every singleday."

  "And I, too," cried Dino. When the happy little couple were runningaway, Martha looked after them from her little stairway. Her eyes weremoist, yet followed the two till they were lost from sight.

  Even then she still stood there with folded hands.

  "Oh, good God," she said quietly, "my heart is full of thankfulness.Thou hast blessed everything that was hard for the child, and hastturned everything to good."

  When the children entered the house, Cornelli said: "Just go in, Dino,I'll soon follow you."

  Then she turned and went into the kitchen.

  "Oh, I was hoping all the time that our Cornelli could still find herway to the kitchen," said Esther with satisfaction. "Come and let mehave a real look at you, Cornelli!"

  Esther placed herself squarely in front of the child and said: "Youhave grown a lot last year, Cornelli. And your hair is so neatly combedand brushed! One certainly can enjoy looking at our Cornelli, now."

  Cornelli blushed a little, for she had to remember the way she hadlooked when she had gone away. She knew how it had been and how shehad shut her heart against the help Esther had often offered her.

  "Oh, Esther, I have to tell you something. Where is Trina, the maid,who has come with them?"

  "I told her to go behind the house to look at the vegetable garden,"said Esther. "She stood in my way all the time. I am afraid she is notvery quick."

  "No, she isn't; I know that. But Esther, I want to tell you somethingabout
her. Please be good to her!" Cornelli begged. "You see, Trinais block-headed and awkward, but she can't help it. You don't know howthat is, but I know. And if you are very good to her, she won't mindas much being that way. Won't you do me that favor, Esther?"

  Full of surprise, Esther looked after the child, who was running towardsthe dining room.

  "How does she ever think of such things," Esther murmured to herself."One might think Cornelli had to begin at the bottom herself, insteadof being the Director's daughter who can have whatever she wants."

  Esther kept on shaking her head for quite a while, but she was anxiousto show Cornelli that she was the only daughter of the house and couldcommand her. She was very proud of Cornelli's position and eager toprove to her young mistress that she was only too happy to follow herwishes.

  When the first merry meal was over, the children were allowed to runout to the garden. They already knew what they were going to see there,because Dino had described it to them with great enthusiasm. He hadtold them about the flower garden with its wealth of color, thetrellises, covered with red peaches, the heavily laden pear and appletrees. Now they could see all those wonders for themselves, includingthe stable with the splendid cows and the proud and shining horses.So the five children ran away with great eagerness.

  The Director and Mrs. Halm remained in the dining room, drinking theircoffee in each other's company.

  "Please, Mr. Hellmut," she said, as soon as the door had closed behindthe children, "please let me thank you for your great kindness. I wantto tell you how grateful I am."

  "What do you mean? Why do you want to thank me, Mrs. Halm?" the Directorinterrupted her. "Please let me speak first! It is I who want to thankyou. I shall never be able to repay you for what you have done. Whatwonders you have accomplished for my child! How you have been able tochange and develop Cornelli! How well she looks now! I have to gazeat her again and again, for I can hardly believe that it is the samechild. How can I thank you enough? How did you ever do it? And whatpatience, care and trouble you must have taken with her. I am afraidthat it has required endless thought on your part to bring her backlike this."

  "Oh, no, Mr. Hellmut, that was not the way at all," said Mrs. Halm."Cornelli has cost me neither patience, care, nor trouble. If by alittle love I have been able to draw out the good kernel of her natureand bring it to happy development, then that is all I have done.Cornelli has never made my task hard for me. We have all become sofond of her that we had to think with sorrow of the time when she wouldleave us. I shall never forget what happy hours Dino had with Cornelliduring his illness and how she constantly entertained my sociablelittle Mux with her constant merriment and kindness. Yes, Mr. Hellmut,I shall never forget what she has done, and I can assure you that youhave a lovely little daughter."

  The Director jumped up in his excitement and strode to and fro in theroom. What different enthusiasm from that of a year ago!

  "You do not know what you are saying, Mrs. Halm," he said, standingstill before her. "You are relieving me of most dreadful anxiety. Ihave suffered perfect tortures, because I was blaming myself for havingneglected my Cornelia's child. I thought it was too late and thatCornelli had grown hopelessly stubborn. Now you have come and broughtme back my child so that she even resembles her mother in her eyes andher whole expression and appearance. My wife was friendly and gay, andnow you tell me that this is Cornelli's disposition, too."

