Squib and His Friends

together his scattered studies, putting them away in the little satchel kept for the purpose. As for Squib, he was already a hundred yards away

an ecstasy of welcome, whilst Czar came up with an air of friend

come! Seppi and I have been co

swered Herr Adler, smiling; “I have been making a little round of old acquain

I think Seppi is a very nice boy. He is so good and patient about bei

he has told you. But still he has a beautiful place to live in, and his friends the goats to amuse him, and his drawing and his carving which occupy his hands. And

than lots of the people one sees. I like dogs. They can’t talk, to be sure, but they try with their eyes and their ears and their tails. I can have quite nice talks with the dogs at home, out in the fields. We had a lot of fox-terrier puppies in the spring. I used to have them

e same he had a very tender heart, and would have liked to see more of his children, only, somehow, they never seemed to be there. One day he was walking up and down in some public gardens belonging to the row of houses where he lived. He very seldom went there, but to-day he had gone in, and by-and-by he saw some children at play, and grew interested in them and talked kindly to them, and even joined in their game. And when he went away he saw one little girl looking up wi

ed Squib. “Didn’t he la

eople are absent and forgetful they do very funny things. I heard of an officer once who rode into his stable-yard and called ou

hat story; it’s better than the people who hunt everywhere for their spectacles when they are on

owering into the clear blue sky, or the dark-green pines with their ruddy stems, or the green slopes where the goats browsed and frisked, or the glimpses of tossing, foaming water dashing along below them in 128its rocky bed. Everything was so beautiful, he thought; and it seemed more beautiful than ever to-day because Herr Adler

s! I wish I knew as much as you. I

l interest. Everything can teach us new lessons. Everything speaks to us a beautiful language, if we will only listen and be willing to learn. But learning is often a slow and tedious process; and sometimes we th

had turned

aid, “how di

nd Squib went on speaking quickly, bu

and cross and naughty; and sometimes I just bang down my books and run away out of doors. I shan’t be able to do that when I go to

ourself in their places, and think how you would have acted if you had been there. If it’s geography, just shut your eyes and try to picture the places you have to learn about. Now that you are a bit of a traveller, you should be able to do that. Think of the sort of people who live there, and the animals, and the great mountains and wonderful forests, or rivers, or deserts—or whatever it

“and I shall try to remember you, sir, and all the things you have told us. I shall sa

er’s answer; and Squib looked quickly up into his eyes and did not ask his me

ost a whisper; and Herr Adler did not ask him w

from them, almost ashamed of his humble poverty and lowliness; and when at luncheon-time the food was brought out, he grew shamefaced over the coarse fare whic

of hard bread and cheese, instead of tak

foot, and make our money go as far as it would by living with the peasants and eating thei

bjected Seppi. “It is such po

an old friend of mine served his wife,” said Herr Adler, wi

oth boys brigh

ried Squib. “I do so like your sto

sat round the stove for a time; and then he asked us if we would stay and have supper with him, which we agreed to do. Now, he was not a rich man, and he lived quite simply, as German people often do, you know. But his wife bustled about and laid the table, and gave us 132an excellent supper of good milk soup, and plenty of good bread and butter. We were hungry after our walk

y no more, else I tell our

fferent look came into her face;

ill say no more;

d we pressed our host to tell it us. So when the supper was finished,

ose. And it came to pass that upon this day he outrode all his followers and nobles in pursuit of the quarry, and presently found himself quite alone in the heart of 133the great forest. He blew his horn again and again, but nobody came to his aid; and he did not know which way to turn, nor

tle track in the wood, and following it eagerly in hopes of coming across some hut or habitation, he reached a little clearing in which stood a charcoal-burner’s rude h

meiler?”

r use; and the way in which this is done in the open forests by the charcoal-burners is by making first a heap of wood, and then covering it up with earth. The earth heaped over it keeps the fire in check when the 134wood is burni

ed Squib. “Now, please

and seeing the old man a little away

? I want to find the way to the road which

d man, and began to try to make the prince unders

for a moment that I could find such a

burner stroked his

hat maybe you would only lose

t rather vexed, and

o know? You must just come with me, my go

charcoal-burner brok

ere to leave my meiler for a quarter of an hour as she is now, the whole batch of charcoal would be spoiled. Why, I must watch her half the night through, as

free and easy way; but he reflected that the man did not know him, and was quite right to do his work

