[image]"MARTIN BENT OVER THE CHILD AND LAID HIS BROAD, STRONG HAND ON HER.""Then I went up into the woods and hunted a long, long time without finding them. But suddenly I saw something red shining behind the trees and I ran toward it. At first there were only a few flowers and not very bright red ones, but Seppli had said you had to go farther and farther into the woods. So I went still farther, and there were more and more flowers, and at last I came to a big, big bush with so many beautiful red flowers. They shone so wonderfully and I wanted them all, every one, and then suddenly I fell down and rested on a stone, but it was a small stone and so I pushed back against the rock and thought I would just lie still and Papa would soon come and get me. But then I was tired—and it was already getting rather dark—and I thought, I must really go to sleep, and in the morning Papa would come and get me. Then I thought I must say my prayer, so that the dear Lord would send his little angels to take care of me while I slept, and I prayed:"Oh, gentle Jesus, hear me!On bright wings hover near me,And keep me from all harm!Thru danger, pain and sorrowI'll sleep until the morrow,Protected by thine arm."Then I slept very well, until a man came, and I knew right away that Papa had sent him."Her mother trembled as she followed the story. Her father could not conceal his delight at it."Now my little Grasshopper doesn't go another step alone," he said in as severe a tone as in his delight he could find it in his heart to use.The mother had not yet heard who had finally taken the searching party to the right spot, and she wanted to know all about it. Then the father thought of Seppli and that he was really the first one to trace Rita."We must especially reward the brave boy," he said, and Rita, who grasped this idea with enthusiasm immediately scrambled down from the bed, in order to carry out the plan at once.But what should the reward for Seppli be? What could she take to him right away?"He shall for once have his greatest wish," said her father. "We will see what will most delight his heart.""Can I go to him right away?" asked Rita eagerly.Her papa wished to go with her, to speak with Father Martin at once, and also to recompense the other men. Rita jumped all around the room for joy. She was full of great gratitude to Seppli."But, Papa, supposing he should wish for a menagerie, with the biggest animals there are?" she asked."Then he shall have it," was the decided answer."But, Papa," she asked again, "if he should wish for a Turkish costume and a curved saber besides, such as Cousin Karl has?""He shall have that too!" was the answer."But, Papa," she went on, "if he should want a whole big fortress and twelve boxes full of soldiers, as Karl has?""He shall have them!" replied her father again.Then Rita rushed out to Seppli, who was standing in front of the door."Come, Seppli," she cried, "now you can have the very best wish you can think of!"Seppli looked at Rita with wrinkled brow. It seemed as if her words had awakened something that lay heavy on his heart. Finally he said, quite cast down:"It's no use.""Yes, really, it is, too," replied Rita, "because you found me you can ask for anything you would like, and you will have it. Papa said so. Now think right away about it and then tell what it is."Gradually Seppli seemed to understand the matter. He looked at Rita once more to prove whether she was really in earnest or not, then he took a deep breath and said:"A whip with a yellow lash.""No, Seppli, that is nothing at all," replied Rita quite vexed. "You mustn't wish for anything like that. Think once more what is the most beautiful thing of all and wish for that."Seppli thought obediently, took another deep breath, and said:"A whip with a yellow lash."Herr Feland then came with the men out of the house. The men went away with many expressions of gratitude, but Martin remained standing in the doorway."I have not yet given you any reward, Martin," said Herr Feland. "To you above all the rest I must prove my gratitude in a way to give you a real joy. Tell me, have you some special desire?"Martin turned his cap around for a while in his hands, then said hesitatingly:"I have had a great desire for a long time, but I dare not tell you what it is; no, no, it should not have come into my mind.""Speak it out fully," said Herr Feland encouragingly, "perhaps I can help you.""I have