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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Pixy's Holiday Journey, by George Lang,
+Translated by Mary E. Ireland
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Pixy's Holiday Journey
+       
+Author: George Lang
+
+Release Date: March 21, 2005  [eBook #15426]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY
+
+Translated from the German of GEORGE LANG
+
+by MARY E. IRELAND
+
+1906
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TO THE TWO DEAR BOYS, HUGH D. SHEPARD AND GEORGE H. IRELAND,
+BOTH OF WHOM TOOK KEEN PLEASURE IN LISTENING TO THE READING OF THE
+MANUSCRIPT OF THE HOLIDAY JOURNEY OF THREE BOYS AND PIXY, THE STORY, NOW
+IN BOOK FORM, IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED BY
+
+THE TRANSLATOR.
+
+Washington, D.C.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER
+
+      I. THE GRECIANS AND THE TROJANS
+
+     II. THEY MEET A KIND FRIEND
+
+    III. AT THE SWAN INN
+
+     IV. A KIND WELCOME
+
+      V. FRITZ IN TROUBLE
+
+     VI. A WHOLE DAY OF SIGHT-SEEING
+
+    VII. THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
+
+   VIII. PIXY IN TROUBLE
+
+     IX. THEY VISIT THE CLOTHING MOUSE
+
+      X. PIXY'S EARNINGS
+
+     XI. IN THE DESERTED CABIN
+
+    XII. A WELL-SPRING OF PLEASURE
+
+
+
+
+PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE GRECIANS AND THE TROJANS
+
+
+There were three boys in the same class in the polytechnic school in the
+mountainous Odenwald country, in Hesse Darmstadt, who were such great
+friends and inseparable companions that the other pupils named them "the
+three-leaved clover." They were near of an age--about eleven--and near
+of a size; and their names were Fritz, Paul and Franz.
+
+Fritz was an active, energetic boy, had coal black hair and bright,
+black eyes which looked out upon the world with the alert glance of
+a squirrel in a cage.
+
+Paul had brown hair, brown eyes and brown complexion, was of reflective
+manner, and willing to follow where Fritz led.
+
+Franz was a robust boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, and
+cheeks like cherries which had ripened in the sun.
+
+They had been firm friends ever since the day that Fritz had had a
+combat with a larger boy, and Franz and Paul ran to his assistance. But
+the big boy was victor, leaving Fritz on the field of battle with a
+bleeding nose, Franz with a bruise upon his forehead, and Paul with a
+fiery-red cheek, caused by slaps from the hand of the foe. From that
+hour the three united for life or death in an alliance for defense
+against an enemy and resolved to provide themselves with weapons, also a
+place to keep them when not in active service; said place to be called
+the armory.
+
+It was a subject of much thought and discussion to secure a suitable
+place, but at length Franz brought the welcome news that his father had
+sold the calf that day, and the nice shed it had occupied was vacant.
+This was delightful news and when school was out they hurried there,
+drove nails in the board walls, and hung up their spears which were made
+of pine wood, and, like the shields hanging beside them, were glistening
+with gold and silver paper. On the opposite wall were the sombre bows
+and arrows, brightened, however, by the nearness of three brilliant
+helmets with waving plumes made of black yarn.
+
+The array of weapons seemed so warlike that it called to memory the
+battle between the Grecians and the Trojans as recorded in Homer's
+_Iliad_, which their class was reading in school; and they then and
+there decided to take the names of their favorite Greek heroes.
+
+"I will be Odysseus," said Fritz.
+
+"I will be Achilles," responded Franz.
+
+"And I," said Paul after due reflection, "will be Patroclus."
+
+"And let us call that fellow that fought us a Trojan," suggested Franz.
+
+"Agreed," cried Fritz. "Let us call all of our enemies Trojans."
+
+This proposition was received with warmth and they solemnly shook hands
+to clinch the compact.
+
+It was a shadow to their enjoyment that while there was an outside bolt
+to their armory, there was no lock and key, and there were plenty of
+Trojans in school who would wish no better amusement than to break in
+and carry off the weapons. To prevent such a catastrophe, it was decided
+that the moment school was out, one of them must run to the armory and
+remain on guard until all the boys had gone to their homes. They were to
+take turns in this duty, and Franz was appointed as sentinel for that
+evening.
+
+When he reached the shed he heard the sound of movement inside the
+armory, yet the bolt was not withdrawn. He stood a moment in mute wonder
+for he could not understand how a Trojan could get in when there was no
+window, and but one door, and it bolted on the outside. He called
+several times, but there was no answer, and he was more than glad when
+he saw Fritz running through the gateway of the barnyard. Emboldened by
+the sight of the Grecian warrior, he pushed back the bolt, the door flew
+open, and out rushed a hog, squealing with delight at regaining his
+liberty. Without delay it made for the open gateway, ran between the
+feet of the advancing Fritz, upset him, causing him to measure his
+length with that of the hog's back, then after a few turns about the
+yard, upset the pursuing Achilles-Franz and ran to the top of a heap of
+sodden straw, where it shook off Odysseus-Fritz, then ran nimbly down
+and out the gateway to the road. To fill to overflowing the measure of
+their ill-luck, some of the Trojans who had safely passed the gate
+sometime before, heard the squealing, and ran back in time to see
+Odysseus shaken off upon the straw-heap, and Achilles in the act of
+grasping the pig by its tail. They broke into jeering laughter, shrill
+whistles, and witty speeches which stung the Grecian heroes into
+helpless fury.
+
+But they could not take time to retaliate; the escaped fugitive was
+going down the road at a commendable pace had he been going to school,
+and Achilles was again Franz, his father's son, and the pig must be
+brought back and with no help but that of Fritz, for he scorned to ask
+the grinning Trojans to join in the chase, nor would it have been of any
+use to ask, for they preferred to remain at the gate and watch the race,
+which they enjoyed to the limit. The pig had a good start and was a
+brisk runner, but after many twistings and turnings, sprints and
+boltings, it allowed itself to be driven into a fence corner just at the
+moment that Paul appeared upon the scene.
+
+A short discussion followed this happy meeting, which resulted in Franz
+grasping one ear of the recreant pig and Fritz the other, while Paul
+took charge of the tail, to pull or push as the necessities of the case
+demanded. The pig was finally made to back out and face about, and their
+homeward journey was commenced.
+
+It was well for them that the waiting Trojans had caught a glimpse of a
+teacher coming through the gate of the school yard, or they would have
+had trouble getting their captive through the gateway into the barnyard.
+As it was, the coast was clear, and the pig, in spite of his squealings
+and gruntings, was back in his cell, the door shut and the bolt pushed
+into its socket.
+
+Then the three heroes with beads of perspiration rolling from their
+foreheads sat down under the shade of an apple tree to discuss the
+situation. Since their armory was demeaned into a pig-pen, it was
+necessary to remove their weapons and put them in a secure place; but
+where? That was the question.
+
+There was a summer-house in the garden of Franz's home which was never
+used, was rain-proof, and had a good door with a strong catch, but no
+lock and key or even a bolt. Being near the dwelling it was secure, as
+no opposing schoolboy would dare go through the garden to break into
+their armory and carry off the weapons.
+
+This suggestion was hailed with hearty appreciation, and in good spirits
+they drove nails into the walls and carried their helmets and beloved
+weapons one by one and put them in that place of refuge; then went to
+their suppers, and to prepare their lessons for the following day.
+
+Their arrival in the school yard the next morning was announced by the
+laughter and jeers of their opponents.
+
+"Say, did you imagine that your hog was Hector on the walls of Troy when
+it ran up the straw-heap?" shouted one.
+
+"No, he thought he was Hercules, but found that instead of being strong
+enough to carry the hog, the hog had to carry him," laughed another.
+
+The three friends passed on into the schoolroom, red with anger but
+helpless to defend themselves; their tormentors following, for there
+was more sport in store which not one of them wished to miss.
+
+Upon the great blackboard was a very fair picture in chalk of the
+exploit with the hog, and the laughing, jeering and shrill whistling
+were resumed when they saw the anger of the three friends. The muscular
+and energetic Fritz rushed to the blackboard to rub out the offending
+cartoon, but his hands were held by the enemy, his struggles to release
+them were useless, and he went to his seat in anger and mortification.
+
+At that moment the teacher came, and hearing the sound of weeping he
+asked the cause. As Odysseus-Fritz was unable to speak for sobbing, the
+enemy had the welcome chance to give an account of the tilt between the
+"three-leaved clover" and the four-footed Hector, and as the wit of the
+school was spokesman, the story lost nothing of its mirth-provoking
+quality.
+
+The teacher tried his best to look grave over the affair, but the
+narrative, together with its illustration on the blackboard, was too
+much for him and he took such a sudden and violent spell of coughing
+that he was compelled to put his handkerchief to his mouth and go
+outside the door. Every boy in the room, including the three Grecian
+warriors, knew that he went out to indulge in the laughter that he could
+not restrain, and the enemy's triumph was complete.
+
+"You must rub that miserable sketch from the board," he said upon his
+return, "and write in place of it, 'Do unto others as you would have
+them do to you,' which will remain there until we need the board for an
+exercise."
+
+It was a great relief to the three friends that the summer holiday was
+so near at hand that there would be but little more time for the
+Trojans to trouble them. Every boy in school had a plan in view as to
+the way the holiday was to be spent.
+
+"We are going out to the woods every day," said one group of boys. "We
+will take our luncheon and will fish in the brook, and find good places
+to set snares in the fall."
+
+"We are going to the woods, too," said another group, "and will gather
+flowers to press for our herbariums."
+
+But our three friends could overmatch all the pleasures mentioned by
+their schoolmates, for they had the promise from their parents that they
+should go to the city of Frankfort on the Main river to visit an aunt of
+Fritz. Every day their schoolmates heard from some one of the three, or
+perhaps from all, of the pleasures expected from their first journey,
+and their visit to a city to remain a whole week. This again aroused the
+jeers of the enemy which they bore bravely, knowing that it was only
+envy; so went on serenely with their preparations for the visit.
+
+Their homes were but a short distance apart, therefore out of school as
+well as in they were much together and all their talk was upon the visit
+to Frankfort, and of the things they would take, their plans subject to
+change from day to day.
+
+The father of Fritz took a Frankfort paper which the boy read carefully,
+and reported the dangers of a great city to his comrades. From these
+readings the three considered the city highly dangerous and they
+resolved to go well prepared for any attack that might be made upon
+them, either upon the journey or during their sojourn in the great city,
+which its own paper denounced as wicked.
+
+One morning he announced to his companions that he was well fixed to go,
+for he had now a weapon which could be depended upon, and showed them an
+old hunting-knife thick with rust, which he had concealed under his
+jacket, and which was to be placed in the armory until time to start
+upon the journey; and the ever watchful enemy saw that something very
+important was going on among the Grecian heroes.
+
+In truth there was something very important, for they were arranging to
+go upon their journey wearing their helmets with waving plumes, and with
+their shields and spears, and Franz and Paul were to have weapons to
+place with that of Fritz in the armory. But who can describe their
+surprise and dismay when that evening they went to put the
+hunting-knife in its proper place, they found the armory plundered, and
+everything gone! The enemy had come in an unguarded moment and carried
+everything away. But where? That was the question, for they had not the
+least doubt as to who did it, for the tracks of boys' boots were in the
+moist ground, and Fritz was quite sure that he knew whose they were,
+whereupon Franz laughed, although as much grieved as were the others
+over the loss of their belongings.
+
+"Yes, laugh as much as you please!" cried Fritz excitedly, "but when Mr.
+Colbert's house was robbed he tracked the thief by a piece of buttered
+bread which he had dropped in his flight. A piece bitten out of it
+showed that the thief had lost a front tooth, and he had the man whom he
+suspected arrested. When he came to trial they made him bite into a
+piece of buttered bread, and it was exactly like the piece that Mr.
+Gilbert had found."
+
+"Your story is very good, but what help will it be in this case?"
+enquired the logical Franz. "Do you think the Trojans will be so
+obliging as to walk here and put their feet in the tracks?"
+
+"Then name a better way."
+
+"I don't know any."
+
+"Then the only way left," remarked the reflective Paul, "is to watch the
+faces of the suspects when we go to school in the morning, and maybe we
+can spot the ones who did it."
+
+As there seemed nothing more to do about it, they left the rifled armory
+and went to their homes.
+
+The next morning as they neared the schoolyard they heard loud laughing
+which they could not lay altogether to the near approach of the holiday.
+They hurried in, and were quickly surrounded by their schoolmates who
+with laughter and jeers pointed to the top of the climbing pole; and oh,
+misery! there hung the helmet of Achilles, its plume waving in the
+morning air. Speechless and helpless the three friends stood, and would
+have given the last penny in their savings banks if a hawk or some other
+large bird would swoop down upon it and send it to the ground.
+
+"Now here is an exercise in physical culture," cried one of the Trojans,
+in the tone and manner of the professor in that line of instruction.
+"One of our Grecian heroes will kindly ascend and bring the helmet
+down."
+
+This called for peals of laughter and shrill whistles from the Trojans,
+for they knew that no one of the Grecians could climb to the top and it
+was a delight to see them redden with shame. But the restless Fritz was
+not willing to give up without trying to scale the giddy height.
+
+"Here, Franz," he cried, "hold my books. Paul, here is my jacket and
+hat. Stand back, boys, and see if I am the coward they think me," and
+soon his legs and arms were in motion. The laughter and jeering of the
+Trojans stimulated him to his greatest effort, and he had almost reached
+the top when his efforts ceased.
+
+"He is only resting," cried Franz and Paul anxiously.
+
+"No, his strength has given out and you will see him coming down in a
+moment," said one of the Trojans.
+
+Hearing this, Fritz made one last effort, and holding on to the pole
+with one arm, he reached up for the helmet, but it was farther off than
+he thought. His strength had given out, and he slid rapidly down and
+dropped in a heap, pale and weak from over-exertion, and for a moment
+unable to rise.
+
+The shouts and laughter of the Trojans impelled the three to flee to the
+schoolroom for refuge, but their arms were held by the enemy and they
+were led to a linden tree in the school yard and bidden to look up.
+There amid the branches lay the three lances and the bows and arrows.
+The tumult of laughter and shouting was now beyond all bounds, and at
+that moment the principal of the school made his appearance and was soon
+in the midst of the wild, surging crowd.
+
+"Who put that gilt paper cap on the point of the climbing pole?" he
+asked.
+
+No one answered and the Trojans looked at each other in dismay.
+
+"Whose cap is it?" he asked.
+
+"It is mine," replied Achilles-Franz, "and some of these boys got it
+from the place I keep it and before I got here this morning put it on
+the pole."
+
+"Do you know which of the boys did it?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Go to the schoolroom and ask Professor Moot to please step here."
+
+"Professor," said the principal, when the teacher of physical culture
+stood among them, "how many of your pupils can climb to the top of the
+pole?"
+
+"Five of them can do it easily; two of them have not yet come, but there
+are three here."
+
+"Step here, you three, and show me the palms of your hands," said the
+principal, and with very red faces the three obeyed.
+
+"This is the boy," he continued, as the red palms proved that the boy
+had recently climbed the pole, "and because you were a coward and would
+not answer when I asked, you get no recess to-day. Now pass your books
+to your neighbor and bring down that cap."
+
+Like a poor criminal going to the gallows, the Trojan went to the pole
+and began the ascent with his already tender hands. He would have asked
+for a postponement had not the serene face of the principal warned him
+that it would not be granted. With much effort he reached the top, took
+off the helmet, and slipped rapidly down with it in his hand.
+
+"Lay it on the window sill there, and go up the linden tree and bring
+down the lances."
+
+"Where did you get these things?" was the next question.
+
+"I, we--we took them from the summer house which Franz and Fritz and
+Paul call their armory."
+
+"Who was with you?"
+
+"William Cross, Otto Eidman and Henry Frolick."
+
+"Professor, there were two more helmets," explained Fritz, stepping
+forward.
+
+"Where have you put the others?" asked the principal, sharply.
+
+"Under the table in the lecture-room."
+
+"Very well. You four boys will have an hour's arrest in the lecture-room
+after school and when released you will take the things back and put
+them exactly where you found them. Now you can go into the class-room."
+
+With very sheepish faces the Trojans filed in, followed by the
+triumphant Grecian heroes.
+
+When school was out for the day they hurried to the armory to await the
+coming of the Trojans with the weapons, while the boys in the class who
+had not allied themselves to either Trojans or Grecians gathered in the
+yard under the window of the lecture-room to see the vanquished ones
+come out with the weapons when the hour of arrest was over. Before the
+hour was spent they were joined by others who in passing the open gate
+saw them and were glad to wait to see the four delinquents pass out.
+
+At length the clock in the old church-tower struck the four solemn
+strokes. The hour of arrest was over, but the Trojans did not come.
+They waited five, ten minutes, still no sign or sound of their coming.
+
+"I believe I hear a stir. Yes, they are coming," whispered one, rubbing
+his hands in glee.
+
+"And I can tell exactly how they will act," commented another. "Otto
+will be crying from shame and anger at having to carry the things back.
+Cross will hide his eyes with his arm, and Henry will hold a high head
+as much as to say, 'who cares.'"
+
+"But why don't they come? The hour was out when we came," said a
+newcomer.
+
+At that moment the lecture-room door opened quickly and the stern face
+of the principal appeared, and the boys joined in a stampede.
+
+"Halt!" cried the professor. "Come here! Why are you boys loitering here
+so long after school hours?"
+
+The boys reddened, but no one spoke.
+
+"Henry Strong, speak; what are you doing here?"
+
+"We wanted--we thought--we--"
+
+"Out with it."
+
+"The boys are to take back the weapons."
+
+"Well, what of that?"
+
+"We are staying to see them."
+
+"Indeed! Well, that is just what I expected, so I gave them permission
+to go out the back way some time ago and take the weapons to their
+places. By this time they are quietly eating their suppers in their
+homes."
+
+There were many red faces at hearing the joke turned upon them, and they
+went quietly out of the yard, glad to be away from the piercing gaze of
+the principal, feeling that he could see into their hearts and minds as
+well as he could see through the lecture-room window.
+
+In the meantime Odysseus-Fritz, Achilles-Franz and Patroclus-Paul were
+in triumphant possession of their weapons, and to add to their happiness
+they had a safe place to keep them, for the father of Franz, who was
+keeper of the forest, gave them a room in the forest cabin. It had a
+lock and keys and the Grecian warriors realized that many a dark cloud
+has a silver lining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THEY MEET A KIND FRIEND
+
+
+The interest in their weapons gave place in a few days to preparations
+for the journey to Frankfort; and they decided to walk, just as such
+healthy, energetic boys would prefer, taking two days for the journey,
+and stopping for the one night at some wayside inn.
+
+The mothers prepared the outfit, the main part of the clothing for the
+three boys to be packed in one satchel and sent by express to the home
+of Mrs. Fanny Steiner, the widowed sister of Fritz's father, and the
+boys were to carry their school knapsacks strapped across their
+shoulders, containing the few articles they would need upon their
+journey. The fathers agreed to furnish funds for the journey, and the
+three travelers, not having to bother about clothing or money, could
+give all their attention to the subject of weapons with which to
+overcome the dangers which might beset them on the way.
+
+Fritz brought forward his rusty knife; Paul had found an old pistol of
+the time of the first Napoleon, in which lay no danger because it would
+not shoot; and Franz had an old cutlass which hung by a cord at his
+side. They praised each other's weapons, but Fritz and Paul could not
+help envying the owner of the cutlass.
+
+"Listen," said Fritz. "We need not always carry our own weapons upon the
+journey, we can exchange when we feel like it."
+
+Paul agreed heartily to this, but Franz was silent; he did not wish any
+one to have a share in his new possession.
+
+"I know what I can do," exclaimed Fritz. "Just wait a minute," and he
+ran home, returning with a leather belt and a cord, and soon his knife
+was hanging by his side.
+
+"Why can't I wear my pistol in my belt like the men do in pictures?"
+questioned Paul. "I will run home and get mine."
+
+This was brought, and the three warriors were equipped to their hearty
+satisfaction, for they had already provided their straw hats with plumes
+from the cast-off tail feathers of roosters in their respective poultry
+yards.
+
+They decided to have beside other needed things in each knapsack a
+drinking cup that they might slake their thirst along the way from cool
+springs, or clear running water, or a convenient well or pump.
+
+Franz had a silver watch which all agreed would be very useful. Paul had
+a box of tapers which he considered equal to a wonder-lamp in a fairy
+tale, and Fritz had a small compass, so correct in its bearings that if
+they trusted to it there was not the least danger of losing their way.
+
+"Oh," he continued jubilantly, "let us run and get our knapsacks and
+hang them across our shoulders and go to the photographer and ask what
+he will charge to take our pictures."
+
+"Agreed!" cried the others gleefully, and they were about to go when
+they heard the sound of hearty laughter, and turning, they saw the
+father of Franz.
+
+"Wait, boys," he said, "there is danger of being arrested on the way.
+Don't you know that it is against the law to carry weapons?"
+
+"But, father, people do carry them."
+
+"Yes, but they take good care to keep them hidden."
+
+"We could keep ours hidden."
+
+"But where? Could Paul hide his pistol in his hat, and could Franz put
+the cutlass in his vest pocket as if it were a tooth-pick? Oh no, boys,
+lay aside the old weapons and travel along the public road as peaceable
+citizens with no thought of being harmed or of harming anyone. The roads
+of our beloved Fatherland are not infested with bandits and footpads,
+and you can go with contented minds and with no fear of danger upon your
+travels. Now it is time to part; good-night, boys. Go home to a good
+supper and a good sleep. Come, Franz."
+
+The next day came the selecting of things that were to go in the
+knapsacks and each boy had collected enough of what they considered
+really needed to fill them to overflowing.
+
+"What is this?" asked the mother of Franz, who was about to help him
+with his knapsack, as they were to take an early start the next morning.
+
+"It is my checker-board. We can play in the evenings before we go to
+bed."
+
+"Oh, you cannot take it! see, it would take up half the room in the
+knapsack. You will be so tired in the evenings that you will be ready to
+drop asleep before you take off your shoes. Where are your stockings?"
+
+"Why, they will go in the satchel, mother; I don't have to carry them."
+
+"Yes, you must take one pair. Your feet will be dusty from your long
+walk, and you must have a fresh pair for the second day. Where is your
+rain-coat?"
+
+"Rain-coat? Why, I never thought of it."
+
+"A checker-board would not keep the rain from wetting you should there
+come up a sudden shower. You must have it in, no matter what you leave
+at home."
+
+"Paul and Fritz did not say they would take their rain-coats in their
+knapsacks."
+
+"Perhaps not, but their mothers did, and mothers know best. What is in
+this box?"
+
+"My writing paper; you gave it to me at Christmas."
+
+"A hundred sheets! Do you expect to write a hundred letters while you
+are in Frankfort? If so, you will not see much of the city. You must
+take in your knapsack only what you will really need upon your journey,
+and with only that you will find it heavy enough."
+
+The mother put the knapsack in care of Franz when ready for the journey,
+and he took it to his room; then hurried to the home of Fritz to see how
+the packing was progressing there, and found that the good mother of the
+boy had given the same wise advice in regard to the packing of the
+knapsack. Then the two went to the home of Paul and found that the same
+plan had ruled out the useless things that Paul had intended should
+journey to Frankfort in his knapsack.
+
+At six o'clock the next morning Franz and Paul had bidden their home
+people an affectionate farewell and were on their way to meet Fritz,
+when they saw him coming, knapsack upon his shoulder and leading his dog
+by a new green cord tied to the collar.
+
+"Oh, Fritz!" they exclaimed in a breath, "surely you are not going to
+take Pixy on the journey to Frankfort?"
+
+"Surely I am! He wants to go, and I am going to take him."
+
+"Does your father and mother know it?"
+
+"No, certainly not, or Pixy would be at home this minute."
+
+"But you had no right to take him without telling them," said the
+thoughtful Paul.
+
+"Pixy is mine and I have a right to take him, but I wish them to know
+that I have him, so I have written a postal telling them, and will drop
+it in the village letter box. That will make it all right."
+
+"But your Aunt Fanny. Will she like to have him?" asked Franz,
+doubtfully.
+
+"Oh, she loves Pixy, and will be glad to see him. When she comes to
+visit us in the summers, she always takes Pixy with her when she walks
+to the village or calls to see the neighbors. Yes, indeed; she will be
+very, very glad to have him there."
+
+"He will have to eat on his way to Frankfort," remarked Paul.
+
+"Yes, but mother put up a great deal more than I can eat in this one
+day, and I will share with Pixy."
+
+"And I," and "I, too," said the others, for in their hearts they were
+glad to have his company; "but are you going to lead him all the way
+with that rope?"
+
+"No, indeed; he doesn't need it, and I will take it off, and put it in
+my knapsack as soon as we are past the village. I only brought it to put
+on him when we are in the streets of Frankfort to keep him from getting
+frightened and running away."
+
+The rope was taken off and put in the knapsack, and then Fritz made
+another proposition.
+
+"Let us take off our shoes and stick our stockings in them, swing them
+from our knapsacks, and go barefoot."
+
+"All right!" agreed the others, and soon they were rejoicing in the
+luxury of bare feet, but not long, for Paul struck his toe against a
+stone, then getting a briar in his foot, sank down upon a green bank and
+took it in his hand.
+
+"I see the briar," exclaimed Fritz, "and can take it out."
+
+"Oh, no, it will hurt," objected Paul, with tears in his eyes, but his
+tears changed to smiles when he saw the briar in the hand of Fritz.
+
+This was a warning and they put on their stockings and shoes, and then
+concluded to eat some more breakfast.
+
+"What have you to eat?" asked Fritz, as Franz took his package from his
+knapsack.
+
+"I have brown bread; mother made it for me because I love it, and she
+put plenty of good sausage with it."
+
+"Nothing better!" said Fritz, heartily. "What have you, Paul, for your
+second breakfast?"
+
+"I have bread and butter and two eggs."
+
+"And I have bread and butter and ham, and if either of you boys want a
+slice of it, just speak. It is fine, I tell you," said Fritz.
+
+"Oh, say, boys," exclaimed Franz, "let us divide our breakfast, share
+and share alike. If either of you would like some of my brown bread and
+sausage, say so, and you shall have it."
+
+"I love brown bread and sausage, too," remarked Paul, "and either of you
+can have part of the eggs, only that I do not know how to divide two
+into three parts."
+
+"Easy enough," explained Franz, "you can give me one egg, and I will
+give you the biggest piece of my sausage, then you can cut the other egg
+in two for you and Fritz."
+
+"All right, here is the egg."
+
+"And here is the sausage, the largest piece for you. Fritz, here is
+yours."
+
+"That is fine; here, Franz, take part of my ham."
+
+"Here is a slice of my white bread for a slice of your brown," continued
+Paul.
+
+"All right, reach for it. You will find that it goes as well with
+sausage as does an egg with white bread; now let's eat."
+
+Fritz had not waited for any invitation. He was hungry and as he ate the
+sausage which he was holding in one hand, he passed the ham to Franz, in
+exchange for it. As Paul reached for the slice of brown bread, his piece
+of sausage fell to the ground and was snapped up by the waiting Pixy.
+
+"Now I have no sausage, and it was your dog, Fritz, that robbed me of
+it," complained Paul in a disappointed tone.
+
+"Yes, and I would give you my share, but I have eaten it; eat the ham,
+Paul, and take back this half egg."
+
+This was agreed to as fair, then the subject of drink to go with the
+food was discussed, and their little tin cups were taken from their
+knapsacks.
+
+"What have you in your bottle, Fritz?" asked Paul.
+
+"Chocolate; what have you?"
+
+"Milk; and Franz has coffee. Will we share as we did our food?"
+
+"Yes, let's share," so time about the little cups were filled with the
+different fluids, and they ate and drank and chatted. Nor was Pixy
+forgotten. He made an abundant meal from the scraps, and lay down in the
+shade and slept.
+
+"Let us keep our cups in hand until we come to a running stream of
+water. Milk, coffee and chocolate are all good, but it is water you want
+when you are real thirsty."
+
+The running stream was found after they had walked a half mile further
+and Fritz had to hold Pixy by the collar to keep him from running in and
+taking a bath before they had satisfied their thirst. The water was
+delightfully cool and fresh, and the moment Fritz let go the cord Pixy
+plunged in, and enjoyed the bath so much that the boys were tempted to
+follow his example. But they had heard that it was not good for the
+health to bathe so soon after a hearty meal, so sat in the shade while
+Pixy slept in the sun until his long, silky, black hair was nearly dry.
+Then they arose and walked on until about the middle of the day they
+reached a village which had an old church with a tall tower, and a
+number of small dwellings, two of them being public houses, or inns.
+
+"To which of the two will we go to take our dinners?" asked Franz.
+
+"To the one that has the gilt lion on the sign-board. I believe they are
+richer people and will give us a better dinner," replied Paul.
+
+"But it will cost us more," objected Fritz, "and you know that we have
+just so much money, which must last until we get back to the Odenwald.
+Let us go to the one that looks the cheapest."
+
+This was agreed to, and the three went in, and were received by the
+landlady.
+
+"Do you wish your dinners?" she asked, seeing that none of them seemed
+inclined to give an order.
+
+No one of them had ever been in a public house, so each waited for the
+other to speak.
+
+"Yes, we wish dinner," said Fritz at length. "Have you lettuce?"
+
+"Yes; what will you have with it?"
+
+"Potatoes."
+
+"But they take so long to boil, so think of something else."
+
+"We will have meat."
+
+"I have no meat to-day."
+
+"Then we will take sausage."
+
+"I have no sausage to-day."
+
+"Then what have you?"
+
+"Noodle soup, and a cherry pudding."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed the boys in a breath, "we all like pudding."
+
+"Very well, take seats at this table and I will bring in the dinner."
+
+The boys were not slow in obeying; there was no tablecloth but the pine
+table was scoured to almost perfect whiteness, and the dishes, few and
+poor though they were, glistened.
+
+A large dish of lettuce was set before them, then a bowl of soup at each
+plate, and some thick slices of brown bread.
+
+"What drink will you have?" she asked.
+
+"We prefer milk."
+
+"There is no milk. It all went into the pudding, but you can have plenty
+of cold coffee."
+
+"No, we will take water, please."
+
+This was brought, and when the soup was finished, the pudding was
+brought, and although it was of fair size not a vestige of it was left;
+and it was then that Fritz remembered Pixy.
