← catalogue

Pixy's Holiday Journey

by George Lang · English · Gutenberg #15426 · 287,172 chars · public domain (US)

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pixy's Holiday Journey
    
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.

Title: Pixy's Holiday Journey

Author: George Lang

Translator: Mary E. Ireland


        
Release date: March 21, 2005 [eBook #15426]
                Most recently updated: December 14, 2020

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15426

Credits: E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY ***


E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distributed Proofreading Team



PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY

Translated from the German of GEORGE LANG

by MARY E. IRELAND

1906







TO THE TWO DEAR BOYS, HUGH D. SHEPARD AND GEORGE H. IRELAND,
BOTH OF WHOM TOOK KEEN PLEASURE IN LISTENING TO THE READING OF THE
MANUSCRIPT OF THE HOLIDAY JOURNEY OF THREE BOYS AND PIXY, THE STORY, NOW
IN BOOK FORM, IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED BY

THE TRANSLATOR.

Washington, D.C.




CONTENTS

CHAPTER

      I. THE GRECIANS AND THE TROJANS

     II. THEY MEET A KIND FRIEND

    III. AT THE SWAN INN

     IV. A KIND WELCOME

      V. FRITZ IN TROUBLE

     VI. A WHOLE DAY OF SIGHT-SEEING

    VII. THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

   VIII. PIXY IN TROUBLE

     IX. THEY VISIT THE CLOTHING MOUSE

      X. PIXY'S EARNINGS

     XI. IN THE DESERTED CABIN

    XII. A WELL-SPRING OF PLEASURE




PIXY'S HOLIDAY JOURNEY




CHAPTER I

THE GRECIANS AND THE TROJANS


There were three boys in the same class in the polytechnic school in the
mountainous Odenwald country, in Hesse Darmstadt, who were such great
friends and inseparable companions that the other pupils named them "the
three-leaved clover." They were near of an age--about eleven--and near
of a size; and their names were Fritz, Paul and Franz.

Fritz was an active, energetic boy, had coal black hair and bright,
black eyes which looked out upon the world with the alert glance of
a squirrel in a cage.

Paul had brown hair, brown eyes and brown complexion, was of reflective
manner, and willing to follow where Fritz led.

Franz was a robust boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, and
cheeks like cherries which had ripened in the sun.

They had been firm friends ever since the day that Fritz had had a
combat with a larger boy, and Franz and Paul ran to his assistance. But
the big boy was victor, leaving Fritz on the field of battle with a
bleeding nose, Franz with a bruise upon his forehead, and Paul with a
fiery-red cheek, caused by slaps from the hand of the foe. From that
hour the three united for life or death in an alliance for defense
against an enemy and resolved to provide themselves with weapons, also a
place to keep them when not in active service; said place to be called
the armory.

It was a subject of much thought and discussion to secure a suitable
place, but at length Franz brought the welcome news that his father had
sold the calf that day, and the nice shed it had occupied was vacant.
This was delightful news and when school was out they hurried there,
drove nails in the board walls, and hung up their spears which were made
of pine wood, and, like the shields hanging beside them, were glistening
with gold and silver paper. On the opposite wall were the sombre bows
and arrows, brightened, however, by the nearness of three brilliant
helmets with waving plumes made of black yarn.

The array of weapons seemed so warlike that it called to memory the
battle between the Grecians and the Trojans as recorded in Homer's
_Iliad_, which their class was reading in school; and they then and
there decided to take the names of their favorite Greek heroes.

"I will be Odysseus," said Fritz.

"I will be Achilles," responded Franz.

"And I," said Paul after due reflection, "will be Patroclus."

"And let us call that fellow that fought us a Trojan," suggested Franz.

"Agreed," cried Fritz. "Let us call all of our enemies Trojans."

This proposition was received with warmth and they solemnly shook hands
to clinch the compact.

It was a shadow to their enjoyment that while there was an outside bolt
to their armory, there was no lock and key, and there were plenty of
Trojans in school who would wish no better amusement than to break in
and carry off the weapons. To prevent such a catastrophe, it was decided
that the moment school was out, one of them must run to the armory and
remain on guard until all the boys had gone to their homes. They were to
take turns in this duty, and Franz was appointed as sentinel for that
evening.

When he reached the shed he heard the sound of movement inside the
armory, yet the bolt was not withdrawn. He stood a moment in mute wonder
for he could not understand how a Trojan could get in when there was no
window, and but one door, and it bolted on the outside. He called
several times, but there was no answer, and he was more than glad when
he saw Fritz running through the gateway of the barnyard. Emboldened by
the sight of the Grecian warrior, he pushed back the bolt, the door flew
open, and out rushed a hog, squealing with delight at regaining his
liberty. Without delay it made for the open gateway, ran between the
feet of the advancing Fritz, upset him, causing him to measure his
length with that of the hog's back, then after a few turns about the
yard, upset the pursuing Achilles-Franz and ran to the top of a heap of
sodden straw, where it shook off Odysseus-Fritz, then ran nimbly down
and out the gateway to the road. To fill to overflowing the measure of
their ill-luck, some of the Trojans who had safely passed the gate
sometime before, heard the squealing, and ran back in time to see
Odysseus shaken off upon the straw-heap, and Achilles in the act of
grasping the pig by its tail. They broke into jeering laughter, shrill
whistles, and witty speeches which stung the Grecian heroes into
helpless fury.

But they could not take time to retaliate; the escaped fugitive was
going down the road at a commendable pace had he been going to school,
and Achilles was again Franz, his father's son, and the pig must be
brought back and with no help but that of Fritz, for he scorned to ask
the grinning Trojans to join in the chase, nor would it have been of any
use to ask, for they preferred to remain at the gate and watch the race,
which they enjoyed to the limit. The pig had a good start and was a
brisk runner, but after many twistings and turnings, sprints and
boltings, it allowed itself to be driven into a fence corner just at the
moment that Paul appeared upon the scene.

A short discussion followed this happy meeting, which resulted in Franz
grasping one ear of the recreant pig and Fritz the other, while Paul
took charge of the tail, to pull or push as the necessities of the case
demanded. The pig was finally made to back out and face about, and their
homeward journey was commenced.

It was well for them that the waiting Trojans had caught a glimpse of a
teacher coming through the gate of the school yard, or they would have
had trouble getting their captive through the gateway into the barnyard.
As it was, the coast was clear, and the pig, in spite of his squealings
and gruntings, was back in his cell, the door shut and the bolt pushed
into its socket.

Then the three heroes with beads of perspiration rolling from their
foreheads sat down under the shade of an apple tree to discuss the
situation. Since their armory was demeaned into a pig-pen, it was
necessary to remove their weapons and put them in a secure place; but
where? That was the question.

There was a summer-house in the garden of Franz's home which was never
used, was rain-proof, and had a good door with a strong catch, but no
lock and key or even a bolt. Being near the dwelling it was secure, as
no opposing schoolboy would dare go through the garden to break into
their armory and carry off the weapons.

This suggestion was hailed with hearty appreciation, and in good spirits
they drove nails into the walls and carried their helmets and beloved
weapons one by one and put them in that place of refuge; then went to
their suppers, and to prepare their lessons for the following day.

Their arrival in the school yard the next morning was announced by the
laughter and jeers of their opponents.

"Say, did you imagine that your hog was Hector on the walls of Troy when
it ran up the straw-heap?" shouted one.

"No, he thought he was Hercules, but found that instead of being strong
enough to carry the hog, the hog had to carry him," laughed another.

The three friends passed on into the schoolroom, red with anger but
helpless to defend themselves; their tormentors following, for there
was more sport in store which not one of them wished to miss.

Upon the great blackboard was a very fair picture in chalk of the
exploit with the hog, and the laughing, jeering and shrill whistling
were resumed when they saw the anger of the three friends. The muscular
and energetic Fritz rushed to the blackboard to rub out the offending
cartoon, but his hands were held by the enemy, his struggles to release
them were useless, and he went to his seat in anger and mortification.

At that moment the teacher came, and hearing the sound of weeping he
asked the cause. As Odysseus-Fritz was unable to speak for sobbing, the
enemy had the welcome chance to give an account of the tilt between the
"three-leaved clover" and the four-footed Hector, and as the wit of the
school was spokesman, the story lost nothing of its mirth-provoking
quality.

The teacher tried his best to look grave over the affair, but the
narrative, together with its illustration on the blackboard, was too
much for him and he took such a sudden and violent spell of coughing
that he was compelled to put his handkerchief to his mouth and go
outside the door. Every boy in the room, including the three Grecian
warriors, knew that he went out to indulge in the laughter that he could
not restrain, and the enemy's triumph was complete.

"You must rub that miserable sketch from the board," he said upon his
return, "and write in place of it, 'Do unto others as you would have
them do to you,' which will remain there until we need the board for an
exercise."

It was a great relief to the three friends that the summer holiday was
so near at hand that there would be but little more time for the
Trojans to trouble them. Every boy in school had a plan in view as to
the way the holiday was to be spent.

"We are going out to the woods every day," said one group of boys. "We
will take our luncheon and will fish in the brook, and find good places
to set snares in the fall."

"We are going to the woods, too," said another group, "and will gather
flowers to press for our herbariums."

But our three friends could overmatch all the pleasures mentioned by
their schoolmates, for they had the promise from their parents that they
should go to the city of Frankfort on the Main river to visit an aunt of
Fritz. Every day their schoolmates heard from some one of the three, or
perhaps from all, of the pleasures expected from their first journey,
and their visit to a city to remain a whole week. This again aroused the
jeers of the enemy which they bore bravely, knowing that it was only
envy; so went on serenely with their preparations for the visit.

Their homes were but a short distance apart, therefore out of school as
well as in they were much together and all their talk was upon the visit
to Frankfort, and of the things they would take, their plans subject to
change from day to day.

The father of Fritz took a Frankfort paper which the boy read carefully,
and reported the dangers of a great city to his comrades. From these
readings the three considered the city highly dangerous and they
resolved to go well prepared for any attack that might be made upon
them, either upon the journey or during their sojourn in the great city,
which its own paper denounced as wicked.

One morning he announced to his companions that he was well fixed to go,
for he had now a weapon which could be depended upon, and showed them an
old hunting-knife thick with rust, which he had concealed under his
jacket, and which was to be placed in the armory until time to start
upon the journey; and the ever watchful enemy saw that something very
important was going on among the Grecian heroes.

In truth there was something very important, for they were arranging to
go upon their journey wearing their helmets with waving plumes, and with
their shields and spears, and Franz and Paul were to have weapons to
place with that of Fritz in the armory. But who can describe their
surprise and dismay when that evening they went to put the
hunting-knife in its proper place, they found the armory plundered, and
everything gone! The enemy had come in an unguarded moment and carried
everything away. But where? That was the question, for they had not the
least doubt as to who did it, for the tracks of boys' boots were in the
moist ground, and Fritz was quite sure that he knew whose they were,
whereupon Franz laughed, although as much grieved as were the others
over the loss of their belongings.