always thought," continued Martin, hesitatingly, "if I could only get on as well as my neighbor over there, I would venture to think of buying a cow. I have quite a good deal of hay and then could take care of my family without any anxiety.""That is good, Martin," said Herr Feland, "we shall see each other again." Then he took Rita by the hand and started with her on the way back."And what did your friend Seppli wish for?" he asked."Oh, he is stupid," exclaimed Rita. "He only wants a whip with a yellow lash! That is nothing at all.""Surely that is something," asserted her papa. "You see, every child has his own pleasures: to Seppli such a whip would give exactly as much pleasure as the most beautiful doll-house would to you."At this explanation Rita seemed contented and could hardly wait for the wishes to come true.On the following day Herr Feland had to make a journey down into the valley. Rita knew very well why, and hopped with delight all the morning long. Her papa did not go, without impressing it upon his little "grasshopper" that she must not take a step alone away from the house, and Fräulein Hohlweg received strict instructions. But she had endured such anguish that terrible night that the warnings were unnecessary. On the contrary she had determined from now on not to take her eyes off from Rita, no matter how hard it might be.Two days later, when Martin had just sat down with his family at the table to their meal of steaming potatoes, they heard a loud mooing in front of the house—then again, and then a third time!"Kaspar's cow must have run away," said Martin, getting up to go and catch her. Seppli had to go too! He ran hurriedly after his father, Martheli, Friedli and Bertheli followed, and behind them their mother, in order to fetch them all back again.Outside Father Martin was standing in motionless astonishment, and all the others beside him opened their eyes wide. The mother, who had just come along, clapped her hands and couldn't speak a word from amazement. Fastened near the house stood a glossy brown cow, so big and splendid, such as was only seen occasionally among the rich peasants. To one of her horns was fastened a big whip, which had a strong, white, leather mesh with a thick, silk lash which shimmered in the sun like gold!A paper was bound around the whip-handle and on this was written in large letters: "For Seppli."Martin took down the whip and gave it to the boy."It is yours," he said.Seppli held the whip in his hand. The most beautiful and the most wonderful thing he could think of was his very own! And, besides, there was the cow, which could be driven up on the mountain, with the whip to crack, like Georgie's and Chappi's!Seppli, with beaming eyes, seized his whip, hugged it and held it fast, as if to say:"No power on earth can take it from me!"Martin and his wife couldn't look enough at the splendid animal. That it was to belong to them appeared to them like a miracle.Finally Martin said:"She moos because she wants to give her milk. Seppli, bring the pail; to-day we will enjoy ourselves."Two large pails were filled with foaming, fresh milk and placed with the potatoes on the table; then all accompanied the brown cow in a triumphant procession to the shed.Over in front of the neighboring cottage Herr Feland was standing with his children. They wanted to see how the brown cow was received, and Rita had, above all, to know what impression the whip would make, which she herself had marked with the big letters: "For Seppli."When Frau Feland had recovered from the great excitement the whole family went up to the wall of rock in order to give praise and thanks from their full hearts once more to the dear Lord, on the very spot where he had so evidently spread his protecting hand over their child.* * * * *THE "DOROTHY BROOKE" BOOKSBy FRANCES CAMPBELL SPARHAWKDOROTHY BROOKE'S SCHOOL DAYSDOROTHY BROOKE'S VACATIONDOROTHY BROOKE'S EXPERIMENTSDOROTHY BROOKE AT RIDGEMOREDOROTHY BROOKE ACROSS THE SEAEach, volume, cloth, 8vo,Illustrations by Frank T. MerrillTHOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY[image]End paper - left side[image]End paper - right side*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKLITTLE MISS GRASSHOPPER***
[image]"MARTIN BENT OVER THE CHILD AND LAID HIS BROAD, STRONG HAND ON HER."
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"MARTIN BENT OVER THE CHILD AND LAID HIS BROAD, STRONG HAND ON HER."
