Toni, the Little Woodcarver Read online

  CHAPTER SECOND

  A HARD SENTENCE

  Toni was twelve years old in the winter, and now his school days wereover, and the time had come to look about for some kind of work whichwould bring him in some money and by which he could learn somethingnecessary for future years.

  Spring had come and work had begun in the fields. His mother thought itwould be best to ask the proprietor of the Matten farm, if he had somelight work for Toni; but every time she spoke about it he would saybeseechingly:

  "Oh, Mother, don't do that; let me be a wood-carver!"

  She would have had no objection to this, but knew no way to bring itabout, and she had known the farmer up on the Matten farm ever since herhusband had worked there, and ever since his death, from time to time hehad sent her a little wood or meal.

  She hoped that he would employ Toni at first for light tasks in the field,so that he would gradually learn to do the heavier work.

  So on Saturday night after the day's work was ended and she sat down withToni to their scanty supper, she said once more:

  "Toni, now we must take a decided step; I think it is best for me to go upto the Matten farm to-morrow."

  "Oh, Mother, don't do that!" said Toni quite beseechingly. "Don't go tothe farmer! If you will only let me be a wood-carver, I will work so hard,that I will earn enough, and you will not have to do so much, and then Ican stay at home with you. Besides you would be all alone, and I can'tbear it, if I have to be always away from you. Let me stay with you; don'tsend me away, Mother."

  "Oh, you good Toni," said his mother, "what wouldn't I give to be able tokeep you always with me! But that really cannot be. I know of no way foryou to be a wood-carver; some one would have to teach you, and when youhad learned, how should we sell the carvings? You would have to knowpeople and go about, or else your work wouldn't bring any money. If only Icould talk with some one, who could give me good advice!"

  "Don't you know any one, Mother, you can ask?" said Toni anxiously andracked his brain to try to think of some one. His mother too began toconsider.

  "I think I will go to the pastor, who has already given me advice," saidhis mother, delighted to have found a way out of the difficulty.

  Toni was quite happy and now was determined that early the next morningthey should go down to the church and then his mother could go in to seethe pastor and Toni would wait outside.

  Everything was carried out on Sunday morning as they had planned. Hismother had put two of the little carved animals in her pocket to show thepastor as examples of her boy's good ability. The pastor received her verycordially, had her sit down beside him and enquired with interest abouther affairs, for he knew Elsbeth and how bravely she had helped herselfthrough all the hard times.

  She told him now the whole story, how Toni from a very early age hadworked at the carving with so much interest and now wished for nothing somuch as to carry on this work, but how she knew of no way for him tolearn, nor how, later, the work could be sold. Finally she showed him thetwo little animals as examples of Toni's skill.

  The pastor replied to the mother that the plan would be very difficult tocarry out. Although the two little goats were not badly carved, yet inorder to perform the work right and to earn his bread by it, Toni wouldhave first to learn from a good carver, because making only little animalsor boxes would not amount to anything or bring in any money, and he wouldonly be wasting his time.

  However, down in the village of Frutigen there was a very skillful,well-known wood-carver, who made wonderful large works which went far intothe world, even to America. He carved whole groups of animals on highrocks, chamois and eagles and whole mountains with the herdsman and thecows. Elsbeth could talk with this carver. If Toni studied with him hecould help him to sell the finished work, for he had ways open for it.

  Elsbeth left the pastor with gratitude and new hope in her heart. In frontof the house Toni was waiting in great suspense. She had to tell him atonce everything the pastor had said, and when she finally related aboutthe wood-carver in Frutigen Toni suddenly stood still and said:

  "Then come, Mother, let us go to the place at once."

  However, his mother had not thought it over--she made many objections, butToni begged so earnestly, that she finally said:

  "We must go home first and have something to eat, for it is very faraway; but we can do that quickly and then start off again right away."

  So they hurried back to the house, took a little bread and milk andstarted on their way again. They had several hours to travel, but Toni wasso busy with his plans and thoughts for the future, the time flew like adream and he looked up in great surprise, when his mother said:

  "See, there is the church tower of Frutigen!"

  They were soon standing in front of the wood-carver's house, and learnedfrom the children before the door, that their father was at home.

  Inside in the large, wainscotted room, sat the wood-carver with his wifeat the table, looking at a large book of beautiful colored pictures ofanimals which he would be able to make good use of in his handicraft. Whenthe two arrived he welcomed them and invited them to come and be seated onthe wooden bench, where he and his wife were sitting and which ran alongthe wall around the entire room. Elsbeth accepted the invitation andimmediately began to tell the wood-carver why she had come and what sheso much desired of him.

  Meanwhile Toni stood as if rooted to the floor and stared motionless at asingle spot. In front of him next the wall was a glass case, in whichcould be seen two high rocks, carved out of wood. On one was standing achamois with her little ones. They had such dainty, slender legs, andtheir fine heads sat so naturally on their necks that it seemed as if theywere all alive and not at all made of wood. On the other rock stood ahunter, his gun hanging by his side, and his hat, with even a feather init, sat on his head, all so finely carved, that one would think it must bea real hat and a real little feather, and yet all was of wood.

  Next the hunter stood his dog, and it seemed as if he would even wag histail. Toni was like one enchanted and hardly breathed.

  When his mother finished speaking, the wood-carver said it seemed to himas if she thought the affair would half go of itself, but it was not so.

  If a thing was to be done right, it cost much time and patience to learn.He was not averse to taking the boy, for it seemed to him that he had adesire to learn; but she would have to pay for his board for a couple ofmonths in Frutigen, besides paying for his instruction, which would be asmuch as his board, and she herself must know whether she could spend somuch on the boy. On the other hand he would promise that the boy would betaught right, and she could see there in the glass case, what he couldlearn to do.

  At first Elsbeth was so disappointed and dismayed she was unable to speaka word. Now she knew that it would be absolutely impossible for her tofulfill her boy's greatest wish. The necessary expense of board andinstruction was beyond anything that she could manage, so much so that itwas quite out of the question. It was all over with Toni's plans.

  She rose and thanked the wood-carver for his willingness to take the boy,but she would have to decline his offer. Then she beckoned to Toni, whoseeyes were still so fastened to the glass case that he paid no attention.She took him by the hand and led him quietly out of the door.

  Outside Toni said, drawing a deep breath:

  "Did you see what was in the case? Mother, did you see it?"

  "Yes, yes, I saw it, Toni," replied his mother with a sigh, "but did youhear what the wood-carver said?"

  Toni had heard nothing; all his mind had been directed to one point.

  "No, I didn't hear anything; when can I go?" he asked longingly.

  "Oh, it is not possible, Toni, but don't take it so to heart! See, I can'tdo it, although I would like to so much," declared his mother; "buteverything would come to more than I earn in a year, and you know how hardI have to work to manage to make the two ends meet."

  It was a hard blow for Toni. All his hopes for many years lay destroyedbefore
him; but he knew how his mother worked, how little good sheherself had, and how she always tried to give him a little pleasure whenshe could. He said not a word and silently swallowed his rising tears, buthe was very much grieved that all his hopes were over, since for the firsttime he had seen what wonderful things could be made out of a piece ofwood.