+
+"Oh, boys, I forgot him and we have eaten all the pudding from him," he
+said, remorsefully.
+
+"We will each give a penny and ask the mistress to give him some
+dinner," said Paul.
+
+But it was not needed. Pixy had been well fed on the remains of the
+soup, and was ready to journey as soon as they gave him notice. Fritz
+thanked the kind woman, and she in turn was pleased with the well-bred
+boys who had given evidence of being satisfied with the food, and had
+paid her the price she asked.
+
+Then they set out cheerily and soon broke into a melody they sang at
+school. They had good voices and sang with spirit. So interested were
+they that they did not hear the sound of wheels although a carriage was
+coming slowly behind them, and a gentleman who was in it was listening
+with pleasure. At length the song was finished and the boys heard the
+sound of wheels, halted and turned, then lifted their hats to the
+stranger.
+
+"I hope you will keep on with your singing. I love it, and I love boys,"
+said the gentleman in a pleasant voice. "I like to see them on their
+travels. Have you any objection to telling me where you are going?"
+
+"To Frankfort," they all replied at once.
+
+"Why not go by railway?"
+
+"We wished to walk all the way."
+
+"Of course you expect to stay over night somewhere?"
+
+"Yes, we expect to stay to-night at an inn if it is not too expensive.
+If it is, we will sleep on straw somewhere. We would not mind that this
+warm weather."
+
+"People who are used to a bed would find it very uncomfortable to sleep
+on straw. What place did you expect to reach by evening?"
+
+"The village of Umstadt; and we think we can find an inn there where we
+can stay."
+
+"It is quite a long distance from here, and you would be very late in
+reaching it. You will get there much faster if you will step into my
+carriage, for I expect to pass through the village on my way to my
+home."
+
+"Would there be room for my dog Pixy?" asked Fritz, anxiously.
+
+"Certainly there is room. Two of you boys can sit on the back seat, and
+the other can sit by me and the dog can sit between us."
+
+It seemed to the three that an angel had come down to help them on their
+journey, for they were woefully tired, and evening was coming on.
+Therefore it was with smiling countenances that they climbed in and took
+seats. The gentleman spoke quietly to his horse and off they went on
+their way to the village.
+
+"Do you think it lightens the burden for my horse that you keep your
+knapsacks on your shoulders?" smiled the gentleman. "If you lay them off
+you will see that he can trot just as well; and if there were a dozen
+boys he would not consider them a burden but would keep on trotting. You
+have told me where you are going, now tell me where you are from."
+
+"We are from the country near the village of Michelstadt," replied
+Fritz. "We left at six o'clock this morning to pass our holiday with my
+father's sister, Mrs. Fanny Steiner."
+
+"That is good. Now tell me your names and your fathers'."
+
+"My father is Fritz Heil, and I am named for him. He is a clothing
+merchant in the village of Michelstadt."
+
+"Very good! I know him well. Now tell me who you are," turning to Paul.
+
+"My father is Paul Roth, he is a teacher. My name is the same."
+
+"Very good; now, my boy," turning to Franz.
+
+"My father is named Franz Krupp, and I am named for him. He is the
+head-forester in the Odenwald. The master-forester is old and when he
+dies my father will get the place."
+
+"Halt, my boy! Guard your speech. Don't speak to a stranger or to anyone
+of the master-forester's death. Is he not in good health?"
+
+"No, he is sick. I never heard my father say anything about his death or
+of taking his place, but I know that he will have it when he dies."
+
+"Nor should you speak of it. I know the master-forester as well as I
+know your father. Suppose I should tell him what you have just said
+about his dying and your father getting the position?"
+
+The eyes of Franz filled with tears and he looked alarmed.
+
+"Don't be anxious, my boy. I know you meant no harm, but I wish to warn
+you to be careful of your speech. The master-forester has a brother
+living in this neighborhood. I may be that brother. If so, would I like
+to hear that your father is looking forward to his death in order to
+have his place? And would it be to your father's advantage to have it
+known that he is looking forward to it?"
+
+Franz was silent a moment, then he reached forward and put his hand in
+that of his adviser and thanked him, and his friend shook it heartily.
+
+"Now, as a matter of courtesy, I should tell you my name. It is James
+Furman. I am a farmer and live near the village of Umstadt. I know your
+fathers well and am glad to meet their sons."
+
+"And we are glad to meet you! It is kind of you to ask us to ride. We
+were getting very tired, and we are much obliged to you."
+
+"Then perhaps you will sing some more of your sweet songs. Hear how the
+larks and finches are singing their evening praises to God."
+
+The boys were very willing. They sang several, their new friend joining
+them, and had just finished his favorite when they reached the little
+town of Umstadt, and halted in front of the one public house of which
+the sign was a swan. The moment the carriage stopped Pixy sprang out and
+waited with bright eyes and wagging tail for his master to descend.
+
+The landlord met them at the open door, and greeted them as if old
+acquaintances.
+
+"Why, neighbor, you have brought me a fine flock of birds!" he said,
+cordially.
+
+"Yes, they are choice singing birds and will roost with you to-night and
+to-morrow will fly away to Frankfort."
+
+"All right, all right! We have a room that will suit them exactly."
+
+"These boys spoke of being thirsty, neighbor. Will you have some fresh
+water brought for them? I offered them something stronger in the shape
+of a bottle of mineral water or sarsaparilla, but they prefer the
+water."
+
+The order was given, and a large stone pitcher and glasses soon
+appeared. The moment Pixy saw it he sprang up, put his feet on the
+pitcher and tried to lick the drops from it.
+
+"Wait a bit, Pixy! I am so thirsty," exclaimed Fritz, and he drained the
+glass of cold water without stopping.
+
+"My boy," said Mr. Furman, "the true friend of our poor dependent dumb
+creatures attends to their wants first; the really kind master will not
+let them wait while he satisfies his own hunger and thirst."
+
+Fritz was ashamed of his treatment of Pixy, and was glad to pour some of
+the water into a basin which the innkeeper reached to him. He carried it
+to the porch, where Pixy ran quickly and drank as if he was afraid the
+basin would be taken away from him.
+
+"Now, boys, I must go on home," said Mr. Furman as he shook hands with
+them. "Good-bye! Remember me to your fathers, and take good care of
+Pixy."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+AT THE SWAN INN
+
+
+The moment the carriage was out of sight the boys turned to their own
+needs.
+
+"I don't believe I was ever so hungry in my life," ejaculated Franz, and
+the others agreed with him, and set about the best way to have their
+hunger satisfied.
+
+"Mr. Swan, what have you for supper?" asked Fritz.
+
+The landlord laughed heartily at the name, but as the boy had given it
+in all sincerity, thinking that, as it was the Swan Inn, it must take
+its name from its owner, he did not correct him. Instead, he asked a
+question in response.
+
+"What would you like to have?"
+
+"Have you fresh lettuce?"
+
+"Yes, plenty of it; what else?"
+
+"Roasted potatoes?"
+
+"Yes; you can have roasted potatoes. What kind of meat will you have
+with it? We have a fine roast of veal."
+
+"The very thing we like!" cried the boys jubilantly, but the ever
+frugal Fritz regretted that they had spoken for the veal, and wondered
+whether they could not change the order.
+
+"I am afraid it will cost us too much," he said in a whisper, but the
+landlord had already gone to the kitchen and they had to let it stand.
+
+"It may be that we are in an expensive hotel," he continued, "and our
+night's lodging may cost us a good sum. But I will tell you what we can
+do. We will not take breakfast here, but will buy a roll in the village
+and when we come to a brook we can eat it. A roll and a cup of fresh
+water will be enough breakfast for us."
+
+"No," said Franz, "I won't eat a roll and drink water; I must have my
+breakfast and coffee; you can drink water, a bucket full if you choose.
+My father does not wish us to go hungry on this journey. But we can talk
+about it after we have had our supper."
+
+"Yes, you are right," added Paul. "I will have my breakfast and coffee
+in the morning. And, boys, we are now in a hotel that is more stylish
+than the one in which we took dinner. We must not eat all that we take
+on our plates, but will leave a little, then the landlord will think
+'they must have had enough, for they have not eaten all.'"
+
+This brought up a discussion, the other two fearing that if any food
+were left upon their plates the innkeeper's feelings would be wounded,
+believing that they were not satisfied with the food. The dialogue waxed
+warm, but it was finally decided that they would take more upon their
+plates than they could eat, and thus could leave some, to spare the
+feelings of the innkeeper by letting him know that they had enough. They
+also decided that they would not eat so hurriedly and greedily as at
+dinner. Just then supper was announced, and the three hungry travelers
+went to the supper-room and took their places.
+
+In addition to the dish of roast veal, lettuce and potatoes, there was a
+plate of white rolls and a dish of stewed pears.
+
+The boys forgot their agreement in regard to eating slowly, and the
+viands disappeared like frost in the beams of a July sun. The lettuce
+and stewed pears had disappeared like magic, and but one piece of the
+veal and two rolls remained.
+
+They arose from the table and were about to leave, when Fritz took the
+piece of veal upon his fork and ate it.
+
+"What is the use of leaving it when one has an appetite for it?" he
+said.
+
+"Then as none of the veal is left we may as well eat the rolls," said
+Franz. Paul agreed and the plate was empty, and nothing was left to
+prove to the landlord that they had more than enough.
+
+"Oh, boys, we have again forgotten to feed Pixy!" said Fritz. "You see
+my little sister feeds him at home and that is the reason that I forget
+him."
+
+This was a misfortune and there was no help for it but to tell the
+innkeeper.
+
+"Would you give Pixy his supper for three pennies?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Oh, don't bother about the dog. He has had his supper in the yard.
+Don't you see how well he is sleeping on the porch?"
+
+The three now concluded to take a walk through the village, followed or
+rather guided by Pixy, who could be trusted without his rope in that
+quiet place, but they soon returned and asked to be shown to their room.
+The landlord led the way to a large, pleasant room with three single
+beds in it, and pointed to a piece of carpet for Pixy, for Fritz had
+asked permission for him to share their room. Then he wished them a
+good sleep, bade them good-night and went below.
+
+The room was different from any that they had ever seen, not at all like
+theirs in their own homes. It was not square, but had many nooks and
+corners which the light of one candle could not reach. Paul said it was
+like a room he once read of, which had a secret door which led down to
+an underground passage where travelers were robbed and left there to
+find their way out if they could. This blood-curdling narrative filled
+the hearers' minds with fears of what might happen, and they resolved to
+barricade the door. They locked it, and then pushed the washstand and
+chairs against it.
+
+"A robber could not push these things away without waking us," remarked
+Paul.
+
+"No, and before he could get in, Pixy would be ready to fly at him,"
+said Fritz proudly.
+
+This was a great comfort to the three and they prepared to disrobe for
+sleep.
+
+"We have not much money to waste for lodging," remarked Fritz, "and if
+we sleep in three beds we will have to pay for three; let us all sleep
+in one, and we will have to pay for but one."
+
+This was a great stroke of policy, and the others agreed heartily.
+Although each bed was only intended for one grown person, the boys
+thought they could manage it.
+
+"Let Paul sleep in the middle because he is the slimmest," Fritz said.
+"I will sleep back and Franz can sleep front."
+
+This met with approval and then Franz made a suggestion.
+
+"Wise travelers always put their money under their pillows," he said,
+"then a burglar cannot get it without waking them. We will tie the three
+pocketbooks together, and put them under Paul's head, then a robber
+would have to reach over Fritz or me to get it."
+
+This was considered an excellent scheme, and the three dropped into bed
+and in five minutes were asleep.
+
+Pixy considered the situation for a minute, then sprang upon the foot of
+the bed, curled around and was soon in the land of dreams.
+
+All went well until Fritz had a troubled dream. He had fallen out of
+bed, had rolled under it, and thought he was in a trunk with the lid
+partly shut down and he could not get out, so set up a wailing cry.
+
+"What is the matter in there?" called the landlord from outside the
+door.
+
+"Oh, I don't know where I am!" cried Fritz.
+
+"Well, open the door and I will soon see. Oh, it is locked. Well, never
+mind. I will come through the portiere way."
+
+He soon appeared with a light, and Fritz crept from under the bed and
+sat blinking beside it.
+
+The three boys were astonished to see the landlord in their room without
+having to ask them to remove the barricade. They did not know that the
+portiere hung before an open door leading into the hall as did the one
+they had taken so much trouble to make secure.
+
+"Now, boys," he said, laughing heartily, "have you lost your senses, or
+had you none to lose? Now tell me, Fritz, why were you under the bed?"
+
+"I don't know how I got there, but I dreamed that I was in a trunk and
+the lid was almost down, and I could not raise it."
+
+"Oh, you silly boy! of course you fell out of that narrow bed. What
+possessed you to all crowd in there when there are three beds in the
+room?"
+
+"We did not wish to pay for all three."
+
+"Then why did you not tell me that you wished only one bed, and I would
+have put you in a room where there is a larger one? Now, why did you
+barricade the door?"
+
+"We were afraid of robbers," explained Paul after a long pause.
+
+This amused the innkeeper mightily and he laughed till he shook.
+
+"Locked and barred one door and left the other standing wide open!" he
+said with tears of mirth in his eyes.
+
+"Well, well," he said, "no harm is done. Now each one get into a bed,
+with no heed to the pay. Mr. Furman has paid the whole bill for your
+stay here in return for the sweet songs you sang for him."
+
+The boys made great eyes over this piece of news, and lost no time in
+getting themselves into the other beds.
+
+"Wait, boys! You must first put the pieces of furniture back in their
+places, then go to bed and sleep well. You yet have several hours. What
+time do you wish to leave in the morning?"
+
+"At six o'clock we must be on our way."
+
+"All right," said the jolly landlord, and as he glanced at their rosy,
+bright faces, each in his own bed, he laughed, shook his head and went
+out, and soon the three boys and Pixy were sound asleep.
+
+It is not known how long they would have slept had not the landlord paid
+them another visit.
+
+"You have slept past the breakfast hour. Do you intend sleeping until
+dinner time?" he asked laughingly.
+
+"No indeed! What time is it?" asked Fritz, opening his eyes sleepily.
+
+"Nine o'clock and I thought you wished to start at six."
+
+"Up, you sleepers!" cried the boy, as he sprang out of bed. The others
+obeyed promptly and commenced dressing, and in a short time appeared
+with clean hands, faces and teeth, at the good breakfast provided for
+them, their hair neatly brushed, and their spirits refreshed from a
+sound sleep in comfortable beds. On the back porch was a dish of good
+food for Pixy, that he might be ready to go as soon as the boys finished
+the meal.
+
+When they were about to continue their journey, the landlord gave each
+of them a large roll and one for Pixy, saying that it would stay hunger
+until they reached an inn where they could take dinner.
+
+Pixy was delighted to see them again on the move, and while the boys
+were bidding the host and hostess good-bye ran out in the street; and
+before his master caught up with him, he was in the midst of a fight
+with street curs. Fritz ran to protect his pet, who was taking his own
+part bravely, and Peter, the waiter at the inn, ran with a bucket of
+cold water which he dashed upon the circling mass of yelpers, and the
+fight was brought to a sudden finish.
+
+Pixy came out of the combat sound, and ready for another fight, and
+Fritz was unharmed; the only injury being to the seat of his trousers,
+from which a piece had been torn by one of the street curs as a souvenir
+of the first visit to Umstadt.
+
+"Come here, child;" called the landlady to Fritz, "you cannot go among
+the stylish people of Frankfort with the hem of your shirt showing. I
+will mend it as well as I can, and when you get there, your aunt can
+mend it better. Now see what trouble your dog has brought upon you!"
+
+"Pixy didn't tear my pants. It was one of the strange dogs. I am glad I
+brought him."
+
+"No, your dog did not tear them, but if he had not been here there
+would not have been a fight."
+
+"But he did not commence it. They fought him, and he had to defend
+himself."
+
+"That too is true, but they do not wish a strange dog among them, nor
+will other dogs he meets on his travels. So he should have been left at
+home. Now go up to your room and take one of the boys with you to bring
+down your trousers, and I will do the best I can to mend them."
+
+This was done, and Fritz sat disconsolately upon a chair waiting for the
+return of Paul. He began to question within himself whether he had done
+a wise thing to bring Pixy. The first dogs they had met had fought him,
+and it might be that he would get worsted in many a battle before he was
+again safely at home.
+
+At length Paul brought up the trousers, but to Fritz's dismay the patch
+was of different color. His father being a cloth merchant, the cloth was
+of good quality and Fritz had always been rather proud of it, but now to
+have a dark blue patch on dark brown trousers was mortifying indeed. But
+there was no help for it. The good woman had done the best she could,
+and he must wear them until he reached Frankfort.
+
+A happy thought came to Paul. "Wear your rain-coat," he said. "It is
+long enough to hide the patch."
+
+Franz, who had come up to learn the cause of delay, thought it an
+excellent idea, so ran down and brought up the knapsack containing the
+coat.
+
+Fritz put it on, much relieved that the objectionable ornament was
+hidden from public view, and the three went below to resume their
+journey.
+
+More than an hour had been lost by this mishap, and the landlord advised
+that they take the train to Frankfort in continuance of their journey.
+
+"But we set out to walk, and told everybody that we were going to walk,
+and we _will_ walk," responded Fritz resolutely.
+
+"That would be all right if you had started early enough. You might then
+by steady walking have made the journey before dark. As it is, you
+cannot reach there until night which would be rather hard for you in a
+strange city, and you would have to wake your aunt out of sleep to let
+you in."
+
+"But we have an hour yet until dinner time. We can walk a long distance
+in an hour."
+
+"All right, then. Good-bye, and a pleasant journey."
+
+"Good-bye, and a pleasant journey," echoed Peter, who, having cleaned
+the dust from the shoes of the three, carried their wash-water up to
+their room, and thrown water on the fighting dogs, was in evidence on
+the porch waiting for tips.
+
+"Will we give him anything?" whispered Paul.
+
+"No," replied Fritz. "I would think if Mr. Furman paid for all, he would
+not forget to give Peter something for waiting upon us. Come on."
+
+Had they opened their hearts to give the waiting Peter a few pennies, it
+would have saved them much anxiety, but they walked away without casting
+one backward glance.
+
+They felt somewhat weary from their walk of the day before, yet enjoyed
+the fresh air, the song of the birds, the fragrant smell of woods and
+meadows; and Pixy frolicked along sometimes before and sometimes behind
+them, but never losing sight of his master.
+
+They had walked more than a mile when Fritz halted suddenly and grasped
+the arm of Paul.
+
+"Did you take our money from under your pillow?" he asked.
+
+"I? No, I never thought about it. You put it under the pillow, and I
+have never thought of it since seeing you put it there."
+
+"Now, Paul, it was Franz and I who went to the other beds, you were left
+in the one where the money was hidden. You must have it, and are only
+trying to scare us. Of course, you would not leave it under the pillow."
+
+"Of course I did! I tell you that I never thought of it once."
+
+"Then, Franz, you would not forget it. Certainly you have it in your
+pocket."
+
+"Certainly I have not! I have never thought of it since you put it under
+the pillow."
+
+"Oh, that is too bad!" cried Fritz, flushing with dismay. "We will have
+to go back to the inn and get it."
+
+"Not I," asserted Franz. "I would be ashamed to go back. Remember how
+Mr. Swan laughed because we stacked things against the door."
+
+"Nor will I," echoed Paul stoutly.
+
+"Then we can go no further on our journey to Frankfort; we will have to
+go back home, for we have no money."
+
+"Now just see!" ejaculated Paul, "you remembered the dog which is of no
+use to us, and forgot the money that we cannot do without. We must go
+back for it," and like the sons of Jacob returning to Egypt, they turned
+their faces toward Umstadt.
+
+A slight coolness reigned among the triplets; a cloud rested upon the
+brows of Franz and Paul that for the forgetfulness of Fritz they must
+face the landlord, and more than that the tipless Peter. So with red
+cheeks and eyes cast down they returned to the Swan inn, and the
+landlord met them at the door with a smiling welcome.
+
+"I expected you," he said. "You remind me of the story of the traveler
+who upon his journey came to a cross road, and, not knowing which to
+take, returned home. But I judge you had a better reason that it will be
+a great pleasure to you to relate."
+
+On their way back Fritz had said, "If the money is under the pillow we
+can get it, and there will be no need of telling the hotel people why we
+came back. Then they will not have a chance to laugh at us."
+
+The others agreed to this, so he was ready with his reply.
+
+"Yes, sir; we left a trifle under our pillow, and came back to get it."
+
+"Only a trifle?"
+
+"A small package, but as we do not wish to leave it, we came back for
+it."
+
+"That was quite right. You can go up and seek for it."
+
+The three flew up the steps, but soon returned with long faces and
+tearful eyes.
+
+"We have not found it, Mr. Swan," they said.
+
+"But if it is only a trifle, why need you care?" asked the landlord,
+laughing heartily. "But," he added, "there are sometimes important
+things left by travelers, for this morning our chambermaid found in one
+of the rooms this handkerchief in which is tied three small
+pocketbooks," and he held it up out of reach of the boys.
+
+"It is ours," cried the boys gleefully. "Give it to us, please," and
+they reached for it.
+
+"Hands off!" laughed the landlord. "How am I to know that the purses are
+yours, when you said you had left a trifle? So it cannot be your money;
+for money is no trifle to a traveler. In truth nothing is more useful to
+him. It will supply him with a bed, comfortable room, good meals, and
+with it he can pay something for having his dusty shoes cleaned after a
+day's walk. Now do you think money is a trifle when with it you can have
+bed, meals, and service such as brushing dusty shoes? All these things
+can be had for a piece of paper, or a coin that you can hide under your
+tongue. Then is money really a trifle? Even if there is not much money
+in these little purses, yet what would you do if they were not returned
+to you?"
+
+"Oh, please forgive us that we have been so foolish," pleaded Fritz.
+"The purses are ours and we came back to get them, and we can tell you
+of every penny that is in each of them. I have a--"
+
+"Oh, you do not need to tell me! I knew that they could belong only to
+you. They are just as Letta, our chambermaid, found them. Our people are
+honest."
+
+"Where is she? and where is Peter? We wish to give them something."
+
+"Peter, Letta, come! You are wanted," called the landlord, and they came
+and stood waiting to hear the reason for being summoned.
+
+Each of the boys in the meantime had his purse in his hand, and they
+were holding a hurried and whispered conversation which ended by them
+taking twenty cents from each purse, ten for Letta and ten for Peter,
+who received it with smiling faces. The travelers felt that they had
+done the right thing, their self-respect was restored, and they were
+about to start again upon their travels when a new thought came to
+Fritz.
+
+"At what time do you have dinner here, Mr. Swan?" he asked.
+
+Again the landlord could not control his laughter, as he replied, "It
+will be ready in half an hour."
+
+"Suppose we stay," said Fritz, turning to his companions. "I am terribly
+hungry."
+
+"So am I," echoed Paul.
+
+"So am I," agreed Franz.
+
+"I was about to suggest that you take dinner with us," said their host.
+"It is quite a distance to the next public house."
+
+"What will you have for dinner, Mr. Swan?"
+
+"Liverwurst, roast potatoes, stewed pears, and warm brown bread with
+butter."
+
+"I love every one of those things," remarked Franz.
+
+"What will the dinner cost each of us?" asked Fritz.
+
+"What would it cost?" echoed the innkeeper as if reflecting. "Oh, we
+will not talk of that. All I can say is that we wish every one who eats
+here to have plenty, and after the meal is over we can tell better what
+it is worth."
+
+"We will stay," said the boys jubilantly, and removed their knapsacks.
+When dinner was served their host led the way to the dining-room and
+gave them places, and took his own. His wife was already at the table,
+then followed Letta and Peter. The landlord removed his skull-cap, bowed
+his head reverently as did the others and asked a blessing upon the
+meal; then he and his wife told the boys to help themselves, which they
+did forthwith from the large plates well-filled which they had placed
+before them.
+
+Peter, who sat opposite, was filled with admiration of their powers of
+endurance, and said to himself, as the viands disappeared with
+astonishing celerity, "How much will it take to fill them when they are
+men? They make me think of our William when he was a growing boy, and
+had eaten all he could hold, father would say, 'William, are you
+satisfied,' and he would say, 'No, father. I am full, but I am not
+satisfied.'"
+
+But notwithstanding the comparison with the insatiable William, the boys
+expressed themselves as fully satisfied when every vessel of food had
+disappeared from the plates, and when they returned to the
+reception-room told the landlord that they had heartily enjoyed the
+excellent dinner and asked again the cost of it for each.
+
+"The cost? Well now, let me state the case as it really stands," said
+the smiling landlord. "If you had come and ordered a dinner of the kind
+you wished, and took seats at the public table, with a servant to wait
+upon you, I should have charged you the same that I would charge any
+other guest. But you just sat down with us at our family table, and
+shared the plain dinner that had been prepared for us, so I do not
+charge you anything."
+
+"But we did have just the kind of dinner we like," said Fritz, "and I am
+afraid our fathers would not like us to go away without paying for it."
+
+"Oh, boys, don't worry. Your fathers have taken many a dinner here, and,
+God willing, will take many more. All I ask of you is to take my advice
+by going to the station and taking the train for Frankfort. If you go
+now you will be in good time to catch the afternoon train for Frankfort.
+Now good-bye and a pleasant journey!"
+
+The three boys shouldered their knapsacks, Fritz still wearing his
+rain-coat, although the sun shone brightly, and went through the market
+place on their way to the station, Pixy in the lead carrying a bone that
+Letta had given him after he finished his dinner, while the family
+gathered on the porch and watched their slow movements with tears of
+mirth in their eyes.
+
+They had intended walking to Frankfort for two reasons. It would be
+something of an exploit to relate to their schoolfellows, and it would
+save money; but slow as they traveled to the station, the train seemed
+to have waited for them for they were in ample time.
+
+"Do you wish single fares, or return tickets?" asked the clerk.
+
+This was a question which could not be settled too quickly. The boys
+held a consultation, and Fritz gave the deciding opinion.
+
+"If we buy a return ticket," he explained, "we will save money, but we
+may want to walk back, and then would have to lose what we pay for a
+return ticket. Besides, if we did not want to ride home, some one of
+us, or it may be all of us, might lose our return ticket, and Aunt Fanny
+would insist giving us money for tickets which we would not wish her to
+do. No, we will take single fares."
+
+They bought them, and were about to step into a car when they were
+stopped by the conductor.
+
+"Where is your ticket for the dog?" he asked.
+
+"Must I have a ticket for him?" asked the boy, in surprise.
+
+"I should say so! You must be a kindergarten youngster to ask such a
+question. Moreover, if anybody in the car objects to having him in
+there, you will have to take him in a freight car even if you have a
+ticket for him."
+
+"I object," said a woman, sitting in the car next the window. "Who wants
+to get dog hairs on them when traveling for pleasure?"
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Fritz, ready to cry.
+
+"Get a ticket and get it quickly for the train will soon start, and put
+the dog in the freight car."
+
+"But I must go with him. He would be frightened to be there without me."
+
+"Certainly. You can go as freight if you wish. I have nothing to say
+against it."
+
+Fritz hurried away, secured the ticket and returned, sad with the
+thought of being separated from his companions, but smiles came again to
+his face when they told him that they would go to the freight car with
+him.
+
+They hurried in, and the train moved off while they were looking about
+them, hoping to see among the freight some boxes that would serve for
+seats.
+
+They were nearly thrown off their feet, while Pixy, not at all unsettled
+by the motion of the cars, saw something so interesting in a slatted box
+filled with chickens that he sniffed and capered about in doggish
+delight. But the chickens were not at all pleased with his appearance,
+and fluttered, cackled and shrieked, awakening the old woman who was
+taking them to market.
+
+"Whose black fiend of a dog is that, running loose about a freight car?"
+she exclaimed angrily.
+
+"It is mine, good lady," said Fritz soothingly. "I did not wish him to
+frighten your chickens."
+
+"How do I know that you did not set him on them while I was asleep? If
+he has hurt them, you will pay well for them."
+
+"See, here is the cord that I hold him with," said the boy, taking it
+from his knapsack. "I will tie it to his collar, and he will not go near
+your chickens again."
+
+But all that he could say was but oil to the fire, and Fritz found that
+the wiser plan for him was to keep silent; while Pixy, understanding
+that the storm of words had something to do with him, crept behind the
+box on which his master sat and looked up at him with a very penitent
+air.
+
+The seats the boys had taken did not prove permanent, for at every
+station some of the freight must be taken out, and some brought in, but
+they enjoyed the trip, for the old woman and her chickens left the car
+at one of the stations, and they had the place to themselves.
+
+"Is this Frankfort?" they asked at every station.
+
+"No," the guard replied, "and I expect you to ask at every stopping
+place until we really reach Frankfort, and then you will not ask."
+
+"Why?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Because you will know without asking."
+
+Presently Franz called out, "Hurrah, we are here!"
+
+"Where?" asked Fritz, hurrying to the window.
+
+"At Frankfort. See, we are crossing a river. It is the Main. Yes, there
+is the dome! I know it from the picture of the cathedral in my picture
+of Frankfort."
+
+"Didn't I say that you wouldn't ask if this is Frankfort? Now boys, out
+with you, and take your dog. Good-bye!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A KIND WELCOME
+
+
+The train drew slowly into the depot at Frankfort, and for the first
+time in their lives the country boys saw something of the bustle and
+excitement of travel. A crowd of people was hurrying out of the cars,
+and an equally hurrying one was passing in, while on the platform of the
+depot was a waiting crowd greeting returned ones, and bidding farewell
+to departing ones, in all of which the boys were so interested that for
+a time they forgot their own interests. At length the departure of the
+train brought to their remembrance that they, too, must depart and Fritz
+stepped up to an old gentleman whose pleasant countenance inspired
+confidence.
+
+"We wish to go to the house of my aunt, Mrs. Fanny Steiner," he said.
+"Are you acquainted with her? She is a little, thin lady, has gray hair,
+and wears a widow's cap."
+
+"No, my boy," smiled the old gentleman, "I have not the honor of her
+acquaintance. Perhaps you can tell me the number of her house and the
+street?"
+
+"Yes, it is number 37 Bornheimer street."
+
+"Good! I can direct you exactly how to go. You take the electric car
+which will pass here in a few minutes, and it will take you to the
+corner of the street not more than a few steps from number 37."
+
+"Oh, thank you, thank you!" said Fritz much relieved. Paul and Franz
+touched their hats and thanked him, taking Fritz as an example in all
+things.
