per windows could scarcely be seen from below. A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath. Scrutinizing the house nu

the bells, meanwhile gravely shaking his head, fo

n. At first the steps, though rather high, were white and neat. But after a while they became dark and narrow, and

e railing. The thin and creaking steps seemed to him extremely unsafe. After he had

d, for she noticed that the stout gentleman had to wipe his face after the great exertion. "I should have been very glad to go down to

l you, my dear Mrs. Halm, that I am sorry you moved to town. You should have followed my advice and lived in a small house in the country. It would have been so much more practical

he lady, with a faint smile. "The country air would naturally have been much better for my children, especially for my older boy.

boys are well taken care of," the visitor in

sary and that it is very hard to get such opportunities in the country. I hope I have persuaded you that coming to town with the childre

s going to learn?" the

ecided talent for music. If both girls are earnest in their studies, they

sters to busy themselves with dressmaking. They could quickly begin a business in which they might help each other and make some money. Thi

ed sadly in front of he

m very sorry not to have met your daughters, for they would soon have agreed with me, if they had heard my reasons. Nowada

ill care for the things which you call the breadless arts," said the lady with a sigh. "But I shall make my childre

to be old enough to understand m

lete in many ways," replied the lady. "Dino is twelve and Agnes eleven yea

tion will take, the shorter should be the ways to the goal. I am more and more convinced that my advice is right. If you g

red. This little fellow had at first hidden behind his mother, but, at a sign from her, approached the g

aggressive greeting of my s

was a smaller one," exclaimed the dismay

was the

oked questioning

e one which seems to have remained quite permanently," she repl

nt to be when you grow up, my y

y replied the small boy. After t

wn ideas," he said impressively. "I can only hope that before long they will le

tten this idea from his favorite book, where the picture of a general on horseback interest

ase do not overlook that, my friend!" With these words the guardian ended

to touch the steps at all. As the gentleman was taking up all the room, the only space left for a pas

arson's widow, Mrs. Halm?" asked the ge

answer. And stooping down still lower,

r guardian. I have just given your mother some advice, which was meant for your good. You do not look in the least s

one," came quickl

e my advice you can both contribute to the prosperity of the whole family."

pectantly in the open doorway. He did this every day at the time his brother and sisters were

aid afterward: 'Oh God!' and you can't

room and as quickly out

called, opening one

be so violent," sounded the mo

ere and that he can tell us what we have to do. What did he say? Is it really true what Mux has said?

eeks were dark red and her eyes seeme

cuss a subject which we have to talk over quietly. We shall do so to-night. You know perfectly well that I have the greatest sympathy for

st fervent wish, namely, the completion of Agnes' musical education. Agnes could count on her mother's help. It was for the happiness of both of them. So Agnes went out to the kit

e great effect and excitement his words had produced on Agnes. Hear

leman has been here, and when he was gone mother said: 'Oh

ilent, she passed Mux and went into the other room, which disappointed Mux terribly

to have them to-

hat am I supposed to be thinking o

up very quickly. You can't even wait, you love them so," Mux asserted. "But we won'

see who makes a worse f

t was quite hard for her to do them all justice. But to-day it was different. It seemed as if a storm was in the air; everybody was silent, and on all faces, except one, heavy clouds seemed to be resting. Nika sat brooding and staring in front of her, for Agnes had interpreted to her the

of cabbage, with many a deep sigh. Dino alone was merry. He glanced with grea

t loose the lightning which is flashing under her lashes, and Agnes will follow with the thunder.

ch less cabbage than I

ion, my little man, so that

ad time," Agnes at last exploded. "But I have a music lesson at one

e mother with a melancholy smile. "You have hardly eaten anything, and I heard you cough all

-day that it would have been better for me to remain in the pastoral fields of my native village, than to have sought the dust-

answer that," the mother

hts! Please, mother, don't wo

plan which we shall talk over to-night. I shall also talk over our guardian's proposa

hat in the end," said

iolently pushing her chair in place, she depa

know what," responded Mux knowingly, while Agnes looked back at Din

ise little man

ime," replied Mux, full of a conviction which he

ck hair. "Please be careful, and do not run too fast," she begged. "It's very bad for you to sit in

somebody has a cough it always goes away again after a while. That is the way with me. Be mer

member what I told you," she called after him. Then stepping to the o

very sweet disposition and was always full of fun. He was always anxious to have everybody in a good humor, and above all, his mother. Of all the burdens she had to bear

mother did not hear him. Loudly raising his voice he said once

x? What are you talki

er understood him directly. She remembered how interestedly he had looked at the cabbage leaves when the girl had brought them home from mark

ust not be dissatisfied when there are so many poor children who have to g

the rest of the cabbage?

We shall see who can beat to-day. Perhaps that will clear away

's nimble fingers. Now a race with stitches began, and in his zeal to be

me and the children's w

mending basket away an

n, clustering eagerly

all the troubles a

he began to talk with the three elder children. Every evening he put up a fight, for the wily youngster always thought that by obstinate

tually that night. The boy was always reconciled to his fate when she sat down a moment beside his bed to hear of anything that might be troub

you think, mother, that if people planted cherries where cabb

Halm replied to his astonishment, for he

eem to be able to get o

you have talked

s evening prayer and a kiss from his mother, he lay down an

more, I would rather stop learning anything. Why can't I become a servant girl? I could do the work well enough. As soon as I have earned enough money, I'll buy a harp and then I can wander from house to house, singing and playing. I can easily live like that. Nob

wer and lower over her work without once looking up. She continued her studies, but her e

g everything in my power to fulfill your ambitions. It would be my happiest joy to have your talents developed, so that you could devote all your lives to music and painting. If

Him, and we must remember that He can see further than we can, for He knows why and where He is leading us. We cannot look into the f

song," said Dino, who loved to be gay and w

us

storms are w

at spring

whom I h

lation I h

d. "You would probably whistle another tune if you had to becom

ut your singing is much nicer than your arguing, Agnes, so plea

looked about for quite a while to find a suitable place in the country where I could send you. Of course, there are plenty of places, but I want you to go

erriment. "I must go to Martha in Iller-Stream. I am sure that it is very cosy i

agraph aloud about Martha Wolf in Iller-Stream and they all agreed that it would be pleasant th

very day the children sang an evening song to her accompaniment. Opening the book she

wed wit

eek

our Lo

THE TO

ed has

left

and help

thou'

thou'st

thy inm

y His

ove s

ow thou a