Veronica And Other Friends

it blew across the hills, swaying the big trees hither and thither as if they were bulrushes, and now and then tearing off huge branches which fell c

beyond the horizon line, away out of sight. Sometimes in one day, a cruel malady would seize one occupant out of each one of the three or four little villa

ctim to the north wind's cruel stroke, and to bear her to her final resting place. In the quiet room within, two children were seated on a bench, which ran along the wall. They formed a striking contrast to each other. The girl, a little black-eyed frowning thing, dressed in some mourning stuff, f

the girl, and her tones were half angry,

ly. "I shall find something pretty for you presently; then you must sit down quietly and play wi

e rose," said the litt

looked abo

ed, half vexed at having looked for them. "There," said the child, pointing t

often envied her when she used to show it to us in her hymn-book;" and as she spoke, she

not get up from your seats till I com

ed rose, in her hand; it was an old acq

, she used to give her "Fortune rose" to her little Veronica, and it

he picture; suddenly before the astonished eyes of the boy the red full calix of the rose flew open, disclosing a glittering golden verse th

little boy stared with amazement at the ro

to all Tannenegg, though related to no one. She came back to take the rose, and put it into the hook, which she replaced in the cup-board. "Sit still

ays going about the house with eyes red with weeping. Presently she entered the room, and took the children one by each hand, and went to the door with them. She seemed

going, mother?

annenegg. It was so situated that the biting north wind, which blew so sharply over the exposed houses of Tannenegg, did not reach the nook where little Fohrensee lay bathed in the full light of the sun. But the little place was high enough to be visited by all the cooling breezes, and was healthy, pure and fresh, to a remarkable degree. When, not long before this time, an enterprising inn-keeper discovered its health-giving qualities, and built an inn there, guest

ttered dwellings up on the hillside, and soon reached an open space, on which stood a handsome house, with large stables near by. Out from the stable, a hostler had just led a spirit

mother, "we will go on to the house; but you

rs was over. Gertrude apologized, and begged the doctor to excuse her for not having come earlier to see him; she had been very busy with her invalid,

mall mortar that stood on the office table, and shook into it some stuff which he ground with the marble pestle. His eyes fell on the child who stood by Gertrude's side, gazing earnestly at the doctors's occupation. The l

, I fancy," said the doctor, as he filled

he Rehbock they must have been unusually offensive. Apparently they were all somewhat excited, for they could afterwards give no clear account of the affair, but the end was that the Bergamasker came home fatally wounded, and died the next day. Everything has been different among us since the Rehbock was built. Our village used to be quiet and orderly; every one was contented to work all the week and rest on Sunday. Nobody ever heard of such a thing as noisy drinking and rowdyism. But I have another errand w

the child?" asked

mother's illness, and now she is mine. Her mother's family are all gone. She might perhaps be

ild firmly in a low tone, clinging

out a leaf, and drew his pen twic

celled sheet to Gertrude, "that i

d Gertrude. "Go, child, and thank the

herself before the big man, looked steadily at him w

ed more like a comman

ctor l

g she does not really mean. I like that. But come, I must be off," and handing the

d left him, still staring at the restless horse

are of a horse?" he asked

one of my own," replied th

re: stick to that, my boy," sa

by each hand, climbed the h

I can have o

like the doctor, and own a hors

oy no

it still, and if you stick to your work as he has, and never stop nor get tired till it is done, and well done, then you will be a gent

a horse," s

ord of this conversation. Her black eyes blazed out su

be one

ca! that sounds well," cried Dietri

ssed Gertrude's hand firmly and looked up with glowing e

you can be. If she works steadily, and does not grow tired and careless, but keeps on ti

fiery eyes now shone with the light of childish joy as she caught sight of the first flowers that began to peep above the gro

was pursuing the same train of th

have a h

ends on how steadily and how faithfu

es," cried the boy, joyfully. "Wher

t won't do for you to be thinking about the horse all the time, you

ing to decide on which side of the hou

n the hill to the doctor's houses and

taken a turn for the worse