+
+The car came, and the three, followed closely by Pixy, rushed to get
+aboard.
+
+"You can't bring that dog on the car. It is against orders," called the
+motorman.
+
+"What must I do?" asked Fritz despairingly.
+
+"You must settle that matter between yourself and the dog. Perhaps he
+will follow the car if he sees you in it."
+
+"Can I stand on the platform where he can see me?"
+
+"No, it is against orders; but you can sit at the window at the end of
+the car, where he can see you."
+
+"Oh, thank you, thank you!" and the three quickly boarded the car. Fritz
+took the place designated, and they were off, while Pixy, who believed
+that his master was deserting him, ran barking and howling in their
+track.
+
+At every stoppage of the car, Pixy sprang up to the window, but Fritz
+knew better than to speak one comforting word, although his heart ached
+for his forlorn traveling companion who must walk--or rather run, and
+run fast to keep up with the rapidly moving car. At length Pixy learned
+the lesson of experience. As there was no chance for him at the back end
+of the car, he would try the front, so at the next stopping-place, he
+flew along the length of the car, sprang on the front platform and
+curled about the feet of the motorman.
+
+"See here, boy, you must get out, and take your dog. It is against
+orders for a dog to be on the platform."
+
+"We will go out, too," said Franz and Paul, jumping up to follow their
+leader.
+
+"Give us back our money," said Fritz, holding out his hand, when they
+reached the street.
+
+"No; it is against orders;" and the car sped away.
+
+Pixy was delighted that the three boys were now on the same footing as
+himself, and proved it by springing up, putting his feet on his
+master's shoulders and licking his face; and the boy petted him to his
+heart's content. But Paul and Franz were not flattered in an equal
+measure with Fritz at Pixy's pleasure in their company as
+fellow-travelers, and expressed their opinion with clouded faces.
+
+"Now this is the second time that we have paid out money and got but
+little good out of it because of the dog," grumbled Franz. "He got into
+a fight and your pants got torn, and we would, I think, have remembered
+the money if we had not been bothered about having to wait to get them
+mended. Then we had to come back and pay thirty cents to Peter and
+thirty to Letta; and afterward had to ride in a freight-car because of
+your dog."
+
+"If you don't want Pixy with us, I will go back home to-morrow and take
+him," said Fritz with tears in his eyes. "It has been enough trouble to
+me that I brought him without first asking papa and mamma. It was a mean
+thing to do, but I thought it would be so nice to have him take the
+journey with us."
+
+Franz and Paul were ashamed of their treatment of the one to whom they
+were indebted for the visit to Mrs. Steiner and Frankfort, and hastened
+to assure him that no matter what trouble happened through Pixy's fault
+they would make no word of complaint.
+
+Pixy knew by the change of tone that peace had again spread its blessed
+wings over the "three-leaved clover," and to show his approbation he
+fawned upon all three with impartial effusiveness.
+
+"I am sorry that I said that he had no sense like city dogs that were
+running quietly along-side of wagons, but must try to jump on the car
+whenever it stopped," said Paul penitently.
+
+"Yes," replied Fritz, throwing his arm around Pixy's neck, "you were
+both glad when you saw that I was bringing him upon the journey, and now
+when he brings us into trouble we must not blame him for what he cannot
+help."
+
+"No, it would not be right to blame him for loving us, and wanting to be
+with us," agreed Franz.
+
+"Aunt Fanny will rejoice to see him, I know," continued Fritz. "No, I am
+not at all sorry I brought him, only I wish I had asked leave of papa
+and mamma."
+
+The mention of his aunt reminded the three that they had yet to find her
+house, and they were in consultation as to what way to go when a
+workman in a blue blouse came in sight and they asked the way to 37
+Bornheimer street.
+
+"Whom are you going to see there?" he asked.
+
+"My Aunt Fanny Steiner. She lives in the apartments on the third floor."
+
+"If you will give me fifty cents, I will take you there."
+
+The boys glanced at each other but were silent, and the man saw that he
+had struck too high.
+
+"Well, then, suppose we say thirty pennies. That will be ten each," and
+to this they agreed and the caravan set out, Fritz leading Pixy by his
+cord.
+
+The way led through several streets but at length they reached a retired
+street, and the leader halted before a neat dwelling with a flight of
+long winding steps leading up to a narrow porch and it was agreed among
+them that he should go up while the boys waited below. In response to
+his knock, the door was opened by a small, elderly lady, who was
+informed that three boys and a dog waited below.
+
+"I am not expecting anyone," she said, stepping out upon the porch and
+looking down.
+
+"Here we are, Aunt Fanny!" called Fritz. "It is our holiday and we have
+come to visit you."
+
+"Come right up, dear," exclaimed his aunt joyously; "but leave the dog
+below. Dogs are not allowed in these apartments."
+
+"But, aunt, it is Pixy, that you take out walking every morning in
+summer, and always give him a lump of sugar when you visit us in the
+country."
+
+"Oh," cried the perplexed aunt, "I did not recognize him, but come up,
+boys. I am heartily glad to see you."
+
+"First give me my money," said their guide, holding out his hand; the
+money was given, and the three and Pixy ran up the long steps, Fritz
+saying as he ran, "Come on, boys, we have found Aunt Steiner and she is
+glad to see us."
+
+"Did you write that you were coming to-day, dear?" asked his aunt when
+all hands were seated and the boys had laid aside their knapsacks.
+
+"No, aunt. You know I wrote two weeks ago and told you that Franz and I
+were coming as soon as school was done; and we thought you would not
+mind if we brought Paul."
+
+"No, I am really glad he is with you; I met Paul and his parents when I
+was at your home in the country and am glad to welcome him as well as
+Franz, whose parents are dear friends of mine. The only reason that I
+would be glad if you had written is that I might have provided another
+bed. There is only one in my spare room."
+
+The boys looked at each other with anxious glances. It seemed to them a
+hopeless case for they had tried the experiment of three in a bed at the
+Swan inn, and it had not been a success.
+
+"Don't feel concerned, dear boys," said Mrs. Steiner kindly; "there is a
+wide lounge in the room with a head-piece which serves as a pillow. One
+of you can sleep upon it."
+
+"Let Franz and Paul have the bed, aunt. I am perfectly willing to sleep
+on the lounge."
+
+"Then that matter is settled. Now about the dog."
+
+"He does not need a bed, dear Aunt Fanny," replied the boy, reddening
+with anxiety. "He can sleep on the floor anywhere, and he does not eat
+much; just the scraps from the table will suit him."
+
+"I am not thinking of his bed or of his food, my dear; but you have come
+to Frankfort on a sight-seeing tour, and dogs will not be allowed at
+any place that you will want to go."
+
+"Then we can leave him here."
+
+"But to that there is also an objection. When I rented this suite of
+rooms, I assured the owner who lives on the first floor that I had no
+dog. In the apartments below me lives an old lady who is afraid of dogs
+and is frightened at noise. Now if Pixy should howl or bark while you
+are out, what would I do?"
+
+Fritz loved his dog and it distressed him that there seemed to be no
+place in the world where he was tolerated except his father's house;
+therefore there seemed no other course than to return home and take Pixy
+with him.
+
+"Oh, dear aunt!" he said tearfully, "let us stay this one night, and
+to-morrow I will go back home."
+
+"My dear boy," said his aunt with tears of sympathy in her eyes, "do you
+think for a moment that I would allow you to go home, when this is the
+very first time you have paid me a visit? No; come with me and bring
+Pixy with you. We will go down to the first floor to see Mr. Steerer,
+the owner of this house, and ask him if he will let you keep your dog
+during your visit."
+
+This was one ray of sunlight on a cloudy day, and Fritz and Pixy
+followed down the long steps. Mrs. Steiner rang the bell of the first
+floor apartments, and Mr. Steerer opened the door and invited them in.
+
+"Now tell the gentleman why we have come," said Mrs. Steiner.
+
+But Fritz was weeping too bitterly to make explanations, and his aunt
+had to speak for him.
+
+"I have no objection to the dog staying," replied Mr. Steerer kindly,
+"providing he does not bark and annoy my tenant on the second floor."
+
+"Now, Pixy, thank the gentleman for his kindness," said Aunt Fanny, and
+immediately the intelligent animal sat upon his hind feet and waved his
+right fore foot back and forth.
+
+"But you must speak," commanded Fritz, who was smiling through his
+tears, whereupon Pixy gave a sharp little bark while again waving his
+paw.
+
+"Now we will call and ask Mrs. Hagner if your dog can stay," said Aunt
+Fanny when they reached the door of the old lady's apartments and gently
+tapped.
+
+"Come in! Come in!" laughed a voice within, "and I am pretty sure that I
+know why you have come."
+
+Fritz felt so relieved at their pleasant reception that he made the
+explanation.
+
+"Certainly, certainly, I will not object," replied Mrs. Hagner. "I do
+not like dogs, but I do like my neighbor and I like boys; so taking
+these two likings together, you see they are too strong to be mastered
+by the one dislike."
+
+"Thank the lady for her kindness, Pixy," said Fritz gleefully and it was
+done, not omitting the bark, and aunt and nephew went with light hearts
+up the steps to the third floor to tell the anxious Franz and Paul the
+result of their visit.
+
+"Now, children," said Mrs. Steiner, "let us lay that care and all others
+aside and be happy. I am rejoiced to see you all, and hope to make you
+have a pleasant visit. But you must also do your share to make it so by
+being satisfied with what I can do to entertain you. You must be
+contented with the few pleasures I can offer. And now tell me, Fritz,
+why you are wearing a rain-coat on a clear day," and Fritz explained the
+situation in a few words.
+
+"Well, dear Fritz, we must sometimes have shadow instead of sunshine,
+thorns instead of roses; and you must not let this mar your pleasure. I
+am glad to see young, cheerful people about me; it makes me feel young
+again."
+
+The boys looked at each other with a satisfied smile. They felt that it
+was the right kind of a welcome, and Fritz was proud of his father's
+sister.
+
+"Now you can take your knapsacks into my spare-bedroom," she continued,
+opening the door of a pleasant apartment. At that moment to the joy of
+Fritz, a porter from the depot brought his satchel, and at the request
+of Mrs. Steiner placed it in their room. He lost no time in taking out
+a pair of trousers, putting the patched ones in the trunk, and then the
+three returned to the sitting-room which was also dining-room.
+
+"Now, boys," said Mrs. Steiner, "I was just preparing supper for myself
+when you came, and all I will have to do is to add something more
+substantial for three travelers. But first I must ask how it happened
+that you did not write at least a postal to let me know you were coming?
+I might have been away from home. Then what would you have done?"
+
+"Father said I ought to write to you and tell you the time we would be
+here," replied Fritz, "but I put it off until it was too late, and I
+thought you would not care."
+
+"No, it does not make the least difference to me but it might have made
+a great difference to you. I might have been sick, or, as I said before,
+away from home. So do not trust to chance in such matters, but more than
+all, do as your parents advise. They know best. Now I see that it is my
+usual time for getting supper, and Paul will go out with me to buy
+something for it. Fritz and Franz can go into the kitchen and wash their
+hands in the basin hanging by the sink. Then Franz can tie on an apron
+he will see out there and take the peelings from a dish of boiled
+potatoes on the table and cut them up in small pieces, while Fritz sets
+the table in this room. The tablecloth is in this drawer, and the dishes
+in the cupboard; and he can set the table for four people as he sees it
+set at home. Now, Paul, we will go."
+
+Nothing could have made the boys feel more at home that first evening
+than the sharing of the work of the household, and all joined in
+cheerfully.
+
+"I am as hungry as a wolf; I could almost eat the cold potatoes,"
+remarked Franz.
+
+"So could I, but we can wait. Aunt will get supper quickly when she
+comes." And he was right, for the boys had scarcely finished their work
+when they heard her and Paul coming up the steps, and a half hour later
+supper was ready.
+
+She had turned the well-chopped potatoes in a hot pan in which was
+melted butter and set Franz to stir them that they might brown without
+burning. In another pan she put the slices of liverwurst for Fritz to
+watch, and Paul, who had first been sent to the kitchen to wash his
+hands, put the slices of rich ham upon a pretty pink plate, and fresh
+lettuce upon another, and placed them upon the table, while Mrs. Steiner
+cut the bread and got a pitcher of new milk.
+
+"Now, Fritz, before we take our suppers, here is a plate upon which you
+can break some pieces of bread and soften it with this good milk."
+
+"What for?" asked the boy in surprise.
+
+"For Pixy, who is waiting so patiently. Could we enjoy our supper
+knowing that the poor dumb creature is hungry?"
+
+This was done and the plate placed on the floor by the window, and the
+heart of Fritz was filled with pleasure to see Pixy's appreciation of
+the good supper.
+
+The potatoes and liverwurst, both beautifully browned, were placed upon
+the table, and all sat down.
+
+"Did I set the table nicely, Aunt Fanny?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Yes, very well indeed, except that you forgot the napkins. Please get
+four out of that drawer, and then choose the places you wish," and she
+took her own at the head of the table. Bowing her head she said in
+reverent voice, "Dear Jesus, be our guest at this meal and at all our
+meals. Bless the good food Thou hast given us, and receive our grateful
+thanks. Amen."
+
+"Now, my boys," she continued cordially, "you cannot fail being hungry,
+and I hope you will eat heartily and if the meat and potatoes fail us,
+we can make out with this good brown and white bread, and butter and new
+milk and these stewed pears."
+
+The boys were glad to obey and the viands disappeared like magic. Mrs.
+Steiner had many questions to ask about her brother and his family but
+would not disturb Fritz until he had finished supper. An old adage came
+into her mind as she saw them eat, "When a sheep bleats you may be sure
+he has no food in his mouth."
+
+She was glad to see that they heartily enjoyed their supper, and when
+finished she made a proposition. "You can rest while I put the place in
+order for the night and then we will take a walk."
+
+"Can I take Pixy?" asked Fritz eagerly.
+
+"Certainly, if you lead him by his cord, and if a policeman speaks to
+you about your dog having no tag or muzzle, tell him that you are from
+the country and are only visiting Frankfort, which is your reason for
+not having one or the other."
+
+"But I am afraid the policeman will take him. I would rather stay here
+with him."
+
+"There is no danger of him taking the dog from you. The most he could do
+would be to make you pay a fine; and I am sure he will not do that when
+we explain matters to him. Now we will go."
+
+"Where are all the people going?" asked Fritz when they reached the
+street. "At home we only see a crowd when the church service is over and
+that is but for a little while. Here the street seems alive all the
+time."
+
+"Yes, Frankfort has more than three hundred thousand inhabitants and of
+course many are on the street, some caring for business, others for
+pleasure, and some, like us, are sight-seeing."
+
+"Just see that beautiful place like a rich man's garden!" said Franz,
+"with trees and plants and flowers, and so many people walking there."
+
+"Yes, they are the public gardens or promenades, and are in place of
+what was once the fortifications of the city. In the early part of the
+nineteenth century part of them were taken away and this splendid girdle
+of plants and beautiful walks took their place."
+
+"Oh, it is lovely, lovely!" exclaimed Paul. "I never before saw a garden
+lighted, and with so many gas lamps that it is as bright as if the sun
+were shining. Can we go in?"
+
+"Yes, but we will wait here a little while. Do you see this beautiful
+lake surrounded by trees? In a few minutes you will see a beautiful
+scene which will surprise you."
+
+"Oh, this is the surprise," cried the boys in a breath, for like magic
+myriads of gas lights sprang up along the line of the trees and the Main
+river. It was a bewildering sight to the country boys, who had no words
+to express their pleasure.
+
+"And two rows of lights are across the river," exclaimed Paul.
+
+"Yes, they are on the fine new bridge over the Main; and above is the
+old bridge and several others which you can visit while in Frankfort."
+
+They crossed the bridge and looked at the great dome of the cathedral,
+and while they were gazing, eight solemn strokes sounded from its clock,
+and other clocks over the city struck the hour.
+
+"We have but one clock and one church-tower in our village," remarked
+Franz. "The boys in Frankfort don't get the chance to say the clock is
+wrong when they are late to school."
+
+Thus chatting, they reached the bridge, and, leaning upon the parapet,
+gazed at the brilliant scene.
+
+"See, Aunt Fanny, what is that coming down the river? A whole company of
+boats filled with people, and with music, and with flags flying?"
+
+"That is a regatta, or sailing match. It will go under this bridge and
+down to the old one, then will turn and go up to that island where they
+will all leave the boats and will have games and refreshments."
+
+As the boats passed under the bridge Fritz would have liked to jump down
+among the group of boys in the first boat; and he watched intently as
+the merry company passed up the river and turn, and then stepped off on
+the island.
+
+"Aunt, do let us go to the old bridge, and look at the people," he said
+eagerly.
+
+Mrs. Steiner was glad to oblige, and they hurried to the bridge to see
+the boats land, each one greeted by cheers. The whole company joined in
+a march to the sound of martial music by the band, then a short speech
+was listened to and when finished our triplets joined in the cheers, and
+the throwing up of hats without in the least knowing what the speech was
+about, or by whom made.
+
+Fritz was so full of delight over the whole affair that he rubbed his
+hands in glee as he made known his resolution to be a cloth merchant
+when he was old enough and would come to live in Frankfort, and meant to
+join the rudder club. "I will tell them now that I will join," he ended
+enthusiastically.
+
+"I think it will be a little too early, my boy," smiled his aunt.
+
+"I don't wish to be too late."
+
+"But it will be some years before you are a merchant."
+
+"I am going to join the marines," exclaimed Franz eagerly. "Father
+wishes me to be a forester, and I had not made up my mind what I would
+be. Now I know. Yes, I will join the marines. Oh, that is a jolly life."
+
+"Are you sure of that, my boy?" asked a man who stood near them on the
+crowded bridge, and Mrs. Steiner turned to greet August Stayman whom she
+had known from his boyhood, and introduced the boys to him.
+
+"And so you think the life of a marine a jolly one?" he asked, turning
+again to Franz. "Well, our kaiser will need good strong men, and I will
+not discourage you. I was three years on the sea in storm and adventure,
+on a war-vessel, and am yet living and in good health."
+
+"And what are you now?" asked Fritz.
+
+"I am the owner of a cloth and clothing store, and also a tailor, and
+can wield the needle as well as ever, although my hands had been
+hardened by the heavy ropes."
+
+"Did you have to come to Frankfort to join the marines?" asked Franz.
+
+"No, I was born in Frankfort on the shore of the Main. People used to
+call me a water-rat; and they were right, for I became a more expert
+seaman on the Main than do many on the ocean. My longing was to be a
+seaman, and my mother, who was at first opposed to it, gave consent, and
+I have never regretted it. I looked death in the face many times, but
+escaped without a scratch."
+
+The boys were deeply interested in this conversation, but it was
+interrupted by a succession of splendid fireworks on the island which
+surprised and delighted them beyond measure. They almost held their
+breath while watching an especially brilliant piece reflected in the
+water.
+
+"Now, boys, we will go," said Aunt Steiner when the last exhibition of
+the evening fireworks went up, making the words "good-night" high in the
+air; "and we will call at a confectioner's for a glass of ice-cream
+soda."
+
+"Let me have the pleasure of showing some attention to your young
+guests," said Mr. Stayman. "I shall be pleased to accompany you to the
+store."
+
+Mrs. Steiner gave willing assent, and soon the five thirsty ones found
+themselves upon comfortable seats under the awning in front of the store
+and Mr. Stayman gave the order for five glasses of ice-cream soda with
+cake. This was a pleasant ending to the first evening of sight-seeing in
+Frankfort, and the triplets realized that "their lines had fallen in
+pleasant places."
+
+As they were separating Mrs. Steiner thanked Mr. Stayman for his
+kindness, and he in turn invited her guests to visit his store, which
+was eagerly agreed to by Fritz, who considered the clothing business
+exactly in his line.
+
+"Then you expect to be a clothing merchant, do you?" asked his new
+acquaintance.
+
+"Yes, a merchant in the manufacturing branch of the business," was the
+reply in a slightly pompous tone and manner.
+
+"Well, then it may be that you will come to Frankfort and learn the
+business of me."
+
+"Study to be a tailor? No, I do no care to learn to sew."
+
+"What have you against the trade of tailoring? Do you know any that is
+more honorable? Is it not our business here upon earth to serve our
+fellow-men? And are not our fellow-men well served by having clothes
+made for them? If a tailor understands his business and works at it in a
+faithful, honest manner, he is as much to be respected as a kaiser who
+rules his people in a just and faithful manner. Listen to this little
+rhyme:
+
+"'Not everyone can wear a kaiser's hat,
+Not everyone must daily gutters sweep;
+Yet everyone can do his honest work,
+In palace or in hut his charge can keep.'
+
+"Do not think I am censuring you, my dear boy, but never, never speak
+disparagingly of any honest work."
+
+"That little verse pleases me," remarked the quiet but observing Paul.
+"My father often says the same thing but not in verse. He says that work
+is no disgrace to anyone. And he tells his pupils that the smut that is
+upon the hands of a toiling man can be washed off by soap, but no soap
+can wash away the smutty word that comes from the lips."
+
+"That is true indeed," commented Mrs. Steiner, "and now we must journey
+toward home and the blessed land of sleep, as my dear mother always
+called the bedroom. And she was right, for a comfortable bedroom is
+indeed a blessed place to the weary one at the close of a hard day's
+labor or the child wearied with play."
+
+They bade Mr. Stayman a cordial farewell, and, taking another glance at
+the gay scene about them, returned to the quiet flat.
+
+The boys began to realize how tired they were when they reached number
+37, and went directly to their room and to bed.
+
+When all was quiet, the careful aunt went in and just as she had
+expected, found no one had thought to put out the light. Moreover,
+Fritz was lying with his feet upon the raised part of the lounge and his
+head on the low part.
+
+"Fritz, dear boy, Fritz!" she said, shaking him by the shoulder, "wake
+up! You must not sleep with your head so low."
+
+"Oh, aunt," he said plaintively, "let me sleep. I am all right."
+
+"No, you are not all right, and you shall sleep the whole blessed night
+when you get in a more comfortable position. Don't you see that your
+feet are on the pillow where your head ought to be?"
+
+"Yes, but I was sleeping so well. Aunt, see you turned the lounge the
+other way, the head was down this way when we first came."
+
+"Yes, Fritz, you are right. I did turn it that you might not be waked by
+the sun shining upon your eyelids. Now step off, quick, and put your
+heels in their proper place."
+
+"Oh, aunt, indeed I am satisfied. Please do not make me get up."
+
+"But I am not satisfied," and Mrs. Steiner helped him rise and still
+half asleep he dropped back upon the lounge with his head upon the
+pillow. She kissed his fair forehead, took up the lamp, and glanced at
+the three sleepers, perfect pictures of healthy, happy boyhood.
+
+"Now, Fritz, is not that a more comfortable way to sleep?" she asked,
+but there was no response for he was fast asleep.
+
+"It would be a happy day for me, if he could come to Frankfort and live
+with me," she said to herself, "but not as I will, but as God wills. May
+He protect them all through life, and keep them pure of heart as now;
+and ten years hence may they look as openly and honestly into the faces
+of their fellow-creatures as they do now. Let them not seek worldly
+honors in preference to the favor of God."
+
+Then she went softly from the room to her own apartment.
+
+Pixy was the first to awake the next morning, and had a good run in the
+grassy backyard to get an appetite for breakfast.
+
+"Now it is time to wake our sleepers," said Mrs. Steiner, and went to
+the door of the room to call them.
+
+They were too sound asleep to hear the call, and she opened the door and
+looked in. Upon the floor on the side of the bed occupied by Paul lay
+the pillow, and on the floor by the side of Franz's place lay the sheet.
+Fritz had lost his blanket during the night, and, not more than half
+awake, had reached out for it and gotten his handkerchief, which he had
+spread over his shoulders, and his head was resting upon the chair which
+his careful aunt had placed in front of the head-piece of the lounge.
+
+"Wake up, sleepers!" she said cheerfully. "The sun has been up this long
+while. There is only one washstand, but you can take turns at it; and
+there is a pitcher of cool fresh water. Now make yourselves neat as
+quickly as possible that you may be ready for breakfast."
+
+She returned to the kitchen and presently the odor of frying sausage and
+steaming coffee floated into the room, and a little later the triplets
+stood beside Mrs. Steiner, neat, refreshed and in splendid spirits.
+
+"Pixy has been trying to take a bath in the pan of fresh water that I
+set out for the birds," said Mrs. Steiner, "and as he could not get into
+it, he dipped a foot in as does a cat. All animals try to be clean if we
+give them the chance. Take that largest tin basin, Fritz, fill it with
+water, dip this dust brush in it, and wash him. It will answer almost as
+well as if he were put in a tub. See, he seems to understand what I am
+saying and wags his tail as if to say, 'yes, little mother, all animals
+love a bath, and would be clean if given the chance.'"
+
+The boys hurried away and gave Pixy his bath which he certainly enjoyed,
+and had just finished when Mrs. Steiner called them to breakfast. They
+were about to take their places when Mrs. Steiner asked Fritz if he had
+not forgotten something.
+
+"No, Aunt Steiner, I cannot think of anything that I have forgotten," he
+said.
+
+"Go back to the kitchen, dear, and you will see Pixy's dish with bits of
+bread in it, softened and made richer by having some of the sausage
+gravy upon it. He smelled it, as did you while it was cooking, and we
+must not disappoint him. Go set his breakfast on the porch for him, and
+then we will have ours."
+
+This was done, and all took seats, the blessing was asked, and then Mrs.
+Steiner in her pleasant way called attention to the pure white linen
+tablecloth.
+
+"You see, boys," she said, "that it is white and spotless; and you
+perhaps do not know how much labor there is in placing even one piece of
+washing in this fine condition. Now, I wish one of you to pour the
+coffee, and pass the cups around without spilling any."
+
+"Let me pour it, Aunt Fanny," said Fritz, and he poured a cupful for
+each person and passed it without spilling a drop, while Aunt Steiner
+served the sausage.
+
+Then Fritz poured his own coffee, and in passing it to his place he
+noticed a tiny stain at Paul's plate. Immediately a discussion arose
+between them as to who was to blame in the matter.
+
+"Never mind," said Mrs. Steiner soothingly, "I am satisfied that the
+whole cup of coffee has not flowed over the cloth. We will cover the
+stain with the mantle of love and charity in the shape of a clean
+napkin."
+
+It was such a satisfaction to Fritz to see it hidden that he was ready
+to ask a question.
+
+"Aunt Fanny," he said, "where are we to go to-day?"
+
+"Every place is new to you, and you can go where you prefer, but on
+horses that do not eat oats."
+
+The boys understood that she meant that they must go on foot; and were
+well satisfied.
+
+"Our horse at home eats oats," remarked Franz, "and loves sugar. Every
+morning, when papa is ready to ride to the forest mamma goes to the gate
+with him, with a lump of sugar for Betty, and always says, 'Now, Betty,
+be a good little horse to-day and bring your master safely home to his
+wife and children this evening. Do you understand?' and she does really
+seem to understand and neighs gently as much as to say 'I will.'"
+
+"Can you go out alone, do you think, or do you wish me to go with you?"
+asked Mrs. Steiner when breakfast was finished.
+
+"I am sure we could go alone," replied Fritz. "If we get lost we will
+ask the way to 37 Bornheimer street."
+
+They put on their straw hats for the march, and Pixy, who evidently
+thought that they were going home, sprang up in delight, and was so full
+of frolic that Fritz could scarcely fasten the cord to his collar.
+
+"Now, are you going out without one of you thinking of something you
+have left undone?" asked Mrs. Steiner gently. "Will you not write one
+line to your parents to tell them of your safe arrival?"
+
+"Yes, truly we forgot it," and the three looked at each other, then laid
+aside their hats. Fritz ran to his satchel for paper and envelopes, but
+his aunt told him that post-cards would be sufficient and supplied them
+with three, saying that they could write letters later.
+
+"Would it not be better to wait and get scenery cards?" asked the
+thoughtful Paul; "scenes of something we will see while we are out
+to-day?"
+
+"No, write now, and just a few words that your parents may get them this
+evening. It may perhaps save them sleepless nights."
+
+The triplets sat down immediately to the business of writing home. Franz
+wrote so large that he could only get upon it the few words: "My dear
+father and mother and sister: We got safely to Frankfort last evening."
+
+Fritz, with his usual frugality, used but a third part of his postal,
+and Paul took the middle course, and neatly filled his card.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+FRITZ IN TROUBLE
+
+
+When the boys had finished writing their postals, they bade Mrs. Steiner
+good morning and set out to see what they could of Frankfort without a
+helper, and their first aim was to find a letter box. They had nearly
+reached one when Franz noticed that he had not written the address upon
+his postal. He saw no remedy but to go back and mount the long flight of
+steps to correct his mistake. But a gentleman who was also about to post
+a letter comforted him by the assurance that his parents would receive
+it if the address were written with a pencil, and loaned him one, to the
+great satisfaction of the whole party.
+
+"And now, my boy," added the gentleman when they heard the postal rattle
+into the box, "remember to always direct a letter, postal or package
+clearly, and correctly and then look again at the address before
+dropping it into the box."
+
+The triplets promised to remember, and the gentleman bade them
+good-bye, and hurried down the street.
+
+"Now, where will we go first?" inquired Fritz.
+
+"I think the zoological garden would be the best place," suggested Paul,
+but Fritz had set his heart upon seeing soldiers, for in their home
+neighborhood they saw a soldier only now and then when home upon a
+furlough; but a regiment, or a company even, they had never seen. So
+they walked along the street some distance hoping to see a drill, having
+read of drills and maneuvers in their story books.
+
+"Look! There comes an officer," exclaimed Franz, as a corporal came
+walking along in a stately, dignified manner, and the delighted boys
+took off their hats and bowed low to him.
+
+The young man was not at all flattered by this attention, believing that
+the country boys were making fun of him; but his angry stare was
+positive proof to the triplets that he was some great man, Fritz
+deciding that he was a general.
+
+"But if he were a general, he would ride upon a splendid horse. He would
+not walk," remarked Paul.
+
+"But he would walk sometimes," insisted Fritz, and at that moment they
+met a drummer, and again the boys doffed their hats and bowed low.
+
+"If I were a soldier, I would be a drummer," decided Fritz. "No
+instrument makes such beautiful music as a drum; and a person must
+understand music to be a drummer."
+
+"But a captain is greater than a drummer," said Paul, "and a general is
+greater than a captain."
