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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9482-0.txt b/9482-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8876c27 --- /dev/null +++ b/9482-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2203 @@ +Project Gutenberg’s What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +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: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Translator: Helen B. Dole + +Posting Date: February 9, 2011 [EBook #9482] +Release Date: December, 2005 +First Posted: October 5, 2003 +Last Updated: November 19, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + +BY + +JOHANNA SPYRI + + + + +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + +1917 + +[Illustration: “Up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang merrily +together.”] + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + FIRST OLD MARY ANN + + SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S + + THIRD ANOTHER LIFE + + FOURTH HARD TIMES + + FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER. + +WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS? + +SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +OLD MARY ANN + + +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + +On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called “Old Mary Ann” throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it. + +Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate. + +“Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many,” she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + +As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father’s house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant’s house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann’s father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant. + +Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: “We can’t help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather.” She had never heard anything more +about her brothers. + +When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son’s help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father’s words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, “It can’t be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather.” + +But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + +Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon’s beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + +When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + +“Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her.” + +His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon’s son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work. + +Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + +“They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way.” + +Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + +Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta’s aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + +“It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!” + +“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, what are you saying?” cried his mother in the +greatest horror. “Oh, Sami, is it possible?” + +Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + +“Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?” + +Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + +“Oh, I can’t bear it, I must go away, mother, I can’t bear it here any +longer, it is all over!” + +“Oh, Sami, where would you go?” said his mother, weeping. “We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?” + +“I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can’t stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother,” declared Sami. “I must go across the great +water as far as possible!” + +“Oh, not that!” cried Mary Ann. “Don’t be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you.” + +“No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can’t do any +different,” cried Sami, almost wild. + +His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: “It can’t be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather.” And with a sigh she said: + +“It will have to be so.” + +Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. “What have you put in the bundle, Sami?” + asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + +“That’s so, I had almost forgotten it, mother,” replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, “I have brought the little boy to you, I don’t know what to +do with it.” + +“Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing,” said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third. + +The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn’t +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him. + +But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn’t +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother’s forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched: + +“Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us.” + +And to the big Sami she said: + +“I will keep him, but don’t take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can’t run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others.” Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears. + +“Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy,” he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother’s +hand, and went out of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S + + +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + +“You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother.” + +Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country. + +Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn’t know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with. + +Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation. + +In spite of all the grandmother’s trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn’t understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees. + +The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + +“Grandmother,” he said taking a deep breath, “to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won’t we, really?” + +“Yes, indeed,” assented his grandmother, “we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot.” + +This seemed right to Sami, for he didn’t want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + +“Sing too! Sing too!” + +Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him: + + Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew, + Open wide their eyes to see, + Nodding, bowing in their glee. + + All the merry birds we hear + Greet the sunshine bright and clear; + See them flitting thru the sky, + Singing low and singing high! + + Flowers in Summer warmth delight:-- + What of Winter and its blight? + Snowy fields and forests cold? + Flowers are by their faith consoled. + + Songsters, all so blithe and gay, + Know ye what your carols say? + How will your sweet carols fare + When your nests the snow-storms tear? + + All the birdlings everywhere + Now their loveliest songs prepare; + All the birdlings gayly sing:-- + “Trust the Lord in everything!” + +Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so. + +“Listen, listen, grandmother!” he said after a while. “Up there in the +tree is one that doesn’t sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ and then the rest comes after.” + +“Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami,” she replied. “See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord.” + +Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic “Trust! trust! trust!” + “You must never forget what the finch calls,” continued the grandmother. +“See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird’s song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don’t forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you.” + +Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + +“Must I always be afraid, grandmother?” + +“No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn’t mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord’s +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: ‘Only trust +the dear Lord!’ Will you remember that well, Sami?” + +“Yes, that I will,” said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid. + +Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +ANOTHER LIFE + + +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn’t get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice: + +“Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant’s Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don’t spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don’t neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him.” + +Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann’s bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead. + +Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away. + +After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother’s hand in farewell. + +Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami’s +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him. + +It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon’s heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + +The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami’s hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + +After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami’s own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o’clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along. + +The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn’t hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy’s pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami’s +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + +“It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night.” + +Then when he saw Sami’s eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door. + +[Illustration: “Where have you come from with all your household goods?”] + +“Have you had your sleep out?” he said laughing. “Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you.” + +Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + +When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant’s house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami’s bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said: + +“Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go.” + +Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: “Where have you come from with all your +household goods?” + +Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly. + +“Bring your father out,” said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + +“What’s the matter now?” he growled. + +“There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn’t +know where he is going,” exclaimed his wife. + +“He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know,” replied the +man, without moving. + +“Well, go in,” directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + +“Make quick work of it,” said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys. + +“I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy.” + +“This is quickly decided,” said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; “send all four boys out.” + +After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: “There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes.” + +His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time! + +But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy’s room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stöffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + +Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami’s clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman’s clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + +He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + +When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +“Come here and help pull.” + +Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stöffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stöffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work. + +“He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work,” said the farmer. + +But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing. + +“Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands,” said +the farmer. + +Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly. + +At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stöffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + +Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work. + +After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + +“Have you ever seen a bear?” asked Stöffi of Sami. + +He said he had not. + +“Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one,” + continued Stöffi; “only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear.” + +Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stöffi soon exclaimed: + +“Well, you won’t have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or--” + +Stöffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + +He had hardly gone when Michael said: + +“See, Sami, there isn’t much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear.” + +Whereupon Michael ran off. + +“Me, too,” cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. “You can finish that +also, Sami.” + +When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + +“I suppose he will keep us waiting,” remarked the farmer’s wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled: + +“He can eat here, if he wants anything.” + +It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn’t come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly: + +“It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster.” + +Sami understood the signs which Stöffi made behind his father’s back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys’ fists to say anything about it. + +He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn’t go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + +He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + +Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: “Only trust the dear Lord!” + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +HARD TIMES + + +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer’s wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn’t obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer. + +The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + +Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother’s advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stöffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie. + +He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + +“Now speak out, and tell why you can’t get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you.” + +Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn’t do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stöffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + +Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn’t want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stöffi tried to explain to him that it didn’t matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end: + +“But I shall do it.” + +This firmness was the result of Sami’s sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him. + +So Stöffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stöffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami. + +So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + +Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + +Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + +“I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last.” + +Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others. + +Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn’t need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami’s apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed. + +Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones. + +At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: “Only trust in the dear Lord!” and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that. + +It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows. + +The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer’s wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother’s command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions. + +Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give. + +“There he is,” cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds. + +“Do you hear it? Do you hear it?” cried Sami in his delight. “Now he is +calling again: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ And then they all sing +together: ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’” + +“You are just talking nonsense!” exclaimed Stöffi to the happy Sami. “The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: ‘Shower! Shower! Shower!’ +Then we know it is going to rain.” + +But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself: + +“But he is singing: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’” + +“Keep quiet!” continued Stöffi sharply to him. “You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can’t do anything and doesn’t know anything and twists +everything he hears.” + +Then the blood rose to Sami’s cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stöffi, he cried: + +“I don’t do that, but you have done it many times!” + +Then Stöffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stöffi had to +call the others to help him. + +A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction. + +Stöffi was the first to recover himself. + +“We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down.” + He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle. + +“I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon,” said Sami calmly. + +Then Steffi’s wrath rose to its height. + +“You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!” he screamed. “You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you.” + +“You cannot,” said Sami, “and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so.” + +“Well, well,” they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. “You needn’t say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!” + +Suddenly a new thought came to Stöffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer’s wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded. + +“That was the last straw,” she said, “that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people.” + +Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along. + +Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + +Soon the farmer’s wife came upstairs, packed Sami’s things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother’s clothes were no +longer there. + +While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami’s +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + +Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out: + +“Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!” + +But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed: + +“Away! away! Over there! over there!” + +From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer’s wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + +When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + +“Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you.” + +Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said: + +“I know already where I must go.” + +The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + +“I want to go over the mountains,” he added. + +“Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from,” + said the farmer’s wife quickly; “there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there.” + +This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins’ house. + +At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Château d’Æux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + +Now the driver was ready. Sami’s bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it. + +“Good luck!” said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + +Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn’t see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami’s mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn’t notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn’t look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said: + +“There, eat; you still have far to go.” + +“Are we yet in Château d’Æux?” asked Sami. + +“Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther,” was the reply; then the +driver disappeared. + +Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami’s eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there. + +“Where can I be?” Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it--there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station--he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home! + +Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother’s money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: “La Tour!” + +Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came--now--“La Tour!” He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now--there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above--oh, that was the most beautiful of all!--up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. “Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!” sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly: + +“Only trust the dear Lord!” + +Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him. + +Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + +On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + +There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami’s own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + +“Does it please you?” asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + +“Are you French, that you can’t talk?” asked the man again. + +Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there. + +“Whom do you belong to?” asked the man again. + +“Nobody,” answered Sami. + +Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning. + +“And now don’t you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?” asked the man. + +Sami said he did not. + +“If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work,” continued the man, “but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything.” + +Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband’s +last words. + +“Take him,” she said. “What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!” + +“Well, stay here,” said the man; “you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way.” + +Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole in it which they +handed him to be repaired. + +Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back. + +[Illustration: “Such stray waifs as you are not willing ta do anything.”] + +The tinker was very much pleased with Sami’s harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Château d’Æux. + +The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began. + +Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + +When he had finished, the woman said: + +“You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow.” + +This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + +“Must I sleep in my clothes?” + +The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day. + +Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +SAMI SINGS TOO + + +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing. + +He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed. + +Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn’t care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again. + +The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + +Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami’s heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob. + +Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds. + +From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + +Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual. + +“It is as like the other as if it were its brother,” said the wife. “You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled.” + +“I see it all, surely,” said the man, “but I don’t know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn’t be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn’t know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn’t have believed it +was myself.” + +“They won’t know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can’t be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it.” + +“That is true. We can do that,” said the man, delighted; “perhaps they +won’t want anything for the kettle when they know they can’t use it any +more. Come, Sami,” he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything--“come +here, I want to tell you something.” + +Sami obeyed. + +“Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn’t good for anything, that it can’t be +mended any more.” + +Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. “Now hurry up and go along,” + said his wife, who was still standing there; “you understand well enough +what you have to do.” + +Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words. + +“What is the matter with you? Why don’t you hurry along?” snarled the +man to him. + +“I can’t do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that,” said Sami. + +“What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!” commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + +“Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?” + +Sami did not stir. + +“Will you go and do what I told you, or--” + +The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone. + +Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there. + +Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami’s eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami’s heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + + “Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew,” + +And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might: + + “Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! + Only trust the dear Lord!” + +The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off. + +He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child’s carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + +This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn’t spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + + “So let the little angels sing: + This child is safe beneath our wing.” + +This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn’t know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + +Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees. + +“What do you want here? That is the way out,” said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + +Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house. + +Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + +“Come, give me a ride!” + +“Where?” asked Sami. + +“Out there along the road, and far, far away!” + +Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn’t see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + +“Hold still! Hold still!” cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage. + +“Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!” + +And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + +“You mustn’t go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch.” + +The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami’s advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said: + +“Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too.” + +“I don’t speak French, I don’t know how,” replied Sami; “but I can’t +speak like you either.” + +“Where do you come from then, if you don’t speak German and don’t speak +French?” the little one wanted to know. + +Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + +“First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen.” + +“No, no,” interrupted the little one warmly. “People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?” + +Sami told her. + +“And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?” + +Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + +“Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them.” + +“Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?” asked little +Betti eagerly. + +“Yes, I think so,” answered Sami. “Perhaps I can weed the garden.” + +“That is right,” said Betti, delighted. “You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?” + +“Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly,” promised Sami, “and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’ and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ Have you heard him too?” + +At this description little Betti’s eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation. + +“Come now, let’s go right away to the birds,” she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage. + +Sami followed. + +At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good. + +“So I have found you at last,” she cried angrily from a distance. +“Everybody is running around looking for you--your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman--everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us.” + +Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: “Go ahead, Sami!” + +He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother’s advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way. + +When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices: + +“She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!” + +But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said: + +“He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: ‘Trust! Trust!’ We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can’t +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn’t tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa.” + +“Your story is wonderful,” said her Papa, laughing. “Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother’s +advice, must stay with us?” + +Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister’s story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn’t suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him. + +Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows. + +Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard. + +“Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!” cried Arthur, while +Karl’s voice was heard above his screaming: + +“Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!” + +But Edward’s piercing voice was heard above the other two: + +“Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won’t +need to come with me any longer!” + +And in the midst of all sounded Betti’s high little voice, untiringly: + +“Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?” + +Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + +“My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?” + +The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + +The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay. + +When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + +“It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!” + +The children all shouted together for joy. + +“Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?” repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness. + +“By and by, by and by,” said her father, soothingly. “Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first.” + +The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon’s +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him. + +“But bring him back again, Papa!” cried Betti following after them as +they started away. + +Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother. + +Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami’s words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife. + +A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children’s playmate. + +Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother’s death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + +“Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!” + + * * * * * + +It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds: + +“Only trust the dear Lord!” + +The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say: + +“Without God’s help and Sami’s assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times.” + +When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, “Where is Sami?” and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + +Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims: + +“Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it.” + +But Betti still remains Sami’s greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti’s endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again. + +The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami’s especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami’s eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets. + +When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + +“You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!” + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 9482-0.txt or 9482-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9482/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/9482-0.zip b/9482-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d39f193 --- /dev/null +++ b/9482-0.zip diff --git a/9482-8.txt b/9482-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dbb424 --- /dev/null +++ b/9482-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2202 @@ +Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +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: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Translator: Helen B. Dole + +Posting Date: February 9, 2011 [EBook #9482] +Release Date: December, 2005 +First Posted: October 5, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + +BY + +JOHANNA SPYRI + + + + +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + +1917 + +[Illustration: "Up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang merrily +together."] + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + FIRST OLD MARY ANN + + SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + THIRD ANOTHER LIFE + + FOURTH HARD TIMES + + FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER. + +WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS? + +SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +OLD MARY ANN + + +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + +On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called "Old Mary Ann" throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it. + +Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate. + +"Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many," she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + +As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father's house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant's house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann's father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant. + +Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: "We can't help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather." She had never heard anything more +about her brothers. + +When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son's help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father's words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, "It can't be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather." + +But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + +Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon's beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + +When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + +"Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her." + +His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon's son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work. + +Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + +"They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way." + +Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + +Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta's aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + +"It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!" + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying?" cried his mother in the +greatest horror. "Oh, Sami, is it possible?" + +Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + +"Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?" + +Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + +"Oh, I can't bear it, I must go away, mother, I can't bear it here any +longer, it is all over!" + +"Oh, Sami, where would you go?" said his mother, weeping. "We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?" + +"I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can't stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother," declared Sami. "I must go across the great +water as far as possible!" + +"Oh, not that!" cried Mary Ann. "Don't be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you." + +"No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can't do any +different," cried Sami, almost wild. + +His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: "It can't be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather." And with a sigh she said: + +"It will have to be so." + +Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. "What have you put in the bundle, Sami?" +asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + +"That's so, I had almost forgotten it, mother," replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, "I have brought the little boy to you, I don't know what to +do with it." + +"Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing," said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third. + +The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn't +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him. + +But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn't +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother's forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched: + +"Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us." + +And to the big Sami she said: + +"I will keep him, but don't take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can't run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others." Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears. + +"Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy," he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother's +hand, and went out of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + +"You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother." + +Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country. + +Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn't know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with. + +Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation. + +In spite of all the grandmother's trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn't understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees. + +The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + +"Grandmother," he said taking a deep breath, "to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won't we, really?" + +"Yes, indeed," assented his grandmother, "we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot." + +This seemed right to Sami, for he didn't want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + +"Sing too! Sing too!" + +Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him: + + Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew, + Open wide their eyes to see, + Nodding, bowing in their glee. + + All the merry birds we hear + Greet the sunshine bright and clear; + See them flitting thru the sky, + Singing low and singing high! + + Flowers in Summer warmth delight:-- + What of Winter and its blight? + Snowy fields and forests cold? + Flowers are by their faith consoled. + + Songsters, all so blithe and gay, + Know ye what your carols say? + How will your sweet carols fare + When your nests the snow-storms tear? + + All the birdlings everywhere + Now their loveliest songs prepare; + All the birdlings gayly sing:-- + "Trust the Lord in everything!" + +Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so. + +"Listen, listen, grandmother!" he said after a while. "Up there in the +tree is one that doesn't sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' and then the rest comes after." + +"Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami," she replied. "See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord." + +Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic "Trust! trust! trust!" +"You must never forget what the finch calls," continued the grandmother. +"See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird's song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don't forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you." + +Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + +"Must I always be afraid, grandmother?" + +"No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn't mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord's +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: 'Only trust +the dear Lord!' Will you remember that well, Sami?" + +"Yes, that I will," said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid. + +Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +ANOTHER LIFE + + +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn't get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice: + +"Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant's Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him." + +Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead. + +Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away. + +After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother's hand in farewell. + +Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami's +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him. + +It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + +The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + +After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along. + +The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami's +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + +"It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night." + +Then when he saw Sami's eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door. + +[Illustration: "Where have you come from with all your household goods?"] + +"Have you had your sleep out?" he said laughing. "Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you." + +Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + +When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant's house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami's bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said: + +"Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go." + +Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: "Where have you come from with all your +household goods?" + +Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly. + +"Bring your father out," said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + +"What's the matter now?" he growled. + +"There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn't +know where he is going," exclaimed his wife. + +"He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know," replied the +man, without moving. + +"Well, go in," directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + +"Make quick work of it," said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys. + +"I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy." + +"This is quickly decided," said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; "send all four boys out." + +After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: "There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes." + +His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time! + +But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + +Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami's clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman's clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + +He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + +When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +"Come here and help pull." + +Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work. + +"He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work," said the farmer. + +But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing. + +"Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands," said +the farmer. + +Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly. + +At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + +Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work. + +After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + +"Have you ever seen a bear?" asked Stffi of Sami. + +He said he had not. + +"Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," +continued Stffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear." + +Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stffi soon exclaimed: + +"Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or--" + +Stffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + +He had hardly gone when Michael said: + +"See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear." + +Whereupon Michael ran off. + +"Me, too," cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. "You can finish that +also, Sami." + +When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + +"I suppose he will keep us waiting," remarked the farmer's wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled: + +"He can eat here, if he wants anything." + +It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn't come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly: + +"It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster." + +Sami understood the signs which Stffi made behind his father's back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys' fists to say anything about it. + +He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn't go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + +He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + +Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: "Only trust the dear Lord!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +HARD TIMES + + +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer. + +The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + +Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie. + +He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + +"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you." + +Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + +Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end: + +"But I shall do it." + +This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him. + +So Stffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami. + +So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + +Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + +Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + +"I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last." + +Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others. + +Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn't need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami's apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed. + +Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones. + +At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: "Only trust in the dear Lord!" and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that. + +It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows. + +The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer's wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother's command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions. + +Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give. + +"There he is," cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds. + +"Do you hear it? Do you hear it?" cried Sami in his delight. "Now he is +calling again: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' And then they all sing +together: 'Only trust the dear Lord!'" + +"You are just talking nonsense!" exclaimed Stffi to the happy Sami. "The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: 'Shower! Shower! Shower!' +Then we know it is going to rain." + +But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself: + +"But he is singing: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!'" + +"Keep quiet!" continued Stffi sharply to him. "You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can't do anything and doesn't know anything and twists +everything he hears." + +Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stffi, he cried: + +"I don't do that, but you have done it many times!" + +Then Stffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stffi had to +call the others to help him. + +A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction. + +Stffi was the first to recover himself. + +"We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down." +He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle. + +"I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon," said Sami calmly. + +Then Steffi's wrath rose to its height. + +"You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!" he screamed. "You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you." + +"You cannot," said Sami, "and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so." + +"Well, well," they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. "You needn't say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!" + +Suddenly a new thought came to Stffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer's wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded. + +"That was the last straw," she said, "that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people." + +Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along. + +Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + +Soon the farmer's wife came upstairs, packed Sami's things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother's clothes were no +longer there. + +While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami's +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + +Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out: + +"Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!" + +But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed: + +"Away! away! Over there! over there!" + +From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer's wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + +When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + +"Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you." + +Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said: + +"I know already where I must go." + +The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + +"I want to go over the mountains," he added. + +"Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from," +said the farmer's wife quickly; "there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there." + +This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins' house. + +At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Chteau d'ux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + +Now the driver was ready. Sami's bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it. + +"Good luck!" said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + +Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn't see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami's mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn't notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn't look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said: + +"There, eat; you still have far to go." + +"Are we yet in Chteau d'ux?" asked Sami. + +"Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther," was the reply; then the +driver disappeared. + +Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami's eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there. + +"Where can I be?" Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it--there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station--he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home! + +Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother's money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: "La Tour!" + +Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came--now--"La Tour!" He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now--there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above--oh, that was the most beautiful of all!