"Yes, laugh as much as you please!" cried Fritz excitedly, "but when Mr.
Colbert's house was robbed he tracked the thief by a piece of buttered
bread which he had dropped in his flight. A piece bitten out of it
showed that the thief had lost a front tooth, and he had the man whom he
suspected arrested. When he came to trial they made him bite into a
piece of buttered bread, and it was exactly like the piece that Mr.
Gilbert had found."

"Your story is very good, but what help will it be in this case?"
enquired the logical Franz. "Do you think the Trojans will be so
obliging as to walk here and put their feet in the tracks?"

"Then name a better way."

"I don't know any."

"Then the only way left," remarked the reflective Paul, "is to watch the
faces of the suspects when we go to school in the morning, and maybe we
can spot the ones who did it."

As there seemed nothing more to do about it, they left the rifled armory
and went to their homes.

The next morning as they neared the schoolyard they heard loud laughing
which they could not lay altogether to the near approach of the holiday.
They hurried in, and were quickly surrounded by their schoolmates who
with laughter and jeers pointed to the top of the climbing pole; and oh,
misery! there hung the helmet of Achilles, its plume waving in the
morning air. Speechless and helpless the three friends stood, and would
have given the last penny in their savings banks if a hawk or some other
large bird would swoop down upon it and send it to the ground.

"Now here is an exercise in physical culture," cried one of the Trojans,
in the tone and manner of the professor in that line of instruction.
"One of our Grecian heroes will kindly ascend and bring the helmet
down."

This called for peals of laughter and shrill whistles from the Trojans,
for they knew that no one of the Grecians could climb to the top and it
was a delight to see them redden with shame. But the restless Fritz was
not willing to give up without trying to scale the giddy height.

"Here, Franz," he cried, "hold my books. Paul, here is my jacket and
hat. Stand back, boys, and see if I am the coward they think me," and
soon his legs and arms were in motion. The laughter and jeering of the
Trojans stimulated him to his greatest effort, and he had almost reached
the top when his efforts ceased.

"He is only resting," cried Franz and Paul anxiously.

"No, his strength has given out and you will see him coming down in a
moment," said one of the Trojans.

Hearing this, Fritz made one last effort, and holding on to the pole
with one arm, he reached up for the helmet, but it was farther off than
he thought. His strength had given out, and he slid rapidly down and
dropped in a heap, pale and weak from over-exertion, and for a moment
unable to rise.

The shouts and laughter of the Trojans impelled the three to flee to the
schoolroom for refuge, but their arms were held by the enemy and they
were led to a linden tree in the school yard and bidden to look up.
There amid the branches lay the three lances and the bows and arrows.
The tumult of laughter and shouting was now beyond all bounds, and at
that moment the principal of the school made his appearance and was soon
in the midst of the wild, surging crowd.

"Who put that gilt paper cap on the point of the climbing pole?" he
asked.

No one answered and the Trojans looked at each other in dismay.

"Whose cap is it?" he asked.

"It is mine," replied Achilles-Franz, "and some of these boys got it
from the place I keep it and before I got here this morning put it on
the pole."

"Do you know which of the boys did it?"

"No, sir."

"Go to the schoolroom and ask Professor Moot to please step here."

"Professor," said the principal, when the teacher of physical culture
stood among them, "how many of your pupils can climb to the top of the
pole?"

"Five of them can do it easily; two of them have not yet come, but there
are three here."

"Step here, you three, and show me the palms of your hands," said the
principal, and with very red faces the three obeyed.

"This is the boy," he continued, as the red palms proved that the boy
had recently climbed the pole, "and because you were a coward and would
not answer when I asked, you get no recess to-day. Now pass your books
to your neighbor and bring down that cap."

Like a poor criminal going to the gallows, the Trojan went to the pole
and began the ascent with his already tender hands. He would have asked
for a postponement had not the serene face of the principal warned him
that it would not be granted. With much effort he reached the top, took
off the helmet, and slipped rapidly down with it in his hand.

"Lay it on the window sill there, and go up the linden tree and bring
down the lances."

"Where did you get these things?" was the next question.

"I, we--we took them from the summer house which Franz and Fritz and
Paul call their armory."

"Who was with you?"

"William Cross, Otto Eidman and Henry Frolick."

"Professor, there were two more helmets," explained Fritz, stepping
forward.

"Where have you put the others?" asked the principal, sharply.

"Under the table in the lecture-room."

"Very well. You four boys will have an hour's arrest in the lecture-room
after school and when released you will take the things back and put
them exactly where you found them. Now you can go into the class-room."

With very sheepish faces the Trojans filed in, followed by the
triumphant Grecian heroes.

When school was out for the day they hurried to the armory to await the
coming of the Trojans with the weapons, while the boys in the class who
had not allied themselves to either Trojans or Grecians gathered in the
yard under the window of the lecture-room to see the vanquished ones
come out with the weapons when the hour of arrest was over. Before the
hour was spent they were joined by others who in passing the open gate
saw them and were glad to wait to see the four delinquents pass out.

At length the clock in the old church-tower struck the four solemn
strokes. The hour of arrest was over, but the Trojans did not come.
They waited five, ten minutes, still no sign or sound of their coming.

"I believe I hear a stir. Yes, they are coming," whispered one, rubbing
his hands in glee.

"And I can tell exactly how they will act," commented another. "Otto
will be crying from shame and anger at having to carry the things back.
Cross will hide his eyes with his arm, and Henry will hold a high head
as much as to say, 'who cares.'"

"But why don't they come? The hour was out when we came," said a
newcomer.

At that moment the lecture-room door opened quickly and the stern face
of the principal appeared, and the boys joined in a stampede.

"Halt!" cried the professor. "Come here! Why are you boys loitering here
so long after school hours?"

The boys reddened, but no one spoke.

"Henry Strong, speak; what are you doing here?"

"We wanted--we thought--we--"

"Out with it."

"The boys are to take back the weapons."

"Well, what of that?"

"We are staying to see them."

"Indeed! Well, that is just what I expected, so I gave them permission
to go out the back way some time ago and take the weapons to their
places. By this time they are quietly eating their suppers in their
homes."

There were many red faces at hearing the joke turned upon them, and they
went quietly out of the yard, glad to be away from the piercing gaze of
the principal, feeling that he could see into their hearts and minds as
well as he could see through the lecture-room window.

In the meantime Odysseus-Fritz, Achilles-Franz and Patroclus-Paul were
in triumphant possession of their weapons, and to add to their happiness
they had a safe place to keep them, for the father of Franz, who was
keeper of the forest, gave them a room in the forest cabin. It had a
lock and keys and the Grecian warriors realized that many a dark cloud
has a silver lining.




CHAPTER II

THEY MEET A KIND FRIEND


The interest in their weapons gave place in a few days to preparations
for the journey to Frankfort; and they decided to walk, just as such
healthy, energetic boys would prefer, taking two days for the journey,
and stopping for the one night at some wayside inn.

The mothers prepared the outfit, the main part of the clothing for the
three boys to be packed in one satchel and sent by express to the home
of Mrs. Fanny Steiner, the widowed sister of Fritz's father, and the
boys were to carry their school knapsacks strapped across their
shoulders, containing the few articles they would need upon their
journey. The fathers agreed to furnish funds for the journey, and the
three travelers, not having to bother about clothing or money, could
give all their attention to the subject of weapons with which to
overcome the dangers which might beset them on the way.

Fritz brought forward his rusty knife; Paul had found an old pistol of
the time of the first Napoleon, in which lay no danger because it would
not shoot; and Franz had an old cutlass which hung by a cord at his
side. They praised each other's weapons, but Fritz and Paul could not
help envying the owner of the cutlass.

"Listen," said Fritz. "We need not always carry our own weapons upon the
journey, we can exchange when we feel like it."

Paul agreed heartily to this, but Franz was silent; he did not wish any
one to have a share in his new possession.

"I know what I can do," exclaimed Fritz. "Just wait a minute," and he
ran home, returning with a leather belt and a cord, and soon his knife
was hanging by his side.

"Why can't I wear my pistol in my belt like the men do in pictures?"
questioned Paul. "I will run home and get mine."

This was brought, and the three warriors were equipped to their hearty
satisfaction, for they had already provided their straw hats with plumes
from the cast-off tail feathers of roosters in their respective poultry
yards.

They decided to have beside other needed things in each knapsack a
drinking cup that they might slake their thirst along the way from cool
springs, or clear running water, or a convenient well or pump.

Franz had a silver watch which all agreed would be very useful. Paul had
a box of tapers which he considered equal to a wonder-lamp in a fairy
tale, and Fritz had a small compass, so correct in its bearings that if
they trusted to it there was not the least danger of losing their way.

"Oh," he continued jubilantly, "let us run and get our knapsacks and
hang them across our shoulders and go to the photographer and ask what
he will charge to take our pictures."

"Agreed!" cried the others gleefully, and they were about to go when
they heard the sound of hearty laughter, and turning, they saw the
father of Franz.

"Wait, boys," he said, "there is danger of being arrested on the way.
Don't you know that it is against the law to carry weapons?"

"But, father, people do carry them."

"Yes, but they take good care to keep them hidden."

"We could keep ours hidden."

"But where? Could Paul hide his pistol in his hat, and could Franz put
the cutlass in his vest pocket as if it were a tooth-pick? Oh no, boys,
lay aside the old weapons and travel along the public road as peaceable
citizens with no thought of being harmed or of harming anyone. The roads
of our beloved Fatherland are not infested with bandits and footpads,
and you can go with contented minds and with no fear of danger upon your
travels. Now it is time to part; good-night, boys. Go home to a good
supper and a good sleep. Come, Franz."

The next day came the selecting of things that were to go in the
knapsacks and each boy had collected enough of what they considered
really needed to fill them to overflowing.

"What is this?" asked the mother of Franz, who was about to help him
with his knapsack, as they were to take an early start the next morning.

"It is my checker-board. We can play in the evenings before we go to
bed."

"Oh, you cannot take it! see, it would take up half the room in the
knapsack. You will be so tired in the evenings that you will be ready to
drop asleep before you take off your shoes. Where are your stockings?"

"Why, they will go in the satchel, mother; I don't have to carry them."

"Yes, you must take one pair. Your feet will be dusty from your long
walk, and you must have a fresh pair for the second day. Where is your
rain-coat?"

"Rain-coat? Why, I never thought of it."

"A checker-board would not keep the rain from wetting you should there
come up a sudden shower. You must have it in, no matter what you leave
at home."

"Paul and Fritz did not say they would take their rain-coats in their
knapsacks."

"Perhaps not, but their mothers did, and mothers know best. What is in
this box?"

"My writing paper; you gave it to me at Christmas."