+
+"Yes, people say so, but if you notice, it is the drummer who leads the
+way. All the others have to follow him. I always think of a verse that
+tells exactly what I think. Shall I say it to you?"
+
+"Yes, if it is not too long," replied both of his companions, and Fritz
+repeated it.
+
+"My comrades envy me, I know,
+  They can deny it not;
+For drummer of the regiment
+  Has been my happy lot.
+
+"And at a tap, or drum's loud beat
+  The soldiers follow me;
+The general, even, has no choice,
+  He follows, too, you see.
+
+"But if it had not been my lot
+ To be a drummer boy
+Then I would be a General;
+ But not with half the joy."
+
+"He was right!" agreed the boys, "and when we are soldiers we will be
+drummers."
+
+Chatting amicably, they reached the beautiful flower-bordered walks
+where they had been the evening before, and sat down under the shade of
+a great linden to watch the swan swimming about in the lake. They had
+scarcely been seated when a soldier passed and again the triplets raised
+their hats, and some street boys who were playing near raised a shout of
+derision.
+
+"Look at the country boobies taking off their hats to a common soldier!"
+they cried, and gathered about the three with mocking laughter and
+jeers.
+
+"Where did you come from to be so green?" asked one of them.
+
+"There is no need for you to know, therefore no need for us to tell
+you," answered Franz.
+
+"See the hayseeds who come here and think they know it all! I will take
+this hat and keep it until its owner tells me what I asked," and he
+grasped Paul's hat, intending to run, but Paul was too quick for him,
+for he lay hold of the boy's arm, and got his hat.
+
+This was just what the rough street urchins wanted, and they gathered
+about the three; pushed against Odysseus-Fritz, Achilles-Franz and
+Patroclus-Paul, and as no policeman was near, they would have mastered
+the three peaceable, well-bred boys, but at that moment Pixy, who had
+been watching the game, sprang in the midst of the melee, grasped the
+sleeve of one of the boys, snarling savagely, as if he were a terribly
+dangerous dog, indeed. The frightened boy tore himself loose with such
+force that he fell to the ground and Pixy, as though scorning to attack
+a fallen enemy, grasped the seat of the pants of another boy, tore a
+piece out, which released the boy, and he and the others ran as fast as
+their feet would carry them from such a dangerous locality. Pixy
+followed their hasty flight, barking vigorously, and would have made
+another attack had not Fritz called him back. The three Grecian heroes
+petted and praised him, and he wagged his tail for joy, and capered
+about them as much as to say, "Didn't I make them fly!"
+
+Yet prouder was his young master, and he could not help reminding his
+comrades that he was not so foolish after all in bringing his dog to
+Frankfort, to which they agreed, for they felt much relieved at the
+scatterment of the rough and violent street urchins.
+
+"But," continued Fritz, "it will be better for us to leave here, for
+these rough boys may collect a larger company and come back and fight
+us; and as brave as Pixy is, he might not be able to manage them all."
+
+"Say, boys," exclaimed Franz after they had walked some distance, "we
+will not raise our hats to every soldier that happens along. That is why
+the street boys made fun of us. It would be all right if we only knew a
+General should he come along for then it would certainly be good form to
+raise our hats to him. But we don't know, so we won't raise our hats to
+any man in uniform," advised Franz. All agreeing to this decision, they
+passed on to the business part of the city, Pixy trotting near them, his
+young master holding fast to his rope.
+
+"Just see that splendid clothing-house made of glass and iron, and
+filled from basement to roof with beautiful suits of clothing of all
+kinds," said Fritz delightedly. "A man could go in there in a
+morning-gown, and come out in a quarter of an hour dressed like a
+gentleman from head to foot. Father told me of a splendid clothing-house
+here in Frankfort, and this must be the one. Let us go in and see it."
+
+"But we cannot take Pixy in," said thoughtful Paul. "Surely they would
+not allow dogs in that beautiful place."
+
+"No," replied Fritz, "you boys may go in first, and I will stay here
+with Pixy. After you have been through the building you can stay with
+him while I go."
+
+Franz and Paul hurried in, and Fritz stood by the great glass front, and
+examined with the eyes of an experienced clothing merchant the elegant
+cloth garments hanging within.
+
+"They are wonderfully cheap," he said to himself as he considered the
+cards upon them. "We could not afford to sell them at that price. But
+then who knows whether they are well made? If I were going to buy them,
+I would examine them well before paying any money for them."
+
+So the future clothing merchant chatted to himself, and did not take
+notice that a tall, handsomely dressed and gentlemanly-looking stranger
+was gazing upon him with a smile of benevolent good-comradeship, and at
+length spoke to him.
+
+"You appear to be a stranger here, my young friend," he said in a
+winning tone, and he lifted his glossy silk hat as he spoke.
+
+"Yes, sir; I was never in Frankfort before; and came only yesterday."
+
+"Then I am sure that there is much to see and to hear that will be new
+to you."
+
+"Yes, for I came from the country, and this is the first city I have
+ever seen."
+
+"But can you enjoy it so well alone?"
+
+"I am not alone; two of my classmates are with me. They have gone into
+this clothing house, and when they come back they will hold my dog and
+I will go."
+
+"Then I will remain with you until they come, for I love the company of
+young people. I will also be a protection to you, for there are many bad
+characters in a great city."
+
+"Yes, I have read and heard of them and it is very kind in you to stay.
+I have read in our newspapers of the cunning rogues, and I am on the
+lookout for them. My comrades could be more easily deceived than I, for
+I am quite sure that I would know one the moment I saw him; and would
+like to see one."
+
+"Your reply proves to me that you are intelligent and thoughtful beyond
+your years, and certainly have no need of anyone to protect you, for you
+can take care of yourself. I wish other boys would read more about these
+light-fingered people and they would be on their guard. Now you might be
+seeing something while you are waiting for your friends. We might walk
+about the square and they will see us when they come out of the store,
+for we will keep in sight of it."
+
+Fritz was pleased with this proposal and walked slowly along with his
+new acquaintance, who pointed out with his cane objects of interest and
+at times laid his hand on the boy's shoulder like an affectionate
+father, and Fritz felt perfectly at home with him.
+
+At length they reached a tall column upon which was pasted many bills
+and placards.
+
+"Have you read this?" asked the new acquaintance, pointing to one of
+them with his cane.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Well now, read it aloud."
+
+"Way to the Zoological Aquarium," repeated Fritz.
+
+"Now this one."
+
+"Beware of pick-pockets."
+
+"It is good advice. I must see if I have my money," and he touched his
+pocket; his example followed by Fritz.
+
+"Yes, mine is all right yet. How is it with yours, my dear young friend?
+I hope your money is in a safe place, that is, if you have any with
+you?"
+
+"Yes, I have two dollars and some small money; but better than all, I
+have a gold piece that I keep in the safest place in my pocketbook. I am
+not intending to spend it for I have enough without it, but my father
+said that one ought to have more money with him than he thinks he will
+need."
+
+"Your father is evidently a kind and sensible man."
+
+"Yes, he certainly is. He told me to keep my nickels in my vest pocket
+that I need not take out my pocketbook when with strangers."
+
+"That is true in most cases, my boy, but from long experience in living
+in a city I would advise that you put it all in one place. If all your
+money is in your pocketbook you can guard it much better than if your
+attention was divided by having to guard two places."
+
+Fritz took the advice and his nickels to the value of two marks were
+taken from his vest pocket and put in his purse, and the purse returned
+to the pocket of his pants.
+
+"Now that is right, and you may thank this notice which has warned you.
+Just see how easily one expert pick-pocket could have gotten your money
+had you not been warned," and he showed Fritz how it could be done.
+
+Pixy had kept his eyes upon the stranger and when he saw his hand glide
+down to the pocket, he gave a low growl.
+
+"Be quiet, Pixy!" said his master. "Don't you know a friend from an
+enemy? Excuse my dog's bad manners, please; he is not in a good humor.
+Some street boys attacked us, and he had to fight them off."
+
+"Don't say a word, my dear boy. He is a faithful servant. If he is
+jealous of a friend, he would have a still sharper eye upon an enemy if
+one should happen along. Now, Pixy, good, brave dog, eat this piece of
+candy, and let us be friends."
+
+He took the candy from his vest pocket and offered it, but Pixy scorned
+the gift, and gave an angry growl.
+
+"Oh well, doggie, I will not trouble you any longer," and he put the
+candy back in his pocket. "Now I must away. Bye-bye, my boy, and
+beware--of--pick-pockets," and he disappeared around the corner.
+
+Pixy sprang up to follow, but the boy called him back.
+
+"Franz was right, Pixy, when he said you have no sense," complained
+Fritz, as the dog continued to give dissatisfied growls. "You don't know
+a kind, good man from a thief and dislike him only because he is a
+stranger. Yes," he said to himself, as he walked along back to the
+store, "it was real kind in him to warn me, for he did not know but I
+was a stupid country boy who had never heard of pocket-took thieves. I
+would like to see a thief that could put his hand in my pocket without
+my knowing it. Stupid people are yet to be found, for with all the
+reports of thieves in the papers, there are people who allow themselves
+to be robbed, but they are generally women. People like me would know a
+thief the moment they saw him."
+
+By this time he had reached the store, and wondered what kept the boys
+so long within.
+
+"They forgot that I am waiting outside," he said to himself, "and I am
+terribly hungry. There is a bakery across the street. I will run over
+and buy a roll."
+
+No sooner said than done; he ran across, and the odor of fresh bread,
+cakes and pretzels filled the place. He bought a roll, and took a bite
+while feeling in his pocket for his purse.
+
+"Oh, it is gone!" he cried, turning pale with distress.
+
+"Put your hand in your other pocket," said the saleswoman. "It may be
+there."
+
+This was quickly done, but it was not to be found.
+
+"I don't believe you had any money," said the woman, angrily, "but took
+that planning to get the roll without paying for it. I will call a
+policeman."
+
+"Oh, please don't!" cried the boy, with tears streaming down his cheeks,
+"I will pay you when I see my aunt. She is Mrs. Fanny Steiner, number 37
+Bornheimer street."
+
+"Yes, now I believe that you are telling me the exact truth that you had
+money and have lost it."
+
+"No, I did not lose it; it was stolen from me by a man who warned me
+against thieves."
+
+"Then I should certainly call a policeman that you may have a chance of
+getting your money by giving a description of the pick-pocket."
+
+"Oh no, please don't call him. I am afraid of a policeman, and don't
+want to see one."
+
+"But why? That is foolish of you. They are our protectors. Only bad
+boys need fear them; honest people are glad to call upon them in
+trouble."
+
+"There comes Franz and Paul out of the clothing store," and he ran to
+the door and called them, and they came across the street and into the
+bakery.
+
+"What are you crying about?" asked Franz. "Have the street boys been
+fighting you while we were in the store?"
+
+"No, I wish it had been the rude, ill-mannered rabble instead of the
+polite, kind-appearing gentleman who was a thief and stole my money. I
+am so ashamed that I was deceived by his pleasant words. Besides, I have
+bought a roll and cannot pay for it."
+
+"Oh, that is all right!" said his companions, taking out their
+pocketbooks. "Here is your money for it, lady, and we will each buy a
+roll."
+
+"Come, Fritz," said Paul as he took a bite out of his roll, "eat your
+roll and come with us. It is no use to stay here."
+
+"Oh, my hunger is gone, and how can I forget my loss when I need my
+money every day?"
+
+"But what is the use of fretting over it?" said Franz, impatiently.
+"The money is gone, and crying will not bring it back, so you may as
+well make the best of it."
+
+"Yes, Franz, it is easy for you to talk that way when you have your
+money in your pocket. But mine is gone. Even the few nickels that were
+in my vest pocket were taken by the miserable thief," and tears streamed
+from the boy's eyes.
+
+"I do feel sorry for you," said the saleswoman. "Had you much money in
+your pocketbook?"
+
+"Yes, I had two silver dollars and a ten-mark gold piece with the face
+of Kaiser Frederick upon it. My father got it in trade, and he put it on
+the Christmas tree for me. It was new and bright and beautiful, and now
+it is gone. Besides I had two marks, and the nickels in my vest
+pocket--and--"
+
+"What is the use of calling them all over?" complained Franz. "This is
+the third time you have called them. They will not come back like tame
+birds that know their names."
+
+"Just think of the lines we repeat in school: 'Happy are we if we forget
+what we cannot change,'" Paul said by way of comfort.
+
+"Yes, Paul, that is all right when people are not in trouble, but it
+will not bring back my beautiful, bright gold-piece and my--"
+
+"It was not very smart of you to allow yourself to be robbed," rejoined
+Paul quickly. "No thief would have gotten the chance to fool _me_ that
+way. I would not have been so friendly with a strange man as to allow
+him the chance to get his fingers in my pocket."
+
+"Oh, Paul! you think you are very wise, but you would have been taken in
+just as I was by his smooth, sleek speech. The rascal was so pleasant
+and kind! It is a lesson to me, but that does not bring my money back;
+oh, my gold-piece, and my two dollars--boo--hoo--hoo--"
+
+"Oh, do be quiet!" warned Franz. "Don't you see that people are
+gathering about the door?"
+
+"Yes, you are right; I will be quiet, but we must go back now to Aunt
+Fanny's. I have had enough of Frankfort for one day."
+
+To this the others agreed, but when they left the bakery they went in
+the wrong direction, and had gone many squares before they realized
+their mistake.
+
+"Yes, you are going exactly in the opposite direction from 37 Bornheimer
+street," said a policeman whom they accosted. "Face about and enquire
+of policemen and postmen whom you meet, and in time you will get there."
+
+This they did and when they reached 37, Mrs. Steiner was on the porch
+looking for them. They ran up the steps and Franz and Paul left
+explanations to Fritz, who fell upon her neck weeping, and sobbing, "Oh,
+Aunt Fanny, it is gone, all gone!"
+
+"What is gone? Tell me, my little Fritz. You frighten me."
+
+"My pocketbook, with my beautiful, bright gold-piece with the picture
+of Kaiser Frederick on it, and my two hard dollars, and my two
+mark-pieces--and my nickels; all are gone!"
+
+"But, my pet, suppose you have lost your pocketbook, that is not saying
+that it cannot be found. There are plenty of honest people in the world
+who would be glad to return it if they could find the owner. We will
+search the papers and we may see in the 'found' column that some one has
+it, and will give it up to you."
+
+"But, aunt, it is not an honest person but a thief who has it. I had no
+idea that anybody could steal from me," and he poured forth the whole
+story, concluding with, "Oh, my beautiful, bright gold-piece, with the
+face of Kaiser Frederick upon it!"
+
+"Stolen! Dear Fritz, that is an entirely different thing from being
+lost. I, too, would never have thought of you allowing yourself to be
+robbed, for you spoke of reading so much about pick-pockets. It is
+evident that your dog was a better judge than his master. He had no
+confidence in the man, while you almost gave him your pocketbook."
+
+"Oh, Aunt, don't remind me of that! I know it too well myself."
+
+"No, dear, and I am sorry for your loss, and hope it will not make you
+lose confidence in your fellow-men. For one thief in the world there are
+thousands of honest people, but in a strange city and in a crowd one can
+be on guard without hurting the feelings of any stranger. Now I will
+hurry to the police station and give the information. No doubt you are
+not the only one the rascal has robbed, but if I can help it you will be
+the last, for a time at least. Franz, my boy, go to the kitchen and stir
+the beans. Stir quietly all the time I am gone. The soup and the veal
+roast are ready, and we can eat as soon as I come back, which will be in
+a few minutes."
+
+She threw a little, fleecy shawl over her head and ran down the steps
+as lightly as a girl of fifteen. The boys in the meantime were in the
+kitchen, Fritz being so comforted by his aunt's sympathy and help that
+he could turn his attention to the dinner.
+
+"This is pea-soup," he said, "and I certainly like it. Do you, Paul?"
+
+"Yes, and the veal and the beans are good."
+
+"But I could enjoy them all more if I had not lost my money. Oh, my
+beautiful gold-piece with the--"
+
+"Likeness of Kaiser Frederick upon it," finished Franz. "Oh, Fritz, do
+give us a rest! It is gone, and if you tell it a thousand times, it will
+not make the thief bring it back and put it in your pocket. No, the
+rogue will have many good meals with its help, and the money will find
+its way into many pockets."
+
+"Yes, that is what makes me feel so badly about it. I tried to save
+every penny of it and now it is gone! No wonder that you can feel
+cheerful! you have your money, but I--"
+
+At that moment his Aunt Fanny returned, and brought some cheer with her.
+
+"While the police have no clue to the thief," she slid, "as no one saw
+the theft committed, yet they will take every means to trap him. And
+now, Fritz, don't grieve any more. You shall not feel the need of money
+if I can help it, for when you want it you shall have it. Now we will
+take the meat and other things to the table, but first I must fix Pixy's
+plate."
+
+This was done and Fritz carried it to the porch, then they took seats at
+the table, their plates were filled and a dish of the pea-soup was at
+each plate. The kind little hostess was glad to see that they ate
+heartily and enjoyed their dinner. As she glanced at Fritz she said to
+herself: "Thank goodness that it was his money that was lost instead of
+his appetite. That would be a far worse loss than even his gold-piece."
+
+Roast veal, potatoes, beans and lettuce disappeared like mist, and
+before they arose from the table she said: "Boys, is your hunger
+entirely satisfied?"
+
+"Perfectly satisfied!" was the unanimous response.
+
+"Oh, what a pity!" she said, as if reflecting.
+
+"Why a pity, Aunt Fanny?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Because I have a basket of fine ripe cherries in the cupboard which I
+intended for dessert. But as you are satisfied, I suppose we must wait
+for another time."
+
+The young guests looked crestfallen, and for a time were silent; then
+Franz came to the rescue with the right word.
+
+"Cherries," he remarked, "have so much juice that I do not know that
+they could be called food. Instead, I would say that they are more like
+drink."
+
+"Franz, you are a born lawyer," laughed Aunt Fanny. "You certainly
+deserve a fee for that brilliant opinion. As you say that you are
+satisfied that you have sufficient food, you may bring in a fresh drink
+in the shape of ripe, red cherries."
+
+Franz was not slow to obey, and soon four heaps of cherry stones proved
+that the new drink was appreciated.
+
+"Now could you enjoy another dessert?" asked Aunt Fanny, smilingly. "One
+that you will appreciate quite as much as the red cherries? Look!" and
+she held up a letter and two postals.
+
+"Oh, please, please! They bring us news from home," cried the boys in a
+breath; and Fritz asked who was to get the letter.
+
+"It is for Paul, and you and Franz get the postals. Now you can read
+them while I take the dishes from the table."
+
+"Oh," exclaimed Franz, "they have gathered the summer pears, and I was
+not there to help. But all are well, and they send love to Aunt Steiner
+and thank her for her goodness to me. Boys, what have you in yours?"
+
+"All are well," responded Fritz, "but father says I should not have
+brought Pixy. He says that he will not only be a trouble to us and to
+Aunt Fanny, but it will do the dog no good."
+
+"I have never thought to ask where you got Pixy," remarked his aunt,
+"perhaps you can tell me, Fritz."
+
+"Yes, aunt. He belonged to a neighbor who did not want him so gave him
+away. One cold day in winter the poor dog came all the way back, half
+starved, and scratched at our neighbor's door; but the hard-hearted man
+threw a bucket of cold water upon him and he ran to our door. Father
+took him in, fed and dried him, and the first week kept saying, 'If I
+only knew of some one who wants a good, gentle, young dog.' After
+another week he said, 'I will keep the dog. I could not bear to give him
+to some one that might not be kind to him.' So we kept him and named him
+Pixy, which father said was another name for fairy. I hope nothing will
+happen to him on this journey, for father would be so sorry."
+
+"We will all care for him, that nothing may happen," said his aunt,
+cheerfully.
+
+"Aunt Fanny, when I write home, will you write a line in my letter and
+say that you will see that nothing happens to Pixy?"
+
+"Certainly, I will say that we will take the best care of him that we
+can."
+
+"Oh, yes, Pixy will be all right, but my beautiful, bright gold-piece
+which--"
+
+"Have you begun to sing that old song again?" exclaimed Franz. "You have
+been robbed of your money, and you are robbing us of pleasure!"
+
+"Oh yes, you can talk of pleasure, but I--"
+
+"Listen, my boy," said his aunt, "worrying will not bring your
+pocketbook back, and you must not lose this beautiful afternoon in
+grieving; but go out and see something of the city. My old friend and
+cousin, Gotfried Braun, is coming to go with you and will point out
+places of interest. He knows them all for he has lived in Frankfort all
+his life, and will give you the history of them."
+
+"I am real glad. I love to see and hear of historic places," said Paul,
+and he had scarcely finished speaking when the old gentleman stepped in
+and was greeted as a loved friend.
+
+"All the young people of his acquaintance call him Uncle Braun, and I
+think he will be pleased to have my boys call him that, will you not,
+cousin?" she enquired, turning to the old man.
+
+"I certainly will, and now let us set out, for we have much to see."
+
+"Can I take Pixy, Uncle Braun?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Yes, you can take him, for we are not going into any buildings to-day,
+but when we visit them he cannot go unless he wears jacket and trousers
+and walks upright."
+
+Fritz was jubilant over this and the three rushed for their hats, and
+they were off. Mrs. Steiner, standing upon the porch, looked after them
+until they were out of sight.
+
+"Thank good Braun that I can stay at home this afternoon for I have many
+things to do that cannot be put off any longer," she said to herself, as
+she set to work to put the place in order and then go out to buy things
+to cook for supper.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A WHOLE DAY OF SIGHT-SEEING
+
+
+The four descended the steps, Fritz leading Pixy, and were soon in the
+main streets of the city, where the constant hurrying of feet and the
+rush of traffic was a continual subject of wonder to the country boys.
+In the windows of the large stores they saw so many things that were new
+to them, some of them from foreign countries, that they could scarcely
+move on and Uncle Braun waited patiently, answering innumerable
+questions.
+
+"Is this the first time that you have ever seen diamonds, pearls and
+other precious gems?" he asked when they remained long at the windows of
+a large jewelry store.
+
+"Yes," Fritz replied, "our parents have none, nor have our neighbors.
+Oh, how beautiful they are! and just see the price that is upon the
+earrings."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand marks."
+
+"Ten thousand marks," echoed Franz. "Why, that would buy a house and
+garden in the Odenwald."
+
+"Does any person except queens and other royal people wear such things?"
+asked Paul.
+
+"Certainly! There are many people in Frankfort who buy and wear them. If
+you are surprised at the price of the earrings, I am sure that you would
+be more astonished did we know the price of the diamond necklace."
+
+"Uncle Braun, do you suppose that it was this jewelry store that was
+robbed a few weeks ago?" asked Fritz. "I saw an account of it in a
+Frankfort paper."
+
+"I cannot say. There are many jewelry stores here, also many thieves."
+
+"Oh," cried the boy, at the remembrance of his own loss, "my new, bright
+gold-piece--"
+
+"With the likeness of Kaiser Frederick upon it!" completed Franz. "You
+see we can repeat that wail all right."
+
+"Don't tease him, Franz, my boy," remarked Uncle Braun in a kind, yet
+rebuking tone. "You have not as yet had the opportunity to show us how
+you would act if all your money was stolen. Fritz has nothing to be
+ashamed of that he was deceived by the smooth-tongued stranger. I will
+tell you what happened to a baker, a middle-aged man, who has lived in
+Frankfort all his life. He was sitting in his bakery one day when he
+heard the footsteps of a man going up the steps of his house, which had
+two front doors, one leading into the bakery and the other up the
+stairway to the bedrooms.
+
+"He went to the door and looked up and there was a man who appeared to
+be going up, but was in reality coming down backwards. He halted when he
+heard the sound at the door.
+
+"He had a large bundle tied up in a compact roll, consisting of bed,
+pillows and bed clothing and did not appear to be in the least haste.
+
+"'What are you doing there?' called the baker.
+
+"'Isn't this the pawn-broker's shop?' asked the stranger.
+
+"'No, that is on the next square. You go to the corner and turn to the
+right, and there you are.'
+
+"'Thank you!'
+
+"The baker returned to his bakery and the man went out and down the
+street. When night came and the family went to retire there was no bed
+or bed-clothing in the baker's room. The clever thief had made off with
+them."
+
+Fritz seemed somewhat comforted to hear that he was not the only one who
+had been outwitted.
+
+Farther on the boys took keen interest in a bicycle race.
+
+"Oh, look at them!" Fritz exclaimed. "A whole regiment of them! How can
+the dealer sell so many?"
+
+"He must sell a great many more than you see there in order to pay the
+rent of his store."
+
+"Yes," agreed Fritz, knowingly, "the rents are high with us, too; there
+is one man in our village who pays one hundred and eighty marks for the
+rent of his store."
+
+"That is quite a sum of money, my boy," smiled Uncle Braun, "but look at
+this small store we are passing. I happen to know that the rent of it is
+ten times your one hundred and eighty marks."
+
+"Is that possible? Then if he got but a mark for each pair of shoes, he
+would have to sell eighteen hundred pairs in a year to make the rent."
+
+"I don't know how many he sells, but I do know that he has been there
+for a long time and does a flourishing business."
+
+"Oh, listen to the music in this store!" exclaimed Paul, "singing, and
+no singer to be seen."
+
+"I thought it would surprise you. That is a phonograph. Now listen, do
+you know the air?"
+
+"Yes, it is from '_Der Freischutz_,' and oh, how beautifully it is done!
+How can it be possible for it to sing so correctly?" and the triplets
+listened with delight. They would have lingered much longer but Uncle
+Braun reminded them that time was passing, and there was much more to
+see.
+
+"Do you know anything of the poet Goethe?" he asked as they passed
+along.
+
+"Oh, yes!" they all exclaimed eagerly.
+
+"Would you like to see the house in which he was born? I am sure you
+would, so we will go directly to it. The old house has been restored and
+is just as it was when he lived there. He was born in 1749. How old
+would he be if living?"
+
+It did not take the triplets an instant to state exactly the number of
+years, then their old friend asked which of Goethe's poems they liked
+most.
+
+"I like the 'Singer,'" said Paul, "and I like the 'Erlking,' but when my
+father read it aloud to us last winter my little sister crept under the
+sofa. She was afraid."
+
+By this time they had reached the old house, and it was a delight to the
+triplets to see the rooms in which he had played when a boy like them.
+They looked from the windows from which he had gazed at the fields
+beyond, and did not wonder that every intelligent stranger who came to
+Frankfort paid a visit to the old house, where the greatest poet that
+Germany has ever known--John Wolfgang von Goethe--lived and wrote.
+
+"Where would you like to go next?" asked Uncle Braun.
+
+"To the bridge over the Main," they answered promptly, for they believed
+that they would never grow weary of watching the cool, rippling water
+making its way to the Rhine and from thence to the sea. So to the bridge
+they went and leaned upon the parapet and gazed upon the scene as they
+had done the evening before.
+
+"Did you ever hear how Frankfort got its name?" asked their guide.
+
+"No, we never heard."
+
+"It is said that at that point," he continued, designating it with his
+cane, "the river was at one time so shallow, owing to a ridge of rocks
+under its bed, that it could be forded by persons on foot. One time
+when Charlemagne--or Charles the Great--was battling against the Saxons,
+he was compelled to retreat before them, and they were in hot pursuit.
+The French forces were weak, while the Saxons were strong, but if he and
+his army could cross the Main, all would be safe. A heavy fog rested
+upon the river and they could not find the safe fording. The French ran
+up and down the shore, hoping to see someone who could tell them the
+location of the ford, but found no one. The enemy was advancing rapidly
+upon them and they had about given up in despair, when they saw a deer
+with her young step into the water and cross safely. In full confidence
+that the instinct of the animal had guided her correctly, they followed
+and reached the south side of the Main safely. The Saxons followed, but
+could not find the shallow place to cross, for there was no deer to
+guide them, and the city, dating from that time, was called
+_Frankenfurt_ or Frankfort."
+
+This narrative was of deep interest to the boys, who gazed at the spot
+where Charlemagne had crossed more than eleven hundred years before.
+
+"Did he live in Frankfort?" asked Paul.
+
+"Yes, for even at that time the city was of some importance. He built a
+fine palace which he named 'Frankfort,' and did much to improve the city
+and neighborhood. He formed great hunting troops to destroy the wild
+animals which infested the forests and did much damage, bears, wolves,
+wild hogs and buffaloes making the forests dangerous to travelers."
+
+Now that they had heard this story of the river, they took keen interest
+in all that concerned it, especially the vessels upon its placid waters.
+
+"They can carry great burdens," remarked Fritz, "more than many horses
+could pull."
+
+"Suppose we have a question in arithmetic," said Uncle Braun. "I am sure
+that any one of you can solve it. If one such vessel could carry thirty
+thousand hundredweight, how many horses would it take to draw that
+burden if two horses could draw fifty hundredweight, and how many wagons
+and drivers if each driver had two horses?"
+
+Fritz was the ready reckoner of the three, and quickly answered, "Twelve
+hundred horses, six hundred wagons, and six hundred drivers."
+
+"Then you can see how much cheaper it is to have freight carried by
+sea."
+
+"What are those boards for reaching from the shore out over the water?"
+asked Paul.
+
+"They are for those who wish to take a bath in the Main; and on these
+warm evenings it is very agreeable to have this refreshment to weary
+bodies. Would you boys like to take a bath?"
+
+"What would it cost?" asked Fritz.
+
+"Eight cents."
+
+"Then I can't take it. I have no money. Oh, my beautiful, bright gold--"
+
+"But would you take the bath if I pay for it?"
+
+"Do you mean for Franz and Paul, too?"
+
+"Yes, for all three."
+
+"Franz, do you and Paul take the bath, and Uncle Braun can give me the
+eight cents, which is just the same to him as if I took the bath."
+
+"Oh, Fritz, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" exclaimed Paul. "It
+was not money, but a bath that Uncle Braun offered us."
+
+Fritz had thought of this before Paul spoke, and his face had turned
+very red, and he could not raise his eyes to the face of his old friend.
+
+But Uncle Braun laughed heartily at the different expressions upon the
+countenances of the three boys.
+
+"I am much older than our little man, Fritz, and I must say that I would
+be tempted to strike a bargain with somebody if every penny was stolen
+from me. Now in such a predicament, I think we should help each other,
+so I will give Fritz five nickels to put in his empty pocket which will
+at least make a jingle."