--up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. "Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!" sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him. + +Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + +On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + +There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami's own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + +"Does it please you?" asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + +"Are you French, that you can't talk?" asked the man again. + +Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there. + +"Whom do you belong to?" asked the man again. + +"Nobody," answered Sami. + +Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning. + +"And now don't you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?" asked the man. + +Sami said he did not. + +"If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work," continued the man, "but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything." + +Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband's +last words. + +"Take him," she said. "What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!" + +"Well, stay here," said the man; "you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way." + +Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole in it which they +handed him to be repaired. + +Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back. + +[Illustration: "Such stray waifs as you are not willing ta do anything."] + +The tinker was very much pleased with Sami's harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Chteau d'ux. + +The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began. + +Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + +When he had finished, the woman said: + +"You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow." + +This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + +"Must I sleep in my clothes?" + +The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day. + +Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +SAMI SINGS TOO + + +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing. + +He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed. + +Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn't care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again. + +The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + +Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami's heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob. + +Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds. + +From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + +Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual. + +"It is as like the other as if it were its brother," said the wife. "You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled." + +"I see it all, surely," said the man, "but I don't know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn't be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn't know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn't have believed it +was myself." + +"They won't know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can't be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it." + +"That is true. We can do that," said the man, delighted; "perhaps they +won't want anything for the kettle when they know they can't use it any +more. Come, Sami," he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything--"come +here, I want to tell you something." + +Sami obeyed. + +"Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn't good for anything, that it can't be +mended any more." + +Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. "Now hurry up and go along," +said his wife, who was still standing there; "you understand well enough +what you have to do." + +Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words. + +"What is the matter with you? Why don't you hurry along?" snarled the +man to him. + +"I can't do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that," said Sami. + +"What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!" commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + +"Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?" + +Sami did not stir. + +"Will you go and do what I told you, or--" + +The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone. + +Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there. + +Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami's eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami's heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + + "Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew," + +And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might: + + "Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! + Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off. + +He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child's carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + +This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn't spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + + "So let the little angels sing: + This child is safe beneath our wing." + +This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn't know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + +Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees. + +"What do you want here? That is the way out," said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + +Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house. + +Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + +"Come, give me a ride!" + +"Where?" asked Sami. + +"Out there along the road, and far, far away!" + +Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn't see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + +"Hold still! Hold still!" cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage. + +"Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!" + +And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + +"You mustn't go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch." + +The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami's advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said: + +"Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too." + +"I don't speak French, I don't know how," replied Sami; "but I can't +speak like you either." + +"Where do you come from then, if you don't speak German and don't speak +French?" the little one wanted to know. + +Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + +"First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen." + +"No, no," interrupted the little one warmly. "People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?" + +Sami told her. + +"And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?" + +Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + +"Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them." + +"Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?" asked little +Betti eagerly. + +"Yes, I think so," answered Sami. "Perhaps I can weed the garden." + +"That is right," said Betti, delighted. "You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?" + +"Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly," promised Sami, "and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing 'Only trust the dear Lord!' and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' Have you heard him too?" + +At this description little Betti's eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation. + +"Come now, let's go right away to the birds," she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage. + +Sami followed. + +At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good. + +"So I have found you at last," she cried angrily from a distance. +"Everybody is running around looking for you--your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman--everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us." + +Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: "Go ahead, Sami!" + +He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother's advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way. + +When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices: + +"She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!" + +But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said: + +"He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: 'Trust! Trust!' We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can't +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn't tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa." + +"Your story is wonderful," said her Papa, laughing. "Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother's +advice, must stay with us?" + +Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister's story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn't suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him. + +Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows. + +Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard. + +"Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!" cried Arthur, while +Karl's voice was heard above his screaming: + +"Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!" + +But Edward's piercing voice was heard above the other two: + +"Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won't +need to come with me any longer!" + +And in the midst of all sounded Betti's high little voice, untiringly: + +"Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?" + +Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + +"My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?" + +The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + +The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay. + +When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + +"It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!" + +The children all shouted together for joy. + +"Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?" repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness. + +"By and by, by and by," said her father, soothingly. "Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first." + +The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon's +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him. + +"But bring him back again, Papa!" cried Betti following after them as +they started away. + +Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother. + +Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami's words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife. + +A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children's playmate. + +Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother's death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + +"Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!" + + * * * * * + +It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say: + +"Without God's help and Sami's assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times." + +When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, "Where is Sami?" and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + +Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims: + +"Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it." + +But Betti still remains Sami's greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti's endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again. + +The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami's especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami's eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets. + +When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + +"You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!" + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 9482-8.txt or 9482-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9482/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Translator: Helen B. Dole + +First Posted: October 5, 2003 [EBook #9482] +Last Updated: November 19, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BY + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + JOHANNA SPYRI + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + 1917 + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illustpc.jpg (94K)" src="images/illustpc.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CONTENTS + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + <a href="#linkc1">FIRST OLD MARY ANN</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc2">SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc3">THIRD ANOTHER LIFE</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc4">FOURTH HARD TIMES</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc5">FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc6">SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO</a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + <a href="#linkash">UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG + MERRILY TOGETHER</a>. + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkgoods">WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR + HOUSEHOLD GOODS?</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkwaifs">SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO + ANYTHING.</a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkash" id="linkash"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="frontisc.jpg (111K)" src="images/frontisc.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkc1" id="linkc1"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FIRST + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + OLD MARY ANN + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and + casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. + Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up in + the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow buttercups + and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under the + ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water and + feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the hillside, as + they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + </p> + <p> + On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old woman + was sitting. She was called “Old Mary Ann” throughout the whole + neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little + heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, + the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined + castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary + Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending which + did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no longer + able to do fine work, and never could do it. + </p> + <p> + Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now found + herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her own. + From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at the + sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where the + big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the green + ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to celebrate. + </p> + <p> + “Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they + have already seen so many,” she now said half aloud to herself, and as she + gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose up and + passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + </p> + <p> + As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how it + must look over there now at her father’s house, which stood in a field + among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its + many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called + their house the sergeant’s house, although her father quite peacefully + tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young + fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still + farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of + military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. He + always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. Then + he married and Mary Ann’s father was his only child. The old man lived to + be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round knew the + old sergeant. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he + disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that her + mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly every time: + “We can’t help it, they will go over the mountains; they take it from + their grandfather.” She had never heard anything more about her brothers. + </p> + <p> + When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the + house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do + his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; a + burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. She + had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm parents + to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in the house + and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. She did + what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up to a + cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to keep her + old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able to help + the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the same time, + and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son’s help little by little to + pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields and house. + But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son Sami, who was + now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no longer bear to + stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a new life. This + was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that persuasion, + remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father’s words came to her + mind and she said resignedly, “It can’t be helped; he takes it from his + great-grandfather.” + </p> + <p> + But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to have + his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. In + the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain slope + and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake Geneva, + they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with curly + hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with his + son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr Malon, + and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work for + good pay in Malon’s beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed several + years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + </p> + <p> + When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so + lonely away from her.” + </p> + <p> + His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever + girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good + and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to + go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, + for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon’s son also brought a young + wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out + for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn + enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, + and obtained enough work. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned + from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the birds + above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + </p> + <p> + “They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. + Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often + think there is no possible way.” + </p> + <p> + Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and + went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time + to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew + that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would + now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into + the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going + with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house + dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with + hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her son + Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle + wrapped up in one of Marietta’s aprons. This he laid on the table, threw + himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + </p> + <p> + “It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, what are you saying?” cried his mother in the + greatest horror. “Oh, Sami, is it possible?” + </p> + <p> + Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + </p> + <p> + “Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? + Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?” + </p> + <p> + Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he + buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I can’t bear it, I must go away, mother, I can’t bear it here any + longer, it is all over!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Sami, where would you go?” said his mother, weeping. “We have already + come over the mountains, where would you go from here?” + </p> + <p> + “I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can’t stay here + any longer. I cannot, mother,” declared Sami. “I must go across the great + water as far as possible!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, not that!” cried Mary Ann. “Don’t be so rash! Wait a little, until + you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you.” + </p> + <p> + “No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can’t do any + different,” cried Sami, almost wild. + </p> + <p> + His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed + to hear her father saying: “It can’t be helped. He takes it from his + grandfather.” And with a sigh she said: + </p> + <p> + “It will have to be so.” + </p> + <p> + Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a + chicken were smothering inside. “What have you put in the bundle, Sami?” + asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + </p> + <p> + “That’s so, I had almost forgotten it, mother,” replied Sami, wiping his + eyes, “I have brought the little boy to you, I don’t know what to do with + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing,” said + the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one wrapping + and then a second and a third. + </p> + <p> + The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in + a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn’t + slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed + from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought + with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his + grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great + misfortune had come to him. + </p> + <p> + But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before + no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the + sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn’t + care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again + carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him upright + on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran all around + her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that the starving + little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on her stool, and + the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny little hand tightly + clasped his grandmother’s forefinger like a life-preserver, she said, + greatly touched: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I + can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us.” + </p> + <p> + And to the big Sami she said: + </p> + <p> + “I will keep him, but don’t take any rash steps! In the first great sorrow + many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can’t run away from + sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He is + not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun will + shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so many + others.” Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not + understand what he hears. + </p> + <p> + “Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy,” he + said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother’s hand, + and went out of the door. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc2" id="linkc2"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER SECOND + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off + twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was fresh + and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home among + friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a + worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. But + little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as if + his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had + lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + </p> + <p> + “You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old + grandmother.” + </p> + <p> + Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his + young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago + in the far away country. + </p> + <p> + Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great + deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more + distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very plainly + and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn’t know what to do for joy, + when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of French, but + pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native land. He spoke + exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one he had to talk + with. + </p> + <p> + Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say + after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; then + he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one began to + sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own childhood + and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole song from + beginning to end and sang one verse after another without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + In spite of all the grandmother’s trouble and work, the years passed so + quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that + Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time + that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French school + when he didn’t understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, for he + would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, as well + as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought it would + be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the youngster knew + all his letters, and could even put words together quite well. That + something could be made out of this which he could understand and which he + did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over his + reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother to + deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure to + him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green + meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in + the ash-trees. + </p> + <p> + The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun + shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with + wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her + arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as + wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the + golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + </p> + <p> + “Grandmother,” he said taking a deep breath, “to-day we will sit on the + low wall for twelve long hours, won’t we, really?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed,” assented his grandmother, “we will stay there long enough + to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it + grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the + trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed right to Sami, for he didn’t want to hear the old owl hoot. + Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the + fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang + merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + </p> + <p> + “Sing too! Sing too!” + </p> + <p> + Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and + lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had taught + him: + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + Last night Summer breezes blew:—<br /> All the flowers awake + anew,<br /> Open wide their eyes to see,<br /> Nodding, bowing in + their glee. + </p> + <p> + All the merry birds we hear<br /> Greet the sunshine bright and + clear;<br /> See them flitting thru the sky,<br /> Singing low and + singing high! + </p> + <p> + Flowers in Summer warmth delight:—<br /> What of Winter and its + blight?<br /> Snowy fields and forests cold?<br /> Flowers are by + their faith consoled. + </p> + <p> + Songsters, all so blithe and gay,<br /> Know ye what your carols say?<br /> + How will your sweet carols fare<br /> When your nests the snow-storms + tear? + </p> + <p> + All the birdlings everywhere<br /> Now their loveliest songs prepare;<br /> + All the birdlings gayly sing:—<br /> “Trust the Lord in + everything!” + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the + birds really sang so. + </p> + <p> + “Listen, listen, grandmother!” he said after a while. “Up there in the + tree is one that doesn’t sing like the others. At first he keeps singing + ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ and then the rest comes after.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami,” she replied. “See, he wants to + impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep + you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! + trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord.” + </p> + <p> + Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always sounded + above the other birds with his emphatic “Trust! trust! trust!” “You must + never forget what the finch calls,” continued the grandmother. “See, Sami, + perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will have no one + else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little bird’s song + can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don’t forget it, and promise me too + that you will say your little prayer every day, so that you will be + God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well with you.” + </p> + <p> + Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became + thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + </p> + <p> + “Must I always be afraid, grandmother?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn’t mean + that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be God-fearing + is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything he does, and + fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, everything that is + wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no reason to fear what + may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord’s help everywhere, and + if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that the dear Lord allows + it so, in order that some good may come out of it for him, and then he can + sing as happily as the little birds: ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’ Will you + remember that well, Sami?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that I will,” said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much + better, than if he had to be always afraid. + </p> + <p> + Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and + disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and then + the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, then up the + green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up on the mountain. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc3" id="linkc3"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER THIRD + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + ANOTHER LIFE + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn’t get up. + Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into + the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and + fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she + was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami + by the hand and said in a low voice: + </p> + <p> + “Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer + with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But there + over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. Malon + will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There ask for + the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big pear-trees + near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant’s Mary Ann and your + father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn your + living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, it is + yours; don’t spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised me. + Don’t neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which you + will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with them, + then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. I must + talk with him.” + </p> + <p> + Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary + Ann’s bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was + alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told her. + But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express herself + in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon nodded + his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned to the + room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still sitting in + the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his grandmother to + wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke with Malon a + while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother would never + wake again, that she was dead. + </p> + <p> + Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the + way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; + but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men + went away. + </p> + <p> + After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had + deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same + place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and + weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. + Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them into + a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on the + table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the bread in + his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he might take + his grandmother’s hand in farewell. + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr + Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami’s + bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not + where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going + out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on + ahead of him. + </p> + <p> + It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La + Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely + it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because + of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon’s heavy step in front of + him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the + vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing + along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. Sami + crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an hour. + Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although + several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the + softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + </p> + <p> + The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a + short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large + garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of the + house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon took + Sami’s hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + </p> + <p> + After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind + him. The latter began to talk in Sami’s own language. He wanted to console + the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami asked if he + was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? But the fellow + laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant here in the inn, + and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to travel an hour longer + and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve o’clock at night. But there + was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had to go back and would take him + along. + </p> + <p> + The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said + he wasn’t hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy’s pocket. Then he + led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up + on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the + driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this + would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept + thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would + never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami + had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him + everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen + asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going to + find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami’s + childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + </p> + <p> + “It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me to-night.” + </p> + <p> + Then when he saw Sami’s eyes close with the approaching twilight and only + open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box + were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy + firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he + fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the + sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a + huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never + seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of + the day before came in the door. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkgoods" id="linkgoods"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illusp32c.jpg (99K)" src="images/illusp32c.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + “Have you had your sleep out?” he said laughing. “Come and have some + coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must + carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you.” + </p> + <p> + Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring out + coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + </p> + <p> + When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with + Sami on the way to the sergeant’s house. It was not far. At the house in + the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami’s bundle down, shook him by + the hand and said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have farther to + go.” + </p> + <p> + Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, + until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A + woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big + bundle, and said rudely: “Where have you come from with all your household + goods?” + </p> + <p> + Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was Mary + Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up to + them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at him + from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami exceedingly. + </p> + <p> + “Bring your father out,” said the mother to one of her boys. Their father + was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the matter now?” he growled. + </p> + <p> + “There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn’t + know where he is going,” exclaimed his wife. + </p> + <p> + “He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know,” replied the + man, without moving. + </p> + <p> + “Well, go in,” directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy + went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he + had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + </p> + <p> + “Make quick work of it,” said the woman impatiently, who had followed with + her three boys. + </p> + <p> + “I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who + might need such a boy.” + </p> + <p> + “This is quickly decided,” said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his + piece of bread in two; “send all four boys out.” + </p> + <p> + After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: “There is no + help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that room + must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child should + come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three sleep + together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for his food. + The parish can do something for his clothes.” + </p> + <p> + His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her + own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she knew + how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a fine + time! + </p> + <p> + But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the + house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest + boy’s room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stöffi had slept in a bed + alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other + two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + </p> + <p> + Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when she + found inside not only Sami’s clothes, all in the best of order, but also + two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to her, and + showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. Then she + said she would take the woman’s clothes for herself, since he could surely + make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had always worn + were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as they were + carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + </p> + <p> + He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown him + below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the + others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each tried + to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued and + the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the third, + Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + </p> + <p> + When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: + “Come here and help pull.” + </p> + <p> + Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with + great hoes on their shoulders, and Stöffi beside a cart which had to be + taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the + field. Here Stöffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the + father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael + and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared + that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done + such work. + </p> + <p> + “He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work,” said the farmer. + </p> + <p> + But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he + could do nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands,” said the + farmer. + </p> + <p> + Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground + was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his + grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and + willingly. + </p> + <p> + At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had to + pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The boy + had to use all his strength, for Stöffi showed him plainly that he would + not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + </p> + <p> + Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the + piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be + obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home + for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was + too slow work. + </p> + <p> + After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down in + the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of + black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever seen a bear?” asked Stöffi of Sami. + </p> + <p> + He said he had not. + </p> + <p> + “Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one,” + continued Stöffi; “only those who know them are not afraid of them. This + evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through + with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see + the bear.” + </p> + <p> + Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stöffi soon exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Well, you won’t have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your promise, or—” + </p> + <p> + Stöffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + </p> + <p> + He had hardly gone when Michael said: + </p> + <p> + “See, Sami, there isn’t much left of mine, you can do that too; I am going + to see the bear.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon Michael ran off. + </p> + <p> + “Me, too,” cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. “You can finish that also, + Sami.” + </p> + <p> + When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the + steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose he will keep us waiting,” remarked the farmer’s wife sharply. + When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman cleared them + away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen table and + growled: + </p> + <p> + “He can eat here, if he wants anything.” + </p> + <p> + It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three + were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The + woman asked him harshly, if he couldn’t come home with the others. The + farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much + for him to do, and he said consolingly: + </p> + <p> + “It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must work + faster.” + </p> + <p> + Sami understood the signs which Stöffi made behind his father’s back, that + he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of the + three boys’ fists to say anything about it. + </p> + <p> + He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he + couldn’t go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had + borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think + of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as she + had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and everything + she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him as if his + grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always comfort him + if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + </p> + <p> + He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next day, + so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, for he + was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, who forced + him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + </p> + <p> + Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began + to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and ask + Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he could + speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from great + weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the wall and + above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully that he had + to sing with them: “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc4" id="linkc4"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FOURTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + HARD TIMES + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no + longer the birds singing; it was the farmer’s wife ordering the boys + harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, and + if this time they didn’t obey, their father would come. Then they all + sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where their + father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited much + longer. + </p> + <p> + The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus passed + a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + </p> + <p> + Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took + pains and followed his grandmother’s advice carefully. He always had + something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his + work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had + also come about in this. Stöffi had learned that there was one thing Sami + could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could + not tell a lie. + </p> + <p> + He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. + Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + </p> + <p> + “Now speak out, and tell why you can’t get through your work faster; you + are quick enough when anyone is watching you.” + </p> + <p> + Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had + threatened to beat the boys if they didn’t do their work themselves. + Afterwards Stöffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him that + he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + </p> + <p> + Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn’t want to do so, + but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. + Stöffi tried to explain to him that it didn’t matter whether he told the + truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, + and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the + same thing in the end: + </p> + <p> + “But I shall do it.” + </p> + <p> + This firmness was the result of Sami’s sure conviction that the dear Lord + heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did + not please Him. + </p> + <p> + So Stöffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and + make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare + abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so each + evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they would + not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four evenings in + succession when Stöffi wanted to go away early; then the brothers had to + stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy blows which + regularly fell upon Sami. + </p> + <p> + So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with + his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all + the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to + him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + </p> + <p> + Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There + was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all + sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in + the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun + again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. + In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his + work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + </p> + <p> + “I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last.” + </p> + <p> + Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but + something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of + work, which was too much for the others. + </p> + <p> + Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the smallest, + always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of it, and when + the boys came home at night no one thought any more about it. In the + evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with the feeble + light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, while Sami had + to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the three were angry + because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would accuse the other + of taking the light away from him, and all three would scream that Sami + didn’t need any at all for his work. Then one would pull the lamp one way, + and another the other way, until it was upset and the oil would run over + the table into Sami’s apples. Then there would be a really murderous + tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil and one would + always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in very cross and + want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then one would blame + the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, because he made the + least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and his angry wife would + always reply that she had indeed said the boy would be an apple of discord + in the house, and a Winter like this they had never experienced. Often + Sami had to endure many hard words and undeserved punishment. On such + evenings he remained sleepless for a long time sitting on his bed. + </p> + <p> + Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his + grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would + happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was + not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget + that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very young + and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for everyone if he + learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil days, which none + escape, come again later on, he can cope with them bravely, because he + knows them already and his strength has become hardened; and when the good + days come he can enjoy them as no one else can who has never tasted the + bad ones. + </p> + <p> + At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep + without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still + calling up in the ash-trees: “Only trust in the dear Lord!” and if it were + still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort for him + was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held fast to + that. + </p> + <p> + It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the + meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it + would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green again, + and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold white + covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the South + blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very warm + rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came the sun + and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass sprang up + over the meadows. + </p> + <p> + The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into + the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking + utensils which the farmer’s wife had just purchased at the annual fair in + the village. The boys had followed their mother’s command to go slowly and + carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well that + their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while to + follow her instructions. + </p> + <p> + Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into + the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little + while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched themselves + out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the pear-tree above, + the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly one piped up in the + midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as if he had a special + call to give. + </p> + <p> + “There he is,” cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. Then + he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and sharp + above the singing of all the other birds. + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear it? Do you hear it?” cried Sami in his delight. “Now he is + calling again: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ And then they all sing + together: ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’” + </p> + <p> + “You are just talking nonsense!” exclaimed Stöffi to the happy Sami. “The + bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him well. + He notices the rain-wind and is calling: ‘Shower! Shower! Shower!’ Then we + know it is going to rain.” + </p> + <p> + But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying to + himself: + </p> + <p> + “But he is singing: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’” + </p> + <p> + “Keep quiet!” continued Stöffi sharply to him. “You are nothing but a + little tramp, who can’t do anything and doesn’t know anything and twists + everything he hears.” + </p> + <p> + Then the blood rose to Sami’s cheeks and the tears came into his eyes and, + more courageously than usual towards Stöffi, he cried: + </p> + <p> + “I don’t do that, but you have done it many times!” + </p> + <p> + Then Stöffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in + his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stöffi had to + call the others to help him. + </p> + <p> + A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on + one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful + cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white + crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked at + the destruction. + </p> + <p> + Stöffi was the first to recover himself. + </p> + <p> + “We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down.” + He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and + take the wheel off from the axle. + </p> + <p> + “I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the + wagon,” said Sami calmly. + </p> + <p> + Then Steffi’s wrath rose to its height. + </p> + <p> + “You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!” he screamed. “You are nothing + but a ragamuffin. We will force you.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot,” said Sami, “and you are no good either! If you were + God-fearing, you would not want to lie so.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the + most threatening way. “You needn’t say that. We are just exactly as + God-fearing as you, and even much more so!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a new thought came to Stöffi. He ran off with all his might, and + Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the + house; he followed slowly after. The farmer’s wife had come back to the + house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from + the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was + standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly + together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was met + by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words at + him that he stood quite dumfounded. + </p> + <p> + “That was the last straw,” she said, “that after all the kindness he had + received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people.” + </p> + <p> + Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had + been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before such + a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife began + again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for he had + brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go to his + room, and she would come right along. + </p> + <p> + Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that he + had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart had + been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all he + had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + </p> + <p> + Soon the farmer’s wife came upstairs, packed Sami’s things together and + tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when he + had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been worn out + and were not replaced, and his grandmother’s clothes were no longer there. + </p> + <p> + While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami’s + wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it + all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being + God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his + resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the + woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw his + tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + </p> + <p> + Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to + him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear + such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven + out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse + for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he + began to cry aloud and called out: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would + happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened this + way!” + </p> + <p> + But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the + memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully through + the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how the + birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily + overcome, and he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Away! away! Over there! over there!” + </p> + <p> + From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a new + life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening prayer + gladly and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc5" id="linkc5"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FIFTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said a + word to him. The farmer’s wife pushed a piece of bread towards his + coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. + The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no + good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before + might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + </p> + <p> + When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + </p> + <p> + “Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have + found a place for you, for surely no one will want you.” + </p> + <p> + Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer hung + his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted it up + and said: + </p> + <p> + “I know already where I must go.” + </p> + <p> + The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “I want to go over the mountains,” he added. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from,” + said the farmer’s wife quickly; “there will no doubt be someone going over + there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as + possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little + bundle on his back away from his cousins’ house. + </p> + <p> + At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big + wood-wagon to Château d’Æux. He was ready to take the boy with him and + thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy + knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been + brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + </p> + <p> + Now the driver was ready. Sami’s bundle was thrown into the wagon and the + boy seated on it. + </p> + <p> + “Good luck!” said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + </p> + <p> + Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses + started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than + the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard + seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go + away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew + everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every wall + by the way; and although he wouldn’t see his grandmother any longer, he + would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was more + beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of questions + arose in Sami’s mind: Would everything be still the same as before? Would + the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the red and yellow + flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much to think about + that he didn’t notice how the time was passing. So he was very much + astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large village, + and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him down on + the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of an inn, + above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was surrounded by + all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn’t look around any longer, for the + driver had already seized him again and lifted him together with his + bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he came back with a + large piece of bread and said: + </p> + <p> + “There, eat; you still have far to go.” + </p> + <p> + “Are we yet in Château d’Æux?” asked Sami. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther,” was the reply; then the + driver disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse + was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated + with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout + men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short time + Sami’s eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of the + wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep sleep. + When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but everything + was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the wagon was no + longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around him. He looked, + and looked again, until he realized what had happened. The wagon was + standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had forgotten Sami and + left him lying there. + </p> + <p> + “Where can I be?” Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, and + outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his + sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the + house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew everything + about it—there stood the house with the garden, where he had taken + the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station—he was + in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would be at + home! + </p> + <p> + Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, + for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the + little bag with his grandmother’s money. He ran to the place where the + people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the + little window, and said: “La Tour!” + </p> + <p> + Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was already + standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the very same + corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the names + which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he came—now—“La + Tour!” He jumped down and ran to the right across the fields, then to the + left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. Now—there stood + the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were waving to and fro. + Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, on the hillside, the + bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses and the red anemones. + It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, above—oh, that + was the most beautiful of all!—up in the ash-trees the birds were + piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be sure, there + was the chief singer, the finch. “Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!” sounded his + clear song, and all the birds joined in with their warbling and rejoiced + loudly: + </p> + <p> + “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he + had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and + listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to him + and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening when + he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so vividly + before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and wept. She + was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But all the good + words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly in his heart, + and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, and as if she + must really be quite near and see him. + </p> + <p> + Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and then + began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon and + ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his + vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they + would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done + something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps + the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to work + in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down from + the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, but + he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + </p> + <p> + On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to + do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the + weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + </p> + <p> + There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two + high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All + around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them + multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to + their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall + around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as + before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the + old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time + with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not + lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over + it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, + and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a fire + was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his + might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the + ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a + little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so + near the fire. This he was doing in Sami’s own language, exactly as all + the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came + along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + </p> + <p> + “Does it please you?” asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively + for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + </p> + <p> + “Are you French, that you can’t talk?” asked the man again. + </p> + <p> + Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad + that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to + understand anyone there. + </p> + <p> + “Whom do you belong to?” asked the man again. + </p> + <p> + “Nobody,” answered Sami. + </p> + <p> + Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come + among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come + there again that morning. + </p> + <p> + “And now don’t you know at all what you are going to do, and where you are + going?” asked the man. + </p> + <p> + Sami said he did not. + </p> + <p> + “If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and look + in the air, I would give you work,” continued the man, “but such stray + waifs as you are not willing to do anything.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband’s + last words. + </p> + <p> + “Take him,” she said. “What work is there for him? He might run errands; + all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the + four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, stay here,” said the man; “you can carry the pan back; it is very + good that you know the way.” + </p> + <p> + Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was + very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did + exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street of + La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made + significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to + get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most + of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor + that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole in it which they + handed him to be repaired. + </p> + <p> + Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able + to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, + where it belonged. Then he turned back. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkwaifs" id="linkwaifs"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illusp64c.jpg (107K)" src="images/illusp64c.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The tinker was very much pleased with Sami’s harvest and his wife said + very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, + but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little + children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in + the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling + merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. + Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing + the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had + given him the day before in Château d’Æux. + </p> + <p> + The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the + good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on + the ground, and the meal began. + </p> + <p> + Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It + was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and potatoes, + and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + </p> + <p> + When he had finished, the woman said: + </p> + <p> + “You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there + is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + </p> + <p> + “Must I sleep in my clothes?” + </p> + <p> + The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the + night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could wash + his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for the next + day. + </p> + <p> + Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the + back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little room + where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, one + after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he thought + of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she could see + him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all the time + in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the wagon, so + dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about everything + and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never spoken to him + about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and perhaps the + people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with them. That would + be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle under his head, + and went peacefully to sleep. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc6" id="linkc6"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER SIXTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + SAMI SINGS TOO + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his + nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were + pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, + pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His + grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do as + well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he was + doing. + </p> + <p> + He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away + quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so beseechingly + that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. From morning + till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as much work as + possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening he enjoyed as + much as the savoury soup which followed. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in + the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt + around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do for + the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four crawled + around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn’t care to have anything to + do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and that, and at + night the woman took up one after another from the ground, put it in the + wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went away again. + </p> + <p> + The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little + prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + </p> + <p> + Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami’s heart every + evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one + would hear him sob. + </p> + <p> + Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the ash-trees, + but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did not dare sit idle + and listen to the birds. But every time he had looked longingly there and + sent a whistle from a distance as greeting to the birds. + </p> + <p> + From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the + ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and + was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could + look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + </p> + <p> + Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little + kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his + last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the + little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his + shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were + something unusual. + </p> + <p> + “It is as like the other as if it were its brother,” said the wife. “You + know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, and + on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the same + figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as the + other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled.” + </p> + <p> + “I see it all, surely,” said the man, “but I don’t know what can be done + about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn’t be mended any more, + for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn’t know that the + old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn’t have believed it was myself.” + </p> + <p> + “They won’t know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house up + there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as this. + Just say it can’t be mended any more, it is not good for anything, and + give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. If we + go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty francs + for it.” + </p> + <p> + “That is true. We can do that,” said the man, delighted; “perhaps they + won’t want anything for the kettle when they know they can’t use it any + more. Come, Sami,” he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the + other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything—“come + here, I want to tell you something.” + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed. + </p> + <p> + “Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little kettle + from, and say it isn’t good for anything, that it can’t be mended any + more.” + </p> + <p> + Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. “Now hurry up and go along,” + said his wife, who was still standing there; “you understand well enough + what you have to do.” + </p> + <p> + Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not + understood his words. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter with you? Why don’t you hurry along?” snarled the man + to him. + </p> + <p> + “I can’t do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as that,” + said Sami. + </p> + <p> + “What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!” commanded the + tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + </p> + <p> + “Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is + God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once + what you are told, or not?” + </p> + <p> + Sami did not stir. + </p> + <p> + “Will you go and do what I told you, or—” + </p> + <p> + The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he + turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all his + might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and rushed + on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until he had + reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. + Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on + and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he + feared. He was quite alone. + </p> + <p> + Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now + come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he + had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were + not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he had + done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home from + the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not one + little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests and + fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe from + all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect him + too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his + grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him + confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and + immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for + the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the ash-trees + there. + </p> + <p> + Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami’s eyes when he awoke. Above him all + the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It + sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami’s heart + the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear + Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden + sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus + and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + </p> + <p> + “Last night Summer breezes blew:— All the flowers awake anew,” + </p> + <p> + And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all his + might: + </p> + <p> + “Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of + bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his + grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, + that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So + Sami started off. + </p> + <p> + He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the + tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising + field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to Clarens, + Sami met a child’s carriage which a girl was pushing in front of her. She + wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, too, was + spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little head with + bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + </p> + <p> + This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted + Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage + robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of + strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so + beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it + became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had + never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him more + and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn’t spell them out and + perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was + difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made + out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + “So let the little angels sing:<br /> This child is safe beneath our + wing.” + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn’t know why, + but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. + The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had + found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the + road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into a + wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their + broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded the + high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + </p> + <p> + Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under the trees. + </p> + <p> + “What do you want here? That is the way out,” said the girl impatiently to + Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood the + meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it was + surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he could + not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that there were + people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + </p> + <p> + Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the + child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, + and went into the house. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at some + distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly forward, + jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Come, give me a ride!” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” asked Sami. + </p> + <p> + “Out there along the road, and far, far away!” + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without + stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly + around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn’t see enough. + Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + </p> + <p> + “Hold still! Hold still!” cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with a + big jump out of the low carriage. + </p> + <p> + “Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!” + </p> + <p> + And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping + bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + </p> + <p> + “You mustn’t go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go + around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a big + bunch.” + </p> + <p> + The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was + forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami’s advice, but + the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on + the ground and said: + </p> + <p> + “Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to + learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you + must do so too.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t speak French, I don’t know how,” replied Sami; “but I can’t speak + like you either.” + </p> + <p> + “Where do you come from then, if you don’t speak German and don’t speak + French?” the little one wanted to know. + </p> + <p> + Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + </p> + <p> + “First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” interrupted the little one warmly. “People are never from two + places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then Papa + bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is your name?” + </p> + <p> + Sami told her. + </p> + <p> + “And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina + wanted to send you out?” + </p> + <p> + Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + </p> + <p> + “Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing people + where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with such people + and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good from them.” + </p> + <p> + “Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?” asked little Betti + eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I think so,” answered Sami. “Perhaps I can weed the garden.” + </p> + <p> + “That is right,” said Betti, delighted. “You see, Tina will not take me in + the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the + carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly,” promised Sami, “and you shall have + all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the + birds sing ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’ and where the finch cries so loud + above them all: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ Have you heard him too?” + </p> + <p> + At this description little Betti’s eyes grew bigger and brighter with + expectation. + </p> + <p> + “Come now, let’s go right away to the birds,” she exclaimed, jumped up and + ran in haste to the carriage. + </p> + <p> + Sami followed. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. Her + looks did not portend anything good. + </p> + <p> + “So I have found you at last,” she cried angrily from a distance. + “Everybody is running around looking for you—your three brothers, + the servants, the coachman—everybody! I have run myself half dead + for you. Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little + tramp can go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is + lying in the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with + us.” + </p> + <p> + Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She + climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: “Go ahead, Sami!” + </p> + <p> + He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; then + he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this was the + place where he was to stay according to his grandmother’s advice, and it + had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of trust + from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very down-hearted the + same way. + </p> + <p> + When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was + standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out of + the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys were + running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of their + voices: + </p> + <p> + “She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!” + </p> + <p> + But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before + any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the + unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his + delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, and + with the greatest eagerness she said: + </p> + <p> + “He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if I + like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the high + grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew about + it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and the finch + sings above them all: ‘Trust! Trust!’ We were going right to see them when + Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can’t we, Papa, + right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn’t tired yet. Only say + yes, Papa.” + </p> + <p> + “Your story is wonderful,” said her Papa, laughing. “Where is the little + coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother’s + advice, must stay with us?” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with + their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, who + with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass through, + and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the courtyard. The + master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground and looked + towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during their little + sister’s story the three brothers had made their examination and + calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had + decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time + needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, + had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father had + forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But when + Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some other way, + and when Johann announced that he could go it didn’t suit Edward at all. + Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call whenever he wanted + him. + </p> + <p> + Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always + running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was + very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of + to hunt for his arrows. + </p> + <p> + Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, + but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, + on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it + happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the group + in the corner of the courtyard. + </p> + <p> + “Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!” cried Arthur, while + Karl’s voice was heard above his screaming: + </p> + <p> + “Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!” + </p> + <p> + But Edward’s piercing voice was heard above the other two: + </p> + <p> + “Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won’t + need to come with me any longer!” + </p> + <p> + And in the midst of all sounded Betti’s high little voice, untiringly: + </p> + <p> + “Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?” + </p> + <p> + Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + </p> + <p> + “My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?” + </p> + <p> + The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, whose + eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for him to + stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would like to + know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti told + about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been living + hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + </p> + <p> + The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told from + the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present moment, + and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the proverb, + which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he should + stay. + </p> + <p> + When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + </p> + <p> + “It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!” + </p> + <p> + The children all shouted together for joy. + </p> + <p> + “Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?” repeated Betti with + irrepressible eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “By and by, by and by,” said her father, soothingly. “Sami is going with + me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk + with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first.” + </p> + <p> + The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon’s + assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the + children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what + they desired of him. + </p> + <p> + “But bring him back again, Papa!” cried Betti following after them as they + started away. + </p> + <p> + Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in such + company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at once. + After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and this + delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again and the + crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his grandmother. + </p> + <p> + Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami’s words were correct and + besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and + conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good + news to carry to his wife. + </p> + <p> + A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder + was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to + remain in the house and be the children’s playmate. + </p> + <p> + Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother’s death, no + one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary + everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now + he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which he + had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his + grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was + so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and + thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + </p> + <p> + “Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + * * * * * + </p> + <p> + It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever + passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the + high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such + a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in + the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time he + sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end of + his song, accompanied by all the birds: + </p> + <p> + “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of + reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, + according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. + But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the + estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his + studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, and + Arthur is apt to say: + </p> + <p> + “Without God’s help and Sami’s assistance I should have been drowned + twenty times.” + </p> + <p> + When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question + is, “Where is Sami?” and this he asks numberless times every day, for + without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find + everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old + bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + </p> + <p> + Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in + strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the + courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, two + parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in order but + Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward often + exclaims: + </p> + <p> + “Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, the + animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it.” + </p> + <p> + But Betti still remains Sami’s greatest friend. She can call him at any + hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti + knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets + like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every + week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers + would laugh at their sister Betti’s endless correspondence which she has + with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most + devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without + hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti + used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his + bundle and go away again. + </p> + <p> + The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and + cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami’s especial care when + she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to + spread over her knees, Sami’s eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness + as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still + more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, + and whom he never forgets. + </p> + <p> + When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed + to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the + servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, if + you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, trustworthy, + conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can leave my whole + house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will be taken care + of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another Master besides + me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear Lord himself sent + my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He belongs to my house, and + it shall remain his home!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 9482-h.htm or 9482-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9482/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Translator: Helen B. Dole + +Posting Date: February 9, 2011 [EBook #9482] +Release Date: December, 2005 +First Posted: October 5, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + +BY + +JOHANNA SPYRI + + + + +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + +1917 + +[Illustration: "Up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang merrily +together."] + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + FIRST OLD MARY ANN + + SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + THIRD ANOTHER LIFE + + FOURTH HARD TIMES + + FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER. + +WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS? + +SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +OLD MARY ANN + + +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + +On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called "Old Mary Ann" throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it. + +Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate. + +"Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many," she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + +As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father's house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant's house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann's father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant. + +Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: "We can't help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather." She had never heard anything more +about her brothers. + +When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son's help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father's words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, "It can't be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather." + +But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + +Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon's beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + +When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + +"Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her." + +His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon's son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work. + +Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + +"They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way." + +Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + +Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta's aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + +"It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!" + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying?" cried his mother in the +greatest horror. "Oh, Sami, is it possible?" + +Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + +"Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?" + +Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + +"Oh, I can't bear it, I must go away, mother, I can't bear it here any +longer, it is all over!" + +"Oh, Sami, where would you go?" said his mother, weeping. "We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?" + +"I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can't stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother," declared Sami. "I must go across the great +water as far as possible!" + +"Oh, not that!" cried Mary Ann. "Don't be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you." + +"No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can't do any +different," cried Sami, almost wild. + +His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: "It can't be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather." And with a sigh she said: + +"It will have to be so." + +Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. "What have you put in the bundle, Sami?" +asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + +"That's so, I had almost forgotten it, mother," replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, "I have brought the little boy to you, I don't know what to +do with it." + +"Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing," said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third. + +The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn't +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him. + +But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn't +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother's forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched: + +"Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us." + +And to the big Sami she said: + +"I will keep him, but don't take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can't run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others." Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears. + +"Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy," he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother's +hand, and went out of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + +"You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother." + +Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country. + +Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn't know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with. + +Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation. + +In spite of all the grandmother's trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn't understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees. + +The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + +"Grandmother," he said taking a deep breath, "to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won't we, really?" + +"Yes, indeed," assented his grandmother, "we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot." + +This seemed right to Sami, for he didn't want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + +"Sing too! Sing too!" + +Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him: + + Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew, + Open wide their eyes to see, + Nodding, bowing in their glee. + + All the merry birds we hear + Greet the sunshine bright and clear; + See them flitting thru the sky, + Singing low and singing high! + + Flowers in Summer warmth delight:-- + What of Winter and its blight? + Snowy fields and forests cold? + Flowers are by their faith consoled. + + Songsters, all so blithe and gay, + Know ye what your carols say? + How will your sweet carols fare + When your nests the snow-storms tear? + + All the birdlings everywhere + Now their loveliest songs prepare; + All the birdlings gayly sing:-- + "Trust the Lord in everything!" + +Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so. + +"Listen, listen, grandmother!" he said after a while. "Up there in the +tree is one that doesn't sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' and then the rest comes after." + +"Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami," she replied. "See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord." + +Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic "Trust! trust! trust!" +"You must never forget what the finch calls," continued the grandmother. +"See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird's song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don't forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you." + +Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + +"Must I always be afraid, grandmother?" + +"No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn't mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord's +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: 'Only trust +the dear Lord!' Will you remember that well, Sami?" + +"Yes, that I will," said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid. + +Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +ANOTHER LIFE + + +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn't get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice: + +"Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant's Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him." + +Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead. + +Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away. + +After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother's hand in farewell. + +Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami's +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him. + +It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + +The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + +After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along. + +The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami's +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + +"It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night." + +Then when he saw Sami's eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door. + +[Illustration: "Where have you come from with all your household goods?"] + +"Have you had your sleep out?" he said laughing. "Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you." + +Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + +When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant's house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami's bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said: + +"Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go." + +Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: "Where have you come from with all your +household goods?" + +Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly. + +"Bring your father out," said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + +"What's the matter now?" he growled. + +"There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn't +know where he is going," exclaimed his wife. + +"He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know," replied the +man, without moving. + +"Well, go in," directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + +"Make quick work of it," said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys. + +"I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy." + +"This is quickly decided," said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; "send all four boys out." + +After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: "There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes." + +His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time! + +But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stoeffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + +Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami's clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman's clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + +He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + +When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +"Come here and help pull." + +Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stoeffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stoeffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work. + +"He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work," said the farmer. + +But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing. + +"Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands," said +the farmer. + +Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly. + +At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stoeffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + +Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work. + +After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + +"Have you ever seen a bear?" asked Stoeffi of Sami. + +He said he had not. + +"Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," +continued Stoeffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear." + +Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stoeffi soon exclaimed: + +"Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or--" + +Stoeffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + +He had hardly gone when Michael said: + +"See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear." + +Whereupon Michael ran off. + +"Me, too," cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. "You can finish that +also, Sami." + +When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + +"I suppose he will keep us waiting," remarked the farmer's wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled: + +"He can eat here, if he wants anything." + +It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn't come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly: + +"It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster." + +Sami understood the signs which Stoeffi made behind his father's back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys' fists to say anything about it. + +He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn't go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + +He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + +Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: "Only trust the dear Lord!