  "I have to tell you something else, Mr. Hellmut," Mrs. Halm continued."I am perfectly sure that a child's first impressions are veryimportant. It is natural that Cornelli missed her mother's guidance,but she was not by any means a neglected child when she came to me.From what she and Dino have told me I am perfectly sure that Marthagave Cornelli the best one can possibly give a child on spiritualeducation. I esteem old Martha very highly, for she must love andunderstand children as few people do."

  "My wife used to say the same thing, and that is why I had suchconfidence in Martha. Unfortunately a time came later on when I fearedthat she was wrong, and I did not realize what she meant to Cornelli.You have reminded me of my great debt--"

  At this moment such loud laughter and rejoicing sounded from belowthat both stepped to the open window.

  Mux was screaming loudly, and seemed quite beside himself. "Mama,Mama," he cried out, "just look at a living goat boy and a real goat!Come down and see me!"

  Mux was sitting on the seat of a lovely wicker carriage, with two reinsin one hand and a whip in the other, while a young and slender goatwas pulling him. Agnes and Cornelli were running beside the carriageas protectors, while Dino held the goat lightly by the reins to keepher from running off. All the children were screaming with delight atthe wonderful ride.

  Matthew was standing beside the bushes to watch this trial trip, forhe thought that his help might be needed. He had built the carriagefor Cornelli and had already several times harnessed the goat so asto teach her how to behave when Cornelli returned. When Matthew hadfirst shown the little conveyance to the children, Cornelli had saidright away that Mux had to take the first ride in order to realize thescene he loved so much in his picture book.

  Mux simply screamed to his mother in wild joy. To see the wonderfulspectacle from near by, she came down to the garden.

  The Director also left the house, but he went another way. Not longafterwards he went up Martha's little stairway to the porch where theold woman sat on her stool mending.

  "Oh, Mr. Hellmut!" she called out in her surprise. Opening the doorshe led her visitor into her room, for the porch was very narrow.

  Mr. Hellmut entered.

  "Martha," he said in a business-like tone, "I have spoiled your businessby taking your boarder away from you forever. That requires acompensation, and so I have just bought your little cottage from thefarmer over there, besides the little piece of ground in front of it.Now you will have more room for your carnations, and if you managewell, you can surely have some pleasant days from the rent which yousave. Are you satisfied?"

  "Oh, Mr. Hellmut! Is this little house really my own, now, and willI really have a garden besides? Oh, Mr. Hellmut!"

  But her benefactor would not let her say any more. After heartilyshaking her hand, he hurried away.

  The large raspberries were peeping out between the green leaves, andthe golden plums were dropping from the heavily laden branches. Frommorning till night on these beautiful summer days Mux fairly swam inuninterrupted bliss. Before he had even opened his eyes in the morning,he would call out to his mother in his sleep: "Oh, mother, are we inIller-Stream still? Are we still here?" Then the hours of the daybegan, each more lovely than the last, and Mux could not tell whichwas the best.

  As the boy spent most of the day in the stable, the hayloft, and thebarn, his mother had been obliged to make him a special stable costume.The little boy loved to watch the milking of the cows, and he nevertired of admiring the horses and the goat.

  Matthew had become his best friend. The gardener constantly thoughtout pleasant surprises for Mux, who showed a decided taste for farming.If Matthew had to do some important work where Mux was in his way, healways devised a plan to keep the boy amused elsewhere: "Go down thereto the raspberry hedge, Mux!" he would say. "The berries are finestand biggest there, because the sun has cooked them through. Go to theplum tree afterwards and wait for me!"

  Mux would obey promptly, wandering over to the plum tree from theraspberry bushes, which he had lightened considerably. He then wouldsit thoughtfully under the plum tree, waiting till Matthew returned.The gardener then shook the tree so mightily that a flood of goldenplums came rolling down over Mux, who could freely enjoy the wealthabout him.

  If Matthew could not be found and Cornelli and Dino were busy withtheir own plans and did not need him, Mux knew another friend whoalways gave him a good reception, that friend was Esther. He loved tofind her in the vegetable garden, which was also full of surprises forhim. It was like a marvel to the little boy that the green peas hunghere in abundance, whereas they were on
ly served at home on feast days.He became quite scared when Esther picked a basketful. But when hewarned her, saying, "Don't take them all, for then we won't have anymore," she only laughed and said: "They always grow again; in a weekthere will be plenty more."

