Cornelli

ugh the green branches; dark blue plums, honey sweet, fell here and there from the deeply weighted trees. Whoever passed the garden had to stand stil

hazel nut tree. Matthew was just approaching from the stable; he wor

harness the horses. Your father is coming at eleven o'clock and I am going to drive down to the lake to meet him. Come w

shook h

down some pears? No pears, either?" Matthew went away, shaking his head. "If our master only had half a dozen boys and as many girls, how nice it would be here on t

time the teacher sat beside his pupil shaking his head. He really needed all his patience

ront of the house. Mr. Maelinger was filled with astonishment, for his pupil, instead of jumping

here! We have finished our work," he

es' joyful words of welcome. She crushed a tear that had begun to trickle

"But how strange you look, Cornelli!" he went on with a changed voice. "Wha

ce! Why don't you look at me pleasantly? Why do you keep looking away? For months I have been looking forward to this ho

away and had not said a word. Her face, half hidden by the horrible hair strands, s

f your return and let us keep all troublesome thoughts away." With these words, Miss Dorner led her cousin to the

nly child. She sat in front of him with bowed head, and only now and then looked up at him, quite shyly. The meal did not go through in a very festive spirit. It was noticeable that Mr.

re than I thought it would. He has to give vent to his excitement a little, and I hope that seeing the workmen over there will help him to get over his impression. I hope he will hear the

ch soothed or pleasantly surprised by what he had just heard.

anged. What a frightful sight she is, and how dumb and stupid she has grown. She did not show the slightest sign of pleasure at my coming and has not said a single word since then. She has hardly

lacked them sadly. We did it chiefly on your account. Sorry as I am to say it, Frederick, I have to tell you that the child's disposition is so terribly obstinate one c

it up, for I saw that only physical punishment would help in such a case and I wanted to leave that to you; I did not come into your house for that. I do not ev

down the room with restless st

ught! I will not believe such a thing! Can you give me no advice? What could I do? Ladies surely know how to educate a little girl. Something simply has to be done right away. I am to blame for my

y. "We have thought of a way of helping the child. You might send her to a boarding school in town where there are a great many childr

asked the father doubtfully. "Cornelli is no

when I say that this may be the only means to break her obstinacy, and I am not sure that even this will

"But I fear that you are right. She could not get better here, only worse, and so

ould become again the merry and sociable companion of old days. He tried with all his might to be entertaining when they met at table; but he always had to glance at his little girl, who sat a

little, she said to him on the third day after his arrival: "It seems to me, Frederick, that you are too mu

could be found, but I hope you understand that the change in Cornelli has spoiled everything for me and has only filled me with the thought o

far, Frederick," she said angrily. "How can a man sacrifice ev

"But we shall not talk about it any more, because we could not understand each other.

ell how to make herself liked by them that they were taking her to town, for Mina had wished to become a maid in the city to get aw

sther had been managing in the Director's home she had always felt the honor of the house to be her o

towards the other side

e your hand? This is n

ou are," she said to t

d, "please be so kind as to tell the ladies on the trip who left the dust

ull of astonishment, looked at her glowing fac

r ordered excitedly. She did no

ut had mo

fter a long, long time. "Oh, I am so glad that you said that, Esther; I am more glad than you can think," she said eagerly. "If yo

e she did it herse

aimed. "It is better that she has gone then. We'd rather

ion. "Just tell your father that I do not mind

never change and always had to be like that. She was also certain that he would only abhor her more if he ever found out what was hidden under her locks of hair. She therefore went slowly a

that moment her father opened the door in front of which she stood. "Oh, here you are, Cornelli," he said delightedly. "Did you want t

aying a word and avoidi

g has to be done for your education. It is high time. I shall take you to a boarding school in town, where you can be with many other children and young girls. You will have the chance to learn many things from them and to make friend

udden terror. First she uttered no sound

ood. Oh, don't send me to town to so many children!

plications. "But for her own good it has to be," he said to himself to strengthen

had come for supper and he r

i just now she was crying. I wanted her to taste some of the little plum cakes she usually likes so much, but the poo

returned; "children do

an straight upstairs to Cornelli's room and saw the child on her knees in front of the

on't send me away!" she cr

ar and excitement. "I cannot endure this," he said

what would happen now that she was again left alone with her father. She wondered if the old days would come back, or

w my child and love her; and besides, she is attached to you. Tell me what has come over her. Since when has she been so frightfully st

re of that. But won't you take a seat, Director?" Martha interrupted her speech, placing a chair now here and now t

. "Even an older child might have become shy under those conditions, and Cornelli is still very young. It is hard for a small plant to have too

reat blessing that she was thrown with ladies of culture and refinement, who could awaken in her everything that was good, noble and fine, and could teach her many things. My Cornelia would have done

goes further than many good rules. I know that a young child can be frightened by harsh words more than grown-up people realize. Afterwards they cannot u

hy, spiritless manner, the absolutely changed ways of the child hurt and worry me so. It takes away al

r to a boarding school. I just told her about it and she acted as if she were absolutely desperate. I simply cannot look upon

iences lately that it would be good for her to stay quietly at home for a while. In the meantime you could get her more accustomed to the idea of leaving home, so that it wou

. "Please do all you possibly can to make the idea pleasant and desir

ords Mr. Hell

with her eyes. "What help can old, stupid Martha be to

Cornelli's room. She was still kneeling at her be

rstand me. You shall stay at home for the present; later on you may feel differently about

soling word. It sounded so hopeful after

tha right away?" s

plied her father, "but you h

said Cornelli, already

in. She flew quickly up the litt

the time and he wanted me to stop. But I won't stop, unless you promise to help me to stay at home. I do not want to go to all the strange children. I couldn't stand it; oh, no,

i, I once had to go through a terrible sorrow just as great as yours is to-day. I had to give a child I loved back to God. So I cried, as loudly as you are crying and even louder: 'No, I can't do it, I can't!' The more I fought against it, the

hat, Martha? Will God help me rig

e will bless your life away from home, so that it won't be as hard as you have feared. If you pray to Him, you will get the firm assurance that nothing will be

m your child after all?"

it to Himself,"

u get happy a

ld's peace. I knew how many ills he had been spared. God gave me the assurance

lli, suddenly getting up. It seemed

ink of what I told you!" sa

n home quickly, because the desire t

hat day. Kneeling beside her bed, she confided all her sorrow to