Gritli's Children

by Johanna Spyri

  CHAPTER VII.

  WHAT OSCAR FOUNDED AND WHAT EMMA PLANNED.

  Feklitus took very kindly to the idea of making the speech at theMusical Festival, and told his parents at once of the coming event. Thisannouncement made a great sensation in the household of Mr. Bickel, whoat once ordered a new suit and a new pair of boots for the boy; and bothparents determined to go and hear him speak. A change had come over theboy since this proposal had been made to him. He became very silent andwent about with his head bowed and his brows knit as if oppressed withheavy thoughts.

  One afternoon he came out of school and made one great spring from theupper step to the ground. It was not from joyfulness of heart that hemade this leap, but because the sudden pressure of those who came behindhim gave him an irresistible impulse, and he could not stop for thesingle steps. He did not go on with the other boys, but turned round thecorner of the school-house, and waited there till all the girls hadpassed out, in groups of two and three, and, last of all, Elsli camehurrying along alone; she had been delayed by waiting to write out herexercise for the next day. Suddenly she felt herself seized from behindand held fast.

  "Let me go, Feklitus," she cried; "I am in a hurry; Nora is waiting forme."

  "I want to ask you something first," said the boy, "and then you maygo."

  He spoke in a masterful voice, and held fast to the child's frock.

  "Tell me this; if you were going to make a speech at a musicalfestival, how should you begin?"

  "What a stupid question, Feklitus! when you know perfectly well that Ishould never do such a thing!" And Elsli tried to pull her dress awayfrom the boy's hand; but he held her fast.

  "I didn't say you would; but suppose you did,--you can supposeanything,--how would you begin?"

  "I don't know, I'm sure; I never thought anything about it in my life."

  "Come, now, if you don't tell me, I'll keep you here till after dark.Come; I'll just make a beginning, to start you. Begin: Highly respectedgentlemen and brothers--now, what next?"

  "Let me go; I really ought to go. I have no idea what to say next."

  "What an obstinate girl you are!" cried Feklitus angrily; "I'll punishyou for this before long; when you come into the factory, you'll catchit; you see if you don't!"

  This vague threat frightened Elsli the more from its very vagueness; soshe thought for a moment, and then began;--

  "Highly respected gentlemen and brothers! Now that we have sungtogether, let us rejoice together; and enjoy a long, long festival!"

  As Elsli spoke, Feklitus relaxed his hold of her, as she had hoped hewould do; and instantly she darted away like an arrow shot from a bow;and before Feklitus had recovered from his surprise, she had gone beyondpursuit. The boy looked thoughtfully after her retreating figure for afew moments, and then went towards home.

  On the next Sunday the great Musical Festival was to take place; and thebanner would be ready but just in season. The day before, there was tobe a rehearsal of the performance, so that Feklitus might try hisspeech, and the order of the procession be arranged. A table-cloth tiedto a pole was to take the place of the unfinished banner.

  It is needless to say that there was but little appetite for dinner atDr. Stein's table on this Saturday; Oscar rose as soon as he could hopeto be excused, and Emma did not remain any longer. She had scarcelytaken her eyes from the clock since she sat down, and had answered atcross purposes all dinner-time.

  "What are you children about now, that you are in such a tremendoushurry?" asked their father, as they were leaving the room. Emma did notwait to answer.

  But Oscar said:--

  "You will see to-morrow. To-day we are going to put up the stand for thespeaker and to arrange the procession. You'll be surprised, I'm sure.Of course you'll come and hear Feklitus speak?"

  "With pleasure. Your mother and aunt will go too, I'm sure. Are you oneof the company, Fred?"

  "No, indeed. I have more important things to interest me. It is of moreuse to find and to study the smallest common frog than to attend athousand musical festivals."

  Rikli started as if she thought he was going to produce a specimen offrog from his pocket at that moment. Oscar cast a look of pity upon hisbrother, and left the room.

  That afternoon as Mrs. Stein and her sister sat out in the garden, withtheir work-basket on the table between them, the former said:--

  "It is singular how things repeat themselves. When the children tell ushow Feklitus is constantly running after Elsli, though no one canunderstand why, it reminds me of times long ago when his father, stoutFekli, used to pursue Gritli, and how she used to run on before him,looking back now and then and calling out with a laugh:--

  "'Come and catch me if you dare, You big, heavy-footed bear,'"--

  A piercing shriek broke in upon the laugh which followed the repetitionof this long-forgotten couplet, and they both sprang to their feet; butimmediately recognizing the voice, they sat quietly down again, andresumed their work.

  "It is only Rikli," said her mother; "she is always in a fright aboutnothing."

  "Fred is probably amusing himself at her expense with some beetle orfrog," said the aunt. "I can't help being sorry for the child, and it'stoo bad of Fred; but it's useless to run to her every time shescreams."

  Just then the sound of singing arose from the other side of the garden,apparently trying to overpower the noise of the child's cry, and theyheard the words:--

  "Hanseli is a cry-baby, Rikli is another; She's so exactly like him That he must be her brother."