  If Mux looked a little timidly at the large cabbage heads, Esther saidto him: "Don't be afraid of them, Mux. If I cook cabbage, everybodyelse likes it so much that you won't have to eat it at all, and youcan take the potatoes which I serve with it."

  Mux often accompanied Esther to the kitchen, where he soon picked upa lot of useful knowledge. There was no pastry the exact recipe ofwhich as well as how it tasted Mux could not tell. In this manner helived through heavenly days.

  They were no less heavenly for the other children. Dino and Cornellihad started the large undertaking of laying out Martha's garden aftertheir own plan. They were so busy inventing things and carrying themout that they could hardly ever be found.

  Agnes struggled with Dino for first place in Cornelli's affection, butDino was always the victor. Cornelli never forgot that he had been herfirst friend, who had held fast to their friendship. For this sheremained faithful to him.

  It was a consolation to Agnes that she could play on the lovely pianowhenever she wanted to and that Cornelli was always home in theevenings, when she could sing with her. Mr. Hellmut would sit in hisarm-chair while the two girls sang one song after another, and he couldnever hear enough. Beaming with joy, he would say to Mrs. Halm fromtime to time: "The child has her mother's voice, except that hermother's voice was still fuller and softer."

  Mrs. Halm's face would beam, too, as she would say: "Just have a littlepatience, Director. You are sure some day to hear Cornelli's voicewhen there will be nothing more to desire in it. Her teacher's highestwish is to train her voice." For answer the father nodded and lay backin his chair smiling contentedly.

  Nika, too, was completely changed. No shadows dimmed her eyes, for shecould wander about all day with her paint box from one lovely spot toanother, up to the beech wood or to the hill where the big oak treestood. There she could sit on a bench and look down, over the houseand garden, and far below into the wide, green valley. Nika was veryhappy to be able to spend all her time in painting, without ever beingdisturbed or called away by unwished-for duties.

  When the mother saw the happy faces of her girls and Dino's improvedhealth, she felt very happy, too. Suddenly, however, the thought wouldrise in her: How will it be when these lovely days are over and wehave to start living again in the narrow confines of town and in theshadow of those coming years?

  The holidays were nearing their end, but nobody yet had time to thinkof that, for the Director's birthday was drawing near and this was tobe the great feast day for everybody. Mrs. Halm had asked each of thechildren to think out some surprise for Mr. Hellmut. For Mux, however,she wrote a beautiful birthday verse. As the little boy's head wasfilled solely with thoughts of the barn and stable, the kitchen andthe goat cart, the plums, the beetles and ants, it took a great dealof time and trouble to fix the verse in his memory. Nika, needing noadvice, had long ago decided what to do. Every day as soon as the mealswere over, she silently disappeared. Agnes and Cornelli bolted thedoor of the music room and let mysterious songs issue from behind it.Only Dino was still undecided about his task. When he was left alonewith his mother and Mux one day, and all the others were busy withtheir preparations, he said: "Tell me what I could do, mother."

  "Draw him a picture of the beautiful goat," Mux advised. He knew thatDino could draw animals well, and to him there was no finer animal inall the world than the goat.

  "What a knowing goat boy you are, Mux," Dino exclaimed. Despite hisrefusal to draw the goat, he had nevertheless gotten an idea from hislittle brother. "Oh, I'll draw the two brown horses," he called outjoyously. "I'll make one trotting and the other walking. Matthew mustlead them up for me."

  So the boy ran happily to the stable, and after that day he and Matthewhad many meetings in secret.

  The birthday came at last.

  When the Director entered the dining room in the morning, such abeautiful duet resounded from the next room that he was compelled todraw nearer. Agnes and Cornelli were both singing a lovely song withsuch deep feeling that the Director could hardly speak. When they hadended, he patted them both on the shoulder with fatherly tendernessand then passed into the next room. Here Mux approached him and saidhis verse faultlessly in a loud, clear voice. On the table the Directorfound two beautiful drawings of his brown horses, and his joy overthem was so great that he did not put them down for quite a while. Butfinally he saw all at once a large picture resting in the middle ofthe table. His house, with the surrounding garden, the luminous meadowwith the view toward the valley and the distant mountains beyond, waspainted in such fresh and absolutely natural colors that Mr. Hellmutwas quite overcome. This was the view he had loved so passionatelyfrom his childhood.