+
+"No, no, I will not take them!" cried Fritz, flushing warmly, "I am
+ashamed of myself."
+
+"Fritz," said Paul, "it is a very different thing for you to take the
+money that Uncle Braun offers you as a gift, than to ask for money in
+place of a bath when he offers you the bath."
+
+Franz saw the affair in the same light and advised the acceptance of the
+nickels, but added that it would take too much time to take a bath when
+there was so much they wished to see.
+
+They passed on to the residence streets of the city where were some
+elegant dwellings, one of which especially attracted the attention of
+Fritz.
+
+"Does a Rothschild live there?" he asked.
+
+"No; there is no male descendant of Mayer Anselm Rothschild living now
+in Frankfort; nor is there now a Rothschild banking house."
+
+"Was Mayer Anselm always rich?" asked Fritz.
+
+"No. He came of poor Jewish parentage, and lived in his childhood in a
+poor little dwelling in a narrow street, but by his honesty and strict
+integrity he became the founder of a banking house known over the world,
+and his five sons, Anselm, Solomon, Nathan, Charles and James, became
+heads of great banking houses in different cities."
+
+"Then the father was born in Frankfort?" remarked Paul.
+
+"Yes. Mayer Anselm Rothschild was born in Frankfort in the year 1743,
+and died here in 1812."
+
+"Then he was six years older than Goethe," commented Paul.
+
+"Yes, they were great men in their different lines, and were
+contemporaries; that is, they lived at the same time."
+
+"But it must have been tiresome to stay in a bank and count money,"
+remarked Franz. "I would rather be a forester and live in the woods. My
+father says that healthy blood and sound limbs are better than money."
+
+"Yes, but a rich man can live where he chooses," quoth Fritz. "If Mayer
+Rothschild wished to live in the woods, he could have done so. Couldn't
+he, Uncle Braun?"
+
+"Yes, but his living there would only be for pleasure, while the father
+of Franz lives there to protect and care for our forests. Each man
+should do his duty to the best of his ability in the sphere that
+Providence has placed him."
+
+"Boys, do you see that old gray tower rising high above the treetops?"
+he continued. "It is the old Eschenheimer tower, and gave its protective
+strength to the city wall, which long ago has disappeared; but the old
+tower remains a monument of the past. Do you notice that ivy has climbed
+to its very top? There was an old saying that when ivy reaches the top
+of any high building, the beginning of the end has come, and you will
+soon see that building in ruins. But the ivy reached the top long ago,
+and the tower still stands."
+
+"And looks strong enough to stand forever," said Paul.
+
+"Did you ever hear of Hans Winkelsee, who was once imprisoned there?"
+asked Uncle Braun.
+
+"No. Please tell us about him," said the three eagerly.
+
+"Hans Winkelsee was, in his time, one of the boldest, most daring
+robbers that ever infested the Frankfort forests and the foresters did
+their best to entrap him and make him their prisoner, but for a long
+time he eluded them. At length his time came, and he who had lived the
+wild, free life of a bird of prey was in a narrow cell at the top of
+Eschenheimer tower, judged guilty of so many crimes that he was
+sentenced to death.
+
+"He who had roamed the forest, after deer and other wild animals, and
+had lain in wait to plunder travelers, now saw nothing, heard nothing
+but the creaking of the weather-vane on the top of the tower, which
+tormented him by day and robbed him of sleep by night until he preferred
+going to the gallows to longer imprisonment.
+
+"'Oh, that I were free to see the bright sunshine, the moon and the
+stars; hear the thrush sing and the owl hoot!' he would say to himself
+in the darkness of his cell. 'But I see nothing, hear nothing but the
+horrible grating sound overhead.'
+
+"'Well, Winkelsee,' said the jailor one evening as he stood at the cell
+door, 'you must feel it a great relief to be safely in here, as would a
+bear that had escaped the hunters and the dogs, and was safe in the
+depths of his cave.'
+
+"'I could endure it if it were not for that fiendish weather-vane. If I
+only had my good rifle in my hand and was upon the ground, I would shoot
+a bullet hole through it for every night it has robbed me of sleep.'
+
+"'Now, Winkelsee, do you really imagine that you could shoot to the top
+of the tower from the ground?'
+
+"'I don't imagine it. I know it, and it would be a joy to me to have
+revenge upon it for robbing me of sleep.'
+
+"'Hans Winkelsee, the burgomaster and the judge who condemned you would
+believe you a boaster, or out of your mind did they hear you say this,
+for it is simply impossible.'
+
+"'You can go and tell them, and say that if I lose my life upon the
+gallows, they lose the best marksman in the kingdom.'
+
+"The jailor shook his head, then turned the key in the lock and went
+slowly down the steps. He believed that the judge and the burgomaster
+would laugh at him should he give them Winkelsee's message. Yet he
+feared that if the imprisoned man died upon the scaffold, he would feel
+self-reproach and remorse for not giving him the one chance for his
+life.
+
+"He went to the judge and told him, and a council was called to discuss
+the question. As in most cases, part were in favor of giving him the
+chance for his life, and the other part believed that he was planning
+a flight, and his associates would gather about to help him escape.
+
+"But there were huntsmen among them who were eager to see what Winkelsee
+could do and argued that if he failed, it would then be time enough to
+have him executed, so they decided that as soon as the clock struck
+twelve the next morning they would allow him the trial of his skill.
+
+"A deputation was sent to tell him of the decision.
+
+"'I am not afraid of the gallows,' he said, 'but am willing to have a
+chance for my life on condition that I have my own rifle and one of my
+comrades accompany me to the spot where I take my stand. Can you agree
+to this?'
+
+"They assured him that both requests should be granted, and hoped that
+the trial would be a success.
+
+"'I have no fear in regard to it. I know what I can do. Now you can
+leave me to myself, and to-morrow I will leave this martyr cage and be
+as free as the birds of the air.'
+
+"'Winkelsee, I advise you not to take the affair so lightly. If you
+fail, your last chance for life fails with it.'
+
+"The news of the trial of his skill spread through the city and the next
+day at twelve a great crowd assembled to witness the test of skill.
+
+"When Hans was escorted to the spot by one of his associates, his rifle
+was put in his hand. He pressed it to his breast as if it were a long
+lost friend, examined it carefully to see that it had not been tampered
+with, then said, 'I am ready. Shall I shoot?'
+
+"The burgomaster nodded and Hans took aim at the weather-vane and fired.
+
+"Stillness reigned in the great multitude, then hunters and marksmen
+shouted and cheered, for there was a bullet hole in the weather-vane,
+plainly visible to the spectators. Hans loaded the rifle, took aim, a
+second bullet whizzed through the air, and a second hole appeared in the
+weather-vane close to the first.
+
+"'He is in league with satan,' cried a voice in the crowd. 'No mortal
+being could do that without the evil one's help.'
+
+"'He is satan himself,' cried another, 'and could shoot a hole through
+the moon if his rifle would reach that far.'
+
+"Shot after shot followed, each one leaving a bullet hole in the vase,
+until the whole nine were there, and anyone having good eyes can see
+them to-day."
+
+"Fritz, Franz, I see them!" cried Paul. "Oh, he was a wonderful
+marksman. I wonder if anyone is living now who could do it?"
+
+"But," suggested Franz, "how easily the maker of the weather-vane could
+make the nine holes before it was placed on the top of the tower."
+
+"You boys can settle that question among yourselves," replied Uncle
+Braun, "but listen to the rest of the story. The burgomaster and
+councilmen were glad to have the chance to spare the life of the
+stalwart and expert marksman, and told him that he was free to go,
+providing he would no longer molest travelers in the forest.
+
+"He made no reply, and the councilmen held a consultation and one of
+them went to him with another offer.
+
+"'The head-master of hunting died lately, and his place must be
+filled,' he said. 'You have given such an exhibition of your skill as a
+marksman that we offer the place to you. You can then live in the city
+of Frankfort and have all the rights and privileges of a citizen,
+together with the compensation that goes with the office, and our good
+wishes.'
+
+"All expected Winkelsee to accept this offer with gratitude, but he
+waved his hand in refusal.
+
+"'I do not wish the place,' he said. 'All my life I have been free and
+free I will be. My imprisonment let me see what it is to be buried
+alive. I would feel if enclosed by the walls of a city as a chaffinch
+would feel in the craw of a hawk. No matter if your city walls enclose a
+larger place, it is yet a cage. No, I will not stay. Hans Winkelsee
+seeks the woods. There he was born, there he will die and be buried
+under a shady oak tree.'"
+
+The boys were so interested in the story that they did not realize that
+it was past their supper hour, but Uncle Braun knew that they must be
+hungry.
+
+"We will go into a restaurant," he said, "and each of you can order
+whatever you wish just so that the price does not exceed ten pennies for
+each. That will buy enough to stay your hunger until you can reach home
+to enjoy the good supper your aunt will have ready."
+
+"Ten cents will get enough for us and leave a little over for Pixy,"
+remarked Fritz.
+
+"No, I will provide for Pixy. He, too, is my guest."
+
+It was a new and pleasant experience to the boys to give an order in
+A fine restaurant, and each chose ten cents' worth of cake, which they
+pronounced delicious, and which with glasses of cool water refreshed
+them greatly.
+
+"Would it not be well to take your kind aunt some of the cake which you
+like so well?" asked Uncle Braun.
+
+"We should have thought of it ourselves," said Franz. "Paul and I will
+buy twenty cents' worth and Fritz need not help because he has lost his
+money."
+
+"There was no need to remind him of his loss," rebuked Paul.
+
+"There is no need to remind me, true enough," sighed Fritz, "for it is
+never out of my mind. When I saw the fine houses I thought to myself
+that it took gold-pieces like mine to build them. When I saw the tower
+and heard the story of Winkelsee, I thought that I would not give my
+gold-piece for his rifle and when I walk along the streets I think that
+perhaps I may find a gold-piece like the one I lost."
+
+"But, my dear boy," said Uncle Braun, "what would be your gain would be
+someone's loss; perhaps it would be the only piece that a poor widow had
+to pay rent or to buy bread for her children."
+
+"I am ashamed that I wished to find one, but my gold-piece was so new
+and bright."
+
+"There is no need to be all the time grieving about what cannot be
+helped," grumbled Franz.
+
+"My boy," said Uncle Braun kindly, "do not censure him. It is a comfort
+to speak to friends of what troubles us, and a pleasure to speak of what
+interests us. I knew three young men in college who were very fond of
+the pleasures of the table. What they had to eat, what they wished to
+eat, and where they hoped to eat, seemed to be their only object in
+life, and they spoke of it continually. It certainly was not
+entertaining or instructive conversation."
+
+"But I wish to do my share toward buying the cake for Aunt Steiner,"
+said Fritz, and he took out ten cents of the money given him by Uncle
+Braun, the other boys each added ten, and quite a large piece of the
+rich cake was ordered, wrapped in white paper, paid for and then they
+were ready to go to 37 Bornheimer street, for Uncle Braun had decided
+that they had enough sight-seeing for one day.
+
+They parted from their kind guide with many thanks for the pleasures he
+had given them, and went slowly up the long steps. When they opened the
+door of the cheerful supper room, all was so homelike and comfortable,
+and Mrs. Steiner welcomed them so gladly that they felt that it was a
+great blessing to have a second home.
+
+"Dear boys," she said, "rest a little while, then one of you get a
+pitcher of fresh water and all go to your room and wash faces and hands
+and brush your hair, and you will be refreshed and rested for supper."
+
+Fritz had carried the cake, and when his aunt returned to the kitchen he
+slipped it back of the stove until the proper time to present it, then
+all went to their room.
+
+"Are you hungry?" asked Franz.
+
+"Yes, hungry as a wolf," replied Paul, "but don't let us speak of it
+again, or Aunt Steiner will think that we are Odenwald wolves and all we
+came to see her for is what we get to eat. You know what Uncle Braun
+said of those three young men and I don't wish to be like them."
+
+Upon returning to the supper room Fritz said, "Let us set the table for
+Aunt Fanny."
+
+"All right," responded Franz, springing up. "Do you put on the
+tablecloth and I will put on the dishes."
+
+"No, let us both spread the cloth, and both put on the dishes," returned
+Fritz, but Franz got a plate from the cupboard, and when Fritz attempted
+to take it out of his hands it fell to the floor and broke into many
+pieces.
+
+"Now see what you have done!" ejaculated Franz.
+
+"No, what you have done," retorted Fritz.
+
+Question and answer flew back and forth like snowballs in winter, and
+then Mrs. Steiner appeared at the door.
+
+"Dear, dear, that is a great display of crockery!" she said.
+
+"Franz did it," said Fritz.
+
+"No, it was Fritz."
+
+"Oh, you innocent lambs," she said laughingly, "of course neither of you
+did it, so it must be that little man on the clock face who stepped down
+to break a plate. Or perhaps it was the dog; he is hiding his face
+between his feet as if ashamed to look up."
+
+"No, no, Aunt Fanny, it was not my Pixy," exclaimed Fritz, "I will take
+all the blame upon myself."
+
+"It was partly my fault," echoed Franz, "and I am sorry that the plate
+is broken."
+
+"So am I," rejoined Fritz, "and I will pay for it."
+
+"Hear him, offering to pay for it," laughed Mrs. Steiner, "when he has
+no money. Never mind, my boy, you need not pay for the plate. I have
+plenty more, and here is a mark to put in your empty purse."
+
+"But, Aunt Fanny, my purse is not empty," and he told of the nickels
+given him by Uncle Braun.
+
+"It was kind in him to take you out; and he is very generous in every
+way. Now pick up the pieces of plate, and put them upon this waiter and
+then we will set the table and have supper."
+
+This was done, and while his aunt was out of the room Fritz took out one
+of the pink plates, put the cake upon it and set it in the middle of the
+table. It was a great surprise to her and she was gratified that they
+remembered her while they were out, and said so, whereupon the
+conscientious boys would not let her remain in ignorance of the fact
+that it was Uncle Braun who suggested it.
+
+"Well, it is no matter who first thought of it," she said cheerfully,
+"you boys used your money to prepare a surprise for me. We will cut it
+in four parts and it will make a fine dessert."
+
+The boys insisted that she should keep it all for herself, but she said
+she would enjoy her part more when all had a share, so they did not
+refuse it.
+
+"Now, boys, tell me something of your afternoon," said Mrs. Steiner, and
+each vied with the others to describe what they had seen. Fritz
+contributed his share of it by telling of his wish that he could find a
+gold-piece on the street, and what Uncle Braun said in regard to it,
+ending with "Oh, my new, bright, gold-piece with the--"
+
+"Oh, dear, are we again to hear that cry?" grumbled Franz. "You are like
+Hannibal weeping upon the ruins of Carthage."
+
+"You have not lost any gold-piece, and you are wrong about Hannibal; it
+was Scipio who wept on the ruins of Carthage."
+
+"You are both wrong," corrected Paul, "it was Marius who wept upon the
+ruins of Carthage. Wasn't it, Aunt Steiner?"
+
+"My dear boy, I have forgotten much that I once knew of ancient
+history, but I think that Hannibal was a great Carthagenian general who
+fought the Romans. Whether he wept or not over the ruins of Carthage I
+cannot say; but I do know that you boys are tired and sleepy and the
+sooner you get to bed the better. Go now, don't forget to say your
+prayers; and Fritz, see that your head keeps on the pillow of the lounge
+and not on the chair beside it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
+
+
+The next morning just as Mrs. Steiner and her guests had finished
+breakfast the doorbell rang, and she went to the door, opened it but
+drew back startled, when she saw a tall policeman.
+
+"Why are you here?" she asked anxiously.
+
+"It is a strange thing that people seem frightened as if fearing arrest
+when we come to their doors," he said in a kindly tone. "They should
+look upon us as protectors against thieves and other evil-doers, yet
+they seem to look upon us as enemies."
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Steiner pleasantly, "one cannot deny that when a
+policeman comes it seems to signify trouble."
+
+"Well, I am not bringing trouble. I only came to enquire if there is a
+boy here named Fritz."
+
+"Yes, Fritz is here. He is my brother's son, and is visiting me."
+
+The boys had heard all and made a rush for the door, where they stood
+behind Mrs. Steiner, gazing with intense interest at the tall, dark man
+who had such piercing black eyes and a moustache so large that Fritz
+told his aunt afterward that it looked as if a blackbird had lighted
+upon his upper lip and spread its wings under his nose.
+
+"Now, which one of these boys is Fritz?" he asked.
+
+"This one," said the aunt, turning to the boy, who was doing his best to
+hide Pixy from the eyes of the law. But Pixy was not willing to be
+obscured. He did not like the looks of the man, and gave one of his low
+growls.
+
+"Call your dog away, boy, I have no business with him, although he has
+no tag. However that is no harm, so long as he stays in the house. Now,
+Fritz, what is your other name?"
+
+"Fritz Heil. My father is a clothing merchant, and his store--"
+
+"I do not have need to know of him. Did you lose a pocketbook
+yesterday?"
+
+"No, it was stolen from me."
+
+"Well, I came to take you to the police commissioner."
+
+"Aunt, has the policeman arrested me?" asked the boy, clinging to his
+aunt's arm.
+
+"You are not under arrest, boy," laughed the man. "You are only wanted
+as witness. We hope to catch the thief. Now forward, march."
+
+"Yes, Fritz, go and do what you can to help. Do you think you can find
+your way back?"
+
+"I will see that he gets back all right, madam," and down the steps they
+went, Franz and Paul looking after them until they disappeared from
+view.
+
+Fritz was received so kindly by the police commissioner that he felt
+entirely at ease.
+
+"So you were robbed, my little man. How did the churl look who picked
+your pocket?"
+
+"Oh, he was no churl, but a pleasant gentleman with a soft voice."
+
+"Yes, we know this pleasant gentleman. How was he dressed the day you
+saw him?"
+
+"He wore a tall silk hat, a black broadcloth coat and vest, and although
+it was a warm day, he had on a fine thin overcoat."
+
+"Entirely right. You describe him well as to clothing. Now about his
+face and form?"
+
+"He was tall and slender, had a smooth face, black hair and black eyes
+that looked quickly about him like a squirrel, and he had a scar over
+his left eye."
+
+"Exactly! Now tell me about your pocketbook."
+
+"My mother gave it to me at Christmas, and--"
+
+"There is no need to tell me that, my son."
+
+"Yes, there is need, because in it is a tiny card on which is written
+'To my loved Fritz, from his mother; Christmas.'"
+
+"Oh, it is well to know this. Describe the pocketbook."
+
+"It is of red leather, and has a bright clasp, and upon it I scratched
+'Fritz' with my pocket knife."
+
+"That is enough, my boy. Is this it?" and he held upon a red leather
+pocketbook.
+
+"No, mine is the same shape, but smaller."
+
+"Is this it?" holding up another.
+
+"Yes!" cried the boy joyously and reached for it.
+
+"First tell me what is in it."
+
+It was no trouble for Fritz to enumerate the coin; he had done it too
+often to forget.
+
+"The pocketbook is yours, my little man. Tell me, do you recognize this
+photograph?"
+
+"Yes, it is he; the very one, only his overcoat was not buttoned when he
+robbed me."
+
+"Exactly. We know our man and he is now behind iron bars. When your
+aunt came here and gave the information, I sent one of my detectives to
+a public house where these rascals congregate; and, sure enough, there
+was your fine gentleman partaking of a good dinner washed down by a
+bottle of good wine at your expense. Your gold-piece is safe and one of
+the dollars. He used the other and the small change for his
+refreshments. Here, take your pocketbook, and I wish to say that there
+are not many grown people who could observe and describe so well the
+thief who robbed them."
+
+"I will not trust anybody again as I did that smooth-talking stranger.
+I will be on the lookout all the time for thieves."
+
+"Oh, my boy, do not let this affair make you suspicious of your
+fellow-creatures, or you will never have a peaceful hour upon earth. Of
+course, we should not trust entire strangers too much, and should carry
+our money in a secure place. The safest is a pocket on the inside of
+your vest, a thief could not well get his hand in there. And now let us
+shake hands in farewell, and may you have a pleasant visit to
+Frankfort!"
+
+The boy left the office in splendid spirits, for he felt richer than
+when he first owned the pocketbook and the gold-piece, for he had it
+again, when he thought it was gone forever. The policeman took him in
+sight of number 37, and he ran the rest of the way alone. He saw his
+aunt on the porch waiting for him.
+
+"Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I have my gold-piece and my pocketbook,"
+and he held it up in glee.
+
+"Oh, my boy, had we Pixy back, that would be a greater joy," said Mrs.
+Steiner.
+
+"My Pixy!" cried the boy. "Isn't he in the house?"
+
+"No, my poor boy, and I have no idea where he is. After you left, the
+affectionate creature was so lost without you that I could not quiet his
+restlessness. Franz and Paul had gone out to walk around the square, and
+left the door open a little way and while I was in the kitchen to see if
+the bread was ready to put in the oven Pixy slipped out. I saw him
+disappear, and ran after him as fast as my feet would carry me, but he
+escaped."
+
+Fritz broke into bitter weeping and his aunt wept with him for she had
+no comfort to offer, and when Franz and Paul came they, too, were deeply
+worried over the loss, for they blamed themselves that they did not see
+that the door was latched.
+
+"What can we do?" they asked Mrs. Steiner.
+
+"The first thing is to run to the station-house and tell the police.
+They have found the thief and may find the dog."
+
+"Oh, Fritz, have you really got your gold-piece?" they asked in a breath.
+
+"Yes, and my pocketbook, but they are no pleasure to me now that I have
+lost Pixy, and I am the only one to blame. If I had left him at home,
+instead of bringing him to Frankfort without papa's knowing it, this
+would not have happened," and again he wept and the others could offer
+no comfort.
+
+"If I don't find Pixy, I will not go home," he sobbed; "Papa and mamma
+and little sister love him so, and even our servant girl will grieve if
+Pixy never comes back."
+
+"Let us not lose time in grieving," said his aunt, putting her hand upon
+his shoulder, "but let us do what we can to find him."
+
+"Yes, we will go," said Fritz, "for the longer we wait, the further away
+he will be," and he ran out, followed by his comrades.
+
+The first person they met was a carpenter with his tools upon his
+shoulder.
+
+"Have you seen my dog, my Pixy?" asked Fritz as the three halted and
+looked up in his face. "A beautiful, black dog with curly hair on his
+neck and shoulders?"
+
+"No, I have seen no black dog," and the boys ran along again, asking
+every one they met.
+
+"You are only asking me to plague me," said a cross old woman, not
+heeding the tearful eyes of Fritz. "The street boys are getting more
+tormenting all the time."
+
+At length a kind-hearted woman told them that she had seen a black dog
+on the next street, and they ran in breathless haste to see it, but
+alas! it was not Pixy, for while resembling him, it did not recognize
+the name of Pixy, nor the voice of Fritz calling it.
+
+"This is my dog, boys! What do you mean by trying to toll him away?"
+exclaimed a gentleman, coming to the door of a store; but when Fritz
+explained that he had lost his dog, the gentleman believed him and
+became a sympathizing friend.
+
+"I will give you the advice to go to the animal asylum," he said. "Stray
+dogs and other animals are taken there and good care given them until
+the owners claim them."
+
+"Oh, if my Pixy falls in good hands until I can find him," said Fritz.
+
+"I must tell you, boys," continued the gentleman, "that in Frankfort, as
+in other cities, there are people who will steal dogs in order to get a
+reward. But your dog may only be lost, and the best way will be to put a
+notice in the morning paper. Then if he is at the asylum, they will let
+you know."
+
+At that moment a well-known voice said, "Good day, doctor, what
+important business have you with my young friends?"
+
+It was Uncle Braun who spoke, and the boys were so delighted to see him
+that half their trouble seemed to be gone.
+
+"Don't be so distressed, Fritz," he said. "I will put a notice in the
+paper saying that a black dog answering to the name of Pixy has strayed
+away, and will promise a reward to anyone who will bring him to 37
+Bornheimer street. Now run home, boys, and do not keep Mrs. Steiner
+anxious about you."
+
+He added to his kindness by going with them as far as number 37, and
+when the triplets hurried up the steps, they found Mrs. Steiner on the
+porch watching for them. She was sad to see that Pixy was not with them,
+but cheered Fritz by saying that Uncle Braun generally succeeded in
+what he undertook, and all ate dinner with hope in their hearts. But
+when they arose from the table and Fritz saw Pixy's plate on the back
+porch, he threw his arms about his aunt, and wept.
+
+"Oh, Aunt Fanny," he said, "if I only knew that Pixy was in the asylum
+or some other safe place, and not wandering the streets, hungry and
+looking for me, I would not feel so badly! but I am afraid the street
+boys will throw stones at him and he will run away and never come back."
+
+"If your gold-piece that you gave up as lost was found, so Pixy may be.
+Do not cry any more, my darling, or you will be sick. Perhaps your dog
+may be on his way back to the Odenwald."
+
+"If we had walked all the way he might track us, but we came in the cars
+from Umstadt."
+
+"In spite of that disadvantage he may find his way home, as he did the
+time your neighbor gave him away."
+
+"Where will we go to-morrow?" asked Paul with the kind intent of taking
+Fritz's thoughts from his trouble.
+
+"In search of Pixy."
+
+"No," responded Mrs. Steiner, "that will be of no use. You might walk
+the streets from morning until late at night every day, and it would be
+of no advantage to you or the dog. Let us go this afternoon to the
+zoological gardens and see the many animals from foreign countries. We
+will have some dinner and then go, that we may have a long afternoon at
+the gardens."
+
+This was a happy thought. Nothing could have taken the boy's mind from
+his loss of the dog so well as did the many varied interests which the
+gardens offered.
+
+Near the entrance was a large, fine building used by visitors as a
+resting-place, and for refreshments. Mrs. Steiner did not pass it by,
+but the four went in and she bought a supply of cake as a supplement to
+their light dinner. Then they went to see the splendid crested pea-fowls
+that were spreading their brilliantly tinted fans on the green lawn. As
+they passed a company of gay-plumaged parrots they were crying, "Dora!
+Dora!" and Mrs. Steiner told the boys of a lady who owned the large
+green parrot and was so weary of hearing it scream, "Dora! Dora!" from
+morning until night, that she gave it to the garden; and now all the
+parrots screamed "Dora."
+
+"Ask it what its name is," she said to Fritz.
+
+"What is your name?" he asked, going close to it.
+
+"Same as yours," was the reply, followed by croaking laughter.
+
+This amused the boys greatly and they would have remained there longer,
+but they heard low growls from a great cage not far away and going
+nearer they saw upon a low rock in the centre of it a lioness lashing
+her sides with her tail and uttering low growls. The floor of the cage
+was of sand and stretched upon it was the king of beasts, his great head
+upon his paws, and his savage eyes resting upon the bystanders. At
+length he arose, and coming to the great iron rungs that surrounded it,
+he yawned, and the boys started back in affright from the terrible mouth
+and teeth, but he soon returned to the sand.
+
+"Pixy's mane is prettier than the lion's," said Fritz. "Oh, my Pixy!"
+
+"Yesterday it was your gold-piece, now it is Pixy," grumbled Franz
+impatiently. "You should be glad that your dog is running in the open
+air, instead of being fastened up in a cage."
+
+"Yes, I am glad of that, but, oh, I cannot keep from crying when I think
+of the street boys, and how they may chase him."
+
+"Come to this cage, boys," called Mrs. Steiner, "I wish you to see a
+lion that I once held in my arms and petted as if it were a kitten. He
+is now a great, grown lion, but he was born in this garden, and crowds
+came to see him and some people would give the keeper a fee to be
+allowed to take it in their arms. No one would dare to touch him now."
+
+"Except myself," said the keeper who came up that moment, put his hand
+in the cage and combed the long mane with his fingers.
+
+"Is he always so tame?" asked Paul.
+
+"Yes, except at meal time; then they are hungry and show their native
+ferocity; I would not dare to put my hand in his cage then. If you will
+come here at five o'clock, you will see him fed."
+
+They promised to come, then went to see the panther, the hyena, and the
+wolves; and then Mrs. Steiner called them to go to the great pavilion
+where the monkeys lived and played as merrily as if in their native
+haunts; running over the branches of the tree in the centre and swinging
+from the ropes, chattering, grinning, teasing each other, and making
+themselves generally amusing to the many spectators who crowded about
+their pavilion.
+
+"I never imagined so many in one place," said Fritz, "and they are
+flying past and around each other so fast that it makes one's head giddy
+to watch them. I like that little fellow that is so playful and
+good-natured. Now a lady has given him a lump of sugar; and oh, see that
+bigger monkey has taken it from him and eaten it. That is a shame!"
+
+Fritz was so interested in the cunning little creature that he was glad
+when the lady gave him another lump of sugar which he put quickly in his
+mouth, swelling out his jaw in a comical manner while his little, sharp
+eyes were watching the other monkey. But alas! the old tyrant rushed
+down upon him, took the sugar out of his mouth, and put it in his own,
+and slapped the little one he had robbed right and left.
+
+"Oh, it is certainly a shame," said Fritz, and he took off his hat, and
+put it under his arm while he wiped his heated forehead; when in a flash
+the little monkey he had so pitied rushed down, grasped his hat, drew it
+through the rungs and was up on the branches almost before Fritz knew it
+was gone.
+
+"Oh, Aunt Fanny, he took my hat while I was looking at the big one
+eating the sugar. Oh, see! he is tearing off the blue ribbon band, and
+biting pieces out of the rim and dropping them down for the little
+monkeys," and tears rolled down Fritz's cheeks.
+
+The keeper, hearing the laughter, came at once, and with a pole knocked
+the hat out of the monkey's hands, and although many little black
+fingers clutched it as it lay a second on the floor, it was brought to
+the rungs by the pole and Fritz secured it. But little remained of the
+rim, and what there was of it was ragged; and when he put it on, peals
+of laughter from the spectators sent him crying to his aunt. But alas!
+she too was laughing, and the boy felt that his last friend had gone
+over to the enemy.
+
+"Oh, little Fritz!" she said, trying in vain to look sympathizing and
+serious, "there is one kind of bird they can add to their collection
+to-day and that is the _pechrogel,_ for surely you, poor child, are that
+unlucky bird. But never mind; your luck will change; your Pixy will come
+back, and I will buy you a new straw hat."
+
+"Yes, but we must go away from here. It makes me sick to see the people
+laughing at me."
+
+"Yes, we will go and see the birds. That is my favorite place in all the
+garden."
