Erick and Sally

t that

ere. When the other three had gone, then Erick should come to him in his study. So it was decided, and when Erick came into the study the pastor pointed to a seat and said: "Now sit down in front of me"-for he himself

gone with them, also how the others had brought large baskets to put grapes in, but he did not know where they were to get the grapes. The pastor, however, now knew everything, for Sally had reported how the Mayor

s not the way which will lead you there. See, you can understand, that you have made friends with a crowd of boys who are on no good road; for, to run about w

is open eyes and ans

anted to come. See, if you had not been saved from it through your mother's song which you heard, you would have been caught

some time, visibly from fear and perplexity, then he ask

nnot go; think of that and keep yourself far from bad companions. And now I will tell you how you

on scatt

ing twigs

gloriou

my soul

ant Erick

rt be ov

nt love a

e will be

ear name t

dear God and look to it before Him, whether you 'Will grace His dear name' as well

adly, as now he looked up again

le, "there is still something else,

N

he is still aliv

ca, to make a large fortune for himself

sisters or brothers of your

N

to whom one could turn,

id Erick, qu

's head and said: "You must not be afraid, my bo

d somewhat falteringly: "Must I go now directly to

l not go there at all, not at all. Now you go d

the sitting-room he found old Marianne sitting there. They had sent word, the evening before, that Erick would not come back for the night, but Marianne could not have gone away without taking leave of him. With many

appenings of yesterday, how Erick had spoiled the game for the grape-thieves, and how they, the would-be thieves, had run far beyond the next two villages before they even became aware that it was only their allies who were chasing them. Kaetheli had

to put him to board at the tailor's, then he would grow into the trade without much trouble, and would have nice companions in the tailor's own boys; they were suited to each other, for the tailor's sons were also dressed as cleanly and carefully as he was. But the pastor had other thoughts; he had a good i

dy taken this loving, trusting boy deep into her heart. But the pastor convinced her that the "keeping altogether" could not be done, since there were nearer obligations to all kinds of relatives, so that one could not give the lit

ried out only by three people, and Sally knew of nothing in the whole world that could have given her greater joy than that now she could be with the new friend fr

the order of the household, since the increasing of the number would mean that in the evening it would take even longer to get to a settlement. But when she noticed that Erick, on the first hint, rose at once and did what was desired, then her fears turned to hopes that

hich was the case on every walk to school, and as often as possible besides, for Edi found large gaps in the historical knowledge of his new friend and felt himself called upon to fill

seeking him, which however sometimes cost him a good deal of time, for the very nearest friends, after all, were Erick and Sally. The two could not be separated. There was a great similarity in their temperaments, for what the one wanted the other liked also, and what the one did not like, did not please the other, and both liked nothing better than to go together up into the woods, where under the old fir-tree was the small be

to Upper Wood, where all good people from Middle Lot came-Kaetheli, for example. Then Erick told her that his mother had asked Marianne about the schools, and after Marianne had explained everything to her, and that fewer children

impatiently. "And then afterwards when you had become an honor

ery seriously, "but you would have to promise me that you would tell

hat," Sally said quickly, for she

s back, to let her have time, "then if you have decided that you will tell no hu

k," she urged. "So, I promise you that I will tell to

s. And on the left side of the house one comes directly into the small forest; there is a pond quite surrounded by dense trees, and a small bench stands above and from there one descends three steps to the little boat that has two oars, and my mother liked best to sit there and row about the pond. For, you see, my mother lived there when she was a child, and also later when she was grown up. And there below, where the la

, dear, what a pity! That is exactly like Adam and Eve in Paradise! Bu

other places, and at last we came to Middle L

once to your grandfather and ask him

honorable man, so that I may say to him: 'I will not bring shame on your name, Grandfather, but Mother wo

ll be a terrible long time. And then you have to go away in the winter to quite strange people, to an institute. Oh, i

more until they reached home, where both of them were much distracted, for both were wandering in thought about the beautiful estate far away. The mother looked several times now at the one, then at the other, for nothing unusual in her ch

rging her to such a pleading prayer, and why had she not said a word about it? Could the child have a secret trouble? She softly opened the door a little, and now

child," she said, "for what did you pray just

id not hear it, Mother? I hope you have not understood it, Mother. Have you

hat you prayed to the dear God for something for Erick. Perhaps we, too, could do s

, I have promised him, and I do not know anything else than for what

ther and the latter's condition; also whether Marianne knew her maiden name. But Marianne did not know much, only once she had seen a strange name, but had not been able to read it. It was when Erick, at one time, had taken the cover from his mother's little Bible; then she saw a name written with golden letter

, and that a father was living there. All this she told to her husband the same

he said at last, "do you really believe that I could send a letter addressed 'von Vestentrop, De

e and such a gentleman could be found. And the wife spoke so long and so impressively to her husband that he finally sat down that very evening and wrote two letters. The one he addressed "To Mr. von Vestentrop in Denmark". This one he enclos