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +HARD TIMES + + +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer. + +The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + +Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stoeffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie. + +He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + +"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you." + +Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stoeffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + +Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stoeffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end: + +"But I shall do it." + +This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him. + +So Stoeffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stoeffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami. + +So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + +Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + +Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + +"I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last." + +Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others. + +Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn't need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami's apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed. + +Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones. + +At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: "Only trust in the dear Lord!" and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that. + +It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows. + +The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer's wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother's command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions. + +Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give. + +"There he is," cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds. + +"Do you hear it? Do you hear it?" cried Sami in his delight. "Now he is +calling again: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' And then they all sing +together: 'Only trust the dear Lord!'" + +"You are just talking nonsense!" exclaimed Stoeffi to the happy Sami. "The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: 'Shower! Shower! Shower!' +Then we know it is going to rain." + +But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself: + +"But he is singing: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!'" + +"Keep quiet!" continued Stoeffi sharply to him. "You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can't do anything and doesn't know anything and twists +everything he hears." + +Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stoeffi, he cried: + +"I don't do that, but you have done it many times!" + +Then Stoeffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stoeffi had to +call the others to help him. + +A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction. + +Stoeffi was the first to recover himself. + +"We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down." +He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle. + +"I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon," said Sami calmly. + +Then Steffi's wrath rose to its height. + +"You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!" he screamed. "You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you." + +"You cannot," said Sami, "and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so." + +"Well, well," they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. "You needn't say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!" + +Suddenly a new thought came to Stoeffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer's wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded. + +"That was the last straw," she said, "that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people." + +Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along. + +Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + +Soon the farmer's wife came upstairs, packed Sami's things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother's clothes were no +longer there. + +While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami's +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + +Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out: + +"Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!" + +But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed: + +"Away! away! Over there! over there!" + +From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer's wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + +When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + +"Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you." + +Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said: + +"I know already where I must go." + +The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + +"I want to go over the mountains," he added. + +"Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from," +said the farmer's wife quickly; "there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there." + +This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins' house. + +At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Chateau d'AEux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + +Now the driver was ready. Sami's bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it. + +"Good luck!" said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + +Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn't see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami's mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn't notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn't look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said: + +"There, eat; you still have far to go." + +"Are we yet in Chateau d'AEux?" asked Sami. + +"Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther," was the reply; then the +driver disappeared. + +Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami's eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there. + +"Where can I be?" Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it--there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station--he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home! + +Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother's money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: "La Tour!" + +Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came--now--"La Tour!" He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now--there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above--oh, that was the most beautiful of all!--up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. "Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!" sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him. + +Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + +On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + +There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami's own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + +"Does it please you?" asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + +"Are you French, that you can't talk?" asked the man again. + +Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there. + +"Whom do you belong to?" asked the man again. + +"Nobody," answered Sami. + +Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning. + +"And now don't you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?" asked the man. + +Sami said he did not. + +"If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work," continued the man, "but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything." + +Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband's +last words. + +"Take him," she said. "What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!" + +"Well, stay here," said the man; "you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way." + +Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole in it which they +handed him to be repaired. + +Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back. + +[Illustration: "Such stray waifs as you are not willing ta do anything."] + +The tinker was very much pleased with Sami's harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Chateau d'AEux. + +The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began. + +Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + +When he had finished, the woman said: + +"You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow." + +This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + +"Must I sleep in my clothes?" + +The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day. + +Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +SAMI SINGS TOO + + +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing. + +He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed. + +Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn't care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again. + +The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + +Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami's heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob. + +Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds. + +From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + +Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual. + +"It is as like the other as if it were its brother," said the wife. "You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled." + +"I see it all, surely," said the man, "but I don't know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn't be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn't know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn't have believed it +was myself." + +"They won't know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can't be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it." + +"That is true. We can do that," said the man, delighted; "perhaps they +won't want anything for the kettle when they know they can't use it any +more. Come, Sami," he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything--"come +here, I want to tell you something." + +Sami obeyed. + +"Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn't good for anything, that it can't be +mended any more." + +Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. "Now hurry up and go along," +said his wife, who was still standing there; "you understand well enough +what you have to do." + +Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words. + +"What is the matter with you? Why don't you hurry along?" snarled the +man to him. + +"I can't do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that," said Sami. + +"What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!" commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + +"Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?" + +Sami did not stir. + +"Will you go and do what I told you, or--" + +The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone. + +Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there. + +Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami's eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami's heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + + "Last night Summer breezes blew:-- + All the flowers awake anew," + +And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might: + + "Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! + Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off. + +He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child's carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + +This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn't spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + + "So let the little angels sing: + This child is safe beneath our wing." + +This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn't know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + +Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees. + +"What do you want here? That is the way out," said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + +Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house. + +Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + +"Come, give me a ride!" + +"Where?" asked Sami. + +"Out there along the road, and far, far away!" + +Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn't see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + +"Hold still! Hold still!" cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage. + +"Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!" + +And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + +"You mustn't go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch." + +The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami's advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said: + +"Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too." + +"I don't speak French, I don't know how," replied Sami; "but I can't +speak like you either." + +"Where do you come from then, if you don't speak German and don't speak +French?" the little one wanted to know. + +Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + +"First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen." + +"No, no," interrupted the little one warmly. "People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?" + +Sami told her. + +"And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?" + +Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + +"Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them." + +"Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?" asked little +Betti eagerly. + +"Yes, I think so," answered Sami. "Perhaps I can weed the garden." + +"That is right," said Betti, delighted. "You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?" + +"Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly," promised Sami, "and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing 'Only trust the dear Lord!' and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' Have you heard him too?" + +At this description little Betti's eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation. + +"Come now, let's go right away to the birds," she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage. + +Sami followed. + +At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good. + +"So I have found you at last," she cried angrily from a distance. +"Everybody is running around looking for you--your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman--everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us." + +Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: "Go ahead, Sami!" + +He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother's advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way. + +When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices: + +"She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!" + +But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said: + +"He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: 'Trust! Trust!' We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can't +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn't tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa." + +"Your story is wonderful," said her Papa, laughing. "Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother's +advice, must stay with us?" + +Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister's story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn't suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him. + +Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows. + +Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard. + +"Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!" cried Arthur, while +Karl's voice was heard above his screaming: + +"Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!" + +But Edward's piercing voice was heard above the other two: + +"Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won't +need to come with me any longer!" + +And in the midst of all sounded Betti's high little voice, untiringly: + +"Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?" + +Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + +"My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?" + +The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + +The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay. + +When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + +"It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!" + +The children all shouted together for joy. + +"Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?" repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness. + +"By and by, by and by," said her father, soothingly. "Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first." + +The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon's +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him. + +"But bring him back again, Papa!" cried Betti following after them as +they started away. + +Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother. + +Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami's words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife. + +A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children's playmate. + +Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother's death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + +"Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!" + + * * * * * + +It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say: + +"Without God's help and Sami's assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times." + +When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, "Where is Sami?" and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + +Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims: + +"Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it." + +But Betti still remains Sami's greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti's endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again. + +The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami's especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami's eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets. + +When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + +"You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!" + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 9482.txt or 9482.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9482/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9482] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + BY + + JOHANNA SPYRI + + + + +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + +1917 + +[Illustration: "Up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang merrily +together."] + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + FIRST OLD MARY ANN + + SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + THIRD ANOTHER LIFE + + FOURTH HARD TIMES + + FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER. + +WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS? + +SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +OLD MARY ANN + + +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + +On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called "Old Mary Ann" throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it. + +Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate. + +"Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many," she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + +As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father's house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant's house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann's father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant. + +Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: "We can't help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather." She had never heard anything more +about her brothers. + +When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son's help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father's words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, "It can't be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather." + +But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + +Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon's beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + +When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + +"Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her." + +His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon's son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work. + +Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + +"They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way." + +Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + +Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta's aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + +"It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!" + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying?" cried his mother in the +greatest horror. "Oh, Sami, is it possible?" + +Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + +"Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?" + +Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + +"Oh, I can't bear it, I must go away, mother, I can't bear it here any +longer, it is all over!" + +"Oh, Sami, where would you go?" said his mother, weeping. "We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?" + +"I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can't stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother," declared Sami. "I must go across the great +water as far as possible!" + +"Oh, not that!" cried Mary Ann. "Don't be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you." + +"No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can't do any +different," cried Sami, almost wild. + +His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: "It can't be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather." And with a sigh she said: + +"It will have to be so." + +Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. "What have you put in the bundle, Sami?" +asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + +"That's so, I had almost forgotten it, mother," replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, "I have brought the little boy to you, I don't know what to +do with it." + +"Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing," said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third. + +The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn't +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him. + +But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn't +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother's forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched: + +"Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us." + +And to the big Sami she said: + +"I will keep him, but don't take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can't run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others." Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears. + +"Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy," he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother's +hand, and went out of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + +"You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother." + +Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country. + +Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn't know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with. + +Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation. + +In spite of all the grandmother's trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn't understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees. + +The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + +"Grandmother," he said taking a deep breath, "to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won't we, really?" + +"Yes, indeed," assented his grandmother, "we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot." + +This seemed right to Sami, for he didn't want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + +"Sing too! Sing too!" + +Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him: + +Last night Summer breezes blew:-- +All the flowers awake anew, +Open wide their eyes to see, +Nodding, bowing in their glee. + +All the merry birds we hear +Greet the sunshine bright and clear; +See them flitting thru the sky, +Singing low and singing high! + +Flowers in Summer warmth delight:-- +What of Winter and its blight? +Snowy fields and forests cold? +Flowers are by their faith consoled. + +Songsters, all so blithe and gay, +Know ye what your carols say? +How will your sweet carols fare +When your nests the snow-storms tear? + +All the birdlings everywhere +Now their loveliest songs prepare; +All the birdlings gayly sing:-- +"Trust the Lord in everything!" + +Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so. + +"Listen, listen, grandmother!" he said after a while. "Up there in the +tree is one that doesn't sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' and then the rest comes after." + +"Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami," she replied. "See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord." + +Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic "Trust! trust! trust!" +"You must never forget what the finch calls," continued the grandmother. +"See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird's song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don't forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you." + +Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + +"Must I always be afraid, grandmother?" + +"No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn't mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord's +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: 'Only trust +the dear Lord!' Will you remember that well, Sami?" + +"Yes, that I will," said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid. + +Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +ANOTHER LIFE + + +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn't get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice: + +"Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant's Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him." + +Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead. + +Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away. + +After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother's hand in farewell. + +Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami's +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him. + +It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + +The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + +After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along. + +The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami's +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + +"It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night." + +Then when he saw Sami's eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door. + +[Illustration: "Where have you come from with all your household goods?"] + +"Have you had your sleep out?" he said laughing. "Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you." + +Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + +When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant's house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami's bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said: + +"Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go." + +Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: "Where have you come from with all your +household goods?" + +Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly. + +"Bring your father out," said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + +"What's the matter now?" he growled. + +"There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn't +know where he is going," exclaimed his wife. + +"He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know," replied the +man, without moving. + +"Well, go in," directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + +"Make quick work of it," said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys. + +"I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy." + +"This is quickly decided," said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; "send all four boys out." + +After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: "There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes." + +His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time! + +But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stoeffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + +Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami's clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman's clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + +He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + +When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +"Come here and help pull." + +Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stoeffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stoeffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work. + +"He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work," said the farmer. + +But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing. + +"Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands," said +the farmer. + +Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly. + +At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stoeffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + +Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work. + +After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + +"Have you ever seen a bear?" asked Stoeffi of Sami. + +He said he had not. + +"Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," +continued Stoeffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear." + +Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stoeffi soon exclaimed: + +"Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or--" + +Stoeffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + +He had hardly gone when Michael said: + +"See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear." + +Whereupon Michael ran off. + +"Me, too," cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. "You can finish that +also, Sami." + +When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + +"I suppose he will keep us waiting," remarked the farmer's wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled: + +"He can eat here, if he wants anything." + +It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn't come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly: + +"It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster." + +Sami understood the signs which Stoeffi made behind his father's back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys' fists to say anything about it. + +He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn't go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + +He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + +Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: "Only trust the dear Lord!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +HARD TIMES + + +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer. + +The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + +Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stoeffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie. + +He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + +"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you." + +Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stoeffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + +Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stoeffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end: + +"But I shall do it." + +This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him. + +So Stoeffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stoeffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami. + +So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + +Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + +Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + +"I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last." + +Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others. + +Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn't need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami's apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed. + +Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones. + +At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: "Only trust in the dear Lord!" and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that. + +It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows. + +The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer's wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother's command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions. + +Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give. + +"There he is," cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds. + +"Do you hear it? Do you hear it?" cried Sami in his delight. "Now he is +calling again: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' And then they all sing +together: 'Only trust the dear Lord!'" + +"You are just talking nonsense!" exclaimed Stoeffi to the happy Sami. "The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: 'Shower! Shower! Shower!' +Then we know it is going to rain." + +But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself: + +"But he is singing: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!'" + +"Keep quiet!" continued Stoeffi sharply to him. "You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can't do anything and doesn't know anything and twists +everything he hears." + +Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stoeffi, he cried: + +"I don't do that, but you have done it many times!" + +Then Stoeffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stoeffi had to +call the others to help him. + +A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction. + +Stoeffi was the first to recover himself. + +"We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down." +He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle. + +"I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon," said Sami calmly. + +Then Steffi's wrath rose to its height. + +"You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!" he screamed. "You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you." + +"You cannot," said Sami, "and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so." + +"Well, well," they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. "You needn't say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!" + +Suddenly a new thought came to Stoeffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer's wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded. + +"That was the last straw," she said, "that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people." + +Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along. + +Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + +Soon the farmer's wife came upstairs, packed Sami's things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother's clothes were no +longer there. + +While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami's +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + +Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out: + +"Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!" + +But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed: + +"Away! away! Over there! over there!" + +From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +THE BIBDS ARE STILL SINGING + + +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer's wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + +When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + +"Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you." + +Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said: + +"I know already where I must go." + +The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + +"I want to go over the mountains," he added. + +"Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from," +said the farmer's wife quickly; "there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there." + +This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins' house. + +At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Chateau d'AEux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + +Now the driver was ready. Sami's bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it. + +"Good luck!" said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + +Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn't see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami's mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn't notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn't look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said: + +"There, eat; you still have far to go." + +"Are we yet in Chateau d'AEux?" asked Sami. + +"Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther," was the reply; then the +driver disappeared. + +Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami's eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there. + +"Where can I be?" Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it--there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station--he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home! + +Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother's money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: "La Tour!" + +Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came--now--"La Tour!" He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now--there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above--oh, that was the most beautiful of all!--up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. "Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!" sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him. + +Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + +On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + +There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami's own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + +"Does it please you?" asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + +"Are you French, that you can't talk?" asked the man again. + +Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there. + +"Whom do you belong to?" asked the man again. + +"Nobody," answered Sami. + +Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning. + +"And now don't you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?" asked the man. + +Sami said he did not. + +"If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work," continued the man, "but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything." + +Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband's +last words. + +"Take him," she said. "What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!" + +"Well, stay here," said the man; "you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way." + +Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole hi it which they +handed him to be repaired. + +Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back. + +[Illustration: "Such stray waifs as you are not willing ta do anything."] + +The tinker was very much pleased with Sami's harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Chateau d'AEux. + +The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began. + +Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + +When he had finished, the woman said: + +"You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow." + +This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + +"Must I sleep in my clothes?" + +The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day. + +Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +SAMI SINGS TOO + + +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing. + +He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed. + +Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn't care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again. + +The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + +Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami's heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob. + +Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds. + +From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + +Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual. + +"It is as like the other as if it were its brother," said the wife. "You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled." + +"I see it all, surely," said the man, "but I don't know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn't be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn't know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn't have believed it +was myself." + +"They won't know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can't be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it." + +"That is true. We can do that," said the man, delighted; "perhaps they +won't want anything for the kettle when they know they can't use it any +more. Come, Sami," he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything--"come +here, I want to tell you something." + +Sami obeyed. + +"Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn't good for anything, that it can't be +mended any more." + +Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. "Now hurry up and go along," +said his wife, who was still standing there; "you understand well enough +what you have to do." + +Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words. + +"What is the matter with you? Why don't you hurry along?" snarled the +man to him. + +"I can't do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that," said Sami. + +"What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!" commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + +"Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?" + +Sami did not stir. + +"Will you go and do what I told you, or--" + +The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone. + +Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there. + +Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami's eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami's heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + +"Last night Summer breezes blew:-- +All the flowers awake anew," + +And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might: + +"Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! +Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off. + +He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child's carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + +This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn't spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + +"So let the little angels sing: +This child is safe beneath our wing." + +This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn't know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + +Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees. + +"What do you want here? That is the way out," said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + +Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house. + +Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + +"Come, give me a ride!" + +"Where?" asked Sami. + +"Out there along the road, and far, far away!" + +Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn't see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + +"Hold still! Hold still!" cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage. + +"Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!" + +And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + +"You mustn't go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch." + +The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami's advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said: + +"Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too." + +"I don't speak French, I don't know how," replied Sami; "but I can't +speak like you either." + +"Where do you come from then, if you don't speak German and don't speak +French?" the little one wanted to know. + +Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + +"First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen." + +"No, no," interrupted the little one warmly. "People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?" + +Sami told her. + +"And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?" + +Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + +"Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them." + +"Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?" asked little +Betti eagerly. + +"Yes, I think so," answered Sami. "Perhaps I can weed the garden." + +"That is right," said Betti, delighted. "You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?" + +"Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly," promised Sami, "and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing 'Only trust the dear Lord!' and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' Have you heard him too?" + +At this description little Betti's eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation. + +"Come now, let's go right away to the birds," she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage. + +Sami followed. + +At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good. + +"So I have found you at last," she cried angrily from a distance. +"Everybody is running around looking for you--your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman--everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us." + +Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: "Go ahead, Sami!" + +He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother's advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way. + +When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices: + +"She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!" + +But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said: + +"He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: 'Trust! Trust!' We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can't +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn't tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa." + +"Your story is wonderful," said her Papa, laughing. "Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother's +advice, must stay with us?" + +Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister's story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn't suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him. + +Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows. + +Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard. + +"Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!" cried Arthur, while +Karl's voice was heard above his screaming: + +"Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!" + +But Edward's piercing voice was heard above the other two: + +"Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won't +need to come with me any longer!" + +And in the midst of all sounded Betti's high little voice, untiringly: + +"Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?" + +Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + +"My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?" + +The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + +The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay. + +When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + +"It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!" + +The children all shouted together for joy. + +"Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?" repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness. + +"By and by, by and by," said her father, soothingly. "Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first." + +The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon's +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him. + +"But bring him back again, Papa!" cried Betti following after them as +they started away. + +Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother. + +Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami's words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife. + +A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children's playmate. + +Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother's death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + +"Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!" + + * * * * * + +It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say: + +"Without God's help and Sami's assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times." + +When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, "Where is Sami?" and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + +Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims: + +"Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it." + +But Betti still remains Sami's greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti's endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again. + +The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami's especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami's eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets. + +When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + +"You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +This file should be named 7sami10.txt or 7sami10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7sami11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7sami10a.txt + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9482] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + BY + + JOHANNA SPYRI + + + + +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + +1917 + +[Illustration: "Up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang merrily +together."] + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + FIRST OLD MARY ANN + + SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + THIRD ANOTHER LIFE + + FOURTH HARD TIMES + + FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + + SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER. + +WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS? + +SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. + + + + +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +OLD MARY ANN + + +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + +On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called "Old Mary Ann" throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it. + +Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate. + +"Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many," she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + +As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father's house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant's house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann's father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant. + +Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: "We can't help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather." She had never heard anything more +about her brothers. + +When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son's help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father's words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, "It can't be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather." + +But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + +Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon's beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + +When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + +"Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her." + +His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon's son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work. + +Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + +"They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way." + +Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + +Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta's aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + +"It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!" + +"Oh, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying?" cried his mother in the +greatest horror. "Oh, Sami, is it possible?" + +Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + +"Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?" + +Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + +"Oh, I can't bear it, I must go away, mother, I can't bear it here any +longer, it is all over!" + +"Oh, Sami, where would you go?" said his mother, weeping. "We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?" + +"I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can't stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother," declared Sami. "I must go across the great +water as far as possible!" + +"Oh, not that!" cried Mary Ann. "Don't be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you." + +"No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can't do any +different," cried Sami, almost wild. + +His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: "It can't be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather." And with a sigh she said: + +"It will have to be so." + +Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. "What have you put in the bundle, Sami?" +asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + +"That's so, I had almost forgotten it, mother," replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, "I have brought the little boy to you, I don't know what to +do with it." + +"Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing," said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third. + +The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn't +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him. + +But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn't +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother's forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched: + +"Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us." + +And to the big Sami she said: + +"I will keep him, but don't take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can't run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others." Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears. + +"Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy," he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother's +hand, and went out of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND + +AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S + + +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + +"You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother." + +Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country. + +Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn't know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with. + +Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation. + +In spite of all the grandmother's trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn't understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees. + +The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + +"Grandmother," he said taking a deep breath, "to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won't we, really?" + +"Yes, indeed," assented his grandmother, "we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot." + +This seemed right to Sami, for he didn't want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + +"Sing too! Sing too!" + +Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him: + +Last night Summer breezes blew:-- +All the flowers awake anew, +Open wide their eyes to see, +Nodding, bowing in their glee. + +All the merry birds we hear +Greet the sunshine bright and clear; +See them flitting thru the sky, +Singing low and singing high! + +Flowers in Summer warmth delight:-- +What of Winter and its blight? +Snowy fields and forests cold? +Flowers are by their faith consoled. + +Songsters, all so blithe and gay, +Know ye what your carols say? +How will your sweet carols fare +When your nests the snow-storms tear? + +All the birdlings everywhere +Now their loveliest songs prepare; +All the birdlings gayly sing:-- +"Trust the Lord in everything!" + +Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so. + +"Listen, listen, grandmother!" he said after a while. "Up there in the +tree is one that doesn't sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' and then the rest comes after." + +"Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami," she replied. "See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord." + +Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic "Trust! trust! trust!" +"You must never forget what the finch calls," continued the grandmother. +"See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird's song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don't forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you." + +Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + +"Must I always be afraid, grandmother?" + +"No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn't mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord's +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: 'Only trust +the dear Lord!' Will you remember that well, Sami?" + +"Yes, that I will," said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid. + +Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD + +ANOTHER LIFE + + +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn't get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice: + +"Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant's Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him." + +Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead. + +Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away. + +After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother's hand in farewell. + +Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami's +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him. + +It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + +The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + +After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along. + +The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami's +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + +"It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night." + +Then when he saw Sami's eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door. + +[Illustration: "Where have you come from with all your household goods?"] + +"Have you had your sleep out?" he said laughing. "Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you." + +Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + +When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant's house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami's bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said: + +"Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go." + +Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: "Where have you come from with all your +household goods?" + +Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly. + +"Bring your father out," said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + +"What's the matter now?" he growled. + +"There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn't +know where he is going," exclaimed his wife. + +"He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know," replied the +man, without moving. + +"Well, go in," directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + +"Make quick work of it," said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys. + +"I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy." + +"This is quickly decided," said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; "send all four boys out." + +After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: "There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes." + +His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time! + +But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + +Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami's clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman's clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + +He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + +When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +"Come here and help pull." + +Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work. + +"He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work," said the farmer. + +But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing. + +"Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands," said +the farmer. + +Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly. + +At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + +Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work. + +After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + +"Have you ever seen a bear?" asked Stffi of Sami. + +He said he had not. + +"Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," +continued Stffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear." + +Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stffi soon exclaimed: + +"Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or--" + +Stffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + +He had hardly gone when Michael said: + +"See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear." + +Whereupon Michael ran off. + +"Me, too," cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. "You can finish that +also, Sami." + +When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + +"I suppose he will keep us waiting," remarked the farmer's wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled: + +"He can eat here, if he wants anything." + +It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn't come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly: + +"It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster." + +Sami understood the signs which Stffi made behind his father's back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys' fists to say anything about it. + +He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn't go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + +He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + +Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: "Only trust the dear Lord!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH + +HARD TIMES + + +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer. + +The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + +Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie. + +He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + +"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you." + +Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + +Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end: + +"But I shall do it." + +This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him. + +So Stffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami. + +So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + +Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + +Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + +"I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last." + +Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others. + +Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn't need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami's apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed. + +Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones. + +At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: "Only trust in the dear Lord!" and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that. + +It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows. + +The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer's wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother's command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions. + +Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give. + +"There he is," cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds. + +"Do you hear it? Do you hear it?" cried Sami in his delight. "Now he is +calling again: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' And then they all sing +together: 'Only trust the dear Lord!'" + +"You are just talking nonsense!" exclaimed Stffi to the happy Sami. "The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: 'Shower! Shower! Shower!' +Then we know it is going to rain." + +But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself: + +"But he is singing: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!'" + +"Keep quiet!" continued Stffi sharply to him. "You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can't do anything and doesn't know anything and twists +everything he hears." + +Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stffi, he cried: + +"I don't do that, but you have done it many times!" + +Then Stffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stffi had to +call the others to help him. + +A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction. + +Stffi was the first to recover himself. + +"We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down." +He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle. + +"I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon," said Sami calmly. + +Then Steffi's wrath rose to its height. + +"You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!" he screamed. "You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you." + +"You cannot," said Sami, "and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so." + +"Well, well," they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. "You needn't say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!" + +Suddenly a new thought came to Stffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer's wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded. + +"That was the last straw," she said, "that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people." + +Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along. + +Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + +Soon the farmer's wife came upstairs, packed Sami's things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother's clothes were no +longer there. + +While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami's +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + +Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out: + +"Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!" + +But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed: + +"Away! away! Over there! over there!" + +From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH + +THE BIBDS ARE STILL SINGING + + +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer's wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + +When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + +"Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you." + +Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said: + +"I know already where I must go." + +The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + +"I want to go over the mountains," he added. + +"Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from," +said the farmer's wife quickly; "there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there." + +This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins' house. + +At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Chteau d'ux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + +Now the driver was ready. Sami's bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it. + +"Good luck!" said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + +Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn't see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami's mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn't notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn't look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said: + +"There, eat; you still have far to go." + +"Are we yet in Chteau d'ux?" asked Sami. + +"Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther," was the reply; then the +driver disappeared. + +Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami's eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there. + +"Where can I be?" Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it--there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station--he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home! + +Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother's money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: "La Tour!" + +Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came--now--"La Tour!" He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now--there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above--oh, that was the most beautiful of all!--up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. "Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!" sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him. + +Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + +On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + +There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami's own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + +"Does it please you?" asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + +"Are you French, that you can't talk?" asked the man again. + +Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there. + +"Whom do you belong to?" asked the man again. + +"Nobody," answered Sami. + +Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning. + +"And now don't you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?" asked the man. + +Sami said he did not. + +"If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work," continued the man, "but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything." + +Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband's +last words. + +"Take him," she said. "What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!" + +"Well, stay here," said the man; "you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way." + +Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole hi it which they +handed him to be repaired. + +Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back. + +[Illustration: "Such stray waifs as you are not willing ta do anything."] + +The tinker was very much pleased with Sami's harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Chteau d'ux. + +The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began. + +Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + +When he had finished, the woman said: + +"You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow." + +This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + +"Must I sleep in my clothes?" + +The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day. + +Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH + +SAMI SINGS TOO + + +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing. + +He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed. + +Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn't care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again. + +The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + +Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami's heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob. + +Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds. + +From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + +Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual. + +"It is as like the other as if it were its brother," said the wife. "You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled." + +"I see it all, surely," said the man, "but I don't know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn't be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn't know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn't have believed it +was myself." + +"They won't know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can't be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it." + +"That is true. We can do that," said the man, delighted; "perhaps they +won't want anything for the kettle when they know they can't use it any +more. Come, Sami," he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything--"come +here, I want to tell you something." + +Sami obeyed. + +"Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn't good for anything, that it can't be +mended any more." + +Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. "Now hurry up and go along," +said his wife, who was still standing there; "you understand well enough +what you have to do." + +Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words. + +"What is the matter with you? Why don't you hurry along?" snarled the +man to him. + +"I can't do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that," said Sami. + +"What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!" commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + +"Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?" + +Sami did not stir. + +"Will you go and do what I told you, or--" + +The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone. + +Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there. + +Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami's eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami's heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + +"Last night Summer breezes blew:-- +All the flowers awake anew," + +And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might: + +"Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! +Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off. + +He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child's carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + +This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn't spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + +"So let the little angels sing: +This child is safe beneath our wing." + +This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn't know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + +Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees. + +"What do you want here? That is the way out," said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + +Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house. + +Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + +"Come, give me a ride!" + +"Where?" asked Sami. + +"Out there along the road, and far, far away!" + +Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn't see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + +"Hold still! Hold still!" cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage. + +"Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!" + +And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + +"You mustn't go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch." + +The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami's advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said: + +"Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too." + +"I don't speak French, I don't know how," replied Sami; "but I can't +speak like you either." + +"Where do you come from then, if you don't speak German and don't speak +French?" the little one wanted to know. + +Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + +"First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen." + +"No, no," interrupted the little one warmly. "People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?" + +Sami told her. + +"And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?" + +Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + +"Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them." + +"Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?" asked little +Betti eagerly. + +"Yes, I think so," answered Sami. "Perhaps I can weed the garden." + +"That is right," said Betti, delighted. "You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?" + +"Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly," promised Sami, "and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing 'Only trust the dear Lord!' and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' Have you heard him too?" + +At this description little Betti's eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation. + +"Come now, let's go right away to the birds," she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage. + +Sami followed. + +At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good. + +"So I have found you at last," she cried angrily from a distance. +"Everybody is running around looking for you--your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman--everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us." + +Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: "Go ahead, Sami!" + +He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother's advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way. + +When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices: + +"She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!" + +But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said: + +"He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: 'Trust! Trust!' We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can't +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn't tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa." + +"Your story is wonderful," said her Papa, laughing. "Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother's +advice, must stay with us?" + +Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister's story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn't suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him. + +Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows. + +Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard. + +"Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!" cried Arthur, while +Karl's voice was heard above his screaming: + +"Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!" + +But Edward's piercing voice was heard above the other two: + +"Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won't +need to come with me any longer!" + +And in the midst of all sounded Betti's high little voice, untiringly: + +"Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?" + +Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + +"My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?" + +The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + +The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay. + +When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + +"It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!" + +The children all shouted together for joy. + +"Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?" repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness. + +"By and by, by and by," said her father, soothingly. "Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first." + +The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon's +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him. + +"But bring him back again, Papa!" cried Betti following after them as +they started away. + +Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother. + +Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami's words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife. + +A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children's playmate. + +Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother's death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + +"Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!" + + * * * * * + +It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds: + +"Only trust the dear Lord!" + +The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say: + +"Without God's help and Sami's assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times." + +When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, "Where is Sami?" and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + +Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims: + +"Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it." + +But Betti still remains Sami's greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti's endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again. + +The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami's especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami's eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets. + +When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + +"You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +This file should be named 8sami10.txt or 8sami10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8sami11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8sami10a.txt + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8sami10.zip b/old/8sami10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..141a74d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8sami10.zip diff --git a/old/8sami10h.htm b/old/8sami10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88ab4bb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8sami10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2287 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {color:#A82C28} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<h1>What Sami Sings with the Birds</h1> +<pre> +Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri +#8 in our series by Johanna Spyri + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9482] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, David Widger, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> +<hr><br><br><br><br> + + +<center> +<h1> WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS</h1> +<br><br> +<h3> BY</h3> +<br><br> +<h2> JOHANNA SPYRI</h2> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<h3> +TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE</h3> +<br><br><br><br> +<h2>1917</h2> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="illustpC.jpg (94K)" src="illustpC.jpg" height="991" width="631"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2> +CONTENTS</h2></center> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<p> <a href="#c1">FIRST OLD MARY ANN</a></p> + +<p> <a href="#c2">SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S</a></p> + +<p> <a href="#c3">THIRD ANOTHER LIFE</a></p> + +<p> <a href="#c4">FOURTH HARD TIMES</a></p> + +<p> <a href="#c5">FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING</a></p> + +<p> <a href="#c6">SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO</a></p> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2></center> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> +<p><a href="#ash">UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG MERRILY TOGETHER</a>.</p> + +<p><a href="#goods">WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS?</a></p> + +<p><a href="#waifs">SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.</a></p> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br><br> +<a name="ash"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontisC.jpg (111K)" src="frontisC.jpg" height="1086" width="628"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<br><br> +<center><h1> +WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS</h1> + +<br><br> + +<a name="c1"></a> +<br><br> +<h2> +CHAPTER FIRST</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>OLD MARY ANN</h3></center> + +<br> +<p> +For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and +casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. +Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up +in the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow +buttercups and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under +the ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water +and feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the +hillside, as they grew and bloomed down close to the water.</p> + +<p>On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old +woman was sitting. She was called "Old Mary Ann" throughout the whole +neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little +heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, +the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined +castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary +Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending +which did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no +longer able to do fine work, and never could do it.</p> + +<p>Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now +found herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her +own. From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at +the sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where +the big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the +green ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to +celebrate.</p> + +<p>"Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they +have already seen so many," she now said half aloud to herself, and as +she gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose +up and passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them.</p> + +<p>As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how +it must look over there now at her father's house, which stood in a field +among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its +many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called +their house the sergeant's house, although her father quite peacefully +tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young +fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still +farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of +military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. +He always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. +Then he married and Mary Ann's father was his only child. The old man +lived to be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round +knew the old sergeant.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he +disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that +her mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly +every time: "We can't help it, they will go over the mountains; they +take it from their grandfather." She had never heard anything more +about her brothers.</p> + +<p>When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the +house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do +his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; +a burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. +She had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm +parents to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in +the house and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. +She did what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up +to a cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to +keep her old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able +to help the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the +same time, and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son's help little +by little to pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields +and house. But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son +Sami, who was now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no +longer bear to stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a +new life. This was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that +persuasion, remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father's words +came to her mind and she said resignedly, "It can't be helped; he takes +it from his great-grandfather."</p> + +<p>But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to +have his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. +In the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain +slope and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake +Geneva, they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with +curly hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with +his son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr +Malon, and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work +for good pay in Malon's beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed +several years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before.</p> + +<p>When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day:</p> + +<p>"Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so +lonely away from her."</p> + +<p>His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever +girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good +and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to +go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, +for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon's son also brought a young +wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out +for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn +enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, +and obtained enough work.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned +from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the +birds above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself:</p> + +<p>"They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. +Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often +think there is no possible way."</p> + +<p>Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and +went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time +to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew +that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would +now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into +the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going +with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house +dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with +hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her +son Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle +wrapped up in one of Marietta's aprons. This he laid on the table, threw +himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms:</p> + +<p>"It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying?" cried his mother in the +greatest horror. "Oh, Sami, is it possible?"</p> + +<p>Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? +Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?"</p> + +<p>Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he +buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't bear it, I must go away, mother, I can't bear it here any +longer, it is all over!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sami, where would you go?" said his mother, weeping. "We have +already come over the mountains, where would you go from here?"</p> + +<p>"I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can't stay here +any longer. I cannot, mother," declared Sami. "I must go across the great +water as far as possible!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not that!" cried Mary Ann. "Don't be so rash! Wait a little, until +you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you."</p> + +<p>"No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can't do any +different," cried Sami, almost wild.</p> + +<p>His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed +to hear her father saying: "It can't be helped. He takes it from his +grandfather." And with a sigh she said:</p> + +<p>"It will have to be so."</p> + +<p>Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a +chicken were smothering inside. "What have you put in the bundle, Sami?" +asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron.</p> + +<p>"That's so, I had almost forgotten it, mother," replied Sami, wiping +his eyes, "I have brought the little boy to you, I don't know what to +do with it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing," said +the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one +wrapping and then a second and a third.</p> + +<p>The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in +a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn't +slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed +from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought +with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his +grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great +misfortune had come to him.</p> + +<p>But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before +no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the +sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn't +care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again +carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him +upright on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran +all around her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that +the starving little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on +her stool, and the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny +little hand tightly clasped his grandmother's forefinger like a +life-preserver, she said, greatly touched:</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I +can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us."</p> + +<p>And to the big Sami she said:</p> + +<p>"I will keep him, but don't take any rash steps! In the first great +sorrow many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can't run away +from sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He +is not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun +will shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so +many others." Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not +understand what he hears.</p> + +<p>"Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy," he +said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother's +hand, and went out of the door.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<a name="c2"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CHAPTER SECOND</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S</h3></center> +<br> +<p> +Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off +twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was +fresh and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home +among friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a +worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. +But little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as +if his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had +lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly:</p> + +<p>"You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old +grandmother."</p> + +<p>Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his +young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago +in the far away country.</p> + +<p>Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great +deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more +distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very +plainly and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn't know what to do +for joy, when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of +French, but pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native +land. He spoke exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one +he had to talk with.</p> + +<p>Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say +after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; +then he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one +began to sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own +childhood and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole +song from beginning to end and sang one verse after another without +hesitation.</p> + +<p>In spite of all the grandmother's trouble and work, the years passed so +quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that +Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time +that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French +school when he didn't understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, +for he would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, +as well as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought +it would be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the +youngster knew all his letters, and could even put words together quite +well. That something could be made out of this which he could understand +and which he did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over +his reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother +to deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure +to him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green +meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in +the ash-trees.</p> + +<p>The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun +shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with +wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her +arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as +wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the +golden sunshine above them delighted him very much.</p> + +<p>"Grandmother," he said taking a deep breath, "to-day we will sit on the +low wall for twelve long hours, won't we, really?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," assented his grandmother, "we will stay there long enough +to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it +grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the +trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot."</p> + +<p>This seemed right to Sami, for he didn't want to hear the old owl hoot. +Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the +fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang +merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly:</p> + +<p>"Sing too! Sing too!"</p> + +<p>Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and +lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had +taught him:</p> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> +<p>Last night Summer breezes blew:—<br> +All the flowers awake anew,<br> +Open wide their eyes to see,<br> +Nodding, bowing in their glee.</p> + +<p>All the merry birds we hear<br> +Greet the sunshine bright and clear;<br> +See them flitting thru the sky,<br> +Singing low and singing high!</p> + +<p>Flowers in Summer warmth delight:—<br> +What of Winter and its blight?<br> +Snowy fields and forests cold?<br> +Flowers are by their faith consoled.</p> + +<p>Songsters, all so blithe and gay,<br> +Know ye what your carols say?<br> +How will your sweet carols fare<br> +When your nests the snow-storms tear?</p> + +<p>All the birdlings everywhere<br> +Now their loveliest songs prepare;<br> +All the birdlings gayly sing:—<br> +"Trust the Lord in everything!"</p> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<p>Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the +birds really sang so.</p> + +<p>"Listen, listen, grandmother!" he said after a while. "Up there in the +tree is one that doesn't sing like the others. At first he keeps singing +'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' and then the rest comes after."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami," she replied. "See, he wants to +impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep +you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! +trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord."</p> + +<p>Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always +sounded above the other birds with his emphatic "Trust! trust! trust!" +"You must never forget what the finch calls," continued the grandmother. +"See, Sami, perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will +have no one else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little +bird's song can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don't forget it, and +promise me too that you will say your little prayer every day, so that +you will be God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well +with you."</p> + +<p>Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became +thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly:</p> + +<p>"Must I always be afraid, grandmother?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn't mean +that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be +God-fearing is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything +he does, and fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, +everything that is wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no +reason to fear what may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord's +help everywhere, and if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that +the dear Lord allows it so, in order that some good may come out of it +for him, and then he can sing as happily as the little birds: 'Only trust +the dear Lord!' Will you remember that well, Sami?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that I will," said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much +better, than if he had to be always afraid.</p> + +<p>Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and +disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and +then the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, +then up the green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up +on the mountain.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<a name="c3"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CHAPTER THIRD</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>ANOTHER LIFE</h3></center> +<br> + + +<p> +One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn't get up. +Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into +the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and +fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she +was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami +by the hand and said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer +with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But +there over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. +Malon will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There +ask for the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big +pear-trees near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant's Mary Ann +and your father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn +your living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, +it is yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised +me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which +you will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with +them, then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. +I must talk with him."</p> + +<p>Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary +Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was +alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told +her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express +herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon +nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned +to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still +sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his +grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke +with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother +would never wake again, that she was dead.