  "Cornelli, come here!" the father called. "Just look at this picture!Don't you have a beautiful home? Do you love your home as much as yourfather loves it?"

  "Oh yes, Papa, I love it so much!" said Cornelli. "And I have to thinkevery day that I never knew how beautiful it was before I went away.But ever since I came home again, I know. Oh, how beautiful it looksin the picture!"

  Agnes had been standing behind Cornelli. Suddenly she exclaimedpassionately: "Oh, Cornelli, if only you didn't have such a beautifulhome!"

  "Agnes," the mother said in alarm, "what unseemly words are you saying?"

  The Director looked in astonishment at Agnes, whose eyes were flashingfire while she regarded the painting.

  "Have you had a disagreement with Cornelli? Is that the reason why youdon't want her to have such a beautiful home?" he asked with a slysmile.

  Agnes flushed scarlet.

  "Oh no, Mr. Hellmut, I did not mean it that way. I have never foughtwith Cornelli, and I only fight with Dino because he wants to haveCornelli all the time. If Cornelli didn't have this beautiful home andif she were like me and had to give up all her music lessons and hadto earn her living, we could do fine things together. She has such abeautiful voice that we could hire a harp and could travel into strangecities and sing before the houses. Later on we could give concerts andbegin a singing school. But I can't do anything alone."

  At this outbreak, which no sign from her could check, the mother becamealternately hot and cold from fright. Agnes' eyes still flashed withpassionate excitement like burning coals.

  "I approve of the singing school, but especially of sitting down tobreakfast. I hope very much that we have the usual chocolate to drinkto-day, for it is a good old custom for birthdays which should not beneglected. So a singing school is to be founded," he continued, whileMux gazed solemnly at the three huge cakes which were placed besidethe three big chocolate pots. "The wandering harp players are a littletoo poetical for me, but I like the idea of a school, Agnes. As I,too, wish to profit from it, I want it to be built on my estate. Lotsof our workmen in the foundry have small children, whose mothers arebusy with the housework and their small babies. So Agnes and Cornelliare going to found a singing school in Iller-Stream, where all thechildren will go, whose mothers have no time for singing. Upon theirarrival the children shall all be given a bowl of milk and a piece ofbread apiece to make their voices fuller. Now we have settled all aboutthe school. I shall also have my two teachers instructed, so that theywon't ever be out of practice. I have also some work for Nika: sheshall fill my house with lovely pictures from top to bottom. To inspireher with plenty of new ideas, I am going to send her to her professorin town for lessons. Dino shall help me keep my two horses in trim bygiving them plenty of exercise, for that will be good for him and them.I can use Mux by having him trained to become the manager of my estate.The good beginning he has made in the knowledge of farming underMatthew's guidance shall be continued while the ground is covered withgreen and the trees are bearing fruit. The mother shall stay here forthe protection of you all. So tell me, now, how you like my pla
n. Shallit be thus?"

  Absolute silence followed. The children hardly dared to realize thatthe words they had just heard were true, and the mother was filledwith deep emotion. She could not utter a word, and tears flowed fromher eyes. Could it be possible that her great sorrow and heavy careswere suddenly lifted from her? Could it really be true?

  At that moment Mux said loudly: "Yes, we like it very much!" He hadclearly grasped that it meant for him keeping on doing what he hadenjoyed so much under Matthew's and Esther's care. The Director hadto laugh, and continued: "I must have the reply of the chief, my dearMrs. Halm, so please listen to my plan. I shall let you manage thechildren in the winter, and you shall arrange whatever they are tolearn, but they must come here in the summer when I can enjoy all theresults of their studies. I shall also enjoy the great advantage ofhaving you manage my house when you are here. Does that suit everybody,or am I getting more than my share?"

  At last the mother composed herself.

  "Oh, Mr. Hellmut, how can I thank you?" she said, offering him hertrembling hand. "I do not know how to express what is in my heart. Howcan I be grateful enough for such boundless kindness? You cannot knowwhat your generosity means to us all."

  Even the children had understood that this unheard-of bliss was true.Nika was the first to run with beaming eyes to the Director and toseize his hand, but she could find no words to show her gratitude.Agnes and Dino, too, had run towards the Director, and the latter didnot know how to shake all the hands that were offered to him. Mux, whocould find no access to his benefactor, climbed up on a chair, andputting his arms about him from behind, screamed a thousand words ofthanks right into the Director's ears. The wild rejoicing became louderand louder.