  "That's Fred!" exclaimed Mrs. Stein. "So he is certainly not withRikli." And as the little girl's shrieks grew louder she began to thinksomething serious was the matter, and the two ladies started away in thedirection of the sound. Poor Rikli was indeed in a wretched plight. Shewas standing in a ditch, covered quite to her neck in the muddy water,and holding up her arms above her head, in an effort to protect it fromthe many little green frogs that were sporting about her. Aunty reachedher first, and, taking the little girl by the arm, she quickly rescuedher from her uncomfortable position. As soon as Rikli found herself insafety, she exclaimed reproachfully:--

  "Why didn't you come when I called you first?"

  They did not stop to answer her, but hurried her into the house, andforthwith into the bath-tub without delay. After the necessary scrubbingand cleansing were over, Rikli put her question again, and theexplanation she received was likely to impress upon her the folly ofunnecessary alarm, and the certainty that her cries would be unheeded aslong as she persisted in uttering them so needlessly.

  All this time Oscar was occupied with assembling his chorus in the placechosen for the festival, that the rehearsal might be conducted in dueorder, except the currant-wine and gingerbread, which naturally werereserved for the festival itself, which was to come off next day. Thestage was made of four posts, stuck into the ground, and covered withboards.

  The moment for beginning the performance arrived; Feklitus mounted theplatform.

  "Highly respected gentlemen and brothers! now that we have sung togetherso well, let us rejoice together; and celebrate the event with a greatfeast, and all touch glasses together."

  With these words, spoken in a loud but rather hurried voice, Feklitusbowed to the company, and came down from the stage.

  "Go on, go on with your speech!" shouted every one.

  "Why, that's all; and then we must all touch glasses," said Feklitus,who was quite satisfied and elated at having got through so well.

  But at his words arose a great uproar; the boys wanted more, andinsisted on Feklitus' going on. Oscar alone said not a word; he wastransfixed with one thought, that had been suggested by the first wordsof this brief speech. "Now that we have sung!" To be sure, it had notoccurred to him that to have a Musical Festival successful, there oughtto be some music. But it was not too late yet to repair the oversight.Controlling his mortification at his blunder, he sprang to the platform,and tried to call the attention of the noisy
crowd.

  "Here, fellows, listen to me! Be quiet! I want to tell you somethingimportant!" and as the noise began to subside, he shouted:--

  "We must have some singing! Who of you can sing? We'll find a song, andthen learn it. Who can sing?"

  But no one came forward; no one could sing! Feklitus declared that therewas no need of singing; a speech, a procession, a banner, a collation;why did they want anything else? But Oscar was determined to have asong, and suddenly he thought of Fani. Where was Fani? He could sing,and should sing. But Fani was not to be found, and soon the assemblybroke up; the members scattered, and the platform raised its head insolitary grandeur.

  Oscar ran home in a state of tremendous excitement. What would become ofhis much-boasted festival if he could get no music for it? His father'sjests, Fred's air of superiority, all the mortifying consequencesrankled in his mind. Fani must be found, and if only he would lead, therest must somehow be got to join in.

  As he reached the house, he met Emma just coming home.

  "Where is Fani?" he asked. "Have you been putting him up to somethingthat has made him desert us and go off with you instead?"

  Emma colored, but did not reply; she went on into the house, as if shedid not hear a word that Oscar said. As she came into the sitting-room,Kathri opened the opposite door, saying:--

  "Marget is here, asking if any one has seen Fani? she wants him in ahurry, and has been hunting everywhere for him."

  Emma's face and neck became flaming red; she seized her aunt's hand, anddrew her out of the room. Mrs. Stein went into the kitchen to see whatMarget's haste was. She learned that Mr. Bickel had just been to herhouse to say that he wanted Fani immediately in the factory; he had aplace for him at once. He needn't leave school, but could come in theafternoon and on holidays, and he would earn quite a good bit of moneydirectly. Marget had been trying in vain to find Fani, to come and talkto her cousin; she was very much afraid that the great man would beangry at being kept waiting, and Fani would lose the place.

  Mrs. Stein told Marget that she would send Oscar to look everywhere forthe missing boy, and Marget went home.

  Meantime, Emma had drawn her aunt into her own room, and as soon as theywere safely inside, with the door shut, she began in imploring tones:--

  "Oh, aunty, help me! help me! so that no harm will come of it, and thatpapa may not be angry with me, and make Fani's mother understand howsplendid it is going to be, and that Fani will be a great painter by andby. He has gone to Basel to-day!"

  "To Basel! I hope you are not in earnest, Emma!" said her aunt, muchdisturbed.

