Uncle Titus and His Visit to the Country

er friend Lili had been a favorite pupil of Mrs. Kurd's husband. What pleasure the ardent teacher had taken in these pupils, a

een her before since she had had the strangers from Karlsruhe in her house. There was a great deal to say about them and especially about the accident

and told her how deeply she regretted the accident, and inquired in a friendly way after her health and that of Mr. Ehrenreich. Aunt Ninette lost no time in giving her full particulars of her husband's illness; how he had sadly needed fresh country air, and how she had made inquiries for a quiet secluded spot, and ha

t at all, he certainly ought to have an unusually airy place to work in. I have an idea; quite at the farthest end of our garden, away from the house, and from the frequented part of the g

said she would suggest it to her husband, and she

ou to come to see us to-day and every day. You shall get wel

her aunt looked at her with surprise, for she had never seen an expression like that in them before. This beam of delight that transfigured the child's face, spoke so directly to Mrs. Birkenfeld's heart,

go over into the garden, and stay there till late in

seasonable. He even proposed to go to the summer-house directly, and his wife accompanied him. They took the longest way, round the outside of the garden, so as to avoid meeting any one. At the farthest end they came to a little garden-gate which led directly to the secluded summer-house. Close to the little house were two old nut-trees and a weeping willow, with thick pendent br

a long breath of the pure air which blew in through the open doors and windows, and softly rubbed his hands wi

ing they had been through, that they confessed at once, and told him the whole story, including their horror at the cry of pain, and adding that their mother had now gone to the cottage, to inquire who had been hit. Then they showed Rolf where they had fired the arrow through the hedge, and to be sure there it was, lying on the ground, in Mrs. Kurd's garden. The recovery of his treasure put Rolf again in good-humor

?" "How big is it?" "What is

tight that she could scarcely use it. She said that the child was apparently about Paula's age; that she spoke excellent German, and looked very nice and well-bred; that her name was Dora, and last of all, that she was to come into t

wait till afternoon. Rolf was sure that Dora was just the right age to guess his charades, and that he should make friends with her at once on that ground. The twins had a feeling that Dora belonged es

r I can go to her Saturdays, when all the chairs are s

, I want to get some good out

, "she can help you get off your riding-boots-y

ing," said J

m a distance, and she knew them all by sight; she already felt partly acquainted with them, and each one had excited an individual interest in her mind. But they had not even seen her, at all; she was a perfectly strange child to them. And then she said to herself with real distress, that she was so ignorant and

ra, you

herself in full view of the whole family. Directly in front of her, under the apple-tree, sat Mr. and Mrs. Birkenfeld, and round about them were the six children. Her timidity came back again, at seeing the parents, fo

her as cordially as if she were an old friend. So, occupied with questions and greetings, she came to where the parents sat, and they were so friendly and kind

lar thing to say to her. Paula spoke least; but she looked at the new acquaintance, as if she were making a study of her. Rolf, Wili and Lili stood

l not come a second time;" remarked Julius, who sat stretched out at full

Not much older than I

just t

said Lili regretfully, who had hoped that Dora w

age; at least nearer mine than Pau

t for special companionship. "Are you good a

Hunne, putting in his oar, "Now guess mine

boy's charade ruth

riddle, Hunne; it is no ridd

destined to finish his verses, for Lili had seized Dor

on the piano, and Lili thought this a good excuse for stealing the new friend for herself. Lili

speak to him, as Lili drew her away, "I am not good at g

one?" asked Rolf,

t. Wili also went with them, and all four betook themselves to the school-room where the piano stood. The twins had been taking music lessons from Miss Hanenwinkel for more than a year, not so much because their parents cared about having them learn to play on the piano, as beca

or for playing it somewhat cooled, and she rever

e most tedious thing in the world. Why, when I have to practise, I get

ook at the piano, "Oh, if I could only sit down there

ra sat by, thirstily drinking in the sounds, and looking as charmed as if Lili were conferring some substantial benefit upon her. The sight of her

Lili was now quite in the spirit of it, and did not stop for

any other tun

etter; but I know what I will do, Dora, just wait till to-morrow, and then I will

overjoyed at the bare idea, that Lili at once d

y had forgotten that. But Lili di

, "and meantime I will learn ever so many pi

great variety of good things. As she sat there looking about at these new acquaintances who already seemed like old friends, Dora felt as if she were dreaming; it was so much more delightful even than she had hoped; and she was almost afraid that she should wa

pull the riding-boots off very well. You'll help about that, won't you, Dora?" "Eat your cakes, and be quiet, Hunne," said Jule, in a warning tone; and Dora did not

empt to talk with Dora; but when supper was

with me a lit

, for she now took her new friend by the hand, and led her away down the garden path. The twins and Hunne, and even Rolf, were soon tired of waiting for Dora to come back, and went calling and searching everywhere for her; but they could not find her; she had quite disappeared. In fact, Paula had taken her all round the garden, and then up to her

orgetful of all the world besides, till the stars stood shinin

noticed how dark it had grown, and recollected that her aunt would be expecting her. The other children were waiting below, r

ght you were going to guess

t Dora would come every day to see them and would take lessons with them too. This satisfied them, and they charged Dora to come very early and stay

ome with her. As they crossed the grass plot towards the cottage,

ling stars up there? I know them very well; they were m

are on our map of the Heavens.

ngly. "Don't those five all belong together, and have one name? There are others too that look

idea of giving lessons in astro

ly; "I will tell them all to you one after

ed Dora how

ou very much, but no more to-night. T

hen, Dora, don't f

e many pleasures of the day, that she sprang up-stairs to Aunt Ninette, and began to tell her every

may go to your arm! Go to sleep as quick as

ppiness; she resolved that when these holidays were over she would go back to her work again without complaint; no matter how long the hours migh