  "Cornelli," said the father at last, "give thanks to your foster-mother!She has earned them, for she has brought joy back to our house."

  Cornelli did it with a full and willing heart, for she realized whatthe children's mother had done for her. Soon afterwards, Dino andCornelli ran away for they had had a simultaneous thought. They didnot want to wait another moment before bringing Martha the wonderfulnews. Nobody on earth could share their boundless happiness as Marthawould.

  Martha's heart overflowed when she heard what had been proposed. Betweenfreely flowing tears she said again and again: "Oh, Cornelli! Everythinghas happened so wonderfully for you. God has ordained it much morewisely than we could have wished and prayed for. From now on, we shallleave everything entirely in His hands. We'll do that as long as welive, won't we, Cornelli?"

  Cornelli nodded with understanding; she had not forgotten how she hadcomplained to Martha, and how Martha had told her to seek God's help.Martha had assured her that the help would always come, even if itrevealed itself differently from the way she expected. Now it had allturned out so gloriously, and so much more splendidly than Cornellicould ever have imagined!

  There had never been such rejoicing in the house as Agnes started whenshe and Nika had retired to their room in the evening and Cornelli hadcome to pay her accustomed little evening visit. She skipped and dancedabout the room like a newly freed bird and called out: "Now our troublesare over and no secret fears can scare us any more. Now we can singall we want and can live here with you every summer, Cornelli. Oh, weare the happiest creatures in all the world, and it has all happenedthrough you, Cornelli; you wonderful, incomparable Cornelli!"

  Agnes, seizing her friend's hand, jumped about with her in the roomat such a rate that Nika had to calm her. The elder sister warned Agnesthat the Director might have to repent of his kindness to them if theirlengthy stay began with such violent noise. One could see, though,that Nika was willing enough to join the others in their antics.

  "The day on which you came to our house, Cornelli," she said, "hasreally been more blessed than any other day in the year. So we mustalways celebrate it as a great feast day."

  Nika had lately been very sweet and friendly to Cornelli, and theyounger girl had been very happy about it. But had never dreamed thatNika would ever speak to her like this.

  When Esther heard that the Halm family was going to remain for thepresent and return every year, she said: "Oh, I am glad. That is muchbetter than if some other people I know had to come back. It is betterfor me and for Cornelli, as well as for the whole house."

  "Oh, if I could only come again, too!" said Trina, whose face in thesedays was always beaming. "Oh, one feels so happy here!"

  "That is very true," Esther affirmed. "I do not see why you shouldn't.You don't need to worry, Trina. If Cornelli and I wish you well, we'llsee that you come here again."

  The Director did not like the thought of losing his large new familyso soon, so he said one day to Mrs. Halm: "I am very anxious to prolongthe children's holiday this year till late in the fall. Dino, who ismore in need of his studies than the others, is least able to go backto town, because he ought to be thoroughly strengthened and madeabsolutely well. If it should be necessary for him to study, we haveour good Mr. Maelinger, who can give him lessons." The mother agreed,for she also was very anxious to have Dino as well as possible, andshe was very grateful to her benefactor for making this possible.

  "There is another reason which makes a longer stay necessary," continuedthe Director. "As I fully intend to visit you and the children severaltimes during the winter, I have rented a more comfortable apartmentfor you, because I was rather afraid of finding your tower-like dwellinga little inconvenient for me. The apartment will be ready for you inthe late autumn, and I want you to get all the rest you can before youmove there, for it is sure to involve some additional work for you.I hope sincerely that you do not resent my step."

  "I can only thank you continually," said the mother now. The childrenarrived at the same moment, and all further words from her wereswallowed up in their loud and stormy manifestations of joy. Cornellihad already told them of her father's plan to let them all stay inIller-Stream till winter time.

  When all the fruit had ripened on the trees and Dino was shaking oneof them and Cornelli another, Matthew looked over from the barn door,happily rubbing his hands. Right under the tree he saw the otherchildren, one biting into an apple, the other into a pear.

  "It certainly is different now from last year," he said, smiling tohimself. "There is not a rotten plum or a lonesome pear in all theorchard."

  Every evening, when the last songs resounded in the house, there weresome of thanks and praise which rose up to Heaven like a loud rejoicing.

  More than once the Director said to his little daughter, when she gavehim her goodnight kiss: "Did not God mean well with us, Cornelli, whenhe guided Martha to write such an inviting notice to the paper?"