</p> + +<p>Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the +way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; +but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men +went away.</p> + +<p>After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had +deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same +place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and +weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. +Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them +into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on +the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the +bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he +might take his grandmother's hand in farewell.</p> + +<p>Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr +Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami's +bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not +where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going +out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on +ahead of him.</p> + +<p>It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La +Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely +it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because +of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy step in front of +him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the +vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing +along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. +Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an +hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although +several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the +softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy.</p> + +<p>The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a +short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large +garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of +the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon +took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room.</p> + +<p>After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind +him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He wanted to +console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami +asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? +But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant +here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to +travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve +o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had +to go back and would take him along.</p> + +<p>The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said +he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket. Then he +led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up +on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the +driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this +would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept +thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would +never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami +had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him +everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen +asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going +to find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami's +childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said:</p> + +<p>"It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me +to-night."</p> + +<p>Then when he saw Sami's eyes close with the approaching twilight and only +open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box +were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy +firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he +fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the +sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a +huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never +seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of +the day before came in the door.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="goods"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="illusp32C.jpg (99K)" src="illusp32C.jpg" height="1079" width="639"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"Have you had your sleep out?" he said laughing. "Come and have some +coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must +carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you."</p> + +<p>Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring +out coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink.</p> + +<p>When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with +Sami on the way to the sergeant's house. It was not far. At the house in +the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami's bundle down, shook him by +the hand and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have +farther to go."</p> + +<p>Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, +until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A +woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big +bundle, and said rudely: "Where have you come from with all your +household goods?"</p> + +<p>Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was +Mary Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up +to them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at +him from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami +exceedingly.</p> + +<p>"Bring your father out," said the mother to one of her boys. Their father +was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" he growled.</p> + +<p>"There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn't +know where he is going," exclaimed his wife.</p> + +<p>"He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know," replied the +man, without moving.</p> + +<p>"Well, go in," directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy +went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he +had belonged. The peasant scratched his head.</p> + +<p>"Make quick work of it," said the woman impatiently, who had followed +with her three boys.</p> + +<p>"I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who +might need such a boy."</p> + +<p>"This is quickly decided," said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his +piece of bread in two; "send all four boys out."</p> + +<p>After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: "There is +no help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that +room must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child +should come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three +sleep together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for +his food. The parish can do something for his clothes."</p> + +<p>His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her +own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she +knew how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a +fine time!</p> + +<p>But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the +house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest +boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stffi had slept in a bed +alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other +two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before.</p> + +<p>Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when +she found inside not only Sami's clothes, all in the best of order, but +also two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to +her, and showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. +Then she said she would take the woman's clothes for herself, since he +could surely make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had +always worn were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as +they were carried away, but he thought it had to be so.</p> + +<p>He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown +him below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the +others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each +tried to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued +and the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the +third, Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three.</p> + +<p>When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: +"Come here and help pull."</p> + +<p>Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with +great hoes on their shoulders, and Stffi beside a cart which had to be +taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the +field. Here Stffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the +father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael +and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared +that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done +such work.</p> + +<p>"He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work," said the farmer.</p> + +<p>But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he +could do nothing.</p> + +<p>"Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands," said +the farmer.</p> + +<p>Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground +was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his +grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and +willingly.</p> + +<p>At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had +to pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The +boy had to use all his strength, for Stffi showed him plainly that he +would not take upon himself the larger part of the work.</p> + +<p>Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the +piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be +obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home +for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was +too slow work.</p> + +<p>After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down +in the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of +black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen a bear?" asked Stffi of Sami.</p> + +<p>He said he had not.</p> + +<p>"Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," +continued Stffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This +evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through +with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see +the bear."</p> + +<p>Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stffi soon exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your +promise, or—"</p> + +<p>Stffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant.</p> + +<p>He had hardly gone when Michael said:</p> + +<p>"See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am +going to see the bear."</p> + +<p>Whereupon Michael ran off.</p> + +<p>"Me, too," cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. "You can finish that +also, Sami."</p> + +<p>When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the +steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he will keep us waiting," remarked the farmer's wife +sharply. When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman +cleared them away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen +table and growled:</p> + +<p>"He can eat here, if he wants anything."</p> + +<p>It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three +were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The +woman asked him harshly, if he couldn't come home with the others. The +farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much +for him to do, and he said consolingly:</p> + +<p>"It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must +work faster."</p> + +<p>Sami understood the signs which Stffi made behind his father's back, +that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of +the three boys' fists to say anything about it.</p> + +<p>He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he +couldn't go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had +borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think +of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as +she had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and +everything she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him +as if his grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always +comfort him if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have.</p> + +<p>He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next +day, so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, +for he was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, +who forced him to make everything appear contrary to the truth.</p> + +<p>Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began +to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and +ask Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he +could speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from +great weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the +wall and above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully +that he had to sing with them: "Only trust the dear Lord!"</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<a name="c4"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CHAPTER FOURTH</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>HARD TIMES</h3></center> +<br> + + + +<p> +The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no +longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys +harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, +and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they +all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where +their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited +much longer.</p> + +<p>The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus +passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work.</p> + +<p>Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took +pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had +something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his +work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had +also come about in this. Stffi had learned that there was one thing Sami +could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could +not tell a lie.</p> + +<p>He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. +Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly:</p> + +<p>"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you +are quick enough when anyone is watching you."</p> + +<p>Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had +threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. +Afterwards Stffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him +that he would do it every time Sami complained of him.</p> + +<p>Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so, +but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. +Stffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the +truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, +and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the +same thing in the end:</p> + +<p>"But I shall do it."</p> + +<p>This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord +heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did +not please Him.</p> + +<p>So Stffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and +make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare +abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so +each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they +would not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four +evenings in succession when Stffi wanted to go away early; then the +brothers had to stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy +blows which regularly fell upon Sami.</p> + +<p>So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with +his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all +the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to +him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long.</p> + +<p>Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There +was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all +sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in +the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun +again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. +In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his +work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times:</p> + +<p>"I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last."</p> + +<p>Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but +something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of +work, which was too much for the others.</p> + +<p>Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the +smallest, always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of +it, and when the boys came home at night no one thought any more about +it. In the evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with +the feeble light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, +while Sami had to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the +three were angry because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would +accuse the other of taking the light away from him, and all three would +scream that Sami didn't need any at all for his work. Then one would pull +the lamp one way, and another the other way, until it was upset and the +oil would run over the table into Sami's apples. Then there would be a +really murderous tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil +and one would always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in +very cross and want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then +one would blame the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, +because he made the least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and +his angry wife would always reply that she had indeed said the boy would +be an apple of discord in the house, and a Winter like this they had +never experienced. Often Sami had to endure many hard words and +undeserved punishment. On such evenings he remained sleepless for a long +time sitting on his bed.</p> + +<p>Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his +grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would +happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was +not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget +that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very +young and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for +everyone if he learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil +days, which none escape, come again later on, he can cope with them +bravely, because he knows them already and his strength has become +hardened; and when the good days come he can enjoy them as no one else +can who has never tasted the bad ones.</p> + +<p>At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep +without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still +calling up in the ash-trees: "Only trust in the dear Lord!" and if it +were still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort +for him was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held +fast to that.</p> + +<p>It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the +meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it +would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green +again, and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold +white covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the +South blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very +warm rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came +the sun and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass +sprang up over the meadows.</p> + +<p>The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into +the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking +utensils which the farmer's wife had just purchased at the annual fair in +the village. The boys had followed their mother's command to go slowly +and carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well +that their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while +to follow her instructions.</p> + +<p>Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into +the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little +while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched +themselves out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the +pear-tree above, the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly +one piped up in the midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as +if he had a special call to give.</p> + +<p>"There he is," cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. +Then he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and +sharp above the singing of all the other birds.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear it? Do you hear it?" cried Sami in his delight. "Now he is +calling again: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' And then they all sing +together: 'Only trust the dear Lord!'"</p> + +<p>"You are just talking nonsense!" exclaimed Stffi to the happy Sami. "The +bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him +well. He notices the rain-wind and is calling: 'Shower! Shower! Shower!' +Then we know it is going to rain."</p> + +<p>But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying +to himself:</p> + +<p>"But he is singing: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!'"</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet!" continued Stffi sharply to him. "You are nothing but a +little tramp, who can't do anything and doesn't know anything and twists +everything he hears."</p> + +<p>Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes +and, more courageously than usual towards Stffi, he cried:</p> + +<p>"I don't do that, but you have done it many times!"</p> + +<p>Then Stffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in +his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stffi had to +call the others to help him.</p> + +<p>A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on +one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful +cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white +crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked +at the destruction.</p> + +<p>Stffi was the first to recover himself.</p> + +<p>"We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down." +He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and +take the wheel off from the axle.</p> + +<p>"I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the +wagon," said Sami calmly.</p> + +<p>Then Steffi's wrath rose to its height.</p> + +<p>"You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!" he screamed. "You are nothing +but a ragamuffin. We will force you."</p> + +<p>"You cannot," said Sami, "and you are no good either! If you were +God-fearing, you would not want to lie so."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the +most threatening way. "You needn't say that. We are just exactly as +God-fearing as you, and even much more so!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly a new thought came to Stffi. He ran off with all his might, and +Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the +house; he followed slowly after. The farmer's wife had come back to the +house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from +the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was +standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly +together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was +met by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words +at him that he stood quite dumfounded.</p> + +<p>"That was the last straw," she said, "that after all the kindness he had +received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people."</p> + +<p>Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had +been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before +such a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife +began again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for +he had brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go +to his room, and she would come right along.</p> + +<p>Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that +he had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart +had been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all +he had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed.</p> + +<p>Soon the farmer's wife came upstairs, packed Sami's things together and +tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when +he had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been +worn out and were not replaced, and his grandmother's clothes were no +longer there.</p> + +<p>While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami's +wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it +all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being +God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his +resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the +woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw +his tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out.</p> + +<p>Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to +him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear +such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven +out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse +for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he +began to cry aloud and called out:</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would +happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened +this way!"</p> + +<p>But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the +memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully +through the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how +the birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily +overcome, and he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Away! away! Over there! over there!"</p> + +<p>From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a +new life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening +prayer gladly and fell asleep.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<a name="c5"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CHAPTER FIFTH</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>THE BIBDS ARE STILL SINGING</h3></center> +<br> + + +<p> +The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said +a word to him. The farmer's wife pushed a piece of bread towards his +coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. +The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no +good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before +might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak.</p> + +<p>When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly:</p> + +<p>"Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have +found a place for you, for surely no one will want you."</p> + +<p>Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer +hung his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted +it up and said:</p> + +<p>"I know already where I must go."</p> + +<p>The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I want to go over the mountains," he added.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from," +said the farmer's wife quickly; "there will no doubt be someone going +over there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there."</p> + +<p>This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as +possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little +bundle on his back away from his cousins' house.</p> + +<p>At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big +wood-wagon to Chteau d'ux. He was ready to take the boy with him and +thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy +knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been +brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where.</p> + +<p>Now the driver was ready. Sami's bundle was thrown into the wagon and the +boy seated on it.</p> + +<p>"Good luck!" said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away.</p> + +<p>Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses +started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than +the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard +seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go +away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew +everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every +wall by the way; and although he wouldn't see his grandmother any longer, +he would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was +more beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of +questions arose in Sami's mind: Would everything be still the same as +before? Would the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the +red and yellow flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much +to think about that he didn't notice how the time was passing. So he was +very much astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large +village, and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him +down on the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of +an inn, above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was +surrounded by all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn't look around any +longer, for the driver had already seized him again and lifted him +together with his bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he +came back with a large piece of bread and said:</p> + +<p>"There, eat; you still have far to go."</p> + +<p>"Are we yet in Chteau d'ux?" asked Sami.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther," was the reply; then the +driver disappeared.</p> + +<p>Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse +was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated +with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout +men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short +time Sami's eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of +the wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep +sleep. When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but +everything was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the +wagon was no longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around +him. He looked, and looked again, until he realized what had happened. +The wagon was standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had +forgotten Sami and left him lying there.</p> + +<p>"Where can I be?" Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, +and outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his +sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the +house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew +everything about it—there stood the house with the garden, where he had +taken the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station—he +was in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would +be at home!</p> + +<p>Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, +for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the +little bag with his grandmother's money. He ran to the place where the +people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the +little window, and said: "La Tour!"</p> + +<p>Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was +already standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the +very same corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the +names which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he +came—now—"La Tour!" He jumped down and ran to the right across the +fields, then to the left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. +Now—there stood the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were +waving to and fro. Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, +on the hillside, the bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses +and the red anemones. It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, +above—oh, that was the most beautiful of all!—up in the ash-trees the +birds were piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be +sure, there was the chief singer, the finch. "Trust! Trust! Trust! +Trust!" sounded his clear song, and all the birds joined in with their +warbling and rejoiced loudly:</p> + +<p>"Only trust the dear Lord!"</p> + +<p>Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he +had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and +listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to +him and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening +when he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so +vividly before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and +wept. She was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But +all the good words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly +in his heart, and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, +and as if she must really be quite near and see him.</p> + +<p>Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and +then began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon +and ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his +vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they +would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done +something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps +the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to +work in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down +from the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, +but he could come here again; he was here and could stay here.</p> + +<p>On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to +do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the +weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe.</p> + +<p>There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two +high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All +around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them +multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to +their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall +around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as +before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the +old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time +with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not +lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over +it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, +and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a +fire was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his +might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the +ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a +little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so +near the fire. This he was doing in Sami's own language, exactly as all +the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came +along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan.</p> + +<p>"Does it please you?" asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively +for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head.</p> + +<p>"Are you French, that you can't talk?" asked the man again.</p> + +<p>Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad +that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to +understand anyone there.</p> + +<p>"Whom do you belong to?" asked the man again.</p> + +<p>"Nobody," answered Sami.</p> + +<p>Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come +among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come +there again that morning.</p> + +<p>"And now don't you know at all what you are going to do, and where you +are going?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>Sami said he did not.</p> + +<p>"If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and +look in the air, I would give you work," continued the man, "but such +stray waifs as you are not willing to do anything."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband's +last words.</p> + +<p>"Take him," she said. "What work is there for him? He might run errands; +all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the +four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!"</p> + +<p>"Well, stay here," said the man; "you can carry the pan back; it is very +good that you know the way."</p> + +<p>Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was +very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did +exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street +of La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made +significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to +get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most +of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor +that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole hi it which they +handed him to be repaired.</p> + +<p>Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able +to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, +where it belonged. Then he turned back.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="waifs"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="illusp64C.jpg (107K)" src="illusp64C.jpg" height="1076" width="622"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The tinker was very much pleased with Sami's harvest and his wife said +very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, +but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little +children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in +the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling +merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. +Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing +the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had +given him the day before in Chteau d'ux.</p> + +<p>The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the +good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on +the ground, and the meal began.</p> + +<p>Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It +was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and +potatoes, and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon.</p> + +<p>When he had finished, the woman said:</p> + +<p>"You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there +is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow."</p> + +<p>This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Must I sleep in my clothes?"</p> + +<p>The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the +night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could +wash his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for +the next day.</p> + +<p>Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the +back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little +room where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, +one after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he +thought of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she +could see him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all +the time in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the +wagon, so dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about +everything and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never +spoken to him about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and +perhaps the people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with +them. That would be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle +under his head, and went peacefully to sleep.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<a name="c6"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CHAPTER SIXTH</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>SAMI SINGS TOO</h3></center> +<br> + + + +<p> +Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his +nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were +pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, +pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His +grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do +as well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he +was doing.</p> + +<p>He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away +quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so +beseechingly that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. +From morning till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as +much work as possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening +he enjoyed as much as the savoury soup which followed.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in +the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt +around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do +for the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four +crawled around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn't care to have +anything to do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and +that, and at night the woman took up one after another from the ground, +put it in the wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went +away again.</p> + +<p>The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little +prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any.</p> + +<p>Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami's heart every +evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one +would hear him sob.</p> + +<p>Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the +ash-trees, but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did +not dare sit idle and listen to the birds. But every time he had +looked longingly there and sent a whistle from a distance as greeting +to the birds.</p> + +<p>From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the +ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and +was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could +look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds.</p> + +<p>Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little +kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his +last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the +little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his +shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were +something unusual.</p> + +<p>"It is as like the other as if it were its brother," said the wife. "You +know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, +and on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the +same figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as +the other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled."</p> + +<p>"I see it all, surely," said the man, "but I don't know what can be done +about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn't be mended any +more, for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn't know +that the old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn't have believed it +was myself."</p> + +<p>"They won't know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house +up there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as +this. Just say it can't be mended any more, it is not good for anything, +and give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. +If we go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty +francs for it."</p> + +<p>"That is true. We can do that," said the man, delighted; "perhaps they +won't want anything for the kettle when they know they can't use it any +more. Come, Sami," he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the +other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything—"come +here, I want to tell you something."</p> + +<p>Sami obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little +kettle from, and say it isn't good for anything, that it can't be +mended any more."</p> + +<p>Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. "Now hurry up and go along," +said his wife, who was still standing there; "you understand well enough +what you have to do."</p> + +<p>Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not +understood his words.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you? Why don't you hurry along?" snarled the +man to him.</p> + +<p>"I can't do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as +that," said Sami.</p> + +<p>"What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!" commanded the +tinker, and his wife screamed angrily:</p> + +<p>"Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is +God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once +what you are told, or not?"</p> + +<p>Sami did not stir.</p> + +<p>"Will you go and do what I told you, or—"</p> + +<p>The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he +turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all +his might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and +rushed on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until +he had reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. +Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on +and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he +feared. He was quite alone.</p> + +<p>Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now +come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he +had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were +not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he +had done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home +from the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not +one little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests +and fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe +from all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect +him too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his +grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him +confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and +immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for +the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the +ash-trees there.</p> + +<p>Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami's eyes when he awoke. Above him all +the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It +sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami's heart +the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear +Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden +sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus +and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew:</p> + +<p>"Last night Summer breezes blew:— +All the flowers awake anew,"</p> + +<p>And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all +his might:</p> + +<p>"Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! +Only trust the dear Lord!"</p> + +<p>The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of +bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his +grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, +that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So +Sami started off.</p> + +<p>He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the +tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising +field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to +Clarens, Sami met a child's carriage which a girl was pushing in front of +her. She wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, +too, was spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little +head with bright golden hair and a little white hat on it.</p> + +<p>This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted +Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage +robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of +strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so +beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it +became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had +never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him +more and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn't spell them out +and perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was +difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made +out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus:</p> +<center><table summary=""> +<tr><td> +<p>"So let the little angels sing:<br> +This child is safe beneath our wing."</p> +</td></tr> +</table></center> +<p>This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn't know why, +but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. +The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had +found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the +road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into +a wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their +broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded +the high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees.</p> + +<p>Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under +the trees.</p> + +<p>"What do you want here? That is the way out," said the girl impatiently +to Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood +the meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it +was surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he +could not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that +there were people who spoke just like the reading in the books.</p> + +<p>Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the +child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, +and went into the house.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at +some distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly +forward, jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said:</p> + +<p>"Come, give me a ride!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Sami.</p> + +<p>"Out there along the road, and far, far away!"</p> + +<p>Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without +stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly +around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn't see enough. +Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers.</p> + +<p>"Hold still! Hold still!" cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with +a big jump out of the low carriage.</p> + +<p>"Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!"</p> + +<p>And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping +bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently:</p> + +<p>"You mustn't go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go +around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a +big bunch."</p> + +<p>The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was +forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami's advice, but +the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on +the ground and said:</p> + +<p>"Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to +learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you +must do so too."</p> + +<p>"I don't speak French, I don't know how," replied Sami; "but I can't +speak like you either."</p> + +<p>"Where do you come from then, if you don't speak German and don't speak +French?" the little one wanted to know.</p> + +<p>Sami thought for a moment, then he said:</p> + +<p>"First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen."</p> + +<p>"No, no," interrupted the little one warmly. "People are never from +two places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then +Papa bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is +your name?"</p> + +<p>Sami told her.</p> + +<p>"And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina +wanted to send you out?"</p> + +<p>Sami had to think for a while, then he said:</p> + +<p>"Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing +people where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with +such people and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good +from them."</p> + +<p>"Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?" asked little +Betti eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so," answered Sami. "Perhaps I can weed the garden."</p> + +<p>"That is right," said Betti, delighted. "You see, Tina will not take me +in the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the +carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly," promised Sami, "and you shall have +all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the +birds sing 'Only trust the dear Lord!' and where the finch cries so loud +above them all: 'Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!' Have you heard him too?"</p> + +<p>At this description little Betti's eyes grew bigger and brighter with +expectation.</p> + +<p>"Come now, let's go right away to the birds," she exclaimed, jumped up +and ran in haste to the carriage.</p> + +<p>Sami followed.</p> + +<p>At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. +Her looks did not portend anything good.</p> + +<p>"So I have found you at last," she cried angrily from a distance. +"Everybody is running around looking for you—your three brothers, the +servants, the coachman—everybody! I have run myself half dead for you. +Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little tramp can +go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is lying in +the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with us."</p> + +<p>Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She +climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: "Go ahead, Sami!"</p> + +<p>He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; +then he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this +was the place where he was to stay according to his grandmother's advice, +and it had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of +trust from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very +down-hearted the same way.