"A hundred sheets! Do you expect to write a hundred letters while you
are in Frankfort? If so, you will not see much of the city. You must
take in your knapsack only what you will really need upon your journey,
and with only that you will find it heavy enough."

The mother put the knapsack in care of Franz when ready for the journey,
and he took it to his room; then hurried to the home of Fritz to see how
the packing was progressing there, and found that the good mother of the
boy had given the same wise advice in regard to the packing of the
knapsack. Then the two went to the home of Paul and found that the same
plan had ruled out the useless things that Paul had intended should
journey to Frankfort in his knapsack.

At six o'clock the next morning Franz and Paul had bidden their home
people an affectionate farewell and were on their way to meet Fritz,
when they saw him coming, knapsack upon his shoulder and leading his dog
by a new green cord tied to the collar.

"Oh, Fritz!" they exclaimed in a breath, "surely you are not going to
take Pixy on the journey to Frankfort?"

"Surely I am! He wants to go, and I am going to take him."

"Does your father and mother know it?"

"No, certainly not, or Pixy would be at home this minute."

"But you had no right to take him without telling them," said the
thoughtful Paul.

"Pixy is mine and I have a right to take him, but I wish them to know
that I have him, so I have written a postal telling them, and will drop
it in the village letter box. That will make it all right."

"But your Aunt Fanny. Will she like to have him?" asked Franz,
doubtfully.

"Oh, she loves Pixy, and will be glad to see him. When she comes to
visit us in the summers, she always takes Pixy with her when she walks
to the village or calls to see the neighbors. Yes, indeed; she will be
very, very glad to have him there."

"He will have to eat on his way to Frankfort," remarked Paul.

"Yes, but mother put up a great deal more than I can eat in this one
day, and I will share with Pixy."

"And I," and "I, too," said the others, for in their hearts they were
glad to have his company; "but are you going to lead him all the way
with that rope?"

"No, indeed; he doesn't need it, and I will take it off, and put it in
my knapsack as soon as we are past the village. I only brought it to put
on him when we are in the streets of Frankfort to keep him from getting
frightened and running away."

The rope was taken off and put in the knapsack, and then Fritz made
another proposition.

"Let us take off our shoes and stick our stockings in them, swing them
from our knapsacks, and go barefoot."

"All right!" agreed the others, and soon they were rejoicing in the
luxury of bare feet, but not long, for Paul struck his toe against a
stone, then getting a briar in his foot, sank down upon a green bank and
took it in his hand.

"I see the briar," exclaimed Fritz, "and can take it out."

"Oh, no, it will hurt," objected Paul, with tears in his eyes, but his
tears changed to smiles when he saw the briar in the hand of Fritz.

This was a warning and they put on their stockings and shoes, and then
concluded to eat some more breakfast.

"What have you to eat?" asked Fritz, as Franz took his package from his
knapsack.

"I have brown bread; mother made it for me because I love it, and she
put plenty of good sausage with it."

"Nothing better!" said Fritz, heartily. "What have you, Paul, for your
second breakfast?"

"I have bread and butter and two eggs."

"And I have bread and butter and ham, and if either of you boys want a
slice of it, just speak. It is fine, I tell you," said Fritz.

"Oh, say, boys," exclaimed Franz, "let us divide our breakfast, share
and share alike. If either of you would like some of my brown bread and
sausage, say so, and you shall have it."

"I love brown bread and sausage, too," remarked Paul, "and either of you
can have part of the eggs, only that I do not know how to divide two
into three parts."

"Easy enough," explained Franz, "you can give me one egg, and I will
give you the biggest piece of my sausage, then you can cut the other egg
in two for you and Fritz."

"All right, here is the egg."

"And here is the sausage, the largest piece for you. Fritz, here is
yours."

"That is fine; here, Franz, take part of my ham."

"Here is a slice of my white bread for a slice of your brown," continued
Paul.

"All right, reach for it. You will find that it goes as well with
sausage as does an egg with white bread; now let's eat."

Fritz had not waited for any invitation. He was hungry and as he ate the
sausage which he was holding in one hand, he passed the ham to Franz, in
exchange for it. As Paul reached for the slice of brown bread, his piece
of sausage fell to the ground and was snapped up by the waiting Pixy.

"Now I have no sausage, and it was your dog, Fritz, that robbed me of
it," complained Paul in a disappointed tone.

"Yes, and I would give you my share, but I have eaten it; eat the ham,
Paul, and take back this half egg."

This was agreed to as fair, then the subject of drink to go with the
food was discussed, and their little tin cups were taken from their
knapsacks.

"What have you in your bottle, Fritz?" asked Paul.

"Chocolate; what have you?"

"Milk; and Franz has coffee. Will we share as we did our food?"

"Yes, let's share," so time about the little cups were filled with the
different fluids, and they ate and drank and chatted. Nor was Pixy
forgotten. He made an abundant meal from the scraps, and lay down in the
shade and slept.

"Let us keep our cups in hand until we come to a running stream of
water. Milk, coffee and chocolate are all good, but it is water you want
when you are real thirsty."

The running stream was found after they had walked a half mile further
and Fritz had to hold Pixy by the collar to keep him from running in and
taking a bath before they had satisfied their thirst. The water was
delightfully cool and fresh, and the moment Fritz let go the cord Pixy
plunged in, and enjoyed the bath so much that the boys were tempted to
follow his example. But they had heard that it was not good for the
health to bathe so soon after a hearty meal, so sat in the shade while
Pixy slept in the sun until his long, silky, black hair was nearly dry.
Then they arose and walked on until about the middle of the day they
reached a village which had an old church with a tall tower, and a
number of small dwellings, two of them being public houses, or inns.

"To which of the two will we go to take our dinners?" asked Franz.

"To the one that has the gilt lion on the sign-board. I believe they are
richer people and will give us a better dinner," replied Paul.

"But it will cost us more," objected Fritz, "and you know that we have
just so much money, which must last until we get back to the Odenwald.
Let us go to the one that looks the cheapest."

This was agreed to, and the three went in, and were received by the
landlady.

"Do you wish your dinners?" she asked, seeing that none of them seemed
inclined to give an order.

No one of them had ever been in a public house, so each waited for the
other to speak.

"Yes, we wish dinner," said Fritz at length. "Have you lettuce?"

"Yes; what will you have with it?"

"Potatoes."

"But they take so long to boil, so think of something else."

"We will have meat."

"I have no meat to-day."

"Then we will take sausage."

"I have no sausage to-day."

"Then what have you?"

"Noodle soup, and a cherry pudding."

"Good!" exclaimed the boys in a breath, "we all like pudding."

"Very well, take seats at this table and I will bring in the dinner."

The boys were not slow in obeying; there was no tablecloth but the pine
table was scoured to almost perfect whiteness, and the dishes, few and
poor though they were, glistened.

A large dish of lettuce was set before them, then a bowl of soup at each
plate, and some thick slices of brown bread.

"What drink will you have?" she asked.

"We prefer milk."

"There is no milk. It all went into the pudding, but you can have plenty
of cold coffee."

"No, we will take water, please."

This was brought, and when the soup was finished, the pudding was
brought, and although it was of fair size not a vestige of it was left;
and it was then that Fritz remembered Pixy.

"Oh, boys, I forgot him and we have eaten all the pudding from him," he
said, remorsefully.

"We will each give a penny and ask the mistress to give him some
dinner," said Paul.

But it was not needed. Pixy had been well fed on the remains of the
soup, and was ready to journey as soon as they gave him notice. Fritz
thanked the kind woman, and she in turn was pleased with the well-bred
boys who had given evidence of being satisfied with the food, and had
paid her the price she asked.

Then they set out cheerily and soon broke into a melody they sang at
school. They had good voices and sang with spirit. So interested were
they that they did not hear the sound of wheels although a carriage was
coming slowly behind them, and a gentleman who was in it was listening
with pleasure. At length the song was finished and the boys heard the
sound of wheels, halted and turned, then lifted their hats to the
stranger.

"I hope you will keep on with your singing. I love it, and I love boys,"
said the gentleman in a pleasant voice. "I like to see them on their
travels. Have you any objection to telling me where you are going?"

"To Frankfort," they all replied at once.

"Why not go by railway?"

"We wished to walk all the way."

"Of course you expect to stay over night somewhere?"

"Yes, we expect to stay to-night at an inn if it is not too expensive.
If it is, we will sleep on straw somewhere. We would not mind that this
warm weather."

"People who are used to a bed would find it very uncomfortable to sleep
on straw. What place did you expect to reach by evening?"

"The village of Umstadt; and we think we can find an inn there where we
can stay."

"It is quite a long distance from here, and you would be very late in
reaching it. You will get there much faster if you will step into my
carriage, for I expect to pass through the village on my way to my
home."

"Would there be room for my dog Pixy?" asked Fritz, anxiously.

"Certainly there is room. Two of you boys can sit on the back seat, and
the other can sit by me and the dog can sit between us."

It seemed to the three that an angel had come down to help them on their
journey, for they were woefully tired, and evening was coming on.
Therefore it was with smiling countenances that they climbed in and took
seats. The gentleman spoke quietly to his horse and off they went on
their way to the village.

"Do you think it lightens the burden for my horse that you keep your
knapsacks on your shoulders?" smiled the gentleman. "If you lay them off
you will see that he can trot just as well; and if there were a dozen
boys he would not consider them a burden but would keep on trotting. You
have told me where you are going, now tell me where you are from."

"We are from the country near the village of Michelstadt," replied
Fritz. "We left at six o'clock this morning to pass our holiday with my
father's sister, Mrs. Fanny Steiner."

"That is good. Now tell me your names and your fathers'."

"My father is Fritz Heil, and I am named for him. He is a clothing
merchant in the village of Michelstadt."

"Very good! I know him well. Now tell me who you are," turning to Paul.

"My father is Paul Roth, he is a teacher. My name is the same."

"Very good; now, my boy," turning to Franz.

"My father is named Franz Krupp, and I am named for him. He is the
head-forester in the Odenwald. The master-forester is old and when he
dies my father will get the place."

"Halt, my boy! Guard your speech. Don't speak to a stranger or to anyone
of the master-forester's death. Is he not in good health?"

"No, he is sick. I never heard my father say anything about his death or
of taking his place, but I know that he will have it when he dies."

"Nor should you speak of it. I know the master-forester as well as I
know your father. Suppose I should tell him what you have just said
about his dying and your father getting the position?"

The eyes of Franz filled with tears and he looked alarmed.

"Don't be anxious, my boy. I know you meant no harm, but I wish to warn
you to be careful of your speech. The master-forester has a brother
living in this neighborhood. I may be that brother. If so, would I like
to hear that your father is looking forward to his death in order to
have his place? And would it be to your father's advantage to have it
known that he is looking forward to it?"

Franz was silent a moment, then he reached forward and put his hand in
that of his adviser and thanked him, and his friend shook it heartily.