+
+On their way, they passed the cage where serpents of every kind were
+twisting and squirming about, among them the terrible boa-constrictor,
+and the python; but Mrs. Steiner could not look at them, and asked the
+boys to stay but a little while, but they could halt at the tanks of the
+South American alligator, the rhinoceros, the great turtle, and the
+hippopotamus; all animals which the boys had never seen except in
+pictures and were of wonderful interest to them.
+
+The bird enclosure was truly an attractive place. Among the branches
+overhead were many kinds of small birds singing, chirping and
+chattering, and Mrs. Steiner pointed out several which should have been
+acquaintances of the Odenwald boys, but to her surprise they did not
+appear to know their names.
+
+"I am ashamed that I, a forester's son, and living in the country all my
+life, do not know the names of our native song birds, but know the
+foreign ones from seeing them in pictures," said Franz. They gazed long
+at the wise looking owls who were blinking on a wall of masonry, which
+represented an old tower; then turned their attention to the swan and
+spoonbills, and other aquatic fowl sporting in the clear water of the
+lake, while on the shore marched the stately flamingoes, resembling
+red-coated soldiers.
+
+On a rocky point rested an eagle, and upon another a Golden Condor
+spread its great wings.
+
+"Oh, see!" cried Fritz, "here comes a great elephant carrying an organ
+in his trunk. See, he is setting it down; now he is turning the crank
+and playing a beautiful waltz."
+
+Of all the new and interesting things they had seen, this was the
+greatest delight to the boys; and their delight was not dampened by
+having the animal musician hold out his trunk for pay. Fritz gave him
+one of his beloved nickels, which was immediately passed to the keeper,
+and when Mrs. Steiner gave him a sweet bun which she had brought in her
+pocket especially for him, he put it in his capacious mouth and
+swallowed it with evident relish.
+
+After the elephant organ-grinder had received all the pay he could
+gather from the people congregated about the bird enclosure, he passed
+on with his organ, and Mrs. Steiner took her guests to the bear pits,
+and to their delight, they saw the great polar bear, the black bear and
+many others of which they had seen illustrations, and after watching
+them as much time as they could spare they passed on to see the
+giraffe, and from thence to the pen of the zebra. They were earnestly
+engaged in counting its beautiful stripes when from a great tent near
+they heard the sound of some wild and warlike instrument which seemed to
+serve as a summons, for people were hurrying to the tent. Mrs. Steiner
+told the boys to come, and all went through the opening and found that a
+company of Nubians were about to give a performance. They were in native
+costume, their coal black hair stiffened with grease to make it stand
+straight up, their brilliant white teeth in contrast with their black
+faces.
+
+They commenced the performance by a representation of a sham battle with
+their spears; and our Grecian heroes were reminded of their weapons
+which to their regret they were advised to leave in the Odenwald. It was
+with intense interest they watched the many different exploits exhibited
+in the one-hour's performance. When it was finished, Mrs. Steiner
+suggested that they go to the pavilion on the terrace and have rolls and
+chocolate while they rested.
+
+This proposition was readily accepted, and just as they finished, Mrs.
+Steiner upon glancing at her watch found that it wanted but five
+minutes of five o'clock.
+
+"And we were to see the lions fed," exclaimed Fritz.
+
+"You can go," said his aunt, "I will stay here and rest," and she
+pointed out the nearest way for them to go. They were just in time to
+see the keeper walking to and fro before the cage of the great African
+lion, holding upon the point of a long pole a piece of raw beef. The
+lion sprang against the stout iron bars which made the cage tremble, and
+reached out his terrible claws as if to grasp not only the meat but the
+keeper who was watching a suitable moment to toss in the meat. At length
+this was done, and the ferocious beast with low growls pounced upon it,
+took it between his paws, while his eyes rolled about as if dreading an
+enemy who would take it from him, then tore it to pieces and swallowed
+it.
+
+The panther was next fed. He took his meat slyly to a distant corner of
+his cage to eat it. When the boys returned to Mrs. Steiner she said,
+"Now we have not seen all that is to be seen in the garden. Would you
+like to stay longer?"
+
+"No, Aunt Fanny," replied Fritz, "I have seen and heard so much that
+I don't think I could remember any more," and to this Franz and Paul
+willingly agreed, and they set out cheerily for home.
+
+They had enjoyed a charming afternoon and the refreshments that Aunt
+Steiner had selected had been so abundant and good that new life seemed
+to thrill them as they moved along.
+
+"Look, Fritz," cried Paul excitedly, "there is Pixy."
+
+"Where?" cried the boy, reddening with surprise and joy.
+
+Paul's finger was pointing to a black dog, with head and tail depressed
+from hunger and weariness, but Fritz knew his dog.
+
+"Pixy! Pixy!" he cried joyously, and the three boys ran toward him and
+the stout well-grown boy who was leading him. As if electrified Pixy
+raised his head, and barked from joy as he struggled to break away from
+the rough hand that held him. The three boys grasped the rope, but were
+powerless to wrench it from the hand that held it.
+
+"Let go!" cried Fritz, "Pixy is mine and you shall not have him."
+
+"No, he is mine. I bought him to-day from a strange gentleman. Let go
+the rope, or I will give you a blow upon the head that will keep you
+from seeing and hearing for awhile."
+
+A regular struggle now ensued. The big boy planted a blow on Fritz's
+face which caused the blood to stream from his nose, but he held on to
+the rope until knocked down; whereupon Franz and Paul ran behind the
+boy, pulled him backward on the ground, the three jumped forward, and
+two of them grasped his arms while the other sat upon his ankles; and
+Pixy did his share by catching one leg of his pantaloons in his teeth
+and holding fast.
+
+Mrs. Steiner, in the meantime, was almost sick from fright; but summoned
+strength to call "Help! Help!" and several men ran to separate the
+combatants.
+
+"Whose dog is it?" asked a gray-haired gentleman when he could
+understand the fight enough to know that it was to obtain possession
+of Pixy.
+
+"It is mine!" sputtered the big boy, "and these three rascals are trying
+to get it from me."
+
+"It is mine!" cried Fritz; "we brought Pixy from the Odenwald. We came
+to visit my Aunt Steiner. There she is."
+
+"There comes a policeman," called a boy in the crowd that had gathered
+around; and the big boy rushed away, disappearing around a corner, which
+convinced all that he was not the owner of Pixy.
+
+"I am glad that your boy got his dog. He fought a hard battle to recover
+it," said one.
+
+"Yes, and just see his face is all bruised and bleeding, and his nose
+swollen, perhaps disfigured for life. And see his nice suit of clothes
+all dusty, and a hole torn in his pants; and his stockings, even, have
+blood upon them!"
+
+And truly poor Fritz was a sorry looking object. His hat, thanks to the
+monkey, did not add to his appearance. His aunt had intended stopping at
+a store on their way home to get a new straw hat, but on account of his
+battered appearance decided to wait until next day.
+
+"But, Aunt Fanny!" said the logical Fritz, "I may look worse to-morrow
+than I do to-day; and why should we care more for the people in the
+store than on the street? Besides, the rim of the new straw hat will
+hide the bruise on my forehead."
+
+"That is true, Fritz, and I know of a fountain on our way home where you
+can wash the blood from your face and hands and as much as we can off
+your clothes, and with a new hat, you will look much better."
+
+All this was done, and Fritz was really proud of his new hat, and glad
+to leave the torn one at the store to be thrown away.
+
+When they reached home, Mrs. Steiner's first care was to give the hungry
+and tired Pixy a plate of good bread and milk, which he ate gratefully
+and then lay down upon his piece of carpet by the window.
+
+Oh, how good it was to them all to see him there! and how good the
+supper which Aunt Steiner prepared, and how good the restful home to the
+weary ones, and how welcome the comfortable beds to which they retired
+as soon as supper was finished!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+PIXY IN TROUBLE
+
+
+The next morning Mrs. Steiner arose earlier than usual to put in order
+the boys' clothes which had been damaged in the fight for Pixy. There
+was some mending and much cleansing to be done, but all was finished in
+good time, when she called them to get ready for breakfast.
+
+"Yes, Aunt Fanny, we are coming," said Fritz, and then followed "oh's"
+and "ah's" and other signs of discomfort as they arose to dress, and
+found themselves stiff and sore from the exertion and the blows of the
+afternoon before.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Mrs. Steiner to see that the swelling
+which had disfigured Fritz had disappeared, and his nose was in its
+normal condition. The boys were so enthusiastic over their visit to the
+zoological garden, and so refreshed by sleep that all had a cheerful
+time while enjoying the substantial breakfast which their hostess had
+prepared.
+
+"I loved that cute little monkey, Aunt Fanny, and was so sorry to see
+it treated badly by the big monkey, and then to think it was so mean as
+to tear up my straw hat."
+
+"But he would not be a monkey if he were not playful," laughed Aunt
+Fanny; "and he did it in play. There is Uncle Braun," she continued as
+the doorbell rang. "He has come to take you out sight-seeing."
+
+The three boys hurried to admit him, and came back holding him by the
+hand.
+
+"I am glad you gave these boys breakfast in good time this morning," he
+said after greeting Mrs. Steiner, "for I wish them to see two more of
+the noted places of Frankfort on the Main, and when they get older they
+can visit Frankfort on the Oden and compare the two cities."
+
+"You have selected good places, if you still think of taking them to
+those you spoke of the day you were here."
+
+"Yes, they have seen Goethe Square, and Schiller Square. Now I wish them
+to see Romerberg Square and the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. Could you
+not make it convenient to go with us?"
+
+"No; for it would not do to take Pixy in any of the buildings, and he
+could not be left alone here. But after I attend to some matters, I
+will take him out for a walk."
+
+The boys were ready to go, and they set out, their first visit being to
+the Cathedral.
+
+Their way led across a part of the beautiful promenade, and the equally
+beautiful Ziel street, and later through the narrow streets of the
+middle ages, and in a short time they stood before the mighty buildings
+called the Kaiser Cathedral, so called because from the year 1711 the
+German emperors were crowned there.
+
+The magnificence of the carved work upon the portal charmed the boys,
+and when they entered they were filled with admiration of the splendid
+stained glass windows and the grand paintings. They stood for some time
+gazing at the monument of the Emperor Gunther of Schwartzburg, and Uncle
+Braun informed them that he was the only emperor who had been buried
+there.
+
+They heartily appreciated the privilege of seeing the great cathedral in
+the company of one who could give them reliable information, and when
+they left it, they walked through the narrow, ancient streets on their
+way to the Romerberg Square, and their guide said as they passed along,
+"In it stands the Romer, or Council House where the German emperors
+were elected and entertained.
+
+"When crowned in the cathedral they walked to the Council House,
+followed by a great retinue of princes and the other great people of the
+earth, while the streets, doors, windows and roofs of the houses were
+filled with spectators.
+
+"When the crowned emperor disappeared within the walls of the Council
+House, all eyes were turned in expectation to the windows of Kaiser
+Hall. Very soon the centre one was opened, and the Kaiser appeared in
+his imperial robes, the crown upon his head, in his left hand the
+imperial globe of the kingdom, and in his right the sceptre.
+
+"A storm of applause greeted him, and at the same moment all the bells
+of the city rang in rejoicing over the crowning of a new emperor."
+
+It was a delight to the boys after hearing this on their way there to
+step into this Kaiser Hall and see the portraits of the emperors looking
+down upon them. Uncle Braun told them of each emperor, and was glad to
+see that they were very well acquainted with history, and in turn could
+tell him something of each of them.
+
+"It would have been easier to study history if we could have come to
+this Kaiser Hall first," remarked Franz. "I know a good deal of Charles
+the Great, but I like better to hear of Frederick Barbarossa."
+
+"You are making a great chasm in your likings," laughed Uncle Braun;
+"see how many emperors come between them. Besides, I think you are
+mistaken in thinking it would have made history easier had you come here
+first. Instead, your knowledge of history has made you take interest in
+these portraits which you could not have taken had you not known
+something of them. So it is with all travelers. The more they have read
+of a place, the more intelligent appreciation they have of it when they
+see it."
+
+The boys gazed with great interest at each portrait, and also at the
+white marble statue of Emperor William I, which had been placed there
+and unveiled in March, 1892.
+
+"Now that we have enjoyed living in the past, let us step out upon the
+balcony and look at the present in the form of the beautiful Romerberg
+Square, its green lawn, and its fountain," suggested their guide.
+
+It was a stirring scene upon which they gazed. People were going to and
+fro; and among them Franz saw two familiar figures.
+
+"Fritz," he said, "there is Aunt Steiner and Pixy."
+
+"So it is Aunt Fanny," cried Fritz, joyously; "Aunt Fanny, do you see
+us? Pixy! Pixy!"
+
+Scarcely had the sound of the loved voice reached the dog, when he
+sprang forward, dragging the weak little woman, who was compelled to
+leap and bound over the grass at a pace which was, to say the least,
+unaccustomed. She called, coaxed and upbraided by turns, but Pixy never
+halted in his race, nor looked back to see how she was faring, but was
+making with all speed for the balcony. At length Mrs. Steiner could hold
+out no longer. She dropped the line and sank into a seat on the lawn,
+and Pixy, released from his burden, sprang up the steps of the Council
+House where he was met by a watchman.
+
+"What are you doing in here, you black Satan?" cried the surprised man
+as Pixy ran in. "Out with you! Out with you!"
+
+But Pixy had seen the open door into the balcony, had spied his master,
+and ran to greet him with every evidence of delight.
+
+"Whom does that black beast belong to?" asked the watchman, hurrying
+out.
+
+"To me," replied Fritz, "but--"
+
+"How dare you bring him in here? Come out, both of you."
+
+Uncle Braun advised Fritz to pacify the angry man by telling how it
+happened that Pixy got in, but the watchman would not listen, so Fritz
+hurried out to his much-tried relative, followed by the others.
+
+"Oh, Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I am so sorry that Pixy acted so
+badly," he exclaimed.
+
+"No, no; don't blame Pixy for your own fault. You should not have called
+him. The affectionate creature was rejoiced to hear your voice. You
+called him and he was glad to obey."
+
+"Yes, it was my fault. I should have known what Pixy would do."
+
+"Oh, no one is to blame. It was merely a mistake," said Uncle Braun,
+joining in the conversation; "but you are all tired, especially the
+aunt, and you must ride home."
+
+He called a carriage, and before they could make objection they were
+helped in, with Pixy at their feet.
+
+"Bornheimer street, number 37," said Uncle Braun to the coachman as he
+put a coin in his hand, and they were off.
+
+"Oh, how nice it is to live in a great city!" remarked Franz. "In the
+country when any of the people wish to ride out, the horse must be
+brought up from the field and curried, the harness be put on, the
+carriage taken from the carriage-house, the whip and carriage robe
+gotten from their places, the horse put to the carriage, and then when
+the drive is over everything has to be put back in its place."
+
+"Yes, child, all one needs in a city in order to obtain these things is
+money; and Uncle Braun has certainly done us a favor to-day to add to
+his many kindnesses. I really don't know how I could have walked home,
+for my knees trembled and my back ached. Never in my life did I take
+such long steps, and run and bound as I had to do while trying to keep
+back that black rascal."
+
+"But it was not Pixy's fault. You said so yourself, Auntie!"
+
+"Yes, I did say it. It was your fault in calling 'Pixy! Pixy!'"
+
+The moment the dog heard his name he sprang up, put his paws on her lap,
+and looked into her face with such an affectionate expression in his
+brown eyes, that she could not help patting his head and saying, "With
+it all, one cannot help loving you."
+
+The carriage stopped at number 37, and Pixy sprang to the pavement,
+followed closely by the boys, who helped Mrs. Steiner out carefully, and
+with one on each side she went slowly up the long steps.
+
+"Certainly such help is not to be despised," she said. "You are my
+gallant cavaliers."
+
+She took out her key as she spoke and unlocked the door, and was
+surprised to see several letters which had been pushed under it during
+her absence.
+
+"They are only business circulars, I suppose," she said as the boys
+gathered them up and put them on the table.
+
+She put on her glasses, took one up, broke the seal and read:
+
+"In reference to your notice in the 'Intelligencer' that you offer a
+reward for the recovery of your dog, I write to say that it can be found
+at 395 New street. If you send ten marks between twelve and one o'clock,
+and a rope, you can have your dog.
+
+"Respectfully,
+
+"M.R."
+
+"Now just hear that, boys! Whoever heard the like of this? If he asks
+two marks for catching the dog, then he asks eight marks for one day's
+feed. He must have fed it on pound cake and champagne."
+
+"It would take my gold-piece to pay it, if the dog were really Pixy,"
+remarked Fritz.
+
+"Yes, but it is not Pixy. Let me see what this one says."
+
+"We have your dog, and you can have it, if you will put a notice in the
+paper that you will put twenty-five marks in our hand for it. If you
+agree to this, then you can come to the Hessen statue with the money,
+and take your dog.
+
+"P.P."
+
+"Wonderful that P.P. promises to bring a dog that we already have and
+who is lying comfortably on his piece of carpet by the window. Now here
+is a stylish looking letter. Let us see who is the writer.
+
+"Highborn gentleman (or lady).
+
+"I see that you speak of having lost your dog. Do not imagine that it
+was lost; it was stolen. It is evident that you like dogs, so I write to
+say that I have a fine Spitz which I will sell you. His brother sold for
+twelve marks and I think you will be willing to give that sum. If so,
+bring the money to Roderberg square at four o'clock. With due respect,
+
+"Euphrosine Sauerbier."
+
+"Fritz! Fritz! Your dog has shown me that there is more rascality in
+Frankfort than I ever imagined," exclaimed Aunt Steiner; "or, upon
+second thought, I believe they are foreigners. I am sure that no
+Frankforter would do such tricky things."
+
+"Here is a postal, Aunt, that you have not seen," said Fritz.
+
+"Read it, my boy. Of course it is from another swindler," and Fritz
+read:
+
+"To No. 37 Bornheimer street:
+
+"I have found your dog, and will bring it to you if you will tell me
+through the paper how much the reward is.
+
+"H.Y.R."
+
+"Will bring us Pixy, and Pixy sitting by looking at us! Well, well, I
+would never have believed it! But just see, it wants ten minutes of our
+dinner hour. Franz, do you and Paul wash your hands and set the table,
+and Fritz can help clear off when we have finished."
+
+"But Aunt Fanny!" exclaimed the astonished Fritz, "when did you cook
+dinner?"
+
+"I did not cook any, yet we will have it, and a good one, and all we
+have to do is to set the table, and as quickly as possible."
+
+This was a mystery which the boys could not unravel, yet they hurried to
+wash and dry their hands, the cloth was spread neatly, napkins put to
+the places, and the dishes on, when a trim-looking girl came in carrying
+a long basket in which was a bucket of lentil soup, a roast of veal with
+vegetables and a plate of fine summer pears.
+
+She nodded pleasantly to all, put the dinner quickly and deftly upon the
+table, set the basket on a chair, and with a smile and a nod went out
+and down the steps.
+
+"Well, I never!" ejaculated Fritz. "How did you get this dinner cooked,
+Aunt Fanny?"
+
+"Very easily. All I had to do was to leave an order at a cook shop, and
+you see the result. Yes, little Fritz, as I said in regard to the
+carriage, in a large city one can get the comforts and luxuries of life
+if he has the money. Without that, many doors and also hearts have to
+remain closed. I ordered a dinner to-day because it is a change for me
+as well as for you, for it is very seldom I have a meal except as I
+prepare it myself. Now let us eat our dinner."
+
+They took their seats, the blessing was asked as usual, and Mrs. Steiner
+carved the roast, giving generous pieces to the hungry boys.
+
+The soup was all that could be desired, as was each dish of the prepared
+meal, and they sat at the table after they finished until the girl came
+for her basket and bucket and departed, and Fritz was helping take the
+dishes to the kitchen, when the door bell rang.
+
+"Now I wonder if that is another policeman?" ejaculated Aunt Steiner, as
+she went to the door and opened it.
+
+There stood a stout young man with a cigarette between his teeth, who
+set one of his feet within the room, so that she could not have closed
+the door had she tried. He was leading a black dog by a rope--which
+squeezed past him into the room--and he did not appear to think it
+necessary to remove his cap, as he said with a foreign accent: "Dog
+lost--I got him, yes, I brought him."
+
+The dog was black, but much larger than Pixy, was shaggy and unkempt,
+and had a cross and savage look, very different from the well-kept and
+gentle Pixy.
+
+"We have found our dog," replied Mrs. Steiner. "I am sorry that you
+went to the trouble of bringing one."
+
+"Found your dog? Where is he?"
+
+"Fritz, bring Pixy here," called his aunt, and Fritz came with his dog,
+followed by Franz and Paul.
+
+"I have been more than half an hour coming here with this dog in answer
+to your advertisement, and should be paid for my trouble," said the
+young man, gruffly.
+
+"It is not our fault that you came. It is not our dog. See, he is not at
+all like ours and he does not answer to the name of Pixy."
+
+"See if he don't," and he jerked the dog's head up by the cord as he
+called "Pixy!"
+
+"No matter if his name is Pixy, he is not our dog. Our dog is here, as
+you see."
+
+The man grew angry and raised his voice, and the dogs, who had been
+eyeing each other with no friendly looks, snarled and sprang upon each
+other, and the small entry was the scene of such a fierce battle, and
+resounded with such shrill yelps and much thumping and bumping about
+that the very coats and hats on the pegs trembled. Pixy was full of
+fight, but the strange dog was much the larger, and scored a victory,
+while Pixy ran howling under the sofa in the dining-room.
+
+Mrs. Steiner was so weak from fright that she had to hold to the open
+door for support; and tears were running down Fritz's cheeks. They all
+hoped that the man would leave, but no, he wanted money. He changed his
+reason for demanding it, claiming that he should have payment for the
+injury to his dog.
+
+"Asking for money when your wild beast dragged our poor Pixy over the
+floor as if he were a bundle of old rags?" cried Mrs. Steiner in
+astonishment.
+
+"Your dog commenced it! He snarled at my dog."
+
+"He did it from fright, I think, and your dog bit him and tore out some
+of his silky, black hair, and Pixy is now lying under the sofa, his
+teeth chattering from fear."
+
+"What do I care where he is! If my Turk mastered him, that is not saying
+that my dog is not hurt."
+
+"So your dog is not named Pixy but Turk," commented Mrs. Steiner.
+
+The man took no notice of this; his object was money and he resolved to
+get it.
+
+"I should have a dollar at least for my trouble," he said.
+
+"I wish a policeman would happen along. There are not enough of them in
+Frankfort," remarked Mrs. Steiner. "Look out of the windows, boys, and
+if you see one beckon to him to come. I would give a dollar this minute
+to see one."
+
+"Why should you give a dollar to a policeman? Give the dollar to me, and
+I will go and take my dog."
+
+"Not a penny, Aunt Fanny!" called Paul. "He would better leave now, and
+quickly, or he will see what he will get."
+
+It would have been hard for Paul to have told what the man would get,
+but his determined manner had its effect and the man ran down the steps,
+instantly followed by Turk.
+
+Mrs. Steiner sank upon the sofa, pale and nervous; Fritz sat by her
+shedding tears of regret that he had brought his dog to Frankfort; and
+Pixy crept out from his covert and tried to comfort them.
+
+"I feel nervous and exhausted over the dog fight, and the rudeness of
+that man," said Mrs. Steiner, "and will lie down upon the sofa and rest
+awhile. Franz, you and Paul can take the dishes and other things to the
+kitchen and Fritz can put water on the gas stove to heat."
+
+"Oh, Aunt Fanny, let us wash the dishes," said Paul.
+
+"Certainly you may," and in great glee the two boys did the work
+nicely, while Fritz fed Pixy and gave him fresh water.
+
+"Now I feel rested," said Mrs. Steiner, rising, "and you boys have been
+such a help that I have time to go out on business in the city. Who will
+go with me?"
+
+"I will go!" said Franz, "and I!" exclaimed Paul.
+
+"Aunt Fanny, if you will excuse me, I will stay at home and write a
+letter. Besides, I can rest," said Fritz.
+
+"Certainly I will excuse you, dear child; and if you get tired of
+staying alone and wish to take a walk, leave the key on the first floor
+with the Steerers," and the three went cheerily down the steps and Fritz
+was alone with his black friend.
+
+"Pixy," he said as he commenced to write, "whom do you suppose my letter
+is to? It is to Aunt Fanny for we are going home, Pixy; yes, going home.
+We will surprise them. I will tell you how we will do, Pixy. When we are
+near our house I will take off your cord, and you can run in the open
+door of the store and see papa. Then you can run in the open door of the
+house and see mamma and sister. Mamma will say, 'Why, here's Pixy!
+Fritz cannot be far away.'"
+
+This plan seemed to suit Pixy admirably, and Fritz continued with his
+letter. When it was finished he folded and addressed it to "Dear Aunt
+Fanny," and laid it upon the table. He hurried into the bedroom, put
+such things in his knapsack as he would need before Paul and Franz came
+home, strapped it over his shoulder, put his rain-coat over his left
+arm, took the end of Pixy's cord in his right, and descended the steps
+after carefully locking the door, and putting the key into the hands of
+the Steerer servant, he set out for home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THEY VISIT THE CLOTHING HOUSE
+
+
+When Mrs. Steiner and the boys returned they found the door locked.
+
+"Run down, Franz, and get the key. I told Fritz to leave it there if he
+went out for a walk and the boy took my advice."
+
+Franz soon returned, the door was opened and they entered, Mrs. Steiner
+sinking down upon the sofa with the sigh, "Oh, those steps, those
+steps!"
+
+"Aunt Fanny, here is a letter upon the table. It is for you, and written
+by Fritz," said Paul.
+
+"By Fritz!" laughed Aunt Fanny, "gone out for a walk and left a letter
+for me! Read it, Paul."
+
+The boy opened the missive and read, each sentence meeting with comments
+from his interested listeners.
+
+"Dear Aunt Fanny: Pixy was not to blame for the dog fight; and the time
+he ran into the Council House he was not to blame, because I called
+'Pixy! Pixy!' I should have kept my mouth shut."
+
+"The dear Fritz! He is right, but I am sorry he takes it so much to
+heart."
+
+"You know, Aunt Fanny, that Pixy is but a dog, and has not a man's
+understanding."
+
+"Yes, Fritz, I remember that much of my studies in natural history,"
+laughed his aunt.
+
+"I have not as much understanding as a man, either, or I would not have
+brought Pixy to Frankfort."
+
+"The boy is certainly right there."
+
+"I am sorry that you stood and held him while we were in the buildings
+and you had to run and jump when I called 'Pixy!' If he had not come he
+would have been disobedient or stupid; and my father will tell you that
+he is neither disobedient nor stupid. You will not have to hold his cord
+again."
+
+"Now what does he mean by saying I will not have to stand and hold his
+cord again?"
+
+"We are now on our way home," continued Paul, "and papa will be glad to
+see me and Pixy."
+
+"For heaven's sake! Has the boy run off?"
+
+"Yes, he must mean that," replied Paul.
+
+"Oh, he is only joking. Run to your room, Franz, and see if he has taken
+his knapsack."
+
+"Yes, and his rain-coat is gone. Shall we finish reading the letter?"
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Steiner with tears in her eyes.
+
+"Dear Aunt Fanny, I thank you for your goodness, and for the mark you
+gave me; and want to say that I will never again bring a dog to visit
+Frankfort."
+
+"Oh, that boy has made my heart heavy! I feel as if I will never see him
+again and it is all Pixy's fault. Is that all?"
+
+"Yes, and oh, Aunt Fanny, I wish we had not been so harsh with Fritz in
+regard to Pixy," said Paul.
+
+"Now you are trying to make me more unhappy than I am when I am enough
+distressed that the boy has run away without bidding us good-bye."
+
+"No, but we are to blame. We were as glad as was Fritz that Pixy was
+with us on the way to Frankfort; then when he became a trouble we blamed
+Fritz. I wish we could do something now. Perhaps the train has not left
+for the Odenwald, and if we go to the depot he may be there, and we can
+bring him and Pixy back."
+
+"Oh, you dear boy, to think of this! Yes, go quickly. But hark! I hear a
+step on the porch. He is at the hall door. Yes, thank heaven, the boy
+has come back of his own free will!" And she ran and opened the door.
+
+"Fritz! Fritz!" she called as she saw the tall form of her brother, and,
+clasping his hand, she led him to the sitting-room. "Did you see Fritz
+at the station?"
+
+"No, is he not here?"
+
+"He left for home without bidding us good-bye, and it is all on account
+of the dog. The boys were just going to the depot to see if he is
+there."
+
+"It is no use to go. If he had been there, I would have seen him, and
+Pixy would have found me."
+
+"What are we to do about it?"
+
+"Do nothing. It will be an experience for him to be allowed to follow
+his own inclination in the matter. He will be surprised when he reaches
+home to know that I am here. I am on my way to Cassel on business and
+stopped off to see you and my boy."
+
+"But I feel so anxious about him," said his sister. "I would ask the
+police to see to it but am ashamed, for I had to apply to them when his
+purse was lost, then when his dog was lost and now it would be to tell
+them that both dog and boy are gone. Uncle Braun put a notice in the
+paper about the dog, and oh dear! there seems to be no end to what that
+notice brought;" and she told of the letters and the dog fight.
+
+"I am sorry you bothered about it for there is no need. He can take care
+of himself. He is eleven years old, has money in his purse, and is
+afraid of nothing, so what is the need of worrying? Yet it may be that
+he has not left Frankfort, and if it will be a comfort to you we will
+try to find the young rascal. There are two railways which he could take
+to go home, so you and the two boys can go to the Eastern station, and I
+will go to the other, which will leave us plenty of time to see both
+departures for the Odenwald and one of us will catch him if he is there
+to be caught. Have you a schedule?"
+
+"No, I have no need of one from one year's end to another. But suppose
+he refuses to come back with us?"
+
+"No danger of that when he hears that I am here. He will not think that
+he can get back quickly enough."
+
+Mrs. Steiner locked the hall door and they hurried away, taking the
+shortest way to the two depots. It was not likely that one spy at the
+one and the three at the other would miss seeing the runaway,
+especially as he would be accompanied by his four-footed traveling
+companion, and would perhaps be the only boy in the crowd with a dog.
+
+"Fritz will have to travel in a freight car," remarked Paul as the three
+neared the depot; "the guard will not allow Pixy in a passenger car, and
+Fritz will not let his dog go in there alone."