</p> + +<p>When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was +standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out +of the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys +were running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of +their voices:</p> + +<p>"She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!"</p> + +<p>But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before +any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the +unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his +delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, +and with the greatest eagerness she said:</p> + +<p>"He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if +I like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the +high grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew +about it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and +the finch sings above them all: 'Trust! Trust!' We were going right to +see them when Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can't +we, Papa, right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn't tired yet. +Only say yes, Papa."</p> + +<p>"Your story is wonderful," said her Papa, laughing. "Where is the little +coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother's +advice, must stay with us?"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with +their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, +who with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass +through, and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the +courtyard. The master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground +and looked towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during +their little sister's story the three brothers had made their examination +and calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had +decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time +needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, +had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father +had forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But +when Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some +other way, and when Johann announced that he could go it didn't suit +Edward at all. Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call +whenever he wanted him.</p> + +<p>Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always +running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was +very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of +to hunt for his arrows.</p> + +<p>Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, +but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, +on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it +happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the +group in the corner of the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!" cried Arthur, while +Karl's voice was heard above his screaming:</p> + +<p>"Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!"</p> + +<p>But Edward's piercing voice was heard above the other two:</p> + +<p>"Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won't +need to come with me any longer!"</p> + +<p>And in the midst of all sounded Betti's high little voice, untiringly:</p> + +<p>"Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?"</p> + +<p>Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing:</p> + +<p>"My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?"</p> + +<p>The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, +whose eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for +him to stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would +like to know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti +told about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been +living hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was.</p> + +<p>The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told +from the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present +moment, and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the +proverb, which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he +should stay.</p> + +<p>When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said:</p> + +<p>"It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!"</p> + +<p>The children all shouted together for joy.</p> + +<p>"Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?" repeated Betti with +irrepressible eagerness.</p> + +<p>"By and by, by and by," said her father, soothingly. "Sami is going with +me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk +with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first."</p> + +<p>The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon's +assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the +children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what +they desired of him.</p> + +<p>"But bring him back again, Papa!" cried Betti following after them as +they started away.</p> + +<p>Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in +such company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at +once. After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and +this delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again +and the crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his +grandmother.</p> + +<p>Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami's words were correct and +besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and +conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good +news to carry to his wife.</p> + +<p>A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder +was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to +remain in the house and be the children's playmate.</p> + +<p>Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother's death, no +one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary +everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now +he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which +he had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his +grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was +so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and +thanksgiving evermore like the finch:</p> + +<p>"Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!"</p> + +<p> * * * * *</p> + +<p>It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever +passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the +high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such +a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in +the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time +he sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end +of his song, accompanied by all the birds:</p> + +<p>"Only trust the dear Lord!"</p> + +<p>The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of +reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, +according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. +But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the +estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his +studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, +and Arthur is apt to say:</p> + +<p>"Without God's help and Sami's assistance I should have been drowned +twenty times."</p> + +<p>When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question +is, "Where is Sami?" and this he asks numberless times every day, for +without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find +everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old +bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun.</p> + +<p>Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in +strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the +courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, +two parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in +order but Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward +often exclaims:</p> + +<p>"Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, +the animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it."</p> + +<p>But Betti still remains Sami's greatest friend. She can call him at any +hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti +knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets +like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every +week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers +would laugh at their sister Betti's endless correspondence which she has +with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most +devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without +hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti +used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his +bundle and go away again.</p> + +<p>The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and +cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami's especial care when +she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to +spread over her knees, Sami's eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness +as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still +more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, +and whom he never forgets.</p> + +<p>When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed +to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the +servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied:</p> + +<p>"You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, +if you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, +trustworthy, conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can +leave my whole house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will +be taken care of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another +Master besides me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear +Lord himself sent my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He +belongs to my house, and it shall remain his home!"</p> + + + + + + +<br><br><br> +<hr> + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +This file should be named 8sami10h.htm or 8sami10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8sami11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8sami10ah.htm + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, David Widger, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/8sami10h.zip b/old/8sami10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..10a72d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8sami10h.zip diff --git a/old/9482-h.htm.2021-01-26 b/old/9482-h.htm.2021-01-26 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8f3714 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/9482-h.htm.2021-01-26 @@ -0,0 +1,2665 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +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: What Sami Sings with the Birds + +Author: Johanna Spyri + +Translator: Helen B. Dole + +First Posted: October 5, 2003 [EBook #9482] +Last Updated: November 19, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BY + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + JOHANNA SPYRI + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + TRANSLATED BY HELEN B. DOLE + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + 1917 + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illustpc.jpg (94K)" src="images/illustpc.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CONTENTS + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + <a href="#linkc1">FIRST OLD MARY ANN</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc2">SECOND AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc3">THIRD ANOTHER LIFE</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc4">FOURTH HARD TIMES</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc5">FIFTH THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkc6">SIXTH SAMI SINGS TOO</a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + <a href="#linkash">UP IN THE ASH-TREES THE BIRDS PIPED AND SANG + MERRILY TOGETHER</a>. + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkgoods">WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM WITH ALL YOUR + HOUSEHOLD GOODS?</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#linkwaifs">SUCH STRAY WAIFS AS YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO + ANYTHING.</a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkash" id="linkash"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="frontisc.jpg (111K)" src="images/frontisc.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkc1" id="linkc1"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FIRST + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + OLD MARY ANN + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + For three days the Spring sun had been shining out of a clear sky and + casting a gleaming, golden coverlet over the blue waters of Lake Geneva. + Storm and rain had ceased. The breeze murmured softly and pleasantly up in + the ash-trees, and all around in the green fields the yellow buttercups + and snow-white daisies glistened in the bright sunshine. Under the + ash-trees, the clear brook was running with the cool mountain water and + feeding the gaily nodding primroses and pink anemones on the hillside, as + they grew and bloomed down close to the water. + </p> + <p> + On the low wall by the brook, in the shadow of the ash-trees, an old woman + was sitting. She was called “Old Mary Ann” throughout the whole + neighborhood. Her big basket, the weight of which had become a little + heavy, she had put down beside her. She was on her way back from La Tour, + the little old town, with the vine-covered church tower and the ruined + castle, the high turrets of which rose far across the blue lake. Old Mary + Ann had taken her work there. This consisted in all kinds of mending which + did not need to be done particularly well, for the woman was no longer + able to do fine work, and never could do it. + </p> + <p> + Old Mary Ann had had a very changeable life. The place where she now found + herself was not her home. The language of the country was not her own. + From the shady seat on the low wall, she now looked contentedly at the + sunny fields, then across the murmuring brook to the hillside where the + big yellow primroses nodded, while the birds piped and sang in the green + ash-trees above her, as if they had the greatest festival to celebrate. + </p> + <p> + “Every Spring, people think it never was so beautiful before, when they + have already seen so many,” she now said half aloud to herself, and as she + gazed at the fields so rich in flowers, many of the past years rose up and + passed before her, with all that she had experienced in them. + </p> + <p> + As a child she had lived far beyond the mountains. She knew so well how it + must look over there now at her father’s house, which stood in a field + among white-blooming pear-trees. Over yonder the large village with its + many houses could be seen. It was called Zweisimmen. Everybody called + their house the sergeant’s house, although her father quite peacefully + tilled his fields. But that came from her grandfather. When quite a young + fellow, he had gone over the mountains to Lake Geneva and then still + farther to Savoy. Under a Duke of Savoy he had taken part in all sorts of + military expeditions and had not returned home until he was an old man. He + always wore an old uniform and allowed himself to be called sergeant. Then + he married and Mary Ann’s father was his only child. The old man lived to + be a hundred years old, and every child in all the region round knew the + old sergeant. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann had three brothers, but as soon as one of them grew up he + disappeared, she knew not where. Only this much she understood, that her + mother mourned over them, but her father said quite resignedly every time: + “We can’t help it, they will go over the mountains; they take it from + their grandfather.” She had never heard anything more about her brothers. + </p> + <p> + When Mary Ann grew up and married, her young husband also came into the + house among the pear-trees, for her father was old and could no longer do + his work alone. But after a few years Mary Ann buried her young husband; a + burning fever had taken him off. Then came hard times for the widow. She + had her child, little Sami, to care for, besides her old, infirm parents + to look after, and moreover there was all the work to be done in the house + and in the fields which until now her husband had attended to. She did + what she could, but it was of no use, the land had to be given up to a + cousin. The house was mortgaged, and Mary Ann hardly knew how to keep her + old parents from want. Gradually young Sami grew up and was able to help + the cousin in the fields. Then the old parents died about the same time, + and Mary Ann hoped now by hard work and her son’s help little by little to + pay up her debts and once more take possession of her fields and house. + But as soon as her father and mother were buried, her son Sami, who was + now eighteen years old, came to her and said he could no longer bear to + stay at home, he must go over the mountains and so begin a new life. This + was a great shock to the mother, but when she saw that persuasion, + remonstrance and entreaty were all in vain her father’s words came to her + mind and she said resignedly, “It can’t be helped; he takes it from his + great-grandfather.” + </p> + <p> + But she would not let the young man go away alone, and he was glad to have + his mother go with him. So she wandered with him over the mountains. In + the little village of Chailly, which lies high up on the mountain slope + and looks down on the meadows rich in flowers and the blue Lake Geneva, + they found work with the jolly wine-grower Malon. This man, with curly + hair already turning grey and a kindly round face, lived alone with his + son in the only house left standing, near a crooked maple-tree. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann received a room for herself and was to keep house for Herr Malon, + and keep everything in order for him and his son. Sami was to work for + good pay in Malon’s beautiful vineyard. The widow Mary Ann passed several + years here in a more peaceful way than she had ever known before. + </p> + <p> + When the fourth Summer came to an end, Sami said to her one day: + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I must really marry young Marietta of St. Legier, for I am so + lonely away from her.” + </p> + <p> + His mother knew Marietta well and besides she liked the pretty, clever + girl, for she was not only always happy but there were few girls so good + and industrious. So she rejoiced with her son, although he would have to + go away from her to live with Marietta and her aged father in St. Legier, + for she was indispensable to him. Herr Malon’s son also brought a young + wife home, and so Mary Ann had no more duties there, and had to look out + for herself. She kept her room for a small rent, and was able to earn + enough to support herself. She now knew many people in the neighborhood, + and obtained enough work. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann pondered over all these things, and when her thoughts returned + from the distant past to the present moment, and she still heard the birds + above her singing and rejoicing untiringly, she said to herself: + </p> + <p> + “They always sing the same song and we should be able to sing with them. + Only trust in the dear Lord! He always helps us, although we may often + think there is no possible way.” + </p> + <p> + Then Mary Ann left the low wall, took her basket up again on her arm and + went through the fragrant meadows of Burier up towards Chailly. From time + to time she cast an anxious look in the direction of St. Legier. She knew + that young Marietta was lying sick up there and that her son Sami would + now have hard work and care, for a much smaller Sami had just come into + the world. Tomorrow Mary Ann would go over and see how things were going + with her son and if she ought to stay with him and help. + </p> + <p> + Mary Ann had scarcely stepped into her little room and put on her house + dress, to prepare her supper, when she heard some one coming along with + hurried footsteps. The door was quickly thrown open and in stepped her son + Sami with a very distressed face. Under his arm he carried a bundle + wrapped up in one of Marietta’s aprons. This he laid on the table, threw + himself down and sobbed aloud, with his head in his arms: + </p> + <p> + “It is all over, mother, all over; Marietta is dead!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, what are you saying?” cried his mother in the + greatest horror. “Oh, Sami, is it possible?” + </p> + <p> + Then she lifted Sami gently and continued in a trembling voice: + </p> + <p> + “Come, sit down beside me and tell me all about it. Is she really dead? + Oh, when did it happen? How did it come so quickly?” + </p> + <p> + Sami willingly dropped down on a chair beside his mother. But then he + buried his face in his hands and went on sobbing again. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I can’t bear it, I must go away, mother, I can’t bear it here any + longer, it is all over!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Sami, where would you go?” said his mother, weeping. “We have already + come over the mountains, where would you go from here?” + </p> + <p> + “I must go across the water, as far as I possibly can, I can’t stay here + any longer. I cannot, mother,” declared Sami. “I must go across the great + water as far as possible!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, not that!” cried Mary Ann. “Don’t be so rash! Wait a little, until + you can think more calmly; it will seem different to you.” + </p> + <p> + “No, mother, no, I must go away. I am forced to it; I can’t do any + different,” cried Sami, almost wild. + </p> + <p> + His mother looked at him in terror, but she said nothing more. She seemed + to hear her father saying: “It can’t be helped. He takes it from his + grandfather.” And with a sigh she said: + </p> + <p> + “It will have to be so.” + </p> + <p> + Then there sounded from the bundle a strange peeping, exactly as if a + chicken were smothering inside. “What have you put in the bundle, Sami?” + asked the mother, going towards it, to loosen the firmly tied apron. + </p> + <p> + “That’s so, I had almost forgotten it, mother,” replied Sami, wiping his + eyes, “I have brought the little boy to you, I don’t know what to do with + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how could you pack him up so! Yes, yes, you poor little thing,” said + the grandmother soothingly, taking the diminutive Sami out of one wrapping + and then a second and a third. + </p> + <p> + The father Sami had wrapped the little baby first in its clothes, then in + a shawl, and then in the apron as tight as possible, so that it couldn’t + slip out on the way, and fall on the ground. When little Sami was freed + from the smothering wrappings and could move his arms and legs he fought + with all his limbs in the air and screamed so pitifully that his + grandmother thought it seemed exactly as if he already knew what a great + misfortune had come to him. + </p> + <p> + But father Sami said perhaps he was hungry, for since the evening before + no one had paid any attention to the little baby. This seemed to the + sympathetic Mary Ann quite too cruel, and she realised that if she didn’t + care for the poor little mite it would die. She wrapped him up again + carefully in his blanket, but not around his head, and carried him upright + on her arm, not under it, as one carries a bundle. Then she ran all around + her room to collect milk, a dish and fire together, so that the starving + little creature might have some nourishment. As she sat on her stool, and + the little one eagerly sipped the milk, while his tiny little hand tightly + clasped his grandmother’s forefinger like a life-preserver, she said, + greatly touched: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed, you little Sami, you poor little orphan, I will do what I + can for you and the dear Lord will not forsake us.” + </p> + <p> + And to the big Sami she said: + </p> + <p> + “I will keep him, but don’t take any rash steps! In the first great sorrow + many a one does what he later regrets. See, you can’t run away from + sorrow, it runs with you. Stay and bear what the dear Lord sends. He is + not angry with you. Hold to him still in time of sorrow, then the sun will + shine tomorrow! It will be the same with you as it has been with so many + others.” Sami had listened in silence, but like one who does not + understand what he hears. + </p> + <p> + “Good night, mother! May God reward you for what you do for the boy,” he + said then, after wiping his eyes again. Then he pressed his mother’s hand, + and went out of the door. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc2" id="linkc2"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER SECOND + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + AT THE GRANDMOTHER’S + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Old Mary Ann had now to begin over again, where she had left off + twenty-one years before, to bring up a little Sami. But then she was fresh + and strong, she had her husband by her side, and lived at home among + friends and acquaintances. Now she was in a strange land and was a + worn-out woman, and felt that her strength would not last much longer. But + little Sami did not realise all this. He was tended and cared for as if + his grandmother wanted to make up to him every moment for what he had + lost, and she was always saying to him, pityingly: + </p> + <p> + “You poor little thing, you have nobody in the world now but an old + grandmother.” + </p> + <p> + Moreover it was so. Father Sami could not be consoled. As soon as his + young wife was buried he went away, and must have landed a long time ago + in the far away country. + </p> + <p> + Little Sami grew finely, and as his grandmother talked with him a great + deal, he began very early to imitate her. His words became more and more + distinct, and when the end of his second year came, he talked very plainly + and in whole sentences. His grandmother didn’t know what to do for joy, + when she realised that her little Sami spoke not a word of French, but + pure Swiss-German, as she had heard it only in her native land. He spoke + exactly like his grandmother, who was indeed the only one he had to talk + with. + </p> + <p> + Now every day her baby gave her a new surprise. First he began to say + after her the little prayer she repeated for him morning and evening; then + he said it all alone. She had to weep for joy when the little one began to + sing after her the little Summer song she had learned in her own childhood + and had always sung to him, and one day suddenly knew the whole song from + beginning to end and sang one verse after another without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + In spite of all the grandmother’s trouble and work, the years passed so + quickly to her, that one day when she began to reckon she discovered that + Sami must be fully seven years old. Then she thought it was really time + that he learned something. But suddenly to send the boy to a French school + when he didn’t understand a word of French seemed dreadful to her, for he + would be as helpless as a chicken in water. She would rather try, as well + as she possibly could, to teach him herself to read. She thought it would + be very hard but it went quite easily. In a short time, the youngster knew + all his letters, and could even put words together quite well. That + something could be made out of this which he could understand and which he + did not know before was very amusing to him, and he sat over his + reading-book with great eagerness. But to go out with his grandmother to + deliver her mending and to get new work was a still greater pleasure to + him, for nothing pleased him better than roaming through the green + meadows, then stopping at the brook to listen to the birds singing up in + the ash-trees. + </p> + <p> + The changeable April days had just come to an end and the beaming May sun + shone so warm and alluring that all the flowers looked up to it with + wide-open petals. Mary Ann with Sami by the hand, her big basket on her + arm, was coming along up from La Tour. The boy opened both his eyes as + wide as he could, for the red and blue flowers in the green grass and the + golden sunshine above them delighted him very much. + </p> + <p> + “Grandmother,” he said taking a deep breath, “to-day we will sit on the + low wall for twelve long hours, won’t we, really?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed,” assented his grandmother, “we will stay there long enough + to get well rested and enjoy ourselves; but when the sun goes down and it + grows dark, then we will go. Then all the little birds are silent in the + trees and the old night-owl begins to hoot.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed right to Sami, for he didn’t want to hear the old owl hoot. + Now they had reached the wall. A cool shadow was lying on it; below the + fresh brook murmured, and up in the ash-trees the birds piped and sang + merrily together and one kept singing very distinctly: + </p> + <p> + “Sing too! Sing too!” + </p> + <p> + Sami listened. Suddenly he lifted up his voice and sang as loud and + lustily as the birds above, the whole song that his grandmother had taught + him: + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + Last night Summer breezes blew:—<br /> All the flowers awake + anew,<br /> Open wide their eyes to see,<br /> Nodding, bowing in + their glee. + </p> + <p> + All the merry birds we hear<br /> Greet the sunshine bright and + clear;<br /> See them flitting thru the sky,<br /> Singing low and + singing high! + </p> + <p> + Flowers in Summer warmth delight:—<br /> What of Winter and its + blight?<br /> Snowy fields and forests cold?<br /> Flowers are by + their faith consoled. + </p> + <p> + Songsters, all so blithe and gay,<br /> Know ye what your carols say?<br /> + How will your sweet carols fare<br /> When your nests the snow-storms + tear? + </p> + <p> + All the birdlings everywhere<br /> Now their loveliest songs prepare;<br /> + All the birdlings gayly sing:—<br /> “Trust the Lord in + everything!” + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Then Sami listened very attentively, as if he wanted to hear whether the + birds really sang so. + </p> + <p> + “Listen, listen, grandmother!” he said after a while. “Up there in the + tree is one that doesn’t sing like the others. At first he keeps singing + ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ and then the rest comes after.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, that is the finch, Sami,” she replied. “See, he wants to + impress it upon you, so that you will think about what will always keep + you safe and happy. Just listen, now, he is calling again: Trust! trust! + trust! trust! trust! Only trust the dear Lord.” + </p> + <p> + Sami listened again. It was really wonderful, how the finch always sounded + above the other birds with his emphatic “Trust! trust! trust!” “You must + never forget what the finch calls,” continued the grandmother. “See, Sami, + perhaps I cannot stay with you much longer, and then you will have no one + else, and will have to make your way alone. Then the little bird’s song + can oftentimes be a comfort to you. So don’t forget it, and promise me too + that you will say your little prayer every day, so that you will be + God-fearing; then no matter what happens, it will be well with you.” + </p> + <p> + Sami promised that he would never forget to pray. Then he became + thoughtful and asked somewhat timidly: + </p> + <p> + “Must I always be afraid, grandmother?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no! Did you think so because I said God-fearing? It doesn’t mean + that: I will explain it to you as well as I can. You see to be God-fearing + is when one has the dear Lord before his eyes in everything he does, and + fears and hesitates to do what is not pleasing to Him, everything that is + wicked and wrong. Whoever lives so before Him has no reason to fear what + may happen to him, for such a man has the dear Lord’s help everywhere, and + if he has to meet hardship oftentimes, he knows that the dear Lord allows + it so, in order that some good may come out of it for him, and then he can + sing as happily as the little birds: ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’ Will you + remember that well, Sami?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that I will,” said Sami, decidedly, for this pleased him much + better, than if he had to be always afraid. + </p> + <p> + Now the setting sun cast its last long rays across the meadows, and + disappeared. The grandmother left the wall, took Sami by the hand and then + the two wandered in the rosy twilight along the meadow path, then up the + green vine-clad hill to the little village of Chailly up on the mountain. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc3" id="linkc3"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER THIRD + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + ANOTHER LIFE + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + One morning, a few days later, Mary Ann was so tired she couldn’t get up. + Sami sat beside her waiting for her to be fully awake in order to go into + the kitchen and make the coffee. His grandmother opened her eyes once and + fell asleep again. She had never done anything like this before. Now she + was really awake. She tried to raise herself up a little, then took Sami + by the hand and said in a low voice: + </p> + <p> + “Sami, listen to me, I must tell you something. See, when I am no longer + with you, you have no one else here, and are an entire stranger. But there + over the mountains you have relatives, and you must return to them. Malon + will tell you how to get there. You must go to Zweisimmen. There ask for + the sergeant, your cousin, who lives in the house with the big pear-trees + near it. Tell him your grandmother was the sergeant’s Mary Ann and your + father was Sami. Work hard and willingly, you will have to earn your + living. There in the chest is some money in the little bag; take it, it is + yours; don’t spend it foolishly. Sami, think of what you promised me. + Don’t neglect to pray, it will bring you comfort and happiness which you + will need. Try to associate with God-fearing people and live with them, + then you will learn only good. Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. I must + talk with him.” + </p> + <p> + Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to Mary + Ann’s bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he was + alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he told her. + But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express herself + in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it. Malon nodded + his head understandingly and then hurried away. When he returned to the + room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami was still sitting in + the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for his grandmother to + wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then he spoke with Malon a + while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his grandmother would never + wake again, that she was dead. + </p> + <p> + Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of the + way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him further; + but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then the two men + went away. + </p> + <p> + After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy had + deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the same + place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother and + weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not understand her. + Then she took everything out of the cupboard and drawers, packed them into + a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat the bread and milk on the + table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently, but the woman put the bread in + his pocket. Then she led the boy once more to the bed, that he might take + his grandmother’s hand in farewell. + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman. Herr + Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay Sami’s + bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he knew not + where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he were going + out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone. Malon went on + ahead of him. + </p> + <p> + It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down to La + Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud. How lovely + it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see the way because + of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon’s heavy step in front of + him, and he followed after. At the little station house above the + vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train came puffing + along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they started away. Sami + crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled thus for an hour. + Sami did not understand a word that was spoken around him, although + several times one and another tried to talk with him a little, for the + softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their sympathy. + </p> + <p> + The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They went a + short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a large + garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the man of the + house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami. Then Malon took + Sami’s hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the big room. + </p> + <p> + After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow behind + him. The latter began to talk in Sami’s own language. He wanted to console + the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage. Then Sami asked if he + was his cousin, and if this was the village of Zweisimmen? But the fellow + laughed loudly and said he was no cousin, but a servant here in the inn, + and the place was called Aigle. Sami would have to travel an hour longer + and would not reach Zweisimmen before twelve o’clock at night. But there + was a coachman here from Interlaken, who had to go back and would take him + along. + </p> + <p> + The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when he said + he wasn’t hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy’s pocket. Then he + led the boy out. Outside stood a large coach with two horses and high up + on the top sat the driver. No one was inside. Sami was lifted up, the + driver placed him next himself and drove away. At any other time this + would have pleased Sami very much, but now he was too sad. He kept + thinking of his grandmother, who could no longer talk with him and would + never wake again. After some time the driver began to talk to him. Sami + had to tell him where he came from and to whom he was going. He told him + everything, how he had lived with his grandmother, how she had fallen + asleep early that day, and did not wake up again; and that he was going to + find a cousin in Zweisimmen and would have to live with him. Sami’s + childish description touched the driver so deeply that he finally said: + </p> + <p> + “It will be too late when we reach there, you must stay with me to-night.” + </p> + <p> + Then when he saw Sami’s eyes close with the approaching twilight and only + open again when they went over a stone, and the two of them up on the box + were jounced almost dangerously against each other, he grasped the boy + firmly, lifted him up and slipped him backwards into the coach. Here he + fell at once fast asleep and when he finally opened his eyes again, the + sun was shining brightly in his face. He was lying in his clothes on a + huge, big bed in a room with white walls. In all his life he had never + seen such walls. He looked around in consternation. Then the coachman of + the day before came in the door. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkgoods" id="linkgoods"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illusp32c.jpg (99K)" src="images/illusp32c.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + “Have you had your sleep out?” he said laughing. “Come and have some + coffee with me. Then I will take you to your cousin. Some one else must + carry your bundle. It is too heavy for you.” + </p> + <p> + Sami followed him into the coffee-room. Here the good man kept pouring out + coffee for the boy, but Sami could neither eat nor drink. + </p> + <p> + When the coachman had finished his breakfast, he rose and started with + Sami on the way to the sergeant’s house. It was not far. At the house in + the meadow among the pear-trees he laid Sami’s bundle down, shook him by + the hand and said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, good luck to you. I have nothing to do in there and have farther to + go.” + </p> + <p> + Sami thanked him for all his kindness, and gazed after his benefactor, + until he disappeared behind the trees. Then he knocked on the door. A + woman came out, looked in amazement first at the boy, then at his big + bundle, and said rudely: “Where have you come from with all your household + goods?” + </p> + <p> + Sami informed her where he had come from and that his grandmother was Mary + Ann, and his father, Sami. Meanwhile three boys had come running up to + them, placed themselves directly in front of him, and were looking at him + from top to toe with wide-open eyes. This embarrassed Sami exceedingly. + </p> + <p> + “Bring your father out,” said the mother to one of her boys. Their father + was sitting inside at the table, eating his breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the matter now?” he growled. + </p> + <p> + “There is someone here, who claims to be a relative of yours. He doesn’t + know where he is going,” exclaimed his wife. + </p> + <p> + “He can come in to me, perhaps I can tell him, if I know,” replied the + man, without moving. + </p> + <p> + “Well, go in,” directed the woman, giving Sami an assisting push. The boy + went in and replied very timidly, where he had come from and to whom he + had belonged. The peasant scratched his head. + </p> + <p> + “Make quick work of it,” said the woman impatiently, who had followed with + her three boys. + </p> + <p> + “I think we have enough with the three of them, and there are people who + might need such a boy.” + </p> + <p> + “This is quickly decided,” said the peasant, thoughtfully cutting his + piece of bread in two; “send all four boys out.” + </p> + <p> + After this command had been carried out, he continued slowly: “There is no + help for it. It was stipulated at the time the house was sold, that room + must be made in the house if either Mary Ann, Sami or the child should + come back. Besides, it is not so bad as it seems. Where three sleep + together there is room for a fourth, and he can do some work for his food. + The parish can do something for his clothes.” + </p> + <p> + His wife had no desire to have a fourth added to her three boys, for her + own made enough noise and trouble for her. She protested, saying she knew + how it was with such stray children and they could expect to have a fine + time! + </p> + <p> + But it was of no use; it was decided that Sami should have a place in the + house. The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest + boy’s room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stöffi had slept in a bed + alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other + two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. + </p> + <p> + Then the woman opened the bundle. She was not a little surprised, when she + found inside not only Sami’s clothes, all in the best of order, but also + two good dresses, aprons and neckerchiefs. She called Sami up to her, and + showed him the corner in the chest where she had put his things. Then she + said she would take the woman’s clothes for herself, since he could surely + make no use of them. The clothes which his grandmother had always worn + were so dear to Sami, that he looked on with sad eyes, as they were + carried away, but he thought it had to be so. + </p> + <p> + He had already made the acquaintance of the three boys. They had shown him + below in front of the house how one of them could best throw down the + others, and had demonstrated all sorts of useful tricks. But as each tried + to outdo the others in showing off his knowledge, a struggle ensued and + the tricks were immediately applied; one threw another over the third, + Sami was knocked and thrown around by all three. + </p> + <p> + When he now came down from his room a voice from the barn called out: + “Come here and help pull.” + </p> + <p> + Sami ran along. There stood the two younger boys, Michael and Uli, with + great hoes on their shoulders, and Stöffi beside a cart which had to be + taken along. They waited for their father, and then all went out to the + field. Here Stöffi and Sami had to rake together the grass, which the + father cut, and load it on the cart, and bring home to the cows. Michael + and Uli had to hoe the weeds in the next field near by. Now it appeared + that Sami did not know at all how to use the rake, for he had never done + such work. + </p> + <p> + “He shall weed with Uli, and Michael can do this work,” said the farmer. + </p> + <p> + But when Sami tried to do this, the hoe was too heavy for him, and he + could do nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Then kneel on the ground and pull them up with your hands,” said the + farmer. + </p> + <p> + Sami squatted down and pulled at the weeds with all his might. The ground + was hard and the work very tiresome. But Sami did not forget how his + grandmother had impressed it upon him to do all his work well and + willingly. + </p> + <p> + At noon the two weeders took their hoes on their shoulders and Sami had to + pull the cart, which was now much heavier than on the way there. The boy + had to use all his strength, for Stöffi showed him plainly that he would + not take upon himself the larger part of the work. + </p> + <p> + Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the + piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be + obliged to go to the cattle market. They would find a smaller hoe at home + for Sami to take with him in the afternoon, for pulling up the weeds was + too slow work. + </p> + <p> + After the boys had worked several hours in the afternoon, they sat down in + the shade of an old apple-tree to eat their luncheon, and the piece of + black bread with pear juice tasted very good after the hot work. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever seen a bear?” asked Stöffi of Sami. + </p> + <p> + He said he had not. + </p> + <p> + “Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one,” + continued Stöffi; “only those who know them are not afraid of them. This + evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through + with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see + the bear.” + </p> + <p> + Sami agreed. When all four had begun to hoe again, Stöffi soon exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Well, you won’t have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your promise, or—” + </p> + <p> + Stöffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. + </p> + <p> + He had hardly gone when Michael said: + </p> + <p> + “See, Sami, there isn’t much left of mine, you can do that too; I am going + to see the bear.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon Michael ran off. + </p> + <p> + “Me, too,” cried Uli, throwing down his hoe. “You can finish that also, + Sami.” + </p> + <p> + When the twilight came on and the family put the sour milk and the + steaming potatoes on the table, Sami was missing. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose he will keep us waiting,” remarked the farmer’s wife sharply. + When all had finished and the milk mugs were empty, the woman cleared them + away and placed the few potatoes left over on the kitchen table and + growled: + </p> + <p> + “He can eat here, if he wants anything.” + </p> + <p> + It was quite dark, and Sami still had not come. Just as the other three + were being sent to bed, he came in, so tired he could hardly stand. The + woman asked him harshly, if he couldn’t come home with the others. The + farmer assumed that the piece he had told Sami to weed had been too much + for him to do, and he said consolingly: + </p> + <p> + “It is right that you wanted to finish your work, but you must work + faster.” + </p> + <p> + Sami understood the signs which Stöffi made behind his father’s back, that + he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of the + three boys’ fists to say anything about it. + </p> + <p> + He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he + couldn’t go to sleep. He had received so many new impressions, he had + borne so much anguish, and had to do so much work besides, he could think + of nothing else. But now his grandmother came before his eyes again as she + had prayed with him at evening and had been so kind to him, and everything + she had told him. He wanted so much to pray, it seemed to him as if his + grandmother was near and told him the dear Lord would always comfort him + if he prayed, and that comfort he was so anxious to have. + </p> + <p> + He was so troubled, when he wondered if he could do his work the next day, + so that the farmer would not be cross, and how his wife would be, for he + was very much afraid of her, and how it would be with the boys, who forced + him to make everything appear contrary to the truth. + </p> + <p> + Then Sami began to pray and prayed for a long time, for he already began + to feel comforted, because he could take refuge with the dear Lord and ask + Him to help him, now that he had no one left in the world to whom he could + speak and who could assist him. When at last his eyes closed from great + weariness he dreamed he was sitting with his grandmother on the wall and + above them all the birds were singing so loud and so joyfully that he had + to sing with them: “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc4" id="linkc4"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FOURTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + HARD TIMES + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no + longer the birds singing; it was the farmer’s wife ordering the boys + harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times, and + if this time they didn’t obey, their father would come. Then they all + sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where their + father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited much + longer. + </p> + <p> + The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus passed + a long series of days. There was already a change in the work. + </p> + <p> + Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took + pains and followed his grandmother’s advice carefully. He always had + something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his + work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had + also come about in this. Stöffi had learned that there was one thing Sami + could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could + not tell a lie. + </p> + <p> + He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. + Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: + </p> + <p> + “Now speak out, and tell why you can’t get through your work faster; you + are quick enough when anyone is watching you.” + </p> + <p> + Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had + threatened to beat the boys if they didn’t do their work themselves. + Afterwards Stöffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him that + he would do it every time Sami complained of him. + </p> + <p> + Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn’t want to do so, + but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth. + Stöffi tried to explain to him that it didn’t matter whether he told the + truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, + and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the + same thing in the end: + </p> + <p> + “But I shall do it.” + </p> + <p> + This firmness was the result of Sami’s sure conviction that the dear Lord + heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did + not please Him. + </p> + <p> + So Stöffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and + make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare + abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so each + evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they would + not agree to this. Then there would always be three or four evenings in + succession when Stöffi wanted to go away early; then the brothers had to + stay and work, and this led to many a quarrel, with heavy blows which + regularly fell upon Sami. + </p> + <p> + So he never had any happy days. But every evening he could be alone with + his thoughts of his grandmother, of all the beautiful bygone days and all + the good words she had spoken to him. Nobody troubled him, or called to + him, or pulled him then, as usually happened all day long. + </p> + <p> + Thus the Summer and Autumn passed away, and a cold Winter had come. There + was no more work to be done in the fields and meadows, but there were all + sorts of things to be done to help the farmer in the barn and his wife in + the house and the kitchen. This Sami had to do. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile their own three boys could go to school, which had now begun + again, for they had to get some education. Sami could get that by and by. + In the Summer he had acquired a good deal of quickness and now did his + work so skilfully that the farmer said a couple of times: + </p> + <p> + “I would not have believed it, for in the Summer he was always the last.” + </p> + <p> + Sami now thought that everything would go easier than in the Summer, but + something came which was much harder to bear than the extra burden of + work, which was too much for the others. + </p> + <p> + Every day the boys fought in the field outside, and Sami, as the smallest, + always came off with the most blows. But that was the end of it, and when + the boys came home at night no one thought any more about it. In the + evening the three boys were assigned to the little room with the feeble + light of a low oil lamp, to do their arithmetic for school, while Sami had + to cut apples and pears for drying. From the first the three were angry + because Sami had no arithmetic to do, and then one would accuse the other + of taking the light away from him, and all three would scream that Sami + didn’t need any at all for his work. Then one would pull the lamp one way, + and another the other way, until it was upset and the oil would run over + the table into Sami’s apples. Then there would be a really murderous + tumult in the darkness; all hands would grope in the oil and one would + always outcry the others. Then the mother would come in very cross and + want to know who was always starting such mischief. Then one would blame + the other, and finally the blame would fall on Sami, because he made the + least noise. Usually the farmer too came in then, and his angry wife would + always reply that she had indeed said the boy would be an apple of discord + in the house, and a Winter like this they had never experienced. Often + Sami had to endure many hard words and undeserved punishment. On such + evenings he remained sleepless for a long time sitting on his bed. + </p> + <p> + Then he would rack his brains as to how it could happen so, since his + grandmother had told him that if he was God-fearing everything would + happen for the best. That he should be so scolded and badly treated was + not the best for him. He really wanted to be God-fearing and not forget + that the dear Lord saw and heard everything. But Sami was still very young + and could not know, what he later knew, that it is good for everyone if he + learns early in life to bear hardship. Then when the evil days, which none + escape, come again later on, he can cope with them bravely, because he + knows them already and his strength has become hardened; and when the good + days come he can enjoy them as no one else can who has never tasted the + bad ones. + </p> + <p> + At this time Sami knew nothing about this and almost never went to sleep + without tears; indeed, he often wondered whether the birds were still + calling up in the ash-trees: “Only trust in the dear Lord!” and if it were + still true that everything would come out right. The only comfort for him + was that his grandmother had told him so positively, and he held fast to + that. + </p> + <p> + It was a long, hard Winter. The snow lay so deep and immovable on the + meadows and trees, that Sami often asked with anxiety in his heart, if it + would ever entirely disappear, so that the meadows would be green again, + and the flowers become alive. It was already April, and the cold white + covering of snow still lay all around. Then a warm wind from the South + blew all one night into the valley, and when on the next day a very warm + rain fell, the obstinate snow melted into great brooks. Then came the sun + and dried up all the brooks, and everywhere the new young grass sprang up + over the meadows. + </p> + <p> + The four boys came across the big street of the village and turned into + the meadow. They were pulling along the cart, on which lay the cooking + utensils which the farmer’s wife had just purchased at the annual fair in + the village. The boys had followed their mother’s command to go slowly and + carefully, so that nothing would be broken, for they knew very well that + their mother set great store by these things, and it was worth while to + follow her instructions. + </p> + <p> + Now that they had come safely over the rough street and had turned into + the meadow road, two pulling, two pushing, they wanted to rest a little + while. They stopped under the first large pear-tree, stretched themselves + out on the ground and looked up into the blue sky. In the pear-tree above, + the birds were singing merrily together, and suddenly one piped up in the + midst of the others, always the same note, exactly as if he had a special + call to give. + </p> + <p> + “There he is,” cried Sami, springing up from the ground with delight. Then + he listened again, and again sounded the staccato call, clear and sharp + above the singing of all the other birds. + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear it? Do you hear it?” cried Sami in his delight. “Now he is + calling again: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ And then they all sing + together: ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’” + </p> + <p> + “You are just talking nonsense!” exclaimed Stöffi to the happy Sami. “The + bird is more knowing than you are. That is the rain bird; I know him well. + He notices the rain-wind and is calling: ‘Shower! Shower! Shower!’ Then we + know it is going to rain.” + </p> + <p> + But Sami would not give up what was so dear to him and kept saying to + himself: + </p> + <p> + “But he is singing: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’” + </p> + <p> + “Keep quiet!” continued Stöffi sharply to him. “You are nothing but a + little tramp, who can’t do anything and doesn’t know anything and twists + everything he hears.” + </p> + <p> + Then the blood rose to Sami’s cheeks and the tears came into his eyes and, + more courageously than usual towards Stöffi, he cried: + </p> + <p> + “I don’t do that, but you have done it many times!” + </p> + <p> + Then Stöffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in + his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stöffi had to + call the others to help him. + </p> + <p> + A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on + one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful + cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white + crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked at + the destruction. + </p> + <p> + Stöffi was the first to recover himself. + </p> + <p> + “We will say that a wheel came off the cart, and it suddenly fell down.” + He immediately picked up a big stone in order to pound out the nail and + take the wheel off from the axle. + </p> + <p> + “I shall say just how it all happened, that we quarreled, and upset the + wagon,” said Sami calmly. + </p> + <p> + Then Steffi’s wrath rose to its height. + </p> + <p> + “You traitor, you spy and mischief-maker!” he screamed. “You are nothing + but a ragamuffin. We will force you.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot,” said Sami, “and you are no good either! If you were + God-fearing, you would not want to lie so.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” they all screamed together, and shaking their fists in the + most threatening way. “You needn’t say that. We are just exactly as + God-fearing as you, and even much more so!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a new thought came to Stöffi. He ran off with all his might, and + Michael and Uli rushed after him. Sami saw that they were hurrying to the + house; he followed slowly after. The farmer’s wife had come back to the + house by a shorter way, and the farmer was just returning home too from + the field, when the three boys came rushing along. The whole family was + standing in great excitement at the door and all were talking loudly + together and making threatening gestures, when Sami came along. He was met + by the farmer, shaking his fist, and his wife threw such harsh words at + him that he stood quite dumfounded. + </p> + <p> + “That was the last straw,” she said, “that after all the kindness he had + received he should tell them they were not God-fearing people.” + </p> + <p> + Then the farmer joined in. Such talk was insolent from Sami, and it had + been known for a long time how upright they were in his house, before such + a scamp had come there and tried to show them the way. Then his wife began + again and said Sami would have nothing more to do in her house; for he had + brought nothing but trouble since he stepped into it; he could go to his + room, and she would come right along. + </p> + <p> + Sami was so surprised and confused by all the attacks and charges, that he + had stood quite dumb until now. Now he wanted to explain how the cart had + been upset, but the father said they knew everything already, and all he + had to do was to go to his room. He obeyed. + </p> + <p> + Soon the farmer’s wife came upstairs, packed Sami’s things together and + tied them up again into a bundle, which was now much smaller than when he + had brought it there, for some pieces of his old things had been worn out + and were not replaced, and his grandmother’s clothes were no longer there. + </p> + <p> + While she was packing the woman kept on talking very angrily about Sami’s + wickedness and insolence, so that he now for the first time understood it + all. The boys had stated that he had reproached them for not being + God-fearing people; they had punished him for it, and through his + resistance he had overturned the cart. Sami now tried to explain to the + woman that it had not happened so, but she said she knew enough, threw his + tied-up bundle beside his bed, and went out. + </p> + <p> + Now for the first time Sami was able to think over what had happened to + him and what was going to come. Then he was angry because he had to bear + such injustice and not once have a chance to speak. And now he was driven + out, or perhaps he would be sent to people where it would be even worse + for him. Then he was so overcome with anger and fear and anguish, that he + began to cry aloud and called out: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, Grandmother, you said if I was God-fearing everything would + happen to me for the best; and I have been, and now it has happened this + way!” + </p> + <p> + But with the thought of his grandmother, there rose in his heart all the + memories of his life with her, how they had wandered so peacefully through + the meadows, and how beautiful it had been under those trees, how the + birds had sung and the brook murmured, and suddenly Sami was mightily + overcome, and he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Away! away! Over there! over there!” + </p> + <p> + From that moment on a bright light rose in his heart. It was hope in a new + life as beautiful as the first had been. Then Sami said his evening prayer + gladly and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc5" id="linkc5"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER FIFTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + THE BIRDS ARE STILL SINGING + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The next morning when Sami sat at the table with the family, no one said a + word to him. The farmer’s wife pushed a piece of bread towards his + coffee-cup and made up an unfriendly face. The farmer was no different. + The three boys looked sourly down at their coffee-cups, for they had no + good consciences, and all three feared that their lies of the day before + might yet be found out, if Sami should happen to speak. + </p> + <p> + When they rose from the table, the farmer said shortly: + </p> + <p> + “Get your bundle! I shall have to lose more time with you, until I have + found a place for you, for surely no one will want you.” + </p> + <p> + Since the night before a change had taken place in Sami. He no longer hung + his head, as he had done almost always before from fear; he lifted it up + and said: + </p> + <p> + “I know already where I must go.” + </p> + <p> + The farmer and his wife looked at each other in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “I want to go over the mountains,” he added. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that is best, that he should go back there, where he came from,” + said the farmer’s wife quickly; “there will no doubt be someone going over + there from the inn. Go quickly with him up there.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed right to the farmer also. The leave-taking was as short as + possible, and Sami was light-hearted when he started with his little + bundle on his back away from his cousins’ house. + </p> + <p> + At the inn, sure enough, they found a driver who was going with a big + wood-wagon to Château d’Æux. He was ready to take the boy with him and + thought he would be able to find someone to take him farther, if the boy + knew his way down there on the French side. The farmer said Sami had been + brought up there and wanted to go back, he knew where. + </p> + <p> + Now the driver was ready. Sami’s bundle was thrown into the wagon and the + boy seated on it. + </p> + <p> + “Good luck!” said the farmer, gave Sami his hand and went away. + </p> + <p> + Then the driver swung himself up on his seat and the two strong horses + started off. Although the wood-wagon was far less handsome and easy than + the coach in which Sami had come, still he sat much happier in his hard + seat than when he had left his grandmother lying so alone and had to go + away, without knowing where. Now he was going home, where he knew + everything and where everything was dear to him, every tree and every wall + by the way; and although he wouldn’t see his grandmother any longer, he + would find all the places where he had been with her and where it was more + beautiful than anywhere else. With these thoughts a multitude of questions + arose in Sami’s mind: Would everything be still the same as before? Would + the ash-trees still be standing there by the wall? and the red and yellow + flowers be growing on the hillside? And Sami had so much to think about + that he didn’t notice how the time was passing. So he was very much + astonished when the wagon stopped, for they had come to a large village, + and the driver took firm hold of him, lifted him up and set him down on + the street. Sami looked around him. They had stopped in front of an inn, + above which a big brown bear stood for a sign and which was surrounded by + all kinds of vehicles. But he couldn’t look around any longer, for the + driver had already seized him again and lifted him together with his + bundle into another team and then went away. Soon he came back with a + large piece of bread and said: + </p> + <p> + “There, eat; you still have far to go.” + </p> + <p> + “Are we yet in Château d’Æux?” asked Sami. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, to be sure, but you are going farther,” was the reply; then the + driver disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Sami was now sitting in a small country wagon to which an enormous horse + was harnessed. No one was as yet up in the high seat, but Sami was seated + with his bundle back in the empty space on the floor. Then two big, stout + men climbed up on the high seat, and they started away. After a short time + Sami’s eyes closed involuntarily, he slipped off on the floor of the + wagon, his head fell over on his bundle, and he sank into a deep sleep. + When he woke again, he was still in the wagon on the floor, but everything + was quiet around him; he did not hear the horse trotting; the wagon was no + longer moving forward. It looked very strange all around him. He looked, + and looked again, until he realized what had happened. The wagon was + standing without horse or driver in a shed; they had forgotten Sami and + left him lying there. + </p> + <p> + “Where can I be?” Sami asked himself. The door of the shed stood open, and + outside there was bright sunshine. Sami climbed down from his + sleeping-place, stepped outside and went a little way farther around the + house, which stood directly in front of the shed. Then he knew everything + about it—there stood the house with the garden, where he had taken + the beautiful coach; right before him was the railway station—he was + in Aigle again. Only a little way farther in the train and he would be at + home! + </p> + <p> + Then it came to Sami that here he could no longer talk with the people, + for now he was among the French. But he knew what to do. He still had the + little bag with his grandmother’s money. He ran to the place where the + people were getting their tickets, laid a piece of money in front of the + little window, and said: “La Tour!” + </p> + <p> + Immediately he had his ticket; he sprang into the train, which was already + standing outside, and crouched down quickly in his corner, the very same + corner where he had sat before with Herr Malon. He knew all the names + which were called out at the stations; nearer and nearer he came—now—“La + Tour!” He jumped down and ran to the right across the fields, then to the + left up the hill. He knew every tree along the way. Now—there stood + the wall, there stood the ash-trees and their tops were waving to and fro. + Underneath, the clear brook was murmuring, and above, on the hillside, the + bright sun was shining on the big golden primroses and the red anemones. + It was all exactly as it had been before! Moreover, above—oh, that + was the most beautiful of all!—up in the ash-trees the birds were + piping and singing as loudly and as merrily as ever and, to be sure, there + was the chief singer, the finch. “Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!” sounded his + clear song, and all the birds joined in with their warbling and rejoiced + loudly: + </p> + <p> + “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + Sami was so overcome because everything was still exactly the same as he + had known it before, that he stood speechless for a long time and + listened, looking around him and listening again. It seemed so good to him + and he had never felt such happiness in his heart since that evening when + he had sat there with his grandmother. Now his grandmother rose so vividly + before him, that he suddenly threw himself down on the wall and wept. She + was no longer there, and would come back to him no more. But all the good + words she had spoken to him here that evening rose vividly in his heart, + and it seemed as if he distinctly heard her talking again, and as if she + must really be quite near and see him. + </p> + <p> + Sami straightened himself up again, sat a while longer listening, and then + began to think what he should do. At first he wanted to go to Malon and + ask him if he could work for him, perhaps get out the weeds in his + vineyard. But he could not explain to him why he was there again; they + would not understand each other and Malon might think he had done + something wrong and had been sent away for it by his cousin. But perhaps + the woman who always gave mending to his grandmother would set him to work + in her garden. She lived down below, near the Lake. He jumped down from + the wall. Once more he looked at the hillside, and up into the tree, but + he could come here again; he was here and could stay here. + </p> + <p> + On the way he thought how he could explain to the woman what he wanted to + do for her. He would bend down and show her how he could pull up the + weeds; then he would show her by a gesture that he knew how to hoe. + </p> + <p> + There stood already the old castle of La Tour before him, with its two + high, weather-beaten towers, which he had looked at so many times. All + around and high up thick ivy covered the old walls, and above them + multitudes of merry birds were chirping. Sami had to stop and listen to + their happy singing for a while, then he went along by the high old wall + around the courtyard, for he wanted to see if it was still the same as + before down below in the lonely place where the water kept falling on the + old stones and singing a gentle song. He had once stood there a long time + with his grandmother. There lay the place before him, but it was not + lonely. A big wagon was standing there, with a grey cover stretched over + it. No horse stood in front of it, but a thin nag was nibbling the hedge, + and this evidently belonged to the wagon. Near the old castle tower a fire + was blazing merrily; a man was sitting by it, hammering with all his + might. Close by him four little children were crawling around on the + ground. Sami stood still at this unexpected sight, then came slowly a + little nearer. Then he heard the man warning the children not to come so + near the fire. This he was doing in Sami’s own language, exactly as all + the people in Zweisimmen had spoken. This gave courage to Sami; he came + along quite near, and watched the man mend a hole in an old pan. + </p> + <p> + “Does it please you?” asked the man, after Sami had looked on attentively + for some time. The boy answered by nodding his head. + </p> + <p> + “Are you French, that you can’t talk?” asked the man again. + </p> + <p> + Sami then said he could talk, but not at all in French, but he was glad + that the tinker spoke German, because otherwise he would not be able to + understand anyone there. + </p> + <p> + “Whom do you belong to?” asked the man again. + </p> + <p> + “Nobody,” answered Sami. + </p> + <p> + Then the man wanted to know where he had come from and why he had come + among the French. Sami told him his history, and how he had only come + there again that morning. + </p> + <p> + “And now don’t you know at all what you are going to do, and where you are + going?” asked the man. + </p> + <p> + Sami said he did not. + </p> + <p> + “If I knew that you would do something, and not just stand around and look + in the air, I would give you work,” continued the man, “but such stray + waifs as you are not willing to do anything.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile a woman had come from the wagon. She had heard her husband’s + last words. + </p> + <p> + “Take him,” she said. “What work is there for him? He might run errands; + all boys can do that. I never get through with the running about and the + four bawlers, and the cooking besides; take him!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, stay here,” said the man; “you can carry the pan back; it is very + good that you know the way.” + </p> + <p> + Sami had suddenly found a place; he did not himself know how, but he was + very glad about it. Quite content, he started out with his pan and did + exactly as the tinker had told him. He wandered through the long street of + La Tour, went into every house and showed his mended pan. He made + significant gestures, to make the people understand that he would like to + get more articles to mend. This he did so eagerly and earnestly that most + of the people burst out laughing, and this put them in such good humor + that they always found a pan or a kettle with a hole in it which they + handed him to be repaired. + </p> + <p> + Thus in a short time Sami had collected as much old stuff as he was able + to carry, and could now take his pan to the house pointed out to him, + where it belonged. Then he turned back. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="linkwaifs" id="linkwaifs"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="illusp64c.jpg (107K)" src="images/illusp64c.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The tinker was very much pleased with Sami’s harvest and his wife said + very kindly, if he kept on doing like that, he would get along all right, + but he must sit down at once and have some supper. The four little + children were no longer there. Sami guessed that they were lying out in + the wagon asleep. On the fire a pot was now standing. It was bubbling + merrily inside and from under the cover came forth a very inviting odor. + Sami had never been so hungry in his life before, for he had had nothing + the whole day but the rest of the piece of bread which the driver had + given him the day before in Château d’Æux. + </p> + <p> + The woman took the cover off the pot and filled three dishes with the + good-smelling soup. Each of the three now placed his dish before him on + the ground, and the meal began. + </p> + <p> + Nothing had ever tasted so good to Sami in all his life as this soup. It + was not a thin soup, it was as thick as pulp, of cooked peas and potatoes, + and with this quite large lumps of meat came into his spoon. + </p> + <p> + When he had finished, the woman said: + </p> + <p> + “You can go to sleep whenever you want to. In the back of the wagon there + is room, and your bundle will make a good pillow.” + </p> + <p> + This seemed a little strange to Sami, and he said: + </p> + <p> + “Must I sleep in my clothes?” + </p> + <p> + The woman thought he would find that he would not be too warm in the + night. He would be ready all the sooner in the morning. Then he could wash + his face quickly down in the lake and be all in order again for the next + day. + </p> + <p> + Sami was tired. He went immediately to the wagon and climbed up from the + back, and was able to slip in under the big cover. There was a little room + where he could lie down, and next him came the four little children, one + after another. Sami sat down and said his evening prayer. Then he thought + of his grandmother for a while, and what she would say if she could see + him thus in the wagon, and know that he would have to sleep all the time + in his clothes, and if only she could see how it looked in the wagon, so + dirty and in disorder. She had been so neat and orderly about everything + and had kept him so clean from a baby up. But she had never spoken to him + about this, as about other things which he must avoid, and perhaps the + people were quite God-fearing; then he ought to stay with them. That would + be as his grandmother wished. Then he placed his bundle under his head, + and went peacefully to sleep. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="linkc6" id="linkc6"></a><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER SIXTH + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + SAMI SINGS TOO + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Sami had now been working five days for the tinker, and had passed his + nights in the wagon. He was well treated, for the man and his wife were + pleased with him. Every day Sami dragged along such a pile of old pans, + pots and kettles, that they both wondered where he found them. His + grandmother had not charged him in vain to do everything he had to do as + well as he possibly could, because the dear Lord always saw what he was + doing. + </p> + <p> + He never loitered on the way, and if a woman was going to send him away + quickly and would not listen to him, then he looked at her so beseechingly + that she would find an old pan somewhere and bring it out. From morning + till night he ran with the greatest zeal, in order to get as much work as + possible for his master, and the praise he won every evening he enjoyed as + much as the savoury soup which followed. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless Sami was not very well contented. Every evening as he sat in + the wagon, he had to think what his grandmother would say to all the dirt + around him, and things pleased him less and less. The woman did not do for + the little children as his grandmother had done for him. All four crawled + around in the dirt and looked so that Sami didn’t care to have anything to + do with them. If they cried they were knocked this way and that, and at + night the woman took up one after another from the ground, put it in the + wagon, pulled the dirty grey blanket over them and went away again. + </p> + <p> + The largest boy could talk quite well. He could have learned a little + prayer long before this, but the woman never taught him any. + </p> + <p> + Such a homesickness for his grandmother now arose in Sami’s heart every + evening that he had to bury his head deep in his bundle, so that no one + would hear him sob. + </p> + <p> + Often on his expeditions he would come near the wall, under the ash-trees, + but he never went over to it, for he had to work and did not dare sit idle + and listen to the birds. But every time he had looked longingly there and + sent a whistle from a distance as greeting to the birds. + </p> + <p> + From the old house on the hillside, from which one could look down at the + ash-trees and the wall, he had brought a little kettle to the tinker, and + was delighted at the thought of taking it back again, for then he could + look down there for a moment and perhaps hear the birds. + </p> + <p> + Two days had passed, and Sami hoped that on the following day the little + kettle would be ready. When he returned that evening to the fire with his + last collection, the tinker was sitting thoughtfully there, turning the + little kettle round and round in his hands. His wife was looking over his + shoulders and both were scrutinizing the old kettle as if it were + something unusual. + </p> + <p> + “It is as like the other as if it were its brother,” said the wife. “You + know how the man said you must not spoil the pictures scratched on it, and + on that account he gave you so much more for it. Here are exactly the same + figures on this, and the nose in front has just the same curve as the + other, which he would not have mended for fear it would be spoiled.” + </p> + <p> + “I see it all, surely,” said the man, “but I don’t know what can be done + about it. With the other one I could say, it couldn’t be mended any more, + for it looked much worse than this, and the people didn’t know that the + old stuff was worth anything, and I wouldn’t have believed it was myself.” + </p> + <p> + “They won’t know either. The boy brought the kettle from the old house up + there. They only know the ground they hoe, but not such a thing as this. + Just say it can’t be mended any more, it is not good for anything, and + give them something for the copper. They will be satisfied enough. If we + go back to Bern we will take it to the man, who will give eighty francs + for it.” + </p> + <p> + “That is true. We can do that,” said the man, delighted; “perhaps they + won’t want anything for the kettle when they know they can’t use it any + more. Come, Sami,” he called to the boy, who stood staring at them on the + other side of the fire, and had heard and understood everything—“come + here, I want to tell you something.” + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed. + </p> + <p> + “Run quickly up to the old house, where you brought the little kettle + from, and say it isn’t good for anything, that it can’t be mended any + more.” + </p> + <p> + Sami, filled with horror, stared at the man. “Now hurry up and go along,” + said his wife, who was still standing there; “you understand well enough + what you have to do.” + </p> + <p> + Sami continued looking at the man without moving, as if he really had not + understood his words. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter with you? Why don’t you hurry along?” snarled the man + to him. + </p> + <p> + “I can’t do that. You are not God-fearing if you do such a thing as that,” + said Sami. + </p> + <p> + “What is it to you, what I do? Be quick and go along!” commanded the + tinker, and his wife screamed angrily: + </p> + <p> + “Do you think a little beggar like you is going to tell us what is + God-fearing? We ought to know much better than you! Will you do at once + what you are told, or not?” + </p> + <p> + Sami did not stir. + </p> + <p> + “Will you go and do what I told you, or—” + </p> + <p> + The man raised his hand high up. Sami was pale with fright. Suddenly he + turned around, ran to the wagon, took his bundle out, and ran with all his + might up the road, turned to the right between the high walls and rushed + on into the open field. Not a moment did he stop running, until he had + reached the ash-trees. The spot was like a place of refuge to him. + Breathless, he sat down on the wall. The twilight was already coming on + and it was perfectly still all around. No one had run after him as he + feared. He was quite alone. + </p> + <p> + Now he began to think. It was all done so quickly that he had only now + come to his senses. Yes, it was right that he had run away, for what he + had to do was something wrong, and he had to come away because they were + not God-fearing. It surely would seem right to his grandmother that he had + done this. But where should he go now? The people had all gone home from + the fields, perhaps were already asleep. Up in the ash-trees not one + little bird made a single sound. They were surely all in their nests and + fast asleep. If the dear Lord kept them up there in the trees safe from + all harm, so that they could sleep so well, He would surely protect him + too under the trees. In this spot he always had the feeling that his + grandmother was nearer to him than anywhere else, and this gave him + confidence. So he laid himself down under the tree quite trustfully and + immediately after he had ended his evening prayer, his eyes closed, for + the brook was murmuring such a beautiful slumber song under the ash-trees + there. + </p> + <p> + Golden sunshine was streaming in Sami’s eyes when he awoke. Above him all + the birds were warbling their morning song up into the blue sky. It + sounded like pure thanksgiving and delight. It awakened in Sami’s heart + the same tones, and he had to sing praise and thanksgiving, for the dear + Lord had protected him too so well through the night and let His golden + sun shine on him again. With a clear voice Sami joined in the glad chorus + and sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the only one he knew: + </p> + <p> + “Last night Summer breezes blew:— All the flowers awake anew,” + </p> + <p> + And when he had come to the end, he sang like the merry finch with all his + might: + </p> + <p> + “Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + The song had awakened in Sami new assurance that he would find a piece of + bread and some worthy work. This he wanted to look for now, for his + grandmother had not impressed it upon him in vain from his earliest days, + that in the morning after praying one should immediately go to work. So + Sami started off. + </p> + <p> + He did not go down to the Lake this day, lest he should come near the + tinker. With his bundle under his arm he wandered up the gradually rising + field road. Where this crossed the narrow street, leading over to Clarens, + Sami met a child’s carriage which a girl was pushing in front of her. She + wore a spotless white cap and a white apron. Over the carriage, too, was + spread a snow-white cover, and out from under it peeped a little head with + bright golden hair and a little white hat on it. + </p> + <p> + This unusual neatness and the smart appearance of the carriage attracted + Sami very much and he followed along the same way. On the white carriage + robe was worked a wreath of blue silk, but not of flowers. It was of + strange figures. The shining blue silk on the white cloth looked so + beautiful that Sami could not keep his eyes away from it. Suddenly it + became plain to him that the strange figures were letters, but he had + never seen any like them in his life. Their appearance captivated him more + and more. Then he began to try to see if he couldn’t spell them out and + perhaps read the words. He tried as hard as he could, but it was + difficult. Sami kept beginning over again from the first. Finally he made + out all the words. It was a proverb which read thus: + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + “So let the little angels sing:<br /> This child is safe beneath our + wing.” + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + This proverb reminded him so much of his grandmother; he didn’t know why, + but it seemed to him as if she had prayed exactly like this over his bed. + The tears came to his eyes, and yet it seemed so good, just as if he had + found his home again. The girl now turned suddenly to the left from the + road, and went through the high iron gate which stood open, and led into a + wide courtyard. Great, ancient plane-trees stood inside and cast their + broad shade over the sunny courtyard. A large flower garden surrounded the + high stone house, which looked forth from behind the trees. + </p> + <p> + Sami followed the carriage into the courtyard. It stopped under the trees. + </p> + <p> + “What do you want here? That is the way out,” said the girl impatiently to + Sami, pointing so plainly to the gate that Sami would have understood the + meaning of her words even if her language had been foreign. But it was + surely German, and he had understood it all very well, although he could + not speak like that himself. His grandmother had told him that there were + people who spoke just like the reading in the books. + </p> + <p> + Sami did not reply, and the girl did not wait for him. She snatched the + child quickly out of the carriage, took the beautiful robe over her arm, + and went into the house. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile a little girl had come out of the house and was standing at some + distance gazing at Sami with two big eyes. Now she came quickly forward, + jumped nimbly into the empty carriage, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Come, give me a ride!” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” asked Sami. + </p> + <p> + “Out there along the road, and far, far away!” + </p> + <p> + Sami obeyed immediately. For a long while he trotted along without + stopping. The little girl seemed to enjoy the ride. She looked so eagerly + around with her bright eyes on every side, as if she couldn’t see enough. + Then they came to a meadow thick with flowers. + </p> + <p> + “Hold still! Hold still!” cried the little one suddenly, and sprang with a + big jump out of the low carriage. + </p> + <p> + “Now we must have all the flowers, every single one! Come!” + </p> + <p> + And the little girl was already in the midst of the grass, stamping + bravely forward. But Sami said quite prudently: + </p> + <p> + “You mustn’t go so into the grass. It is forbidden. But see, if we go + around outside and take all the flowers you can reach, there will be a big + bunch.” + </p> + <p> + The little one came out, for she knew that she ought not to do what was + forbidden. Then the flowers were gathered according to Sami’s advice, but + the little companion soon had enough of such exertion, seated herself on + the ground and said: + </p> + <p> + “Come, sit down by me. But you must not speak French to me. I have to + learn that with Madame Laurent, but I would rather speak German, and you + must do so too.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t speak French, I don’t know how,” replied Sami; “but I can’t speak + like you either.” + </p> + <p> + “Where do you come from then, if you don’t speak German and don’t speak + French?” the little one wanted to know. + </p> + <p> + Sami thought for a moment, then he said: + </p> + <p> + “First I came from Chailly and then from Zweisimmen.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” interrupted the little one warmly. “People are never from two + places, only from one. I am from Berlin, in Germany, you see. Then Papa + bought an estate and now we are living on Lake Geneva. What is your name?” + </p> + <p> + Sami told her. + </p> + <p> + “And my name is Betti. Why did you come into the courtyard when Tina + wanted to send you out?” + </p> + <p> + Sami had to think for a while, then he said: + </p> + <p> + “Because those words were on the robe, I knew they were God-fearing people + where it belonged, and my grandmother told me I must stay with such people + and never go away, for I should learn nothing but good from them.” + </p> + <p> + “Must you stay with us now, and never go away again?” asked little Betti + eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I think so,” answered Sami. “Perhaps I can weed the garden.” + </p> + <p> + “That is right,” said Betti, delighted. “You see, Tina will not take me in + the carriage; she says I am too big. Will you take me every day in the + carriage to the meadow for ever so many hours?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed, I will do that gladly,” promised Sami, “and you shall have + all the flowers. Then I will take you besides to the trees where all the + birds sing ‘Only trust the dear Lord!’ and where the finch cries so loud + above them all: ‘Trust! Trust! Trust! Trust!’ Have you heard him too?” + </p> + <p> + At this description little Betti’s eyes grew bigger and brighter with + expectation. + </p> + <p> + “Come now, let’s go right away to the birds,” she exclaimed, jumped up and + ran in haste to the carriage. + </p> + <p> + Sami followed. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Tina, with a very red face, came running up from below. Her + looks did not portend anything good. + </p> + <p> + “So I have found you at last,” she cried angrily from a distance. + “Everybody is running around looking for you—your three brothers, + the servants, the coachman—everybody! I have run myself half dead + for you. Sit down in the carriage, you naughty little thing. The little + tramp can go where he likes. No, he must come back again; his bundle is + lying in the courtyard. So he can pull the carriage if he has to come with + us.” + </p> + <p> + Little Betti did not seem very much frightened by this lively speech. She + climbed quickly into the carriage and said gaily: “Go ahead, Sami!” + </p> + <p> + He obeyed quite crushed, for now he could only return for his bundle; then + he would have to go away again, and he had so firmly believed this was the + place where he was to stay according to his grandmother’s advice, and it + had pleased him so much. He had started out in the morning full of trust + from the song of the birds, and now he was returning very down-hearted the + same way. + </p> + <p> + When the three on their way home came to the courtyard, a tall man was + standing there, looking out up and down the road; a lady was coming out of + the house and going in again very restlessly, and three young boys were + running first one way and then another, screaming at the top of their + voices: + </p> + <p> + “She is nowhere to be seen! She is nowhere to be seen!” + </p> + <p> + But there she was, drawn by Sami, just coming into the courtyard. Before + any question, reproach or accusation could be heard in regard to the + unlawful expedition, Betti had run straight to her Papa, and in his + delight that she was safely there again, he had taken her in his arms, and + with the greatest eagerness she said: + </p> + <p> + “He will take me every day in the carriage, Papa, the whole day long, if I + like, and bring all the flowers to me, because I must not go in the high + grass. And he must always stay with us, because his grandmother knew about + it, and, Papa, think, he knows birds that sing a whole song, and the finch + sings above them all: ‘Trust! Trust!’ We were going right to see them when + Tina came and we had to come home. But now we can go, can’t we, Papa, + right away? Sami will take me there again; he isn’t tired yet. Only say + yes, Papa.” + </p> + <p> + “Your story is wonderful,” said her Papa, laughing. “Where is the little + coachman whom you have engaged and who, according to his grandmother’s + advice, must stay with us?” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the three brothers had come running along and, together with + their mother, stood near their father under the gateway, so that Sami, who + with his bundle on his arm was trying to go out, could not pass through, + and had betaken himself very quietly to a corner of the courtyard. The + master of the house now placed his daughter on the ground and looked + towards the boy. But he was already surrounded, for during their little + sister’s story the three brothers had made their examination and + calculation and then had turned to the boy. Nine-year-old Edward had + decided with satisfaction that Sami was the one he had for a long time + needed, for since the donkey, which had been given to him at Christmas, + had overturned him and his little cart three times running, his father had + forbidden him to drive out again without the coachman, Johann. But when + Edward wanted to go out driving Johann was always occupied some other way, + and when Johann announced that he could go it didn’t suit Edward at all. + Now Sami was found, an attendant whom he could call whenever he wanted + him. + </p> + <p> + Eleven-year-old Karl was an enthusiastic archer, but to have to be always + running after his arrows after they were shot and to hunt for them was + very irksome to him. Suddenly someone was found whom he could make use of + to hunt for his arrows. + </p> + <p> + Fourteen-year-old Arthur had permission to sail in his boat on the lake, + but he needed some one to steer for him. Now here was a satisfactory boy, + on the spot, whom he could teach, and have to steer for him. So it + happened that there was a great uproar when their Papa drew near the group + in the corner of the courtyard. + </p> + <p> + “Keep him, Papa, I have enough work for him to do!” cried Arthur, while + Karl’s voice was heard above his screaming: + </p> + <p> + “Let him stay here, Papa, please, I need him so much!” + </p> + <p> + But Edward’s piercing voice was heard above the other two: + </p> + <p> + “Papa, he can drive the donkey, he must stay with us, then Johann won’t + need to come with me any longer!” + </p> + <p> + And in the midst of all sounded Betti’s high little voice, untiringly: + </p> + <p> + “Can we go to see the birds now, Papa? Can we go now to the birds?” + </p> + <p> + Then Papa turned away from the noisy group and said, laughing: + </p> + <p> + “My dear wife, what do you say to this whole story?” + </p> + <p> + The lady addressed had until now listened silently and watched Sami, whose + eyes grew brighter and brighter the louder the children begged for him to + stay. She looked at him kindly and said first of all she would like to + know from him where he came from, and what the story which Betti told + about his grandmother meant; he ought to tell where he had been living + hitherto, who his parents were and who his grandmother was. + </p> + <p> + The kind lady had inspired Sami with great confidence and he now told from + the beginning all that he knew about his life up to the present moment, + and also how he had come into the courtyard, on account of the proverb, + which led him to believe that here lived the people with whom he should + stay. + </p> + <p> + When Sami came to an end, the lady turned to her husband and said: + </p> + <p> + “It is the dear Lord who has led him here. We cannot send him away!” + </p> + <p> + The children all shouted together for joy. + </p> + <p> + “Can we go to the birds now, Papa? Right away?” repeated Betti with + irrepressible eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “By and by, by and by,” said her father, soothingly. “Sami is going with + me first up to Chailly, to show me where Herr Malon lives. I want to talk + with him. When we come back, we will see what to do first.” + </p> + <p> + The mother understood that her husband wanted to have Herr Malon’s + assurance that everything Sami had told was true, and held back the + children, who all four were anxious to explain immediately to Sami what + they desired of him. + </p> + <p> + “But bring him back again, Papa!” cried Betti following after them as they + started away. + </p> + <p> + Herr Malon was very much surprised to see Sami again, and moreover in such + company, for he recognized the master of the plane-tree estate at once. + After the first greeting Sami was sent out doors for a little, and this + delighted him very much, for now he could look at the garden again and the + crooked maple-tree, under which he had so often sat with his grandmother. + </p> + <p> + Herr Malon assured his guest that all Sami’s words were correct and + besides gave a description of Old Mary Ann, her fidelity and + conscientiousness, so that the gentleman was very glad to have such good + news to carry to his wife. + </p> + <p> + A loud shout of delight welcomed them on their return, and still louder + was the applause, when their father announced that Sami was henceforth to + remain in the house and be the children’s playmate. + </p> + <p> + Sami did not know what to make of it. Since his grandmother’s death, no + one had shown the slightest pleasure in his presence; on the contrary + everywhere he had felt as if he were tolerated only out of pity, and now + he was received with loud rejoicing by the children of a house to which he + had been more attracted than anywhere else before, and where his + grandmother would be glad to see him; of that he was sure. His heart was + so overflowing with joy that he wanted to sing aloud and give praise and + thanksgiving evermore like the finch: + </p> + <p> + “Trust! Trust! Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + * * * * * + </p> + <p> + It is now ten years since Sami entered the plane-tree estate. Whoever + passes by there on a beautiful Spring day will surely stand still at the + high iron gateway and listen for a little, for there is seldom heard such + a merry song as sounds from the thick branches of the planetrees. Up in + the tree sits the young gardener pruning the branches. At the same time he + sings continually, like the merriest finch, and carols loudest the end of + his song, accompanied by all the birds: + </p> + <p> + “Only trust the dear Lord!” + </p> + <p> + The young gardener is Sami. At first he received a good knowledge of + reading, writing and arithmetic with the children of the house; later, + according to his great wish, he was trained as a gardener of the estate. + But he is now not only gardener, he has much more to oversee about the + estate than any one would imagine. Arthur, who has just finished his + studies, is still an ardent sailor. Without Sami, no trip is possible, and + Arthur is apt to say: + </p> + <p> + “Without God’s help and Sami’s assistance I should have been drowned + twenty times.” + </p> + <p> + When Karl comes from the university in his vacation, his first question + is, “Where is Sami?” and this he asks numberless times every day, for + without him he can never get ready. He alone knows where to find + everything Karl needs in vacation-time for his amusements, from his old + bow and quiver up to his riding whip and gun. + </p> + <p> + Edward has now given up his donkey cart and instead is interested in + strange animals, which have their dwelling-place in the back of the + courtyard and often make a great spectacle there. He owns two marmots, two + parrots and a monkey. No one could manage these and keep them in order but + Sami, and he does it so well and so successfully that Edward often + exclaims: + </p> + <p> + “Without Sami everything we have would go to ruin, animals and people, the + animals for want of proper care and the people from anger over it.” + </p> + <p> + But Betti still remains Sami’s greatest friend. She can call him at any + hour of the day she pleases, Sami is immediately on the spot, and Betti + knows he is more devoted than any one else and besides can keep secrets + like a stone. No one knows how many little notes he has to carry every + week to the neighbouring estates. Sami will not tell, for her brothers + would laugh at their sister Betti’s endless correspondence which she has + with numerous girl friends around on all the estates. Sami is her most + devoted friend, for he would run through fire and water for her without + hesitation. He never forgets what persuasive words in his behalf Betti + used with her father, when, broken-hearted, he was going to fetch his + bundle and go away again. + </p> + <p> + The youngest, Ella, with golden curls, who has taken over the donkey and + cart from her brother Edward, is entrusted to Sami’s especial care when + she desires to go for a drive. Whenever she brings out her white robe to + spread over her knees, Sami’s eyes sparkle with delight and thankfulness + as he remembers how the proverb led him to his good fortune, and still + more at the memory of his grandmother, who brought about all this good, + and whom he never forgets. + </p> + <p> + When, recently, a lady, owning one of the neighbouring estates, proposed + to Herr von K. to transfer his merry gardener to her, merely because the + servants in her house had sullen faces, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “You can have him, just as much as you can have one of my own children, if + you should try to entice one away. Sami is the most faithful, trustworthy, + conscientious person who has ever come in my way. I can leave my whole + house and go wherever I will, I know that everything will be taken care + of, as if I stood by. This is so because Sami has another Master besides + me, before whose eyes he performs all his work. The dear Lord himself sent + my glad-hearted Sami to me, and I esteem him. He belongs to my house, and + it shall remain his home!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s What Sami Sings with the Birds, by Johanna Spyri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT SAMI SINGS WITH THE BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 9482-h.htm or 9482-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9482/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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