Adventures of Prince Lazybones, and Other Stories

by Mrs. Molesworth

  CHAPTER II

  High up in the Swiss mountains a storm was brewing. On theircloud-capped summits nothing could be seen but snow--dazzling, blindingwhite snow, and wreaths of vapor which congealed as it fell. All day thepeople of the hamlets had been preparing for the visitor, knowing fullwell that they should be housed for weeks after its descent, and asChristmas was approaching, it was needful that much should be done.

  As the day grew darker, each hurried to complete his or her work, andnone essayed more eagerly to do this than young Franz, the goatherd; buttry as he would, the heedless, wanton little flock were constantlyescaping from him, and if it had not been for Jan, the great mastiff ofthe famous St. Bernard breed, he would have been still more troubled. Asit was, he found one goat missing when he went to house them, and againhe had to take his alpenstock and try what he could do.

  By this time the storm was indeed upon them, and between the wind andthe snow, the icy atmosphere and the darkness, Franz had about concludedto let the goat go, when Jan began to sniff about and bark, and show bysigns as easily read as print that he was seeking something. Franzthought it must be on account of the goat, but just then old Nanappeared with her customary capriciousness, and made no resistance tothe cord with which Franz bound her.

  Still Jan kept up his scratching and sniffing and barking, and Franzknew only too well that there was no use in opposing him, although hisfingers and toes were half frozen.

  As soon as the dog saw that Franz recognized the necessity of followinghim he quieted down, and with a zealous industry nosed the path fromside to side, as if in search of something; nor did he have to go far,for they presently descried what seemed like a big snow-heap on one sideof the now undiscoverable path.

  Here Jan halted and looked intently; then he began scratching andwhining again, and Franz saw a bit of cloth. Soon an arm appeared, andnext a leg, and after vigorous work from both Franz and Jan, the wholefigure of a child, clasping something in its arms, was uncovered. Deador alive, Franz knew not which it was; but very well he knew what it wasthe child carried, for its big bushy red tail showed it to be a fox, andit too was as motionless and lifeless as the child.

  The goatherd had braved the dangers of the mountains all his lifetime,and knew how to be cool and decided in the presence of danger. He hadhis knife and drinking-cup beside him, and his horn slung over hisshoulder. In a moment he had made Nan stand still while he milked her,and then he pried open the stiff lips of the lad, and forced the warmliquid within. As he did so, the child revived and swallowed, for he hadnot been long unconscious. Then putting him on Jan's back, and drivingNan before him, Franz made his way home as best he could.

  It was late when tired Franz, whose mother was in the door-way lookinganxiously for him, arrived. All the children were within, and the firewas burning brightly. On the table the soup was steaming. An exclamationof surprise arose from all as Jan and his burden marched in.

  "Who is it?" "Where did he come from?" "Where did you find him?" "Whatwas he doing all alone in the storm?" burst from all their lips.

  "So, so; slowly, please," answered the cool and courageous Franz. Thenhe told them his adventure.

  "A stranger lad, lost on the roadside," murmured the mother, as she tookthe boy from Jan and carefully undressed him, the children meanwhileattending to the nearly frozen fox.

  "Poor child! poor child! he shall be welcome. A sorry Christmas it isfor him."

  "Not when he fell into your hands, good mother," said Franz, ladling outthe soup.

  "No indeed--no indeed," said one and all.

  But the mother's words seemed to be the truth, for though the childrevived, and was able to take nourishment, a fever set in, from which hedid not rally. Day by day he lay in the little curtained recess where hecould see them all with his great wondering eyes, watching them carvetheir beautiful toys--for this was their winter work--but sayingnothing, for he knew not their language, and only one word had heuttered which they could understand.

  This word was simply "Edelweiss." "Edelweiss," he muttered, when thefever was at its height, and "Edelweiss" he softly whispered whendreaming.

  The children called him "Little Edelweiss," and fed his fox, whichlapped their hands and brought a sweet smile to the face of the littlesufferer.

  Christmas-eve would be on the morrow, and all were busy dressing theroom with boughs of evergreen. The tree stood in the corner, waitingfor its glittering fruit. Outside the sheaf of grain had been tied to apole for the snow-birds. All had some trifling gifts prepared for ajoyful keeping of the day, Franz only seemed to be uneasy. He wouldglance at the pale face of his little foundling, and then he would lookout to see if the weather was fine, and at last he reached up for histhickest wrap and staff, and away he went up the mountain-side. Nothingcould be seen up that way but the red roof of a convent, and peak afterpeak of ice piercing the blue sky.

  It was late when he returned and put something carefully behind thetree. All were waiting for their supper, for they were anxious to go tobed that the dear Christmas might the sooner come.

  His mother scolded a little, but the stranger boy put up his thin handreprovingly, as if he could not bear to have Franz rebuked, and thenthey all laughed, for they all loved Franz.

  But soon they were sleeping quietly, and the moon shone upon happyfaces--only the little guest tossed and murmured "Edelweiss."

  The morrow came, and with it many a merry greeting. And now they couldhardly wait for the day to pass. Long before dark the table was set withits sausages and spice-cake, and beside each plate a mysteriouspacket--for the tree bore only glittering trifles. And when the girls intheir pretty scarlet bodices and whitest chemisettes sat down, and themother reverently asked God's blessing on their food, all broke into ajoyful carol. Then they examined their gifts, and the little strangerwas given his share of the good things.

  But just then Franz arose and brought from behind the tree a curiouslooking box. Tearing off the papers a small but hardy plant wasrevealed, and putting it in the hands of the invalid, Franz pointed toits buds and said one word, "Edelweiss."

  A cry of joy burst from the boy's lips, and he clasped his treasure asif it had been indeed a flower from paradise.

  "Edelweiss! Edelweiss!" was all he could utter, but the sweet andgrateful tone thanked Franz better than a thousand other words couldhave done.

  "Why, Franz," they all asked, "where did you get it at this season? Itdoes not grow in winter."

  "No," said Franz, "I know that it does not, but I have often found it insummer, and I just happened to remember plucking some by the roots lastspring for Father Glueckner up at the convent--he is always gatheringroots and herbs for the sick, and he has a great curiosity to transplantwild-flowers that he may see what they will produce under cultivation.See; this plant already has flowers--months too soon. He has severalothers, so he gave me this quite willingly."

  While they were talking, the little stranger had drawn a small case ofbirch-bark from his pocket, and was earnestly comparing the faded andpressed flower it contained with the blooming one beside him. His faceglowed with happiness, and from that moment his restoration to healthbegan.