"Then I went up into the woods and hunted a long, long time without finding them. But suddenly I saw something red shining behind the trees and I ran toward it. At first there were only a few flowers and not very bright red ones, but Seppli had said you had to go farther and farther into the woods. So I went still farther, and there were more and more flowers, and at last I came to a big, big bush with so many beautiful red flowers. They shone so wonderfully and I wanted them all, every one, and then suddenly I fell down and rested on a stone, but it was a small stone and so I pushed back against the rock and thought I would just lie still and Papa would soon come and get me. But then I was tired—and it was already getting rather dark—and I thought, I must really go to sleep, and in the morning Papa would come and get me. Then I thought I must say my prayer, so that the dear Lord would send his little angels to take care of me while I slept, and I prayed:
"Oh, gentle Jesus, hear me!On bright wings hover near me,And keep me from all harm!Thru danger, pain and sorrowI'll sleep until the morrow,Protected by thine arm.
"Oh, gentle Jesus, hear me!On bright wings hover near me,And keep me from all harm!Thru danger, pain and sorrowI'll sleep until the morrow,Protected by thine arm.
"Oh, gentle Jesus, hear me!
On bright wings hover near me,
And keep me from all harm!
And keep me from all harm!
Thru danger, pain and sorrow
I'll sleep until the morrow,
Protected by thine arm.
Protected by thine arm.
"Then I slept very well, until a man came, and I knew right away that Papa had sent him."
Her mother trembled as she followed the story. Her father could not conceal his delight at it.
"Now my little Grasshopper doesn't go another step alone," he said in as severe a tone as in his delight he could find it in his heart to use.
The mother had not yet heard who had finally taken the searching party to the right spot, and she wanted to know all about it. Then the father thought of Seppli and that he was really the first one to trace Rita.
"We must especially reward the brave boy," he said, and Rita, who grasped this idea with enthusiasm immediately scrambled down from the bed, in order to carry out the plan at once.
But what should the reward for Seppli be? What could she take to him right away?
"He shall for once have his greatest wish," said her father. "We will see what will most delight his heart."
"Can I go to him right away?" asked Rita eagerly.
Her papa wished to go with her, to speak with Father Martin at once, and also to recompense the other men. Rita jumped all around the room for joy. She was full of great gratitude to Seppli.
"But, Papa, supposing he should wish for a menagerie, with the biggest animals there are?" she asked.
"Then he shall have it," was the decided answer.
"But, Papa," she asked again, "if he should wish for a Turkish costume and a curved saber besides, such as Cousin Karl has?"
"He shall have that too!" was the answer.
"But, Papa," she went on, "if he should want a whole big fortress and twelve boxes full of soldiers, as Karl has?"
"He shall have them!" replied her father again.
Then Rita rushed out to Seppli, who was standing in front of the door.
"Come, Seppli," she cried, "now you can have the very best wish you can think of!"
Seppli looked at Rita with wrinkled brow. It seemed as if her words had awakened something that lay heavy on his heart. Finally he said, quite cast down:
"It's no use."
"Yes, really, it is, too," replied Rita, "because you found me you can ask for anything you would like, and you will have it. Papa said so. Now think right away about it and then tell what it is."
Gradually Seppli seemed to understand the matter. He looked at Rita once more to prove whether she was really in earnest or not, then he took a deep breath and said:
"A whip with a yellow lash."
"No, Seppli, that is nothing at all," replied Rita quite vexed. "You mustn't wish for anything like that. Think once more what is the most beautiful thing of all and wish for that."
Seppli thought obediently, took another deep breath, and said:
"A whip with a yellow lash."
Herr Feland then came with the men out of the house. The men went away with many expressions of gratitude, but Martin remained standing in the doorway.
"I have not yet given you any reward, Martin," said Herr Feland. "To you above all the rest I must prove my gratitude in a way to give you a real joy. Tell me, have you some special desire?"
Martin turned his cap around for a while in his hands, then said hesitatingly:
"I have had a great desire for a long time, but I dare not tell you what it is; no, no, it should not have come into my mind."