  "Yes, it is really true, aunty. Do go to Fani's mother and explain toher that it's all right, and don't let her come to papa about it. I'lltell you just how it was, and then you can tell Marget. I saw anadvertisement in a newspaper the other day, like this, 'A decorator inBasel wants a lad, about twelve years of age, to do light work and learnthe business.' Then the address was given. I showed it to Fani, and weboth thought that it would be a good chance for him to learn to paint,and at the same time to earn something, so that he needn't go into thefactory. Don't you remember that you said a decorator meant abeautifier, and Fred said it meant a scene-painter? Fani can paint rosesand flowers and garlands, and he wanted awfully to go. At first he saidhe must ask his mother; but then he thought it would be no use, becauseshe said painting was no work at all, but only nonsense. So we plannedthat he should just go off; and then, if they asked where he was, Ishould tell them; and as soon as he can, he is to write and tell themthat he is going to be a painter."

  "This is terrible!" exclaimed her aunt.

  "You've done great mischief, Emma. What will become of him, and how willhe get to Basel without money?"

  Emma said she had given him all her own money, and he could certainlyreach Basel, and if only aunty would go and tell his mother about it,all would be right. Aunty lost no time. She went directly to Heiri'scottage, and met Mr. Bickel coming out from the door-way.

  "As I have said," was his closing remark, "I will soon put a stop to hisloafing; for I will cut off his wages every hour that he idles."

  "You can't cut down his wages, Cousin Bickel, before he begins to haveany," said Marget to herself as Mr. Bickel marched off with his mostimportant air.

  Aunty went into the little house. The outer door opened into thekitchen, and beyond was the living-room. The door between stood open,and through it could be seen two very old cradles, and the wash-tubstood near the door in the kitchen, so that as she stood at her workMarget could watch the three little boys and the baby at the same time.Although Hans was now two years old, he still had a cradle, which servedas a bed at night, and as a means of quieting him by day. Whenever heset up his accustomed scream, his mother laid him into the cradle,where, soothed by the rocking motion, he soon fell asleep. The two olderbrothers, Rudi and Heirli, standing one each side of the cradle, pushedit back and forth with great good-will.

  Aunty sat down by the wash-tub, and, after begging Marget to go on withher work, she began gently to unfold her story, winding up with theoffer of writing immediately to Basel, to find out how Fani wassituated, and on what terms his master had taken him. Then, ifeverything was not satisfactory, he could be brought home again. InMarget's ears still lingered her Cousin Bickel's threat about cuttingdown wages. Perhaps Fani wouldn't earn much at the factory after all. Ifhe were in Basel, she should not have his food to provide, and if hecould earn enough to clothe himself while learning a trade, it wouldprobably be better than he could do at home, and no trouble to hereither. As these calculations passed through Marget's mind, sheconcluded not to oppose the boy's wishes, and she assured her visitorthat his father would be satisfied if the doctor's family thought it agood arrangement, and would some of them look after the boy a little. Itwas a great relief to Emma's kind aunt that so little blame was likelyto attach to the girl for the consequences of her rash advice; and nowshe concluded her visit with some inquiries about Elsli. Marget's reportwas favorable. Elsli spent all her time out of school at Oak-ridge, andwas very happy in her work. Marget got along very well with thechildren, and certainly the liberal pay which Elsli brought home everyday was a great gain; to say nothing of many clothes which the sickchild could not use, and which would clothe Elsli for a long time tocome. All this was pleasant tidings, and aunty went home with a muchlighter heart. About half-way home she met Oscar coming to meet her. Hedarted towards her, and at once began to pour out the story of theunlucky musical festival; how he had entirely forgotten that there mustbe music, and how he dreaded the ridicule he should encounter when themistake was discovered. He saw but one means of escape; if he couldchange the name of the festival, so that no music need be expected;then, by altering the motto a little, and changing some words in thespeech--didn't aunty think it could be done?

  No; she did not think that idea practicable. "You see, Oscar," she said,"a celebration must celebrate something, an anniversary or someinteresting event. As there is nothing of the kind in this case, Ireally think your only course, since you have no music ready, is to giveup the festival entirely for the present, and wait till you havesomething to celebrate."

  Poor Oscar! he was terribly disappointed; yet he could not butacknowledge that his aunt was right, and he followed her into the house,dreading his father's questions and the discovery that was sure tofollow. Supper was just ready as they entered the house, so that Emmacould not satisfy her eager desire to know the result of her aunt'smission; so that she, as well as Oscar, sat at the table in troubledsilence, both absorbed in secret fears, and both hoping, if they did notspeak, that they should escape being spoken to. Fred noticed theirunusual demeanor, and presently he remarked, slyly:

  "There is a bird called the ostrich, _Struthio_ which has a habit ofhiding its head in the sand, believing that, in so doing, he concealshimself from the hunter. This bird is sometimes seen in thisneighborhood, and his usual food is potato-salad."

  Oscar took no notice of this bit of sarcasm, but remained intent on h
ispotato-salad; but his father, who was watching him, laughed and said:--

  "Is he overpowered by the pleasures of the approaching festival?"

  As no farther questions followed, and the supper went on without anyinquiries about Fani, both Oscar and Emma rose from the table witheasier minds. The danger was not yet over, of blame for Emma andridicule for Oscar; but they had gained time, and they breathed morefreely as they turned again to their aunt for help and advice.