+
+"Oh, Paul, you should have mentioned this before! Brother Fritz will
+never think of it, and the boy will be stowed in a freight car without
+his father finding him, and we here, not knowing whether or not he is in
+Frankfort."
+
+"Mr. Heil will think of it, I am sure," said Franz, "for Fritz wrote
+a letter home on Thursday, and in it he told them about Pixy and the
+chickens."
+
+"We can only hope so," sighed Mrs. Steiner, "and when we reach the
+depot, you, Paul, can watch the freight cars, Franz can watch the
+passenger cars, and I will go first into the waiting-rooms to see if he
+is there. Then we can all watch the crowd upon the platform and see if
+Fritz is among them."
+
+This program was followed, but Fritz and his dog were not to be seen,
+and they could only hope that Mr. Heil would be more successful.
+
+"But I will not see him until we get home," said Mrs. Steiner, "so will
+send a telegram to Fritz's mother, telling her that the boy set out for
+home about noon, and when he arrives there, she would please send me a
+telegram to that effect, as I am extremely anxious about him."
+
+No sooner thought of than done. She hurried into the office, gave her
+message to the operator who made quite a reduction in the number of
+words, thus lessening the expense, and then the three would have set out
+for home had not Paul made a study of the schedule and found that the
+train which Mr. Heil had gone to watch would not leave for fifteen
+minutes.
+
+"Oh, I am glad of that!" exclaimed Mrs. Steiner. "We can board an
+electric car and get there in time to tell Brother Fritz about the
+freight car, and you boys can help watch for the boy."
+
+The car came, and they lost no time in boarding it, and Paul and Franz
+enjoyed the swift run through the streets.
+
+But Mrs. Steiner was far from enjoying it. The car had to halt at so
+many corners that she dreaded that the train would leave for the
+Odenwald before they reached the depot, and she would have to return
+home without knowing the whereabouts of her nephew.
+
+"Oh, there is Mr. Heil on that car that has whirled past us," exclaimed
+Franz. "He saw us and signaled us not to go to the depot, but to go
+home."
+
+"Now isn't that too provoking! Let us get out," and she sprang up, and
+would have hurried to the platform had not the guard caught her arm.
+
+"Do you wish to fall off and be killed, or have your limbs broken?" he
+asked. "Wait until we stop at the next corner--so; now you can step off,
+and in safety."
+
+The three quickly took his advice, and waited on the curb until a car
+came that was going in an opposite direction, and hurried aboard.
+
+"I wish to get home as quickly as possible," said Mrs. Steiner, "for
+Brother Fritz will have to stand outside until we come with the key. I
+am afraid this has hindered him from leaving for Cassel. And oh, boys,
+we are on the wrong car! See, it is turning in another direction. We
+will have to get off and wait for a car to take us back."
+
+She gave the signal, they stepped off, and again waited on the curb,
+Mrs. Steiner feverish with impatience.
+
+"I am completely bewildered or I should not have made that mistake," she
+explained. "That boy's rash act of running away has upset me so that I
+cannot think. There was not the least excuse for it. Surely he could
+have waited until Monday, when all three would go, your time of holiday
+being over. It is all the fault of that miserable Pixy."
+
+After some delay they returned home and found Mr. Heil waiting for them.
+
+"I am sorry you took the trouble to go to the other depot, sister," he
+said kindly. "You knew that I would wait there until the train left for
+the Odenwald."
+
+"But did you see Fritz?" she asked anxiously.
+
+"No, and no boy of about his age had bought a ticket for the Odenwald,
+so he is yet here in Frankfort."
+
+"Oh, where is the poor boy?" exclaimed Mrs. Steiner, tearfully. "I
+cannot forgive myself for finding fault with his dog. You must not go
+to Cassel, Fritz, until we know where he is."
+
+"No, there is nothing to prevent my waiting for the evening train. I
+have written to my wife's brother that I would pass Sunday with them,
+but there was no time set to reach there."
+
+In the meantime where were Fritz and Pixy?
+
+Fritz had set out for home in splendid spirits. It seemed to him that he
+had been away for months, and wondered if there had been many changes
+during his absence. He hurried along, for he wished to stop on his way
+to the depot and get a present for his little sister.
+
+He knew that she wished a canary-bird, and went into a store to see how
+much one would cost. To his surprise and delight, he found that he could
+buy a singer and a cage for two marks, and he purchased both.
+
+"Is there no one else that you would take a present to?" asked the
+shop-keeper.
+
+"Yes, I would like to take a present to my baby brother, and something
+to my mother."
+
+"What would you like?"
+
+"A tin trumpet to my brother, but I don't know what my mother would
+like."
+
+"There is a nice trumpet, and here is a tin grater. I think she would
+like it."
+
+"Yes, and I will take it, if it and the trumpet do not cost too much. I
+must have enough money left for my journey home."
+
+It was found by counting that he would have enough without disturbing
+his beloved gold-piece, and the shop-keeper strapped the three articles
+on his back, drawing the grater around to his side, and the happy Fritz
+set out for the depot, when a street urchin slipped up behind him and
+blew a shrill blast upon the trumpet. Fritz turned quickly and at that
+moment he heard a call, "Pixy! Pixy!" and the dog turned joyously and
+looked back at a tall policeman who laid his hand upon the shoulder of
+Fritz.
+
+"How did you come by this dog?" he enquired, sternly.
+
+"It belonged to my father and he gave it to me. He has no tag or muzzle
+because I am only visiting in Frankfort."
+
+"I am not asking about muzzle or tag, but wish to know if the dog's name
+is Pixy."
+
+"Yes, his name is Pixy."
+
+"Now listen. A black dog of that name was stolen yesterday; and the
+lady from whom it was stolen not only put the case in the hands of the
+police, but put an advertisement in the paper, giving an exact
+description of the dog."
+
+"Yes, this is the dog," assured Fritz. "He first ran away, then was
+stolen by a man."
+
+"And the man gave him to you to take away. Is that it?"
+
+"No. Franz and Paul and I had a hard fight to get him; and I am taking
+him to the depot to go to Odenwald."
+
+"What is you name?"
+
+"Fritz Heil."
+
+"And that of your father?"
+
+"His name is also Fritz."
+
+"So you say that the dog belongs to Fritz Heil, yet it was the Widow
+Steiner who put the case in the hands of the police. How does that story
+agree with yours?"
+
+Fritz was so bewildered and frightened that he stammered over his
+explanation. "Yes--no. It did run away--Yes, it was stolen; I was there,
+but I am going away."
+
+"You were where?"
+
+"At my Aunt Steiner's."
+
+"Does she know that you are going away?"
+
+"No, I did not tell her. Yes, I did in my letter."
+
+"That is a beautiful story! Now I know that you are taking her dog away
+without her knowledge."
+
+"No; she knows it," howled Fritz.
+
+"Yes, but all the world knows how cunning dog thieves are in Frankfort.
+You come with me that we may learn the straight story of how you got
+this dog."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Policeman, do not take me to prison! I would die there."
+
+"No, not to prison, but to the Widow Steiner's. There we will hear a
+full account of Pixy."
+
+"But I do not want to go there, because I have just run off from her
+house and it shames me to go back."
+
+"I believe that, but you need not be ashamed if you are telling the
+truth."
+
+"But, Mr. Policeman, I am only taking my own dog to my own home."
+
+"Perhaps so. We will see what Mrs. Steiner says about it," and the tall
+policeman set out for 37 Bornheimer street, followed by the weeping
+Fritz, and a motley crowd of onlookers.
+
+"He has been stealing tinware," commented one of them. "While he was
+about it he might as well have taken silver or something worth while."
+
+"Poor boy, he has not been trained right by his parents," remarked a
+woman standing in the door of her bakery. "People who take no care of
+their children but let them run the streets must expect arrests."
+
+This remark was so trying to Fritz that he halted to set the woman right
+in regard to his parents, but the policeman bade him hurry along, and
+they soon reached 37, where the returned ones were still upon the porch.
+Mrs. Steiner was weeping, and Mr. Heil and the boys were anxious,
+believing that Fritz had lost his way in going to the depot and was
+wandering about the streets.
+
+"Look, brother!" exclaimed Mrs. Steiner, eagerly; "look at that crowd
+coming up the street following a policeman. Among them is a black dog.
+Yes, it is Fritz and Pixy, and with them a policeman! What can be the
+matter now?"
+
+Fritz had one arm over his eyes, trying to hide his tears but looked out
+when his captor told him that they had reached his aunt's home and there
+were people on the porch.
+
+"Oh, it is father! dear, dear father!" exclaimed Fritz in delight, and
+running up the steps he was clasped in the arms of his relieved parent.
+
+But the boy's joy was no greater than that of the dog, for Pixy danced
+and pranced about his master, jumped upon him and tried to lick his
+face and hands.
+
+"It is of no use for me to ask to whom the dog belongs," remarked the
+policeman as he reached the group upon the porch. "The dog tells me that
+the boy has told the exact truth."
+
+"See, Mr. Policeman, the dog does belong to papa and me, and not to Aunt
+Steiner," exclaimed Fritz, jubilantly.
+
+"Yes; and is this lady the Widow Steiner?"
+
+"Yes," she replied, stepping forward.
+
+"You gave a false statement in the paper, and to the police," he said in
+an injured tone. "You said you had lost your dog."
+
+"It was a misleading statement, that is true," she replied, "but many
+people know me who do not know Fritz. The dog ran away from my house
+while under my care, and my wish was to state correctly in a few words
+where the dog could be returned if found. It was a friend who
+advertised."
+
+"It would have taken but a few words more to have said that your nephew,
+Fritz Heil, had lost his dog, then when the boy told me his name and
+where he had been staying, I would not have arrested him, knowing that
+he was telling the exact truth."
+
+"Yes, you are quite right, and I am sorry that my mistake has given you
+trouble, and I thank you heartily. It has all turned out right. Had you
+not arrested him, he would have been on his way home, and his father
+here to see him."
+
+"All right. I have nothing to say, except to tell you that when you call
+upon the police to help you, you will state the case correctly."
+
+"I, too, thank you heartily," added Mr. Heil. "You have done us a good
+service."
+
+The policeman gave the military salute and passed down the steps and
+Aunt Steiner and the others went inside.
+
+"Now tell me, Fritz, what was your reason for starting for Odenwald
+with such a motley array of things upon your back? You looked like a
+traveling tinker," enquired his father.
+
+"They were presents for mother, and sister and baby brother, and the
+shop-keeper said I could carry them better if strapped upon my back, and
+he strapped them which I thought was very kind. I got the canary bird so
+very cheap that I could not bear to go home without it."
+
+"No wonder it was cheap! It is not a singer, the man cheated you."
+
+Fritz looked so sad over this information that his aunt tried to think
+of something to cheer him.
+
+"Do you know, brother, that Fritz can make excellent coffee and all
+three boys are learning to cook?" she said.
+
+"No, indeed! I never imagined such a thing," he replied, looking as
+surprised and pleased as the boys could possibly desire.
+
+"Yes; they can cook, and as it is nearly time for our afternoon meal, we
+will give you a sample of how they can help me."
+
+"Set them at it as early as convenient, sister, and when finished I can
+pass an hour or more with you at the forest park before starting to
+Cassel, if you care to go."
+
+"That will be charming. Fritz, you may go now and grind the coffee, and
+put in a tablespoonful more, now that we are having a guest to share it
+with us. Franz, you will please peel and chop the cold boiled potatoes,
+and brown them nicely and cut thin slices from the cold boiled ham, and
+put them upon the pink plate. Paul will please set the table, and then
+go to the bakery and get a seed cake in honor of the returned prodigal."
+
+The boys set to work and the odor of the mocha coffee as it was being
+ground floated into the sitting-room.
+
+"You always have fine coffee, sister," remarked Mr. Heil.
+
+"Yes, it is good, and the reason is that it is genuine coffee, no
+chicory or other mixture. Yet I have seen passable coffee made of poor
+material by an adept. Our dear old grandmother was compelled in
+war-times to make it from chicory, but would use no deception, so when
+she invited friends to take supper she would not say, 'Come to afternoon
+coffee,' but 'Come to chicory.'"
+
+Paul in the meantime had set the table neatly, and had returned from the
+bakery with a fine large seed cake, Mrs. Steiner having given him two
+marks to pay for it.
+
+The potatoes, ham, good brown and white bread, butter and lettuce was
+now upon the table, Fritz brought the coffee, and all took seats at the
+hospitable board.
+
+Mr. Heil at his sister's request asked the blessing, then with pleasant
+chat the meal progressed, the guest assuring the boys that he did not
+know that he had ever enjoyed one more.
+
+"If it would not tire you too much, sister, I would prefer that we walk
+to the Forest-house, as I would like to call on the way at the Stayman
+cloth house and leave an order for cloth and ready-made clothing."
+
+"I prefer walking this lovely evening."
+
+"And oh, papa, we are glad to go there, for we know Mr. Stayman! We
+spent part of the time with him watching the fireworks," exclaimed
+Fritz. "Do you know, papa, that he is a tailor?"
+
+"Yes, and I hope that you will have as good knowledge of how the work
+should be done as has Mr. Stayman when old enough to go in business."
+
+"But I would rather be a merchant."
+
+"He is a merchant and a successful one; and his success lies in the fact
+that he understands thoroughly how the work of making the clothing
+should be done."
+
+"He invited us to come to his store and I am glad you will take us. Will
+we see him on his work-table with a needle in his hand?"
+
+"I am not sure; but if so, we should have double respect for him, for it
+would prove that he is not above his business. You appear to have the
+foolish opinion that it is the kind of work that demeans or elevates a
+man. I know of but two classes of men, the worker and the drone. The
+king who rules wisely and the tailor who does honest work are pleasing
+to God in the position in which he has placed them. But the man who
+thinks the world owes him a living and will not work but begs from door
+to door is like a parasite that lives upon the fruit tree."
+
+As soon as the meal was finished the boys helped Mrs. Steiner put the
+place in order, and they set out for the Forest-house, Mr. Heil leading
+the way with his sister, the boys following, and Pixy enjoying the
+freedom of running along without the restriction of his cord, but always
+keeping near his master. They halted at the house of Uncle Braun and
+invited him to meet them at the Forest-house which he gladly accepted;
+then they passed on and soon stood before the palatial clothing house of
+the Staymans and to the surprise of the boys it was the very one which
+Franz and Paul had visited and near which Fritz was robbed. They were
+met by a young man, dressed in the latest-style business-suit, who
+welcomed them courteously and asked how he could serve them.
+
+"Please tell Mr. Stayman that Frederick Heil of the Odenwald wishes to
+leave an order with his firm," said Mr. Heil.
+
+Mr. Stayman appeared immediately, and welcomed them all cordially.
+
+"Come to my office," he said, "and I will give you comfortable seats;
+we can converse there without interruption." They followed him, passing
+through a small room lined with mirrors from floor to ceiling, and while
+Mr. Heil gave his order, one of the young clerks took Mrs. Steiner and
+the boys over the building.
+
+"Where are the workrooms?" asked Fritz.
+
+"They are in a large building back of this one. Here we have only suits,
+and cloth in the piece."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+PIXY'S EARNINGS
+
+
+Soon the city lay behind them and they entered the avenue lined with
+great trees which led to the Forest-house, a favorite resort of the
+people of Frankfort.
+
+As soon as they reached the beautiful grounds, Mrs. Steiner rested upon
+a rustic chair and her brother took a seat beside her, and rolling his
+handkerchief in a ball, as he had often done before in playful mood, he
+showed it to Pixy and then while Fritz held his hands over his pet's
+eyes, he threw it far away. Pixy bounded away the moment the hands were
+removed, sniffed about through the grass, and in a very short time
+returned with the handkerchief. As it was white, it was easily seen in
+the grass, so Mr. Heil showed Pixy the black leather letter-case that he
+always carried with him, and threw it near a clump of tall bushes. Pixy
+ran off, brought it back, but instead of waiting to be applauded and
+petted he hurried away, and soon returned with a new pocketbook which
+he would deliver to no one but Mr. Heil.
+
+"Some visitor has lost it," said Mrs. Steiner, "and no doubt is worrying
+over the loss."
+
+"Yes, and it feels bulky. There may be things of value in it," replied
+her brother. "We must try to find the owner."
+
+"Open it, father," said Fritz, "it may be that the owner's name is in
+it."
+
+"Yes, it may be, but I prefer to wait until we have a witness other than
+ourselves for we are strangers here."
+
+"Why should we not be witnesses enough, father?"
+
+"Because some one may have found it, taken money from it and thrown it
+away, and we might be blamed."
+
+"What can you do about it, father?"
+
+"I will take it to the music pavilion. Perhaps some one in the crowd is
+the owner."
+
+At that moment the band stationed in the pavilion began playing _The
+Watch on the Rhine_, and Mr. Heil and his party left their place under
+the trees and joined the listeners within. As soon as the music was
+finished, he called a waiter to him. "Will you please ask the proprietor
+to favor me by coming here? I have something I wish to say to him."
+
+"Yes," replied the waiter, "but I am sure he cannot come just yet, for
+he is intending to speak to the assembly, but I will tell him as soon as
+he is at liberty."
+
+A little later the proprietor requested the attention of the guests, and
+announced that an English visitor had lost his pocketbook and would be
+very grateful if the finder would return it to him as it contained some
+valuable papers and some English money. It had also German money which
+he would give freely to the finder for restoring the pocketbook.
+
+As soon as the announcement was made, the waiter told the proprietor of
+Mr. Heil's request and he came immediately to hear what he wished to
+say.
+
+"I will announce the finding of it as soon as the band has finished this
+number; and I am sure the owner will be rejoiced to hear it for he is
+much concerned at the loss of the papers," said the proprietor, "and I
+am glad for his sake."
+
+"And please say that the pocketbook was found by Pixy," requested Fritz.
+
+The proprietor promised and hurried away and soon the little party heard
+the announcement that a pocketbook answering the description given had
+been found by young Mr. Pixy from the Odenwald. The boys could scarcely
+restrain their laughter to hear that Pixy had been honored with the
+title of "Mr." and they clustered about him, toyed with his ears and his
+curly mane, until the dog wondered what he had done that they should
+laugh at him.
+
+The Englishman quickly made his way to the group and said with warmth,
+as he clasped the hand of Mr. Heil, "I have heard of the Odenwald, and
+will from this time hold it in grateful remembrance, knowing that in
+that retired place are just and honorable people, and that Mr. Pixy is
+one of them."
+
+Mr. Heil and his sister could scarcely restrain their smiles at hearing
+this, and were about to enlighten him as to who found the pocketbook and
+how it happened when he looked around at the three boys.
+
+"Now tell me," he said, "which of the three is Mr. Pixy?"
+
+"No one of them; it was our dog that found your pocketbook and his name
+is Pixy."
+
+"Your dog! Now how shall I reward _him_? Will you please tell me your
+name?"
+
+"Yes, my name is Frederick Heil, and in reply to your first question,
+I will say that my dog does not need anything, although I thank you for
+your kind wish to reward him."
+
+"Pray, Mr. Heil, accept this five hundred marks to use to the advantage
+of your dog in any way you think best."
+
+"Please excuse me," replied Mr. Heil. "There is no way that I can think
+of that it could be used for Pixy. He really needs nothing."
+
+"But, my friend, please respect my wish to express my gratitude in the
+only way I can. You cannot know what the finding of these papers has
+been to me. You will do me the greatest of favors if you will tell me
+if there is any way that you can use this money."
+
+"I believe you fully and will tell you where your five hundred marks
+would do more good than can be told. In my neighborhood has been founded
+a home and school for poor children. It is but a short distance from my
+home, and every day at noon our Pixy goes to the schoolyard to play with
+the children. The matron calls him her black servant, for he is so
+helpful in caring for the children. If you will give the five hundred
+marks to the school, Pixy shall take it to it, and there will be great
+joy over the gift, for we have a hard struggle to keep up supplies for
+the home."
+
+"It will be a great pleasure to me to give it to such a worthy cause,
+and you can do me no greater service than to accept it."
+
+"I do accept it gratefully, for just at this time there are changes to
+be made in the building, and there was no money to buy the materials and
+pay for the work. Only assure me that it will not inconvenience you, and
+I will accept the generous gift gladly."
+
+"I can give you this assurance truthfully. I do not need it and am glad
+to help in a worthy cause."
+
+"It is indeed a worthy cause. At first it appeared to be a hopeless
+undertaking to try to establish a home on such slender means as we could
+command, but we have struggled along, and now this sum of money is
+indeed a Godsend."
+
+Fritz saw an opportunity for him to speak and going to Mr. Heil took his
+hand. "Father," he said, "I have often thought since leaving home that I
+should not have brought Pixy to Frankfort, and I knew that you all
+thought it very foolish in me. You see now that it was after all a good
+thing, for through him you have gotten money needed for the home and
+school. Had it not been for him, some one might have found it who would
+not have given it to the owner."
+
+"Yes, in this instance your foolishness has brought a good result, but,
+as a rule, trouble follows when a boy does what he knows that his
+parents would disapprove. Give the gentleman your hand and thank him for
+the good gift to our Children's Home."
+
+This was done and the stranger thanked him in turn for the good turn
+Pixy had done him, and Fritz returned to his place beside Aunt Steiner
+prouder than ever of his dog.
+
+"I have great interest in the Odenwald for the reason that my ancestors
+belonged to that green mountain region," remarked the Englishman, "but
+it has not been in my time that any of them have lived there. My great
+grandfather was a German and a native of the Odenwald country. He
+married an English lady, and would have lived in England had she not
+been willing to come to Odenwald which was, in those early days, a
+wilderness. She knew that he longed to return to his native land, and
+said, 'Whither thou goest I will go.' When my great-grandfather died,
+she returned to England with her two sons and her daughter. One of these
+sons was my grandfather. I have held in remembrance my German ancestry,
+and have wondered if any of the descendants of my great-grandfather's
+relatives are in the Odenwald."
+
+"I think that I can give you some information, Mr. Urich," replied Mr.
+Heil.
+
+"How did you know my name?" asked the Englishman in surprise. "I did not
+mention it, and you did not ask."
+
+"There was no need, for I know the history of your family. Forest-master
+Urich was the first of the name in the Odenwald, and his son--your
+great-grandfather--was also my great-grandfather on his sister's side of
+the house.
+
+"Your great-grandfather was named Otto, and was an educated and cultured
+gentleman. Your great-grandmother was named Mary Beyer and was one of
+four sisters. Your grandfather, also named Otto, was the second son of
+the forest-master. So you see that your family history is also mine, and
+the same blood runs in our veins, although we do not bear the same name.
+The old people of Odenwald have told me what their ancestors have told
+them of the forest-master, Otto Urich."
+
+"Mr. Heil, was he the forest-master who lived in the same forest-house
+where we live?" asked Franz.
+
+"Yes, the same log-building. Has your father ever told you of these
+forest-masters who once inhabited it?"
+
+"Yes, he told us that once a member of the consistory came from Hanover
+to learn of the customs of the people of the Odenwald that he might
+write an article for publication. Some one had told him that one curious
+custom was that the fathers whipped their children every morning, and
+this punishment was to last all day. No matter how badly the children
+acted the rest of the day, they had received their punishment and there
+would be no more that day. The sons of Forest-master Urich were so
+amused at hearing this that every morning while the stranger staid in
+the neighborhood they yelled as if being cruelly beaten, and the visitor
+published the article in which was mentioned the barbarous custom of the
+people of the Odenwald. Forest-master Urich would often say in jest to
+his boys, 'Come now, and get your cudgeling, which is to serve you for
+the day.'"
+
+"Yes, Franz, that has ever since been one of the sayings in our
+neighborhood," laughed Mr. Heil, and Mr. Urich heartily enjoyed hearing
+the tradition.
+
+"Friends, relatives!" he commented, "I thought I had not one on my
+father's side of the house, and now I have found not only a helping
+friend, but one bound to me by the ties of blood. You are rejoicing over
+a few paltry marks for your children's home, while I rejoice that
+through the unlooked-for incident we have met. I had passed by that tall
+shrubbery hours before the pocketbook was found, and I had entirely
+forgotten that I had been there when my pocketbook was missing. Had it
+not been for the sharp scent of little Pixy, I am quite sure I would
+have been compelled to return to England without it."
+
+"Yes, Pixy did help us all," said Mrs. Steiner, "and I have done the
+poor little dog much injustice. He is a prince in disguise, and has done
+two beautiful deeds at one and the same time by earning five hundred
+marks for the poor children's home, and introducing us to a relative of
+whom we are proud."
+
+"Who is this relative?" was asked in the well-known voice of Uncle
+Braun, and the welcome visitor stepped into the circle of friends.
+
+"Dear Uncle Braun," cried Fritz, "we are so glad to tell you that Pixy
+found a new uncle from England, and five hundred marks for the poor
+children's home. Now, wasn't it good that I brought him to Frankfort?"
+
+"It certainly was. And is this the new relation? Perhaps he is mine
+also," and he held out his hand to Mr. Urich, which was grasped
+cordially.
+
+As Mr. Heil and Mr. Braun were cousins on their mother's side and
+descended from the Forest-master Urich, their relation to the Englishman
+was equal and they sat and conversed with hearty appreciation of each
+other's society, at the same time listening to the sweet music which
+floated out from the pavilion.
+
+"Excuse me a moment from your congenial company," said Mr. Urich,
+finally, and went to the part of the ground where vehicles of all kinds
+were kept.
+
+"I have ordered an excursion carriage," he said to Mrs. Steiner, upon
+returning, "which will take us all to your door, if you will allow us
+the pleasure."
+
+"I accept the kindness gladly," replied Mrs. Steiner, "and hope that
+Brother Fritz can accompany us. He is on his way to Cassel."
+
+"Yes, I will have time to go with you, and will then have time to take
+the evening train for Cassel."
+
+"You shall not lose any time by it," said Mr. Urich, "for I will take
+you directly to the depot from your sister's house."
+
+"And you can leave Uncle Braun at his own door," suggested Fritz.
+
+"Certainly I will, unless he will return with me and pass the evening."
+
+It was a speedy and pleasant trip with a pair of spirited horses and a
+good driver and the boys could scarcely believe that they had reached 37
+Bornheimer street. They bade Mr. Urich good-bye and thanked him for the
+pleasure he had given, and Mr. Heil accompanied his sister up the steps
+to her door. There they found a boy from the telegraph office who was
+just about to depart with his message, having had no response to his
+ringing of the bell.
+
+"Whom is it for?" asked Fritz.
+
+"For Mrs. Steiner."
+
+"Oh, Brother Fritz," she said, "it is from your wife. I telegraphed to
+her this afternoon that Fritz had gone home, and asked her to send a
+message to me upon his arrival."
+
+"Open it and see what she says," requested Mr. Heil, and she complied
+quickly and read: "Last train in. No Fritz. I am terribly anxious."
+
+"Of course she is, but don't worry, sister," said Mr. Heil, noticing
+the tears in her eyes. "I will stop off at the telegraph office and send
+word to her that Fritz is here and will be home on Tuesday."
+
+This was a great satisfaction to Mrs. Steiner. They all bade him
+good-night and entered her little home, going almost immediately to
+their rooms, weary with the excitements and pleasures of their day.
+
+They slept soundly all night and until late the next morning, but ate
+breakfast in time to dress carefully for church, for Mrs. Steiner would
+not permit any one under her roof to remain at home if able to go. They
+came home to a good luncheon which Mrs. Steiner had prepared before the
+boys were up, and then attended a service in the great Cathedral that
+afternoon. They had passed a profitable day, and in the evening sat on
+the porch and chatted a little while before going to bed.
+
+"Papa told me at the Forest-House last evening what we are to do
+to-morrow," remarked Fritz. "We are to leave here on the train at eleven
+o'clock and go to Umstadt. There we are to take dinner at the Swan
+hotel, and walk in the afternoon as far as that little village where we
+took dinner the day we came and stay there all night, and the next day
+we will walk on home. The Trojans will see that we are walking and will
+not know but we walked all the way unless we tell them."
+
+"But why need you care if they do know that you rode part of the way
+both in coming to Frankfort, and going home?" asked his aunt.
+
+"Because we told them that we were going to walk all the way, and we
+expected to do so, and they will plague us, and say we couldn't do it."
+
+"Your satchel is to be sent by express, is it, Fritz?" asked Mrs.
+Steiner.
+
+"No, Aunt Fanny. While you were talking to Uncle Braun and the new
+cousin, papa said that he would stop here on his way from Cassel and
+bring it home with him, and he will bring the bird cage and bird for
+sister. So we will have only our knapsacks as we had when we came. He
+said for me to put the tin horn and the grater in the satchel and not
+come through our village looking like a traveling tinker. I told him not
+to tell anybody about my being arrested, for the Trojans might hear it
+and would plague me."
+
+The next morning at eleven the boys set out for home, Mrs. Steiner
+accompanying them to the depot. The fates seemed to favor Fritz, for
+when they reached the platform an old lady called from the car window,
+"You can bring your dog in here if no one else objects; I am a friend to
+dogs," and another lady and an old gentleman in the compartment agreed
+that they had no objection to having Pixy for a fellow traveler.
+
+The triplets bade Mrs. Steiner good-bye and thanked her for her kindness
+to them, and she in turn invited them to come to visit her whenever
+their parents were willing.
+
+"Your dog is young, I think," remarked the old gentleman.
+
+"Yes," replied Fritz, "he is young, but he is very smart."
+
+"Indeed!" commented the old gentleman. "In what way has he given
+evidence of his intelligence?"
+
+"He earned five hundred marks on Saturday."
+
+The old gentleman frowned, but Fritz, not noticing it, continued, "and
+he found a cousin of my father, who lives in England."
+
+"Indeed! Then if your dog has such keen scent as to reach to England,
+perhaps he will go a step farther and tell us whether the old man in
+the moon smokes cigars or a pipe."
+
+"But I am telling you the truth!" insisted Fritz.
+
+The old gentleman paid no attention to him, but, taking up his paper,
+commenced reading attentively.
+
+"Fritz, you ought to tell him how Pixy earned the money and found the
+cousin," whispered Paul.
+
+"No, he won't listen," replied Fritz. And he was right; the old
+gentleman believed that the boy was treating him with disrespect by
+telling him such a wild story.
+
+When the train reached Umstadt, and the boys came in sight of the Swan
+inn, they saw the landlord on the stone steps, his thumbs in his vest
+pockets and his fingers moving as if playing the piano.
+
+"So, here you are again!" he exclaimed heartily. "Did you get homesick?"