"Now, as a matter of courtesy, I should tell you my name. It is James
Furman. I am a farmer and live near the village of Umstadt. I know your
fathers well and am glad to meet their sons."

"And we are glad to meet you! It is kind of you to ask us to ride. We
were getting very tired, and we are much obliged to you."

"Then perhaps you will sing some more of your sweet songs. Hear how the
larks and finches are singing their evening praises to God."

The boys were very willing. They sang several, their new friend joining
them, and had just finished his favorite when they reached the little
town of Umstadt, and halted in front of the one public house of which
the sign was a swan. The moment the carriage stopped Pixy sprang out and
waited with bright eyes and wagging tail for his master to descend.

The landlord met them at the open door, and greeted them as if old
acquaintances.

"Why, neighbor, you have brought me a fine flock of birds!" he said,
cordially.

"Yes, they are choice singing birds and will roost with you to-night and
to-morrow will fly away to Frankfort."

"All right, all right! We have a room that will suit them exactly."

"These boys spoke of being thirsty, neighbor. Will you have some fresh
water brought for them? I offered them something stronger in the shape
of a bottle of mineral water or sarsaparilla, but they prefer the
water."

The order was given, and a large stone pitcher and glasses soon
appeared. The moment Pixy saw it he sprang up, put his feet on the
pitcher and tried to lick the drops from it.

"Wait a bit, Pixy! I am so thirsty," exclaimed Fritz, and he drained the
glass of cold water without stopping.

"My boy," said Mr. Furman, "the true friend of our poor dependent dumb
creatures attends to their wants first; the really kind master will not
let them wait while he satisfies his own hunger and thirst."

Fritz was ashamed of his treatment of Pixy, and was glad to pour some of
the water into a basin which the innkeeper reached to him. He carried it
to the porch, where Pixy ran quickly and drank as if he was afraid the
basin would be taken away from him.

"Now, boys, I must go on home," said Mr. Furman as he shook hands with
them. "Good-bye! Remember me to your fathers, and take good care of
Pixy."




CHAPTER III

AT THE SWAN INN


The moment the carriage was out of sight the boys turned to their own
needs.

"I don't believe I was ever so hungry in my life," ejaculated Franz, and
the others agreed with him, and set about the best way to have their
hunger satisfied.

"Mr. Swan, what have you for supper?" asked Fritz.

The landlord laughed heartily at the name, but as the boy had given it
in all sincerity, thinking that, as it was the Swan Inn, it must take
its name from its owner, he did not correct him. Instead, he asked a
question in response.

"What would you like to have?"

"Have you fresh lettuce?"

"Yes, plenty of it; what else?"

"Roasted potatoes?"

"Yes; you can have roasted potatoes. What kind of meat will you have
with it? We have a fine roast of veal."

"The very thing we like!" cried the boys jubilantly, but the ever
frugal Fritz regretted that they had spoken for the veal, and wondered
whether they could not change the order.

"I am afraid it will cost us too much," he said in a whisper, but the
landlord had already gone to the kitchen and they had to let it stand.

"It may be that we are in an expensive hotel," he continued, "and our
night's lodging may cost us a good sum. But I will tell you what we can
do. We will not take breakfast here, but will buy a roll in the village
and when we come to a brook we can eat it. A roll and a cup of fresh
water will be enough breakfast for us."

"No," said Franz, "I won't eat a roll and drink water; I must have my
breakfast and coffee; you can drink water, a bucket full if you choose.
My father does not wish us to go hungry on this journey. But we can talk
about it after we have had our supper."

"Yes, you are right," added Paul. "I will have my breakfast and coffee
in the morning. And, boys, we are now in a hotel that is more stylish
than the one in which we took dinner. We must not eat all that we take
on our plates, but will leave a little, then the landlord will think
'they must have had enough, for they have not eaten all.'"

This brought up a discussion, the other two fearing that if any food
were left upon their plates the innkeeper's feelings would be wounded,
believing that they were not satisfied with the food. The dialogue waxed
warm, but it was finally decided that they would take more upon their
plates than they could eat, and thus could leave some, to spare the
feelings of the innkeeper by letting him know that they had enough. They
also decided that they would not eat so hurriedly and greedily as at
dinner. Just then supper was announced, and the three hungry travelers
went to the supper-room and took their places.

In addition to the dish of roast veal, lettuce and potatoes, there was a
plate of white rolls and a dish of stewed pears.

The boys forgot their agreement in regard to eating slowly, and the
viands disappeared like frost in the beams of a July sun. The lettuce
and stewed pears had disappeared like magic, and but one piece of the
veal and two rolls remained.

They arose from the table and were about to leave, when Fritz took the
piece of veal upon his fork and ate it.

"What is the use of leaving it when one has an appetite for it?" he
said.

"Then as none of the veal is left we may as well eat the rolls," said
Franz. Paul agreed and the plate was empty, and nothing was left to
prove to the landlord that they had more than enough.

"Oh, boys, we have again forgotten to feed Pixy!" said Fritz. "You see
my little sister feeds him at home and that is the reason that I forget
him."

This was a misfortune and there was no help for it but to tell the
innkeeper.

"Would you give Pixy his supper for three pennies?" asked Fritz.

"Oh, don't bother about the dog. He has had his supper in the yard.
Don't you see how well he is sleeping on the porch?"

The three now concluded to take a walk through the village, followed or
rather guided by Pixy, who could be trusted without his rope in that
quiet place, but they soon returned and asked to be shown to their room.
The landlord led the way to a large, pleasant room with three single
beds in it, and pointed to a piece of carpet for Pixy, for Fritz had
asked permission for him to share their room. Then he wished them a
good sleep, bade them good-night and went below.

The room was different from any that they had ever seen, not at all like
theirs in their own homes. It was not square, but had many nooks and
corners which the light of one candle could not reach. Paul said it was
like a room he once read of, which had a secret door which led down to
an underground passage where travelers were robbed and left there to
find their way out if they could. This blood-curdling narrative filled
the hearers' minds with fears of what might happen, and they resolved to
barricade the door. They locked it, and then pushed the washstand and
chairs against it.

"A robber could not push these things away without waking us," remarked
Paul.

"No, and before he could get in, Pixy would be ready to fly at him,"
said Fritz proudly.

This was a great comfort to the three and they prepared to disrobe for
sleep.

"We have not much money to waste for lodging," remarked Fritz, "and if
we sleep in three beds we will have to pay for three; let us all sleep
in one, and we will have to pay for but one."

This was a great stroke of policy, and the others agreed heartily.
Although each bed was only intended for one grown person, the boys
thought they could manage it.

"Let Paul sleep in the middle because he is the slimmest," Fritz said.
"I will sleep back and Franz can sleep front."

This met with approval and then Franz made a suggestion.

"Wise travelers always put their money under their pillows," he said,
"then a burglar cannot get it without waking them. We will tie the three
pocketbooks together, and put them under Paul's head, then a robber
would have to reach over Fritz or me to get it."

This was considered an excellent scheme, and the three dropped into bed
and in five minutes were asleep.

Pixy considered the situation for a minute, then sprang upon the foot of
the bed, curled around and was soon in the land of dreams.

All went well until Fritz had a troubled dream. He had fallen out of
bed, had rolled under it, and thought he was in a trunk with the lid
partly shut down and he could not get out, so set up a wailing cry.

"What is the matter in there?" called the landlord from outside the
door.

"Oh, I don't know where I am!" cried Fritz.

"Well, open the door and I will soon see. Oh, it is locked. Well, never
mind. I will come through the portiere way."

He soon appeared with a light, and Fritz crept from under the bed and
sat blinking beside it.

The three boys were astonished to see the landlord in their room without
having to ask them to remove the barricade. They did not know that the
portiere hung before an open door leading into the hall as did the one
they had taken so much trouble to make secure.

"Now, boys," he said, laughing heartily, "have you lost your senses, or
had you none to lose? Now tell me, Fritz, why were you under the bed?"

"I don't know how I got there, but I dreamed that I was in a trunk and
the lid was almost down, and I could not raise it."

"Oh, you silly boy! of course you fell out of that narrow bed. What
possessed you to all crowd in there when there are three beds in the
room?"

"We did not wish to pay for all three."

"Then why did you not tell me that you wished only one bed, and I would
have put you in a room where there is a larger one? Now, why did you
barricade the door?"

"We were afraid of robbers," explained Paul after a long pause.

This amused the innkeeper mightily and he laughed till he shook.

"Locked and barred one door and left the other standing wide open!" he
said with tears of mirth in his eyes.

"Well, well," he said, "no harm is done. Now each one get into a bed,
with no heed to the pay. Mr. Furman has paid the whole bill for your
stay here in return for the sweet songs you sang for him."

The boys made great eyes over this piece of news, and lost no time in
getting themselves into the other beds.

"Wait, boys! You must first put the pieces of furniture back in their
places, then go to bed and sleep well. You yet have several hours. What
time do you wish to leave in the morning?"

"At six o'clock we must be on our way."

"All right," said the jolly landlord, and as he glanced at their rosy,
bright faces, each in his own bed, he laughed, shook his head and went
out, and soon the three boys and Pixy were sound asleep.

It is not known how long they would have slept had not the landlord paid
them another visit.

"You have slept past the breakfast hour. Do you intend sleeping until
dinner time?" he asked laughingly.

"No indeed! What time is it?" asked Fritz, opening his eyes sleepily.

"Nine o'clock and I thought you wished to start at six."

"Up, you sleepers!" cried the boy, as he sprang out of bed. The others
obeyed promptly and commenced dressing, and in a short time appeared
with clean hands, faces and teeth, at the good breakfast provided for
them, their hair neatly brushed, and their spirits refreshed from a
sound sleep in comfortable beds. On the back porch was a dish of good
food for Pixy, that he might be ready to go as soon as the boys finished
the meal.

When they were about to continue their journey, the landlord gave each
of them a large roll and one for Pixy, saying that it would stay hunger
until they reached an inn where they could take dinner.

Pixy was delighted to see them again on the move, and while the boys
were bidding the host and hostess good-bye ran out in the street; and
before his master caught up with him, he was in the midst of a fight
with street curs. Fritz ran to protect his pet, who was taking his own
part bravely, and Peter, the waiter at the inn, ran with a bucket of
cold water which he dashed upon the circling mass of yelpers, and the
fight was brought to a sudden finish.

Pixy came out of the combat sound, and ready for another fight, and
Fritz was unharmed; the only injury being to the seat of his trousers,
from which a piece had been torn by one of the street curs as a souvenir
of the first visit to Umstadt.

"Come here, child;" called the landlady to Fritz, "you cannot go among
the stylish people of Frankfort with the hem of your shirt showing. I
will mend it as well as I can, and when you get there, your aunt can
mend it better. Now see what trouble your dog has brought upon you!"

"Pixy didn't tear my pants. It was one of the strange dogs. I am glad I
brought him."

"No, your dog did not tear them, but if he had not been here there
would not have been a fight."

