The Little Schoolmaster Mark

ross the oak woods of the near forest. Between the forest and the village lay a valley of meadows, planted with thorn bushes and old birch trees with snow-white stem

torrent stand the houses of the village, with high thatched roofs and walls of timber and of mud, and, at the back, projecting stages and steps above the rushing water. A paradise in the late spring, in summer, and in autumn, these wild and romantic woods, traversed only by a few forest paths, are terrible

lain should be walking up the street o

e is fair-haired and blue-eyed; but it is the deep blue of an angel's, not the cold gray blue of a courtier's eyes. Around him are seated several children, both boys and gi

aid the Chaplain, "send the children away. Thou wi

ingly, not at all like childr

ged-he looked at the little schoolmaster very kindly, and sat

irmed thee, and thou tookest thy first communion, and he made thee schoolmaster here, many wise people shook their heads. I do not thi

he children, and which they repeat to them. Every morning, as soon as the children enter the school, I pray with them, and catechise them in the principles of our holy religion, as God teaches me, for I use no book. Then I set the child

ut I am far from saying that it is a bad one. Nevertheless it will not last. The Her

ittle schoolmaster's eyes

orking for thee. Thou hast heard of the Prince, though thou hast, I t

rolls," said the boy. "They are like the heave

tice the confused metap

, according to the traditions of his race. Since he came back to Germany he has taken a fancy to this forest-lodge, for at first it was little more, and has garnished it and enlarged it according to his southern fancies; that is why he likes it better than hi

tened with open eyes. Then

nic that

ure of half-silk stuffs, by which they maintain themselves and give to the poor. The Prince himself knows something of such feelings. He indeed knows the way of piety, though he does not follow it. He acknowledges the grace of refinement which piety gives, even to the most highly bred. He is particularly desirous that his children should possess this supreme touch. Something that I told him

ng there, child?'

m rea

hou read

n being,' said the child, and began to read w

as amazed,

I have never seen th

round the room. When he saw that the devil did not come, he

ow graciou

boldly before old

thou ever

No

l upon him

went quietly in

what thy old grandfat

us; we must pray that God wil

l this to the P

ildren as he does the village ones. None can

speaking, as though in something of a maze. He evidently saw nothing to wonder at in

or, such as thou never saw'st, nor thy father either. He must measure thee for a co