+
+"No, but school begins on Wednesday, and we wished to be on time."
+
+"That was sensible. How did your dog act in that ant-hill, Frankfort?"
+
+"He did well. He earned five hundred marks."
+
+"Five hundred marks! Did he perform tricks in a circus? Of course, we
+know that he is a cute dog. Of course you have plenty of nickels now,
+and if you had sent on your order for dinner, you could have had spring
+chicken, peas, early apples, and other good things."
+
+"Pixy did not perform in a circus, but he found a pocketbook belonging
+to an English gentleman. It had valuable papers in it, and English
+money, beside five hundred marks of German money."
+
+"And that you kept."
+
+"No, no! Please don't think so meanly of us."
+
+"That is what I understood by what you said."
+
+"No; let me tell you how it was. The gentleman who owned the pocketbook
+gave it to my father for the poor children's home in our neighborhood."
+
+"Well, now I call that generous; and I am glad to know that we have such
+people in the world. If you are ready for dinner, come right to the
+table and take seats."
+
+The boys were glad that they did not have to wait, and followed the
+broad-shouldered man to the dining-room. The landlady was already at the
+table, as were Letta and Peter, and all welcomed the young travelers
+cordially.
+
+The soup was finished and the boys looked toward the kitchen door,
+wondering what substantials would be forthcoming. They had not long
+to wait, for the cook appeared with a veritable Chimborazo of an
+apple-dumpling mountain, piled tier upon tier; and there had to be a
+scattering of dishes to make place for the platter. The three Grecian
+heroes gave glances of approval and satisfaction. They had a special
+fondness for apple-dumplings, and approved of the size of each,
+calculating that there would be enough for all, no matter how insatiable
+the appetites. They took their forks in hand as a warrior would his
+spear, and the landlady had the gratification of seeing that city
+delicacies had not depreciated her humble country food in the opinion
+of the three.
+
+After they had paid the cook the compliment of eating to the limit of
+possibility, and had laid down their forks preparatory to leaving the
+table the landlord gave them a bit of excellent advice.
+
+"Boys," he said, "did you ever hear this rule for keeping in good
+health?"
+
+'After breakfast work and toil;
+ After dinner rest awhile;
+ After supper walk a mile.'
+
+"I would advise that you do not set out upon your journey so soon after
+eating, but rest at least half an hour, and for that purpose we will go
+to the reception-room, where there are comfortable chairs."
+
+As soon as they were seated, and the landlady had taken her knitting,
+she asked if they had learned anything new in Frankfort.
+
+"Yes," said Fritz, eagerly; "we learned to make coffee, and to cook
+potatoes and other things. My aunt let us help her."
+
+"That was good; people ought to learn everything that comes in their
+way. Now tell us what you saw in Frankfort."
+
+Nothing could have been pleasanter to the triplets than to live over
+again those hours of sight-seeing, and all three helped tell of their
+visit.
+
+"Now listen to this," said the landlord, who had picked up a Frankfort
+paper:
+
+"An Englishman lost his pocketbook on Saturday evening in the grounds of
+the Forest-house, in the suburbs of Frankfort. It contained valuable
+papers and money, and was found by a young man named Pixy from the
+Odenwald country, and delivered to the owner."
+
+The landlord and his wife laughed at the mistake of the reporter until
+tears stood in their eyes; and then the three boys repeated the story
+again, and told of the English cousin, and of Uncle Braun, and ended by
+saying that they felt that they knew everybody and every place in
+Frankfort.
+
+When they put on their knapsacks to depart, each took out his purse to
+pay their bill.
+
+"Oh, no, boys," said the landlord, "I cannot take pay for your very
+plain dinner. You were our guests and were not the least trouble."
+
+"Oh, thank you! thank you!" they said in concert, and Paul voiced the
+opinion of all, when he said that had they ordered it, they could not
+have gotten anything they would have enjoyed more.
+
+The three then took generous tips from their purses, and put the money
+in the hand of their host.
+
+"Will you please give this to Letta and Peter?" they asked.
+
+"Certainly, certainly! and I thank you in their names for it. And now,
+boys, you will have to walk several miles to reach the little village
+where Fritz's father said you would stay over night on your way home."
+
+"Did you see father?" asked the boy in surprise.
+
+"Certainly! He would not think of going to Frankfort without stopping to
+see me."
+
+They shook hands with the innkeeper and his wife, who invited them to
+come to see them the next time they went to Frankfort, and then took
+their departure for the Odenwald.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+IN THE DESERTED CABIN
+
+
+They walked along chatting until they were several miles from Umstadt,
+when Pixy stopped and looked intently toward a thicket of tall grass,
+giving one of his low growls, a sign of warning. The boys halted, for at
+that moment three rough heads were raised from the grass and three pairs
+of eyes were gazing intently at the travelers from three faces, which
+were not only dark but not entirely clean. The three were about
+seventeen years of age, and were apprentices of mechanics out upon a
+week's vacation. One was learning to be a butcher, another a blacksmith,
+and the third a basket maker. They had been walking all the morning and
+had lain down in the cool, tall grass to rest and sleep. They were
+rough-looking boys, and the triplets were rather sorry that Pixy's growl
+had caused them to rise and look about them.
+
+"So you are three school boys out on your slide!" exclaimed the
+blacksmith, eyeing them curiously.
+
+"Slide!" echoed Paul. "How can we slide when it is summer and no ice?"
+
+"Oh, you greenhorns," laughed the boy. "You do not know that 'slide'
+means a holiday."
+
+"We have been on our holiday, and are on our way home to go to school."
+
+"School! I should run away from that instead of running to it," remarked
+the blacksmith, "no one there learns how to use the hammer and anvil to
+make a horse-shoe."
+
+"But he learns other useful things," said Paul.
+
+"What are you going to be when you grow up?"
+
+"A teacher, like my father."
+
+"Bah, a teacher! I suppose it is a great pleasure to cudgel some boy
+every day. Oh, what I have endured from teachers is more than I can
+tell."
+
+"A good teacher knows how to manage a bad boy without using the cudgel.
+It is a weak teacher who knows no other way."
+
+"Oh, just hear our wise one! Let me tell you that your father, great as
+you appear to think him, could not manage me."
+
+"No, not now, but if you were a boy under his care you would see that
+he would manage you."
+
+"What are you going to be?" he asked of Fritz.
+
+"A clothing merchant, like my father."
+
+"And cheat buyers by selling poor cloth."
+
+"My father is no swindler," cried Fritz.
+
+Franz had stood back; he did not like the looks of the group, but the
+roughest looking of the three now put the same question to him.
+
+"A forest-keeper, like my father."
+
+"Then it would be well for you to learn to be a butcher, as I am doing,
+so you could kill wild animals and dress them."
+
+"Dress them!" exclaimed the boys in surprise.
+
+"Yes, cut them up for packing, as we do cattle. Do you see this butcher
+knife?" and he held it up to view.
+
+The triplets did not like the look of the butcher and his knife. They
+were anxious to move on and let the three strangers finish their sleep
+in the grass, but this was not the wish of their new acquaintances.
+
+"I will tell you what we will do," said the butcher after the three had
+talked a moment in a low tone. "We are not far from a village where we
+intend begging food. We will each take one of you boys to help, and when
+we reach the end of the village we will divide what we have begged."
+
+"No, we have never done that," cried Fritz. "We will not go from door to
+door holding out our hands."
+
+"No, we cannot do that, but we will each give you a nickel," said Paul
+quickly, for he noticed frowns upon the faces of the strangers.
+
+"Agreed!" said the three in a breath, and, rising to their feet, they
+held out their hands.
+
+Paul and Franz gave out their share immediately, but Fritz fingered so
+long that the gold-piece fell out, and was seen by the three pairs of
+eyes. Fritz picked it up quickly and replaced it in his purse, and the
+three nickels were in the grimy hands of the strangers, who set out for
+the village.
+
+"You should not have let that butcher boy see your gold-piece," said
+Paul. "We are traveling the same way, and we don't know what they are
+planning. The thief in Frankfort got your money out of your pocket with
+smooth words, but this butcher boy might take a shorter way."
+
+"Let us lose no time in getting out of their path," advised Franz. "I
+believe the better plan would be to take a train home."
+
+"Oh, no!" objected Fritz; "the Trojans would never get done laughing
+at us. It is bad enough that we have ridden part of the way, when we
+boasted so much of taking the whole trip on foot."
+
+"But Paul is right about that butcher boy. I believe that he would stick
+a boy as willingly as he would a calf."
+
+"I will tell you my plan," said Paul. "Those three tramps have taken
+the main road; we will take the forest, and walk along where we can see
+them, and they cannot see us. Then if they strike off in another
+direction we will come out in the road again."
+
+"That is a first-rate plan," said Fritz; "and it will be so cool and
+pleasant in the woods."
+
+The boys now took a long look at the apprentices, fearing they would
+turn and see them enter the woods; but no, they were passing along
+quietly, and the three darted in, and felt that they had escaped a great
+misfortune. For a long time they kept the road in sight, then, without
+them knowing how, it disappeared from view, although they believed that
+they had been keeping a straight course. It seemed to have grown
+suddenly dark, and there was the low rumbling of thunder.
+
+"That is the reason that it is growing dark; a storm is coming up,"
+remarked Paul. "We must have a place of shelter. Let us hurry to the
+road, and it may be that we will see a house or barn."
+
+It was raining fast by this time. It had not occurred to them to take
+their rain-coats from their knapsacks, but trudged along in the
+downpour, the woods now so dark that they could scarcely see each other.
+
+"I wish I had something to eat," said Fritz. "I am as hungry as a wolf."
+
+"And I," seconded Franz.
+
+"And I," agreed Paul.
+
+"Follow me, and we will soon be out of this dark woods," commanded
+Fritz.
+
+The others obeyed, stumbling over stones, tripping over roots, and
+running against stumps and briars; but they kept along cheerfully,
+believing that they would soon reach the road where it would not be so
+dark.
+
+"I wish I had a piece of that cake that Uncle Braun bought for us the
+day we went to the tower," remarked Fritz.
+
+"Oh, don't speak of it! It makes me hungrier than ever," said Paul.
+
+"Oh, boys, I see a light, a dim one, but it may be in a house, and the
+people will give us something to eat. I told you I would lead you right
+if you would follow me."
+
+"If it is a house, and they will give us some straw to sleep on, we will
+not try to reach the village where we were to stay all night, for I
+believe it is growing late," suggested Paul.
+
+"Oh, we have come to a swamp," cried Fritz. "Halt! my shoes are full of
+water. Now one of them has come off, and is sticking in the mud."
+
+"Here it is," said Paul as he pulled it out, "take it and put it on."
+
+"But I can't stand and put it on. What shall I do?"
+
+"You cannot sit down in the swamp, that is certain. Here, Franz, do you
+get on one side of him and I on the other and we will hold him up while
+he puts it on. Now, Fritz, hurry."
+
+Fritz took his shoe, shook out the water, and tried his best to make it
+go on, but without success. His comrades on either side put out a
+helping hand, but lost their balance, and all three sat down suddenly in
+the swamp.
+
+"Now we are wet in the only place we were dry," exclaimed Paul.
+
+"Yes," comforted Fritz, "but my shoe is on, so it is well that we did
+sit down."
+
+"But there was no need for us all to sit down. If you had taken a seat
+at first, we could have kept dry."
+
+"But see! the light is still there. Let us hurry. Oh, how glad I am to
+know that we will see people."
+
+They soon reached a small, dark cabin, old and dilapidated, yet it was
+shelter; and they rejoiced that they had found it. As they neared it,
+they smelled the welcome odor of frying sausage.
+
+The only light that came through the one little window was from the
+small fire on the hearth and in this dim light the boys saw two figures
+bending over the fire, and one by the door, which stood slightly ajar.
+
+Only a few more steps and they were up to the door, and there stood the
+butcher-boy with knife in hand. Fritz felt that the knife was already at
+his throat. He fell back upon Franz, and Franz upon Paul, and they were
+about to flee.
+
+"Here are the three stubborn little tramps that would not beg, but are
+willing to eat what we begged. But come in, boys, and keep quiet, or
+some prying forester will come along and drive us out in the rain."
+
+The boys drew back, for they were startled and distressed at having run
+directly into the lion's claws.
+
+"Come in, you simpletons! Are you afraid that I will kill you?"
+
+"No wonder they are afraid when you are flourishing that big knife,"
+said the basket-maker. "Come in, boys. He has it only to cut our meat
+and bread. He would not use it on a person because he knows he would
+have to suffer for it."
+
+The boys were afraid of them all, but night was coming on, it was
+raining, and there seemed nothing else to do, so they stepped in,
+followed by Pixy, who had sniffed the odor of sausage.
+
+"Now you can set the table. The sausage is done," said the blacksmith,
+and while the butcher shut the door, the basket-maker hung his coat
+across the little window to hide the light from outside, and more fuel
+was piled on the fire, which soon blazed up and brightened the dingy
+place.
+
+A newspaper was placed in the centre of the floor and a large paper bag
+was emptied of its contents upon it, a motley mess of bread, brown and
+white, scraps of meat, cheese and other things they had begged.
+
+"Now fall to, yellow bills," said the butcher to the triplets. "Your
+money bought this sausage, and you have a right to share it," and he
+gave them a liberal supply on slices of brown bread.
+
+The boys were hungry and ate heartily, though realizing that they were
+beggars and were being entertained by beggars.
+
+"Your dog must have his supper," said the butcher-boy when they had
+finished and, putting scraps of bread, meat and other things into the
+pan in which the sausage had been fried, he stirred it about and poured
+it upon a piece of paper, and Pixy devoured it greedily.
+
+As soon as the supper was finished, the travelers prepared for sleep.
+
+"Let us put on our rain-coats," suggested Paul. "They will help dry our
+clothes and keep us warm."
+
+"Why didn't you put them on before it rained?" asked the basket-maker.
+"That is like locking the stable after the horse is stolen."
+
+"We never thought of it," responded Fritz. They took the rain-coats from
+their knap sacks, put them on and felt immediate comfort; then all lay
+down with their feet toward the fire, Pixy close to Fritz.
+
+"I am tired, and could sleep if I were not so thirsty," murmured Paul.
+
+"Well, donkey, there is nothing to hinder you from getting a drink,"
+said the rough voice of the butcher-boy. "Go quietly out the door, turn
+to the left and there is a spring of good water, which you can scoop up
+in your hands. Hurry in and shut the door, or some one of the
+forest-keepers will ferret us out."
+
+The boys arose quickly and went out, followed by Pixy. It had stopped
+raining, but the woods looked very dark and gloomy.
+
+"Let us run away and leave our knapsacks," said Fritz. "I don't like to
+be in the company of such people."
+
+"Nor do I," agreed the other two, and there was a pause for reflection.
+
+"Where could we go?" asked Paul. "We would only get lost again in the
+woods."
+
+"But I am afraid of that butcher with his knife," said Fritz.
+
+"That basket-maker would not let him hurt us."
+
+"Are you coming in or not?" asked the rough voice of the butcher-boy at
+the door, so they hurried in, and closed the door.
+
+The boys lay near each other for company, and Pixy crept close to Fritz,
+who rejoiced that he was with them.
+
+After a time the butcher-boy raised his head and whispered, "Boys, are
+you asleep?"
+
+"No," replied Fritz, with a thrill of alarm which almost deprived him of
+speech.
+
+"Now keep your mouths shut," was the next whisper. "I hear something
+outside."
+
+The boys obeyed, though they longed to cry out, "Come, whoever you are,
+and take us out of this miserable place."
+
+There was one of the party who resolved not to obey the command, and
+that was Pixy. He, too, heard the noise outside, and sprang against the
+door, barking shrilly.
+
+"I will kill that dog if he don't keep quiet," said the butcher-boy in
+an angry but subdued tone.
+
+Fritz groped his way to his pet and put his hand over his mouth, but it
+was too late. The forest-keeper outside had heard the barking, and
+striking his musket upon the door, he asked, "Who's there?"
+
+It was now no use to keep silent and Fritz took it upon himself to
+answer.
+
+"Good friend, we are three boys on our holiday journey. We have been to
+Frankfort, and are on our way home to Michelstadt."
+
+"Who is in there with you?"
+
+"Three working people who allowed us to take shelter here from the
+rain."
+
+The forest-keeper opened the door, struck a light in his lantern and
+stepped in.
+
+"What brought you in here?" he asked of the three grown travelers.
+
+"There is no need to ask. You know that it has been raining," replied
+the butcher-boy doggedly.
+
+"Yes, but it is not raining now. Go out of here! You might set the cabin
+on fire, and then the woods would be ablaze."
+
+The triplets were ready in a moment's time, and eager to go, but not so
+the others.
+
+"The fire is out. What is the use of moving on until daylight?"
+
+"Because it is against orders to allow anyone to stay in this cabin.
+Wake up your comrade, and all of you leave."
+
+This was a hard task, for the blacksmith was a sound sleeper, but by
+dint of calling and pushing they got him partly awake.
+
+"What is it you want?" he said, looking sleepily at the forest-keeper.
+"Go out of here. There is no room for you."
+
+"Nor for you! Up, up, and out!"
+
+"Out in the rain? No. I will not go," and he lay down again.
+
+The other two drew him to his feet, and told him that it was the
+forest-keeper who was commanding them to leave the cabin.
+
+"But where are we to go?" he asked. "We cannot sleep out in the rain."
+
+"No, you are all to follow me to my house. I can have an eye over you
+there, and it will be less of an anxiety than to leave you to yourselves
+in this cabin."
+
+They all passed out, the triplets with Pixy keeping close to the
+forester and his lantern.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A WELL-SPRING OF PLEASURE
+
+
+They walked what seemed to the boys a long distance through the forest.
+The rain had ceased, and the moon was trying to shed its rays through
+thin clouds, but in the dense shade the only light was the little circle
+upon the moist earth, given by the small lantern.
+
+After a time a voice cried, "Who goes there?"
+
+"Hans Hartman, my good friend," replied the forest-keeper.
+
+"All right!" and another forest-keeper stood before them, much surprised
+to see seven instead of one.
+
+"Have you captured poachers?"
+
+"No, the older ones are gypsies," for in the dim light of the cabin he
+was quite sure that they belonged to that army of rovers.
+
+"Are we then so dark?" asked the basket-maker, amused at the mistake.
+
+"All animals look dark at night."
+
+"Except a white cow," suggested the butcher.
+
+"But, Hartman, you have three boys with you," continued the
+forest-keeper. "So young and yet night-strollers!"
+
+"No, these boys are all right. They have been passing their holiday in
+Frankfort, and are on their way home. They got lost in the forest, the
+rain came up and they took shelter in the abandoned cabin. One of them
+tells me that he is the son of Forest-keeper Krupp."
+
+The forester said good-night, and they walked on for some distance and
+at length came to a clearing in the forest. Looking up, they could see
+the unchangeable stars, the same that looked down upon Mother Earth when
+she was fresh from the hands of her Creator. A tinkling brook lay across
+their path, which the forester cleared at a bound, and the three
+apprentices followed. The triplets halted to view the situation, but
+Pixy sprang across, then looked back as if to say, "It is nothing. Just
+give a spring and you are on this side," and they ran back, gave a long
+jump and were over.
+
+A short distance beyond was the forest-keeper's cottage, a comfortable
+place for weary travelers on a wet night.
+
+"I cannot give you all a sleeping place in my house," he said, "but can
+make room for the three smaller boys. You larger ones can go to the
+straw shed. You will find plenty of clean, dry straw, and there you can
+sleep until morning and shall have a good breakfast before you leave.
+But before we part for the night, you must turn your pockets inside out
+that I may see that you have no matches or anything else that will
+strike a spark."
+
+They agreed willingly, and he then led the way to the shed, took from a
+feed box a number of coarse sacks for covering and said good-night.
+
+"We are thankful to you for giving us this comfortable place to sleep,"
+said the blacksmith. "We thought it harsh treatment to make us leave the
+cabin, but you have given us better quarters and we are truly obliged to
+you. You are certainly good to us."
+
+"Yes, I try to be good to everybody, especially to hard-working boys out
+on their holiday, when I find that they are not common tramps who do not
+wish to work."
+
+He left the shed and the boys followed him to his dwelling, and to a
+room adjoining the living-room.
+
+"There are two straw-beds on this bedstead," he said. "One can be taken
+off and put on the floor, and one of you can sleep upon it, while the
+other two can have the one on the bedstead."
+
+"I will take the one on the floor. Then Pixy can sleep with me," said
+Fritz.
+
+"Suit yourselves about that, only take off your wet clothes, shoes and
+stockings, and my wife will put them about the kitchen fire, and they
+will be dry by morning."
+
+The boys hurriedly disrobed, and the forest-keeper bade them good-night,
+and left the room.
+
+Paul and Franz crept jubilantly under the coverings of the bed, and
+Fritz was equally glad for the piece of carpet which the forest-keeper
+had given him in lieu of a quilt, and with Pixy close to him, he was
+happier than many a king.
+
+"Oh, it was good luck for us that Mr. Hartman came and took us away from
+that miserable place," exclaimed Paul the moment the door closed.
+
+"I never was gladder in my life," affirmed Franz. "Now we feel safe, and
+are dry and warm and in good beds where we can sleep well."
+
+"And whom have we to thank for it but the young gentleman from
+Odenwald--my Pixy," reminded Fritz. "If he had not barked, the
+forest-keeper would not have known we were there. Oh, we are so
+comfortable here, aren't we, Pixy? And we have you to thank for it."
+
+Early the next morning the forester's wife went to the kitchen to make
+the wood fire on the hearth brighter, that the boys' garments might be
+thoroughly dry; for she had planned that they should sleep as long as
+they wished, and she would give the three apprentices their breakfast
+first that they might continue their journey. She made coffee and warm
+bread, and was putting them upon the table when she saw them come up
+from the brook, where they had washed hands and faces and combed their
+hair. Refreshed by rest and sleep, they looked much better than when the
+triplets first saw them.
+
+The forest-keeper, who had risen early to attend to matters about the
+place, came in just as they finished their breakfast.
+
+"I hope you slept well and have enjoyed your coffee," he said kindly.
+
+"We enjoyed both heartily, Forest-master, and thank you for your
+goodness to us."
+
+"Forest-master, you say? I am not that but only one of the keepers."
+
+"We would do you honor, which is our reason for calling you by that
+name."
+
+"But you do not honor one by giving him a higher title than he is
+entitled to. Instead it humiliates him, or he thinks you are making
+sport of him."
+
+"We did not mean it in either way, Mr. Hartman."
+
+"I believe you, so we will not say anything more about it."
+
+"Then, good-bye, Mr. Forester, and we thank you and your wife for your
+goodness to us. We will long remember that coffee. Tell the boys
+good-bye for us. They were afraid of us, but we meant them no harm.
+Good-bye! Good-bye!"
+
+The forester's wife now prepared breakfast for her husband and herself.
+The blazing fire upon the hearth was doing its duty in bringing the
+boys' clothing to the state desired while they were sleeping the sleep
+of tired boyhood. They did not waken until near noon, but this would
+allow them to reach home before night; and they enjoyed their first
+meal of the day, arrayed in their dry and neatly-brushed garments, and
+refreshed by bathing their hands, faces and feet in the brook.
+
+The day was bright and delightfully cool after the rain, and in fine
+spirits they bade the forest-keeper's wife good-bye as they set out for
+home.
+
+"Their parents will be rejoiced to see them," she said to herself as she
+watched them out of sight, "for no doubt they have felt somewhat anxious
+about them, for they are young to be allowed to take a journey. How
+helpless are our children! A young chicken will search for food while
+part of its shell is clinging to it, and the young of animals are upon
+their feet and helping themselves in a few weeks; but not so our
+children. They must be under the tender care of father and mother until
+past childhood, and it is best so, for it binds parents and children in
+the ties of family life and love. May the dear boys reach home safely
+and find all well."
+
+The triplets had in the meantime nearly reached the main road to which
+they had been carefully directed by Mrs. Hartman, her husband having
+gone to his duties in the forest hours before. They were singing one of
+their school songs, when it occurred to Paul that something had been
+omitted.
+
+"Oh, boys," he said, "we have forgotten to thank the lady for her
+goodness to us. She dried and brushed our clothes and gave us a good
+breakfast, and tried to restore our hats to good shape after they had
+been soaked with rain, and we came away and never thanked her!"
+
+This was indeed an oversight which boys so well-bred felt must be
+rectified, and they turned their faces again toward the cottage. But
+they had not gone far when the forest-keeper, who had heard them
+singing, joined them; and they told him their trouble.
+
+"Oh, I will make that all right!" he said. "You need not go back. I will
+tell her all that you wished to say."
+
+"Tell her that we are very much obliged to her for her kindness to us,"
+said Fritz, "and tell her our breakfast was first-class and we enjoyed
+it."
+
+"And tell her," said Paul, "that she made our clothes dry and clean and
+it is not her fault that our hats could not be straightened to look like
+they did before it rained."
+
+"Nor," added Franz, "was it her fault that they are stained by the color
+coming out of the bands and running into the straw. Please tell her we
+are obliged, just the same."
+
+"I will tell her all," replied Hartman, making a laudable effort to keep
+from smiling, "and now good-bye, and a safe journey home."
+
+The boys touched their hats, and turned their faces again toward the
+road, when Paul halted and looked back. "There now!" he said, "we forgot
+to thank the forest-keeper for his goodness to us, and we would have had
+to sleep in our wet clothes and had no good beds or breakfast, had it
+not been for him. Let us run back and thank him."
+
+It seemed that Mr. Hartman had a presentiment that the triplets would
+have something more to say, for he had halted and was looking after
+them.
+
+"We forgot to thank you for your goodness to us," they exclaimed when
+within speaking distance; "and we ran back to tell you."
+
+"That is all right," he answered heartily. "We were glad to entertain
+you, and hope that you will come to see us again."
+
+"Thank you; we will if we can," replied Paul, then all said good-bye,
+touched their hats and set out again for the road.
+
+Presently Mr. Hartman saw their heads together in earnest conversation,
+and waited, believing that they had something more to say, and he was
+not mistaken, for they ran back, and Franz this time was spokesman.
+
+"We forgot to invite you to come to see us," he said earnestly. "Fritz
+and Paul said that you would not care to visit boys not yet twelve years
+of age, but I said that my father is a forest-keeper like you, and I
+would invite you to visit him; so I do invite you and hope you will
+come."
+
+"I thank you heartily and would be glad to make his acquaintance."
+
+"And when you visit Franz's father, you can visit mine," suggested
+Fritz.
+
+"And mine," echoed Paul.
+
+"If it should suit me at any time to visit Michelstadt, I would
+certainly be pleased to make the acquaintance of the fathers of such
+gentlemanly boys."
+
+The triplets smiled, touched their hats, started off again and were soon
+out of sight.
+
+The journey that beautiful afternoon was truly charming, the sun shining
+brightly and all nature refreshed from its bath the evening before, and
+birds singing jubilantly in the trees by the roadside, but best of all,
+they were going home, would see all their loved ones before sunset, and
+would hear of the many, many things that had transpired during their
+absence.
+
+"When we come in sight of the village, we will be as quiet as mice,"
+remarked Fritz. "I would not have the Trojans see us for anything."
+
+"Why?" asked Paul.
+
+"Because we look so shabby with our battered hats and our rusty shoes."
+
+"I will tell you what we can do," suggested Franz. "Our house comes
+first, and although it is only on the edge of the forest, it is easy for
+you two to go through the woods back of it, and come out at your own
+houses, and not a person in the village will know that we are at home
+until we choose to show ourselves."
+
+This stroke of policy was such a comfort that the spirits of the boys
+grew so jubilant that they laughed, chatted and sang, and even organized
+a parade in which Franz was drummer and Fritz and Paul fifers.
+
+They were going along merrily, when they were startled by hearing
+"Hurrah!" shouted from behind a clump of bushes on the edge of the
+forest, and two of the Trojans came from behind it and stood grinning
+and pointing their fingers at the hats and shoes of the Grecian heroes.
+They were followed by a whole troop of their schoolmates, many of them
+Trojans, and accompanied by the Director, and Paul's father. They had
+been to a tournament and had made a short cut through the forest on
+their way to the village. The two teachers shook their heads and smiled
+at the appearance of the triplets, and the Trojans indulged in shouts
+and laughter.
+
+"Let us stick a spray of laurel in their hats in token that they came
+back victors," and the Trojan who suggested it ran off to the bushes,
+followed by the others.
+
+"I am glad that they have come back with whole shins," said Professor
+Roth as he embraced his son tenderly, and shook hands with Fritz and
+Franz.
+
+"But we might not, if Pixy had not been there to defend us," said Fritz.
+"He saved us from an attack by street boys, and he earned five hundred
+marks, and found an English cousin of father's and Aunt Steiner's," and
+then followed the whole story.
+
+The Trojans had come back with the sprays of laurel, but were so
+interested in the narrative that they paused to listen, and the
+Director made a sign to them to throw the branches away, and they
+knew better than to disobey orders.
+
+"I am going on home now," said Franz. As Paul's father intended halting
+at the school building, Paul and Fritz walked on with Franz to the
+forest-house.
+
+"Oh, boys!" cried Fritz when they neared the garden belonging to the
+forest-house, "there are our spears sticking in the corn-rows, and on
+them are kitchen aprons and other old rags, and there are our helmets on
+the top of the poles. Who did it?"
+
+"Katharine, our old cook, is the one who did it," laughed the
+forest-keeper. "She was so angry at the birds for picking out her sweet
+corn that she made scare-crows to frighten them away, and she found
+nothing which served her purpose so well as did your spears and
+helmets."
+
+"Made scare-crows of our weapons!" said Fritz. "It is certainly a
+shame!"
+
+"No," said Paul, "it makes no difference. We found that they would be of
+no use to us on our travels or at Frankfort."
+
+Franz embraced his father, then ran in the house, where he was joyously
+welcomed, as were Paul and Fritz when they hurried on to their homes.
+
+Two days after, Mr. Heil returned and brought with him the satchel and
+also the bird cage in which was a fine singer, for he had visited the
+bird store and paid the difference between its cost and that of the mute
+one which Fritz had bought. The grater and tin trumpet were also
+appreciated by the recipients and the next morning Fritz was awakened
+from a sound sleep by a blast from the trumpet in the hands of his
+little brother.
+
+The three went cheerfully to school that day, and their visit to
+Frankfort long remained a well-spring of pleasure.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY***
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