"But he did not commence it. They fought him, and he had to defend
himself."

"That too is true, but they do not wish a strange dog among them, nor
will other dogs he meets on his travels. So he should have been left at
home. Now go up to your room and take one of the boys with you to bring
down your trousers, and I will do the best I can to mend them."

This was done, and Fritz sat disconsolately upon a chair waiting for the
return of Paul. He began to question within himself whether he had done
a wise thing to bring Pixy. The first dogs they had met had fought him,
and it might be that he would get worsted in many a battle before he was
again safely at home.

At length Paul brought up the trousers, but to Fritz's dismay the patch
was of different color. His father being a cloth merchant, the cloth was
of good quality and Fritz had always been rather proud of it, but now to
have a dark blue patch on dark brown trousers was mortifying indeed. But
there was no help for it. The good woman had done the best she could,
and he must wear them until he reached Frankfort.

A happy thought came to Paul. "Wear your rain-coat," he said. "It is
long enough to hide the patch."

Franz, who had come up to learn the cause of delay, thought it an
excellent idea, so ran down and brought up the knapsack containing the
coat.

Fritz put it on, much relieved that the objectionable ornament was
hidden from public view, and the three went below to resume their
journey.

More than an hour had been lost by this mishap, and the landlord advised
that they take the train to Frankfort in continuance of their journey.

"But we set out to walk, and told everybody that we were going to walk,
and we _will_ walk," responded Fritz resolutely.

"That would be all right if you had started early enough. You might then
by steady walking have made the journey before dark. As it is, you
cannot reach there until night which would be rather hard for you in a
strange city, and you would have to wake your aunt out of sleep to let
you in."

"But we have an hour yet until dinner time. We can walk a long distance
in an hour."

"All right, then. Good-bye, and a pleasant journey."

"Good-bye, and a pleasant journey," echoed Peter, who, having cleaned
the dust from the shoes of the three, carried their wash-water up to
their room, and thrown water on the fighting dogs, was in evidence on
the porch waiting for tips.

"Will we give him anything?" whispered Paul.

"No," replied Fritz. "I would think if Mr. Furman paid for all, he would
not forget to give Peter something for waiting upon us. Come on."

Had they opened their hearts to give the waiting Peter a few pennies, it
would have saved them much anxiety, but they walked away without casting
one backward glance.

They felt somewhat weary from their walk of the day before, yet enjoyed
the fresh air, the song of the birds, the fragrant smell of woods and
meadows; and Pixy frolicked along sometimes before and sometimes behind
them, but never losing sight of his master.

They had walked more than a mile when Fritz halted suddenly and grasped
the arm of Paul.

"Did you take our money from under your pillow?" he asked.

"I? No, I never thought about it. You put it under the pillow, and I
have never thought of it since seeing you put it there."

"Now, Paul, it was Franz and I who went to the other beds, you were left
in the one where the money was hidden. You must have it, and are only
trying to scare us. Of course, you would not leave it under the pillow."

"Of course I did! I tell you that I never thought of it once."

"Then, Franz, you would not forget it. Certainly you have it in your
pocket."

"Certainly I have not! I have never thought of it since you put it under
the pillow."

"Oh, that is too bad!" cried Fritz, flushing with dismay. "We will have
to go back to the inn and get it."

"Not I," asserted Franz. "I would be ashamed to go back. Remember how
Mr. Swan laughed because we stacked things against the door."

"Nor will I," echoed Paul stoutly.

"Then we can go no further on our journey to Frankfort; we will have to
go back home, for we have no money."

"Now just see!" ejaculated Paul, "you remembered the dog which is of no
use to us, and forgot the money that we cannot do without. We must go
back for it," and like the sons of Jacob returning to Egypt, they turned
their faces toward Umstadt.

A slight coolness reigned among the triplets; a cloud rested upon the
brows of Franz and Paul that for the forgetfulness of Fritz they must
face the landlord, and more than that the tipless Peter. So with red
cheeks and eyes cast down they returned to the Swan inn, and the
landlord met them at the door with a smiling welcome.

"I expected you," he said. "You remind me of the story of the traveler
who upon his journey came to a cross road, and, not knowing which to
take, returned home. But I judge you had a better reason that it will be
a great pleasure to you to relate."

On their way back Fritz had said, "If the money is under the pillow we
can get it, and there will be no need of telling the hotel people why we
came back. Then they will not have a chance to laugh at us."

The others agreed to this, so he was ready with his reply.

"Yes, sir; we left a trifle under our pillow, and came back to get it."

"Only a trifle?"

"A small package, but as we do not wish to leave it, we came back for
it."

"That was quite right. You can go up and seek for it."

The three flew up the steps, but soon returned with long faces and
tearful eyes.

"We have not found it, Mr. Swan," they said.

"But if it is only a trifle, why need you care?" asked the landlord,
laughing heartily. "But," he added, "there are sometimes important
things left by travelers, for this morning our chambermaid found in one
of the rooms this handkerchief in which is tied three small
pocketbooks," and he held it up out of reach of the boys.

"It is ours," cried the boys gleefully. "Give it to us, please," and
they reached for it.

"Hands off!" laughed the landlord. "How am I to know that the purses are
yours, when you said you had left a trifle? So it cannot be your money;
for money is no trifle to a traveler. In truth nothing is more useful to
him. It will supply him with a bed, comfortable room, good meals, and
with it he can pay something for having his dusty shoes cleaned after a
day's walk. Now do you think money is a trifle when with it you can have
bed, meals, and service such as brushing dusty shoes? All these things
can be had for a piece of paper, or a coin that you can hide under your
tongue. Then is money really a trifle? Even if there is not much money
in these little purses, yet what would you do if they were not returned
to you?"

"Oh, please forgive us that we have been so foolish," pleaded Fritz.
"The purses are ours and we came back to get them, and we can tell you
of every penny that is in each of them. I have a--"

"Oh, you do not need to tell me! I knew that they could belong only to
you. They are just as Letta, our chambermaid, found them. Our people are
honest."

"Where is she? and where is Peter? We wish to give them something."

"Peter, Letta, come! You are wanted," called the landlord, and they came
and stood waiting to hear the reason for being summoned.

Each of the boys in the meantime had his purse in his hand, and they
were holding a hurried and whispered conversation which ended by them
taking twenty cents from each purse, ten for Letta and ten for Peter,
who received it with smiling faces. The travelers felt that they had
done the right thing, their self-respect was restored, and they were
about to start again upon their travels when a new thought came to
Fritz.

"At what time do you have dinner here, Mr. Swan?" he asked.

Again the landlord could not control his laughter, as he replied, "It
will be ready in half an hour."

"Suppose we stay," said Fritz, turning to his companions. "I am terribly
hungry."

"So am I," echoed Paul.

"So am I," agreed Franz.

"I was about to suggest that you take dinner with us," said their host.
"It is quite a distance to the next public house."

"What will you have for dinner, Mr. Swan?"

"Liverwurst, roast potatoes, stewed pears, and warm brown bread with
butter."

"I love every one of those things," remarked Franz.

"What will the dinner cost each of us?" asked Fritz.

"What would it cost?" echoed the innkeeper as if reflecting. "Oh, we
will not talk of that. All I can say is that we wish every one who eats
here to have plenty, and after the meal is over we can tell better what
it is worth."

"We will stay," said the boys jubilantly, and removed their knapsacks.
When dinner was served their host led the way to the dining-room and
gave them places, and took his own. His wife was already at the table,
then followed Letta and Peter. The landlord removed his skull-cap, bowed
his head reverently as did the others and asked a blessing upon the
meal; then he and his wife told the boys to help themselves, which they
did forthwith from the large plates well-filled which they had placed
before them.

Peter, who sat opposite, was filled with admiration of their powers of
endurance, and said to himself, as the viands disappeared with
astonishing celerity, "How much will it take to fill them when they are
men? They make me think of our William when he was a growing boy, and
had eaten all he could hold, father would say, 'William, are you
satisfied,' and he would say, 'No, father. I am full, but I am not
satisfied.'"

But notwithstanding the comparison with the insatiable William, the boys
expressed themselves as fully satisfied when every vessel of food had
disappeared from the plates, and when they returned to the
reception-room told the landlord that they had heartily enjoyed the
excellent dinner and asked again the cost of it for each.

"The cost? Well now, let me state the case as it really stands," said
the smiling landlord. "If you had come and ordered a dinner of the kind
you wished, and took seats at the public table, with a servant to wait
upon you, I should have charged you the same that I would charge any
other guest. But you just sat down with us at our family table, and
shared the plain dinner that had been prepared for us, so I do not
charge you anything."

"But we did have just the kind of dinner we like," said Fritz, "and I am
afraid our fathers would not like us to go away without paying for it."

"Oh, boys, don't worry. Your fathers have taken many a dinner here, and,
God willing, will take many more. All I ask of you is to take my advice
by going to the station and taking the train for Frankfort. If you go
now you will be in good time to catch the afternoon train for Frankfort.
Now good-bye and a pleasant journey!"

The three boys shouldered their knapsacks, Fritz still wearing his
rain-coat, although the sun shone brightly, and went through the market
place on their way to the station, Pixy in the lead carrying a bone that
Letta had given him after he finished his dinner, while the family
gathered on the porch and watched their slow movements with tears of
mirth in their eyes.

They had intended walking to Frankfort for two reasons. It would be
something of an exploit to relate to their schoolfellows, and it would
save money; but slow as they traveled to the station, the train seemed
to have waited for them for they were in ample time.

"Do you wish single fares, or return tickets?" asked the clerk.

This was a question which could not be settled too quickly. The boys
held a consultation, and Fritz gave the deciding opinion.

"If we buy a return ticket," he explained, "we will save money, but we
may want to walk back, and then would have to lose what we pay for a
return ticket. Besides, if we did not want to ride home, some one of
us, or it may be all of us, might lose our return ticket, and Aunt Fanny
would insist giving us money for tickets which we would not wish her to
do. No, we will take single fares."

They bought them, and were about to step into a car when they were
stopped by the conductor.

"Where is your ticket for the dog?" he asked.

"Must I have a ticket for him?" asked the boy, in surprise.

"I should say so! You must be a kindergarten youngster to ask such a
question. Moreover, if anybody in the car objects to having him in
there, you will have to take him in a freight car even if you have a
ticket for him."

"I object," said a woman, sitting in the car next the window. "Who wants
to get dog hairs on them when traveling for pleasure?"

"What shall we do?" asked Fritz, ready to cry.

"Get a ticket and get it quickly for the train will soon start, and put
the dog in the freight car."

"But I must go with him. He would be frightened to be there without me."

"Certainly. You can go as freight if you wish. I have nothing to say
against it."

Fritz hurried away, secured the ticket and returned, sad with the
thought of being separated from his companions, but smiles came again to
his face when they told him that they would go to the freight car with
him.