"Speak it out fully," said Herr Feland encouragingly, "perhaps I can help you."
"I have always thought," continued Martin, hesitatingly, "if I could only get on as well as my neighbor over there, I would venture to think of buying a cow. I have quite a good deal of hay and then could take care of my family without any anxiety."
"That is good, Martin," said Herr Feland, "we shall see each other again." Then he took Rita by the hand and started with her on the way back.
"And what did your friend Seppli wish for?" he asked.
"Oh, he is stupid," exclaimed Rita. "He only wants a whip with a yellow lash! That is nothing at all."
"Surely that is something," asserted her papa. "You see, every child has his own pleasures: to Seppli such a whip would give exactly as much pleasure as the most beautiful doll-house would to you."
At this explanation Rita seemed contented and could hardly wait for the wishes to come true.
On the following day Herr Feland had to make a journey down into the valley. Rita knew very well why, and hopped with delight all the morning long. Her papa did not go, without impressing it upon his little "grasshopper" that she must not take a step alone away from the house, and Fräulein Hohlweg received strict instructions. But she had endured such anguish that terrible night that the warnings were unnecessary. On the contrary she had determined from now on not to take her eyes off from Rita, no matter how hard it might be.
Two days later, when Martin had just sat down with his family at the table to their meal of steaming potatoes, they heard a loud mooing in front of the house—then again, and then a third time!
"Kaspar's cow must have run away," said Martin, getting up to go and catch her. Seppli had to go too! He ran hurriedly after his father, Martheli, Friedli and Bertheli followed, and behind them their mother, in order to fetch them all back again.
Outside Father Martin was standing in motionless astonishment, and all the others beside him opened their eyes wide. The mother, who had just come along, clapped her hands and couldn't speak a word from amazement. Fastened near the house stood a glossy brown cow, so big and splendid, such as was only seen occasionally among the rich peasants. To one of her horns was fastened a big whip, which had a strong, white, leather mesh with a thick, silk lash which shimmered in the sun like gold!
A paper was bound around the whip-handle and on this was written in large letters: "For Seppli."
Martin took down the whip and gave it to the boy.
"It is yours," he said.
Seppli held the whip in his hand. The most beautiful and the most wonderful thing he could think of was his very own! And, besides, there was the cow, which could be driven up on the mountain, with the whip to crack, like Georgie's and Chappi's!
Seppli, with beaming eyes, seized his whip, hugged it and held it fast, as if to say:
"No power on earth can take it from me!"
Martin and his wife couldn't look enough at the splendid animal. That it was to belong to them appeared to them like a miracle.
Finally Martin said:
"She moos because she wants to give her milk. Seppli, bring the pail; to-day we will enjoy ourselves."
Two large pails were filled with foaming, fresh milk and placed with the potatoes on the table; then all accompanied the brown cow in a triumphant procession to the shed.
Over in front of the neighboring cottage Herr Feland was standing with his children. They wanted to see how the brown cow was received, and Rita had, above all, to know what impression the whip would make, which she herself had marked with the big letters: "For Seppli."
When Frau Feland had recovered from the great excitement the whole family went up to the wall of rock in order to give praise and thanks from their full hearts once more to the dear Lord, on the very spot where he had so evidently spread his protecting hand over their child.
* * * * *
THE "DOROTHY BROOKE" BOOKS
By FRANCES CAMPBELL SPARHAWK
DOROTHY BROOKE'S SCHOOL DAYS
DOROTHY BROOKE'S VACATION
DOROTHY BROOKE'S EXPERIMENTS
DOROTHY BROOKE AT RIDGEMORE
DOROTHY BROOKE ACROSS THE SEA
Each, volume, cloth, 8vo,
Illustrations by Frank T. Merrill
THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY
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[image]End paper - right side
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End paper - right side
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKLITTLE MISS GRASSHOPPER***