ay, what am I to do? I have no wish to get hopelessly lost

ne, comfortable hut over yonder, and a bed fit for a prince, so soft and warm. You can have it, and welcome, since I must watch by the me

ince. ‘It’s of myself I am thinking. I am really starving; I’ve had nothing t

answered the old man readily. ‘You know the saying

saddle and bridle, so that the animal could feed at will, ‘I must needs accep

, and was heaping on earth here and there; but p

you need never wish for a cleaner or softer one. I made it myself from dried moss and fern and pine needles. A prince could not wish a b

fire, and lighted some dry twigs, which blazed merrily. The prince could see that the hut wa

elf comfortable there; and I’ll

o stretch his limbs even on such a rude couch as t

od friend,’ he kept saying. ‘I hope

able cares; ‘good bread and plenty of it, and the most excellent cheese. Why, it gives me an appetite even to think of it! It is all so good. Drink, did you say, sir? Why, to be sur

and was ready to agree 138with him that the food was excellent. The spring water was clear and pure, and the cup from which he drank, although only of earthenware, was quite clean,

ce. He slipped away, and the shadows fell in the hut. The prince stretched hims

r the present over. The meiler could now be left to cool down unwatched, and th

mounted, whilst the peasant walked beside him and s

!’ cried the prince, ‘it

hilst they journeyed on, and at last the old man paused, and poin

you reach 139it, and it will take you straight to the town. You will see the castle tower

en the prince?’ as

entleman, and often hunts in the forest. I hear

him? Does he do anything e

mind, and he has his country. If he’s a wise prince, he will know better than to spend all his time a-

t, and would not accept a penny. He was no innkeeper, he said. The gentleman was welcome to all he

pay you anything, you must come some day and sup with me at my house, sinc

it so, I will come; but you must tell me where you live,

for you one of these days,’ answered th

urned back into the forest and went back to his hut (little knowing it was the prince he had entertained) whilst the

not forgotten his promise, and he made ready to go with the man, brushing up his poor clothes as well as he could, and washing away all the traces of his smutty toil off hands and face. Then he went with the servant, and as they

ter here! Surely this

ide, ‘and it is the prince w

ow, and followed his guide into a room which seemed to him wonderfully large and beaut

as the most wonderful experience he had ever known. He tasted the dishes one after the other, finding them all so good he could not tell which was best. There w

hing about his dress and aspect which assured the charcoal-burner that it really was the prince himself,

friend, and have

ighness,’ he answered respectfull

angry. He began finding all manner of fault with first one thing and then the other. This dish was too much cooked, another too little—nothing was done right. He had something bad to say

good friend,’ he asked. ‘You l

o regain his self-possession and to smile back. But his face was p

the matter

ss’ permission I will wish you good-evening and return hom

me and laid a hand

in, you were 143happy and at ease; but all in a moment your face changed, and you ha

trembled more th

if I tell you, you will be angry and will c

o that. I give you my word as a prince. Now fear not, b

it not fit to eat—food for pigs, and I wot not what beside—I suddenly felt a cold wind pass over me that made me shiver from head to foot; and when I look

thinking deeply. The charcoal-burner stood silent and abashed, not daring to raise his eyes;

t at your table, and heard you praise your food and call it good and excellent? Well, perhaps I did not see it as clearly as I should, for mine eyes were holden, but

, simultaneously drew a long breath. Seppi’s face was full of earnest thought, w

ling us the story. Do

God has given us, and either from vanity or discontent despise and make light of them, it is the devil or one of his angels who puts such thoughts into our hearts. But when we receive everything joyfully and thankfully, neither grumbling because

ration how little Seppi had of this world’s goods, and yet how contented he was! Surely the Angel of Contentme

rince. If he had really lived so near his cast

er laughed, a

m to come. Very much amused, the king approached, and the little boy said, ‘Look here, I want you to hold my donkey. I’ve got a letter which I must leave at the castle, and I may not take my donkey inside the 146gate. But if you will take care of him till I get back you shall not be the loser. I’ll give you something for your trouble when I get back!’ So the king took the donkey by the bridle and held him whilst the little boy ran up to the castle and delivered his letter. Then when the little fell

are he brought with him, and Squib would eat it as readily and with as good an appetite as Lisa’s cakes, thinking of the prince in the wood, and how he found all so good when it was seasoned by a good appetite. He and Seppi would play at the prince and the char

in great admiration one day; “but I feel that, if I had as many s