They hurried in, and the train moved off while they were looking about
them, hoping to see among the freight some boxes that would serve for
seats.

They were nearly thrown off their feet, while Pixy, not at all unsettled
by the motion of the cars, saw something so interesting in a slatted box
filled with chickens that he sniffed and capered about in doggish
delight. But the chickens were not at all pleased with his appearance,
and fluttered, cackled and shrieked, awakening the old woman who was
taking them to market.

"Whose black fiend of a dog is that, running loose about a freight car?"
she exclaimed angrily.

"It is mine, good lady," said Fritz soothingly. "I did not wish him to
frighten your chickens."

"How do I know that you did not set him on them while I was asleep? If
he has hurt them, you will pay well for them."

"See, here is the cord that I hold him with," said the boy, taking it
from his knapsack. "I will tie it to his collar, and he will not go near
your chickens again."

But all that he could say was but oil to the fire, and Fritz found that
the wiser plan for him was to keep silent; while Pixy, understanding
that the storm of words had something to do with him, crept behind the
box on which his master sat and looked up at him with a very penitent
air.

The seats the boys had taken did not prove permanent, for at every
station some of the freight must be taken out, and some brought in, but
they enjoyed the trip, for the old woman and her chickens left the car
at one of the stations, and they had the place to themselves.

"Is this Frankfort?" they asked at every station.

"No," the guard replied, "and I expect you to ask at every stopping
place until we really reach Frankfort, and then you will not ask."

"Why?" asked Fritz.

"Because you will know without asking."

Presently Franz called out, "Hurrah, we are here!"

"Where?" asked Fritz, hurrying to the window.

"At Frankfort. See, we are crossing a river. It is the Main. Yes, there
is the dome! I know it from the picture of the cathedral in my picture
of Frankfort."

"Didn't I say that you wouldn't ask if this is Frankfort? Now boys, out
with you, and take your dog. Good-bye!"




CHAPTER IV

A KIND WELCOME


The train drew slowly into the depot at Frankfort, and for the first
time in their lives the country boys saw something of the bustle and
excitement of travel. A crowd of people was hurrying out of the cars,
and an equally hurrying one was passing in, while on the platform of the
depot was a waiting crowd greeting returned ones, and bidding farewell
to departing ones, in all of which the boys were so interested that for
a time they forgot their own interests. At length the departure of the
train brought to their remembrance that they, too, must depart and Fritz
stepped up to an old gentleman whose pleasant countenance inspired
confidence.

"We wish to go to the house of my aunt, Mrs. Fanny Steiner," he said.
"Are you acquainted with her? She is a little, thin lady, has gray hair,
and wears a widow's cap."

"No, my boy," smiled the old gentleman, "I have not the honor of her
acquaintance. Perhaps you can tell me the number of her house and the
street?"

"Yes, it is number 37 Bornheimer street."

"Good! I can direct you exactly how to go. You take the electric car
which will pass here in a few minutes, and it will take you to the
corner of the street not more than a few steps from number 37."

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" said Fritz much relieved. Paul and Franz
touched their hats and thanked him, taking Fritz as an example in all
things.

The car came, and the three, followed closely by Pixy, rushed to get
aboard.

"You can't bring that dog on the car. It is against orders," called the
motorman.

"What must I do?" asked Fritz despairingly.

"You must settle that matter between yourself and the dog. Perhaps he
will follow the car if he sees you in it."

"Can I stand on the platform where he can see me?"

"No, it is against orders; but you can sit at the window at the end of
the car, where he can see you."

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" and the three quickly boarded the car. Fritz
took the place designated, and they were off, while Pixy, who believed
that his master was deserting him, ran barking and howling in their
track.

At every stoppage of the car, Pixy sprang up to the window, but Fritz
knew better than to speak one comforting word, although his heart ached
for his forlorn traveling companion who must walk--or rather run, and
run fast to keep up with the rapidly moving car. At length Pixy learned
the lesson of experience. As there was no chance for him at the back end
of the car, he would try the front, so at the next stopping-place, he
flew along the length of the car, sprang on the front platform and
curled about the feet of the motorman.

"See here, boy, you must get out, and take your dog. It is against
orders for a dog to be on the platform."

"We will go out, too," said Franz and Paul, jumping up to follow their
leader.

"Give us back our money," said Fritz, holding out his hand, when they
reached the street.

"No; it is against orders;" and the car sped away.

Pixy was delighted that the three boys were now on the same footing as
himself, and proved it by springing up, putting his feet on his
master's shoulders and licking his face; and the boy petted him to his
heart's content. But Paul and Franz were not flattered in an equal
measure with Fritz at Pixy's pleasure in their company as
fellow-travelers, and expressed their opinion with clouded faces.

"Now this is the second time that we have paid out money and got but
little good out of it because of the dog," grumbled Franz. "He got into
a fight and your pants got torn, and we would, I think, have remembered
the money if we had not been bothered about having to wait to get them
mended. Then we had to come back and pay thirty cents to Peter and
thirty to Letta; and afterward had to ride in a freight-car because of
your dog."

"If you don't want Pixy with us, I will go back home to-morrow and take
him," said Fritz with tears in his eyes. "It has been enough trouble to
me that I brought him without first asking papa and mamma. It was a mean
thing to do, but I thought it would be so nice to have him take the
journey with us."

Franz and Paul were ashamed of their treatment of the one to whom they
were indebted for the visit to Mrs. Steiner and Frankfort, and hastened
to assure him that no matter what trouble happened through Pixy's fault
they would make no word of complaint.

Pixy knew by the change of tone that peace had again spread its blessed
wings over the "three-leaved clover," and to show his approbation he
fawned upon all three with impartial effusiveness.

"I am sorry that I said that he had no sense like city dogs that were
running quietly along-side of wagons, but must try to jump on the car
whenever it stopped," said Paul penitently.

"Yes," replied Fritz, throwing his arm around Pixy's neck, "you were
both glad when you saw that I was bringing him upon the journey, and now
when he brings us into trouble we must not blame him for what he cannot
help."

"No, it would not be right to blame him for loving us, and wanting to be
with us," agreed Franz.

"Aunt Fanny will rejoice to see him, I know," continued Fritz. "No, I am
not at all sorry I brought him, only I wish I had asked leave of papa
and mamma."

The mention of his aunt reminded the three that they had yet to find her
house, and they were in consultation as to what way to go when a
workman in a blue blouse came in sight and they asked the way to 37
Bornheimer street.

"Whom are you going to see there?" he asked.

"My Aunt Fanny Steiner. She lives in the apartments on the third floor."

"If you will give me fifty cents, I will take you there."

The boys glanced at each other but were silent, and the man saw that he
had struck too high.

"Well, then, suppose we say thirty pennies. That will be ten each," and
to this they agreed and the caravan set out, Fritz leading Pixy by his
cord.

The way led through several streets but at length they reached a retired
street, and the leader halted before a neat dwelling with a flight of
long winding steps leading up to a narrow porch and it was agreed among
them that he should go up while the boys waited below. In response to
his knock, the door was opened by a small, elderly lady, who was
informed that three boys and a dog waited below.

"I am not expecting anyone," she said, stepping out upon the porch and
looking down.

"Here we are, Aunt Fanny!" called Fritz. "It is our holiday and we have
come to visit you."

"Come right up, dear," exclaimed his aunt joyously; "but leave the dog
below. Dogs are not allowed in these apartments."

"But, aunt, it is Pixy, that you take out walking every morning in
summer, and always give him a lump of sugar when you visit us in the
country."

"Oh," cried the perplexed aunt, "I did not recognize him, but come up,
boys. I am heartily glad to see you."

"First give me my money," said their guide, holding out his hand; the
money was given, and the three and Pixy ran up the long steps, Fritz
saying as he ran, "Come on, boys, we have found Aunt Steiner and she is
glad to see us."

"Did you write that you were coming to-day, dear?" asked his aunt when
all hands were seated and the boys had laid aside their knapsacks.

"No, aunt. You know I wrote two weeks ago and told you that Franz and I
were coming as soon as school was done; and we thought you would not
mind if we brought Paul."

"No, I am really glad he is with you; I met Paul and his parents when I
was at your home in the country and am glad to welcome him as well as
Franz, whose parents are dear friends of mine. The only reason that I
would be glad if you had written is that I might have provided another
bed. There is only one in my spare room."

The boys looked at each other with anxious glances. It seemed to them a
hopeless case for they had tried the experiment of three in a bed at the
Swan inn, and it had not been a success.

"Don't feel concerned, dear boys," said Mrs. Steiner kindly; "there is a
wide lounge in the room with a head-piece which serves as a pillow. One
of you can sleep upon it."

"Let Franz and Paul have the bed, aunt. I am perfectly willing to sleep
on the lounge."

"Then that matter is settled. Now about the dog."

"He does not need a bed, dear Aunt Fanny," replied the boy, reddening
with anxiety. "He can sleep on the floor anywhere, and he does not eat
much; just the scraps from the table will suit him."

"I am not thinking of his bed or of his food, my dear; but you have come
to Frankfort on a sight-seeing tour, and dogs will not be allowed at
any place that you will want to go."

"Then we can leave him here."

"But to that there is also an objection. When I rented this suite of
rooms, I assured the owner who lives on the first floor that I had no
dog. In the apartments below me lives an old lady who is afraid of dogs
and is frightened at noise. Now if Pixy should howl or bark while you
are out, what would I do?"

Fritz loved his dog and it distressed him that there seemed to be no
place in the world where he was tolerated except his father's house;
therefore there seemed no other course than to return home and take Pixy
with him.

"Oh, dear aunt!" he said tearfully, "let us stay this one night, and
to-morrow I will go back home."

"My dear boy," said his aunt with tears of sympathy in her eyes, "do you
think for a moment that I would allow you to go home, when this is the
very first time you have paid me a visit? No; come with me and bring
Pixy with you. We will go down to the first floor to see Mr. Steerer,
the owner of this house, and ask him if he will let you keep your dog
during your visit."

This was one ray of sunlight on a cloudy day, and Fritz and Pixy
followed down the long steps. Mrs. Steiner rang the bell of the first
floor apartments, and Mr. Steerer opened the door and invited them in.

"Now tell the gentleman why we have come," said Mrs. Steiner.

But Fritz was weeping too bitterly to make explanations, and his aunt
had to speak for him.

"I have no objection to the dog staying," replied Mr. Steerer kindly,
"providing he does not bark and annoy my tenant on the second floor."

"Now, Pixy, thank the gentleman for his kindness," said Aunt Fanny, and
immediately the intelligent animal sat upon his hind feet and waved his
right fore foot back and forth.

"But you must speak," commanded Fritz, who was smiling through his
tears, whereupon Pixy gave a sharp little bark while again waving his
paw.

"Now we will call and ask Mrs. Hagner if your dog can stay," said Aunt
Fanny when they reached the door of the old lady's apartments and gently
tapped.

