Little Miss Grasshopper

ouse, and his clothes showed that he had pressed through many thorns and prickly

bringing

the bed, laid his head in his h

think. In what condition shall we find the ch

dear Lord has surely taken care of our Rita, for Mamma and

y direction all night long; the child cannot be there. No

and more certain to him. Herr Feland had arranged for a good breakfast to be prepared for the men at Martin's house, and then they

ng at the table and talking excitedly about what to do next. Sep

ed, for they all saw what great anguish and troubl

where

rovingly in his gentle way, "you were up in the hay-fie

y things, and while these were being made read

ly know whe

eized him by the ha

d tell me truly, do you kno

s the sho

en the child? Where has she gone?" asked

They all rose. They all looked at one another. No one kne

llowed the boy wit

n reprovingly, "I really think you

, Herr Feland following, and t

d for the forest they stood

n there, for we have searched through ever

ave any confidence in the boy. But Seppli kept marchi

riers and prickly thistles, to a light spot, where there were many large bushes together, all covered with red flowers. Here he stood still and looked around a little puzzled. He had evidently expected to find Rita

er," cried his father. "We are

to it quickly, but he was close to the wall of rock, which extended, rugged and steep, down to the deep precipice below. Seppli looked around and acro

ried to draw him back from the dangerou

ing down t

Martin, who was still holding Seppli fast by the hand. Then he stepped to the edge and looked down into the depths. Here and there a few bushes hung over the precipice. In one p

re she lies!" said Martin shudd

r Feland closed his lips. He looked as if he we

st. If the child moves she will be over the pre

lowed their little guide through curiosity. They too

ling voice, "there is not a moment to lose. Wh

t. One of them stepped to the edge, looked down, then

e," said another. "But a man risks his life

and, almost beside himself, "and if she stirs she

live. No one could lie as still as that," said another. "And, sir,

r stepped back. Herr Feland looked around h

e exclaimed, beside hims

w stepped

lost, that is sure. But I will do it, with God's help. I, too, hav

or he had decided to bring up the child to her father, whether she was dead or alive. The

o cling fast to the rock, in order to be able to seize the child with his other hand and lift her up. Gently, quietly, he drew

me moment she was about to turn around quickly and would have fallen down beyond recovery, but Martin'

tin, taking a deep breath. "Say the sa

praised and thanked!" said the

t amazement at the child

ou. You must never forget it all your life long, little one," he said thou

tight, as if I were your dear papa, for you see, I cannot hol

uringly and clasping Martin so firmly that

for a moment. Above stood Herr Feland and the men holding their breath and watching the man sway above the precipice. Would hi

-now only the last frightfu

ok the last step over the edge. He took the child from

child and looked at her, speechless, as

th arms around his neck affectionately. "I knew

d for joy the tears fell down over his sun-burned cheeks. Seppli had pressed close to

n his arms, stepped up to Martin.

lse," he said in a trembling voice. "I thank you, as only one can thank another, to whom a

hands, and Marti

at I was able to bring back yo

Feland, and, holding his little girl fast in his arms, he started on th

this way through the woods,

you knew that the little

to go to the red flo

hen that she could be r

lowers keep getting more and more beautiful, and the most beautiful bush of all is t

ting by the bed and holding her mother's hand fast. Quite exhausted, she was leaning her head on the pillo

opened her eyes and stared at her child. Then she suddenly seized her in her arms, pressed her with all her might to her breast, and t

ster's hand fast and ke

Rita? Where were you

his life to save the child. The mother shuddered at the description. She pressed the ch

death?" asked Ella, who from sympath

ppli for the red flowers, but he was away. So I thought he would surely allow me, because I had wanted so much to go the day before, and then did n

CHILD AND LAID HIS BRO

CHILD AND LAID HIS BRO

, and there were more and more flowers, and at last I came to a big, big bush with so many beautiful red flowers. They shone so wonderfully and I wanted them all, every one, and then suddenly I fell down and rested on a stone, but it was a small stone and so I pushed back against the rock and thought I would just lie stil

entle Jesu

ht wings ho

ep me from

anger, pai

leep until

cted by t

l a man came, and I knew righ

owed the story. Her father coul

tep alone," he said in as severe a tone as in h

to the right spot, and she wanted to know all about it. Then the fath

, who grasped this idea with enthusiasm immediately scramble

for Seppli be? What could

wish," said her father. "We will se

right away?" as

once, and also to recompense the other men. Rita jumped all aro

ish for a menagerie, with the big

ave it," was the

ld wish for a Turkish costume and a curve

e that too!"

d want a whole big fortress and twelve

them!" replied

Seppli, who was standi

"now you can have the very

as if her words had awakened something that lay he

s no

u can ask for anything you would like, and you will have it. Papa

oked at Rita once more to prove whether she was really

ith a yel

ed. "You mustn't wish for anything like that. Think once mor

ently, took another

ith a yel

e. The men went away with many expressions of grat

. "To you above all the rest I must prove my gratitude in a way

nd for a while in his hand

, but I dare not tell you what it is; no,

Herr Feland encouragingly

well as my neighbor over there, I would venture to think of buying a cow. I have q

hall see each other again." Then he took Rita b

r friend Seppli w

. "He only wants a whip with a yel

ild has his own pleasures: to Seppli such a whip would give exact

d contented and could hardly w

impressing it upon his little "grasshopper" that she must not take a step alone away from the house, and Fr?ulein Hohlweg received strict instructions. But she had endured such

the table to their meal of steaming potatoes, they heard a loud

ppli had to go too! He ran hurriedly after his father, Martheli, Friedli and Berth

er hands and couldn't speak a word from amazement. Fastened near the house stood a glossy brown cow, so big and splendid, such as was only seen occasionally among

p-handle and on this was written

the whip and ga

yours,"

he could think of was his very own! And, besides, there was the cow, which could

eized his whip, hugged it an

earth can tak

t the splendid animal. That it was to belo

y Mart

e her milk. Seppli, bring the pail

placed with the potatoes on the table; then all accompa

wanted to see how the brown cow was received, and Rita had, above all, to know what impres

ll of rock in order to give praise and thanks from their full hearts once more to the dear

nd