"Come in! Come in!" laughed a voice within, "and I am pretty sure that I
know why you have come."

Fritz felt so relieved at their pleasant reception that he made the
explanation.

"Certainly, certainly, I will not object," replied Mrs. Hagner. "I do
not like dogs, but I do like my neighbor and I like boys; so taking
these two likings together, you see they are too strong to be mastered
by the one dislike."

"Thank the lady for her kindness, Pixy," said Fritz gleefully and it was
done, not omitting the bark, and aunt and nephew went with light hearts
up the steps to the third floor to tell the anxious Franz and Paul the
result of their visit.

"Now, children," said Mrs. Steiner, "let us lay that care and all others
aside and be happy. I am rejoiced to see you all, and hope to make you
have a pleasant visit. But you must also do your share to make it so by
being satisfied with what I can do to entertain you. You must be
contented with the few pleasures I can offer. And now tell me, Fritz,
why you are wearing a rain-coat on a clear day," and Fritz explained the
situation in a few words.

"Well, dear Fritz, we must sometimes have shadow instead of sunshine,
thorns instead of roses; and you must not let this mar your pleasure. I
am glad to see young, cheerful people about me; it makes me feel young
again."

The boys looked at each other with a satisfied smile. They felt that it
was the right kind of a welcome, and Fritz was proud of his father's
sister.

"Now you can take your knapsacks into my spare-bedroom," she continued,
opening the door of a pleasant apartment. At that moment to the joy of
Fritz, a porter from the depot brought his satchel, and at the request
of Mrs. Steiner placed it in their room. He lost no time in taking out
a pair of trousers, putting the patched ones in the trunk, and then the
three returned to the sitting-room which was also dining-room.

"Now, boys," said Mrs. Steiner, "I was just preparing supper for myself
when you came, and all I will have to do is to add something more
substantial for three travelers. But first I must ask how it happened
that you did not write at least a postal to let me know you were coming?
I might have been away from home. Then what would you have done?"

"Father said I ought to write to you and tell you the time we would be
here," replied Fritz, "but I put it off until it was too late, and I
thought you would not care."

"No, it does not make the least difference to me but it might have made
a great difference to you. I might have been sick, or, as I said before,
away from home. So do not trust to chance in such matters, but more than
all, do as your parents advise. They know best. Now I see that it is my
usual time for getting supper, and Paul will go out with me to buy
something for it. Fritz and Franz can go into the kitchen and wash their
hands in the basin hanging by the sink. Then Franz can tie on an apron
he will see out there and take the peelings from a dish of boiled
potatoes on the table and cut them up in small pieces, while Fritz sets
the table in this room. The tablecloth is in this drawer, and the dishes
in the cupboard; and he can set the table for four people as he sees it
set at home. Now, Paul, we will go."

Nothing could have made the boys feel more at home that first evening
than the sharing of the work of the household, and all joined in
cheerfully.

"I am as hungry as a wolf; I could almost eat the cold potatoes,"
remarked Franz.

"So could I, but we can wait. Aunt will get supper quickly when she
comes." And he was right, for the boys had scarcely finished their work
when they heard her and Paul coming up the steps, and a half hour later
supper was ready.

She had turned the well-chopped potatoes in a hot pan in which was
melted butter and set Franz to stir them that they might brown without
burning. In another pan she put the slices of liverwurst for Fritz to
watch, and Paul, who had first been sent to the kitchen to wash his
hands, put the slices of rich ham upon a pretty pink plate, and fresh
lettuce upon another, and placed them upon the table, while Mrs. Steiner
cut the bread and got a pitcher of new milk.

"Now, Fritz, before we take our suppers, here is a plate upon which you
can break some pieces of bread and soften it with this good milk."

"What for?" asked the boy in surprise.

"For Pixy, who is waiting so patiently. Could we enjoy our supper
knowing that the poor dumb creature is hungry?"

This was done and the plate placed on the floor by the window, and the
heart of Fritz was filled with pleasure to see Pixy's appreciation of
the good supper.

The potatoes and liverwurst, both beautifully browned, were placed upon
the table, and all sat down.

"Did I set the table nicely, Aunt Fanny?" asked Fritz.

"Yes, very well indeed, except that you forgot the napkins. Please get
four out of that drawer, and then choose the places you wish," and she
took her own at the head of the table. Bowing her head she said in
reverent voice, "Dear Jesus, be our guest at this meal and at all our
meals. Bless the good food Thou hast given us, and receive our grateful
thanks. Amen."

"Now, my boys," she continued cordially, "you cannot fail being hungry,
and I hope you will eat heartily and if the meat and potatoes fail us,
we can make out with this good brown and white bread, and butter and new
milk and these stewed pears."

The boys were glad to obey and the viands disappeared like magic. Mrs.
Steiner had many questions to ask about her brother and his family but
would not disturb Fritz until he had finished supper. An old adage came
into her mind as she saw them eat, "When a sheep bleats you may be sure
he has no food in his mouth."

She was glad to see that they heartily enjoyed their supper, and when
finished she made a proposition. "You can rest while I put the place in
order for the night and then we will take a walk."

"Can I take Pixy?" asked Fritz eagerly.

"Certainly, if you lead him by his cord, and if a policeman speaks to
you about your dog having no tag or muzzle, tell him that you are from
the country and are only visiting Frankfort, which is your reason for
not having one or the other."

"But I am afraid the policeman will take him. I would rather stay here
with him."

"There is no danger of him taking the dog from you. The most he could do
would be to make you pay a fine; and I am sure he will not do that when
we explain matters to him. Now we will go."

"Where are all the people going?" asked Fritz when they reached the
street. "At home we only see a crowd when the church service is over and
that is but for a little while. Here the street seems alive all the
time."

"Yes, Frankfort has more than three hundred thousand inhabitants and of
course many are on the street, some caring for business, others for
pleasure, and some, like us, are sight-seeing."

"Just see that beautiful place like a rich man's garden!" said Franz,
"with trees and plants and flowers, and so many people walking there."

"Yes, they are the public gardens or promenades, and are in place of
what was once the fortifications of the city. In the early part of the
nineteenth century part of them were taken away and this splendid girdle
of plants and beautiful walks took their place."

"Oh, it is lovely, lovely!" exclaimed Paul. "I never before saw a garden
lighted, and with so many gas lamps that it is as bright as if the sun
were shining. Can we go in?"

"Yes, but we will wait here a little while. Do you see this beautiful
lake surrounded by trees? In a few minutes you will see a beautiful
scene which will surprise you."

"Oh, this is the surprise," cried the boys in a breath, for like magic
myriads of gas lights sprang up along the line of the trees and the Main
river. It was a bewildering sight to the country boys, who had no words
to express their pleasure.

"And two rows of lights are across the river," exclaimed Paul.

"Yes, they are on the fine new bridge over the Main; and above is the
old bridge and several others which you can visit while in Frankfort."

They crossed the bridge and looked at the great dome of the cathedral,
and while they were gazing, eight solemn strokes sounded from its clock,
and other clocks over the city struck the hour.

"We have but one clock and one church-tower in our village," remarked
Franz. "The boys in Frankfort don't get the chance to say the clock is
wrong when they are late to school."

Thus chatting, they reached the bridge, and, leaning upon the parapet,
gazed at the brilliant scene.

"See, Aunt Fanny, what is that coming down the river? A whole company of
boats filled with people, and with music, and with flags flying?"

"That is a regatta, or sailing match. It will go under this bridge and
down to the old one, then will turn and go up to that island where they
will all leave the boats and will have games and refreshments."

As the boats passed under the bridge Fritz would have liked to jump down
among the group of boys in the first boat; and he watched intently as
the merry company passed up the river and turn, and then stepped off on
the island.

"Aunt, do let us go to the old bridge, and look at the people," he said
eagerly.

Mrs. Steiner was glad to oblige, and they hurried to the bridge to see
the boats land, each one greeted by cheers. The whole company joined in
a march to the sound of martial music by the band, then a short speech
was listened to and when finished our triplets joined in the cheers, and
the throwing up of hats without in the least knowing what the speech was
about, or by whom made.

Fritz was so full of delight over the whole affair that he rubbed his
hands in glee as he made known his resolution to be a cloth merchant
when he was old enough and would come to live in Frankfort, and meant to
join the rudder club. "I will tell them now that I will join," he ended
enthusiastically.

"I think it will be a little too early, my boy," smiled his aunt.

"I don't wish to be too late."

"But it will be some years before you are a merchant."

"I am going to join the marines," exclaimed Franz eagerly. "Father
wishes me to be a forester, and I had not made up my mind what I would
be. Now I know. Yes, I will join the marines. Oh, that is a jolly life."

"Are you sure of that, my boy?" asked a man who stood near them on the
crowded bridge, and Mrs. Steiner turned to greet August Stayman whom she
had known from his boyhood, and introduced the boys to him.

"And so you think the life of a marine a jolly one?" he asked, turning
again to Franz. "Well, our kaiser will need good strong men, and I will
not discourage you. I was three years on the sea in storm and adventure,
on a war-vessel, and am yet living and in good health."

"And what are you now?" asked Fritz.

"I am the owner of a cloth and clothing store, and also a tailor, and
can wield the needle as well as ever, although my hands had been
hardened by the heavy ropes."

"Did you have to come to Frankfort to join the marines?" asked Franz.

"No, I was born in Frankfort on the shore of the Main. People used to
call me a water-rat; and they were right, for I became a more expert
seaman on the Main than do many on the ocean. My longing was to be a
seaman, and my mother, who was at first opposed to it, gave consent, and
I have never regretted it. I looked death in the face many times, but
escaped without a scratch."

The boys were deeply interested in this conversation, but it was
interrupted by a succession of splendid fireworks on the island which
surprised and delighted them beyond measure. They almost held their
breath while watching an especially brilliant piece reflected in the
water.

"Now, boys, we will go," said Aunt Steiner when the last exhibition of
the evening fireworks went up, making the words "good-night" high in the
air; "and we will call at a confectioner's for a glass of ice-cream
soda."

"Let me have the pleasure of showing some attention to your young
guests," said Mr. Stayman. "I shall be pleased to accompany you to the
store."

Mrs. Steiner gave willing assent, and soon the five thirsty ones found
themselves upon comfortable seats under the awning in front of the store
and Mr. Stayman gave the order for five glasses of ice-cream soda with
cake. This was a pleasant ending to the first evening of sight-seeing in
Frankfort, and the triplets realized that "their lines had fallen in
pleasant places."

As they were separating Mrs. Steiner thanked Mr. Stayman for his
kindness, and he in turn invited her guests to visit his store, which
was eagerly agreed to by Fritz, who considered the clothing business
exactly in his line.

"Then you expect to be a clothing merchant, do you?" asked his new
acquaintance.

"Yes, a merchant in the manufacturing branch of the business," was the
reply in a slightly pompous tone and manner.

"Well, then it may be that you will come to Frankfort and learn the
business of me."

"Study to be a tailor? No, I do no care to learn to sew."

"What have you against the trade of tailoring? Do you know any that is
more honorable? Is it not our business here upon earth to serve our
fellow-men? And are not our fellow-men well served by having clothes
made for them? If a tailor understands his business and works at it in a
faithful, honest manner, he is as much to be respected as a kaiser who
rules his people in a just and faithful manner. Listen to this little
rhyme:

"'Not everyone can wear a kaiser's hat,
Not everyone must daily gutters sweep;
Yet everyone can do his honest work,
In palace or in hut his charge can keep.'

"Do not think I am censuring you, my dear boy, but never, never speak
disparagingly of any honest work."

"That little verse pleases me," remarked the quiet but observing Paul.
"My father often says the same thing but not in verse. He says that work
is no disgrace to anyone. And he tells his pupils that the smut that is
upon the hands of a toiling man can be washed off by soap, but no soap
can wash away the smutty word that comes from the lips."

"That is true indeed," commented Mrs. Steiner, "and now we must journey
toward home and the blessed land of sleep, as my dear mother always
called the bedroom. And she was right, for a comfortable bedroom is
indeed a blessed place to the weary one at the close of a hard day's
labor or the child wearied with play."

They bade Mr. Stayman a cordial farewell, and, taking another glance at
the gay scene about them, returned to the quiet flat.

The boys began to realize how tired they were when they reached number
37, and went directly to their room and to bed.

When all was quiet, the careful aunt went in and just as she had
expected, found no one had thought to put out the light. Moreover,
Fritz was lying with his feet upon the raised part of the lounge and his
head on the low part.

"Fritz, dear boy, Fritz!" she said, shaking him by the shoulder, "wake
up! You must not sleep with your head so low."

"Oh, aunt," he said plaintively, "let me sleep. I am all right."

"No, you are not all right, and you shall sleep the whole blessed night
when you get in a more comfortable position. Don't you see that your
feet are on the pillow where your head ought to be?"

"Yes, but I was sleeping so well. Aunt, see you turned the lounge the
other way, the head was down this way when we first came."

"Yes, Fritz, you are right. I did turn it that you might not be waked by
the sun shining upon your eyelids. Now step off, quick, and put your
heels in their proper place."

"Oh, aunt, indeed I am satisfied. Please do not make me get up."

"But I am not satisfied," and Mrs. Steiner helped him rise and still
half asleep he dropped back upon the lounge with his head upon the
pillow. She kissed his fair forehead, took up the lamp, and glanced at
the three sleepers, perfect pictures of healthy, happy boyhood.

"Now, Fritz, is not that a more comfortable way to sleep?" she asked,
but there was no response for he was fast asleep.

"It would be a happy day for me, if he could come to Frankfort and live
with me," she said to herself, "but not as I will, but as God wills. May
He protect them all through life, and keep them pure of heart as now;
and ten years hence may they look as openly and honestly into the faces
of their fellow-creatures as they do now. Let them not seek worldly
honors in preference to the favor of God."

Then she went softly from the room to her own apartment.

Pixy was the first to awake the next morning, and had a good run in the
grassy backyard to get an appetite for breakfast.

"Now it is time to wake our sleepers," said Mrs. Steiner, and went to
the door of the room to call them.

They were too sound asleep to hear the call, and she opened the door and
looked in. Upon the floor on the side of the bed occupied by Paul lay
the pillow, and on the floor by the side of Franz's place lay the sheet.
Fritz had lost his blanket during the night, and, not more than half
awake, had reached out for it and gotten his handkerchief, which he had
spread over his shoulders, and his head was resting upon the chair which
his careful aunt had placed in front of the head-piece of the lounge.

"Wake up, sleepers!" she said cheerfully. "The sun has been up this long
while. There is only one washstand, but you can take turns at it; and
there is a pitcher of cool fresh water. Now make yourselves neat as
quickly as possible that you may be ready for breakfast."

She returned to the kitchen and presently the odor of frying sausage and
steaming coffee floated into the room, and a little later the triplets
stood beside Mrs. Steiner, neat, refreshed and in splendid spirits.

"Pixy has been trying to take a bath in the pan of fresh water that I
set out for the birds," said Mrs. Steiner, "and as he could not get into
it, he dipped a foot in as does a cat. All animals try to be clean if we
give them the chance. Take that largest tin basin, Fritz, fill it with
water, dip this dust brush in it, and wash him. It will answer almost as
well as if he were put in a tub. See, he seems to understand what I am
saying and wags his tail as if to say, 'yes, little mother, all animals
love a bath, and would be clean if given the chance.'"

The boys hurried away and gave Pixy his bath which he certainly enjoyed,
and had just finished when Mrs. Steiner called them to breakfast. They
were about to take their places when Mrs. Steiner asked Fritz if he had
not forgotten something.

"No, Aunt Steiner, I cannot think of anything that I have forgotten," he
said.

"Go back to the kitchen, dear, and you will see Pixy's dish with bits of
bread in it, softened and made richer by having some of the sausage
gravy upon it. He smelled it, as did you while it was cooking, and we
must not disappoint him. Go set his breakfast on the porch for him, and
then we will have ours."

This was done, and all took seats, the blessing was asked, and then Mrs.
Steiner in her pleasant way called attention to the pure white linen
tablecloth.

"You see, boys," she said, "that it is white and spotless; and you
perhaps do not know how much labor there is in placing even one piece of
washing in this fine condition. Now, I wish one of you to pour the
coffee, and pass the cups around without spilling any."

"Let me pour it, Aunt Fanny," said Fritz, and he poured a cupful for
each person and passed it without spilling a drop, while Aunt Steiner
served the sausage.

Then Fritz poured his own coffee, and in passing it to his place he
noticed a tiny stain at Paul's plate. Immediately a discussion arose
between them as to who was to blame in the matter.

"Never mind," said Mrs. Steiner soothingly, "I am satisfied that the
whole cup of coffee has not flowed over the cloth. We will cover the
stain with the mantle of love and charity in the shape of a clean
napkin."

It was such a satisfaction to Fritz to see it hidden that he was ready
to ask a question.

"Aunt Fanny," he said, "where are we to go to-day?"

"Every place is new to you, and you can go where you prefer, but on
horses that do not eat oats."

The boys understood that she meant that they must go on foot; and were
well satisfied.

"Our horse at home eats oats," remarked Franz, "and loves sugar. Every
morning, when papa is ready to ride to the forest mamma goes to the gate
with him, with a lump of sugar for Betty, and always says, 'Now, Betty,
be a good little horse to-day and bring your master safely home to his
wife and children this evening. Do you understand?' and she does really
seem to understand and neighs gently as much as to say 'I will.'"

"Can you go out alone, do you think, or do you wish me to go with you?"
asked Mrs. Steiner when breakfast was finished.

"I am sure we could go alone," replied Fritz. "If we get lost we will
ask the way to 37 Bornheimer street."

They put on their straw hats for the march, and Pixy, who evidently
thought that they were going home, sprang up in delight, and was so full
of frolic that Fritz could scarcely fasten the cord to his collar.

"Now, are you going out without one of you thinking of something you
have left undone?" asked Mrs. Steiner gently. "Will you not write one
line to your parents to tell them of your safe arrival?"

"Yes, truly we forgot it," and the three looked at each other, then laid
aside their hats. Fritz ran to his satchel for paper and envelopes, but
his aunt told him that post-cards would be sufficient and supplied them
with three, saying that they could write letters later.

"Would it not be better to wait and get scenery cards?" asked the
thoughtful Paul; "scenes of something we will see while we are out
to-day?"

"No, write now, and just a few words that your parents may get them this
evening. It may perhaps save them sleepless nights."

The triplets sat down immediately to the business of writing home. Franz
wrote so large that he could only get upon it the few words: "My dear
father and mother and sister: We got safely to Frankfort last evening."

Fritz, with his usual frugality, used but a third part of his postal,
and Paul took the middle course, and neatly filled his card.




CHAPTER V

FRITZ IN TROUBLE


When the boys had finished writing their postals, they bade Mrs. Steiner
good morning and set out to see what they could of Frankfort without a
helper, and their first aim was to find a letter box. They had nearly
reached one when Franz noticed that he had not written the address upon
his postal. He saw no remedy but to go back and mount the long flight of
steps to correct his mistake. But a gentleman who was also about to post
a letter comforted him by the assurance that his parents would receive
it if the address were written with a pencil, and loaned him one, to the
great satisfaction of the whole party.

"And now, my boy," added the gentleman when they heard the postal rattle
into the box, "remember to always direct a letter, postal or package
clearly, and correctly and then look again at the address before
dropping it into the box."

The triplets promised to remember, and the gentleman bade them
good-bye, and hurried down the street.

"Now, where will we go first?" inquired Fritz.

"I think the zoological garden would be the best place," suggested Paul,
but Fritz had set his heart upon seeing soldiers, for in their home
neighborhood they saw a soldier only now and then when home upon a
furlough; but a regiment, or a company even, they had never seen. So
they walked along the street some distance hoping to see a drill, having
read of drills and maneuvers in their story books.

"Look! There comes an officer," exclaimed Franz, as a corporal came
walking along in a stately, dignified manner, and the delighted boys
took off their hats and bowed low to him.

The young man was not at all flattered by this attention, believing that
the country boys were making fun of him; but his angry stare was
positive proof to the triplets that he was some great man, Fritz
deciding that he was a general.

"But if he were a general, he would ride upon a splendid horse. He would
not walk," remarked Paul.

"But he would walk sometimes," insisted Fritz, and at that moment they
met a drummer, and again the boys doffed their hats and bowed low.

"If I were a soldier, I would be a drummer," decided Fritz. "No
instrument makes such beautiful music as a drum; and a person must
understand music to be a drummer."

"But a captain is greater than a drummer," said Paul, "and a general is
greater than a captain."

"Yes, people say so, but if you notice, it is the drummer who leads the
way. All the others have to follow him. I always think of a verse that
tells exactly what I think. Shall I say it to you?"

"Yes, if it is not too long," replied both of his companions, and Fritz
repeated it.

"My comrades envy me, I know,
  They can deny it not;
For drummer of the regiment
  Has been my happy lot.

"And at a tap, or drum's loud beat
  The soldiers follow me;
The general, even, has no choice,
  He follows, too, you see.

"But if it had not been my lot
 To be a drummer boy
Then I would be a General;
 But not with half the joy."

"He was right!" agreed the boys, "and when we are soldiers we will be
drummers."

Chatting amicably, they reached the beautiful flower-bordered walks
where they had been the evening before, and sat down under the shade of
a great linden to watch the swan swimming about in the lake. They had
scarcely been seated when a soldier passed and again the triplets raised
their hats, and some street boys who were playing near raised a shout of
derision.

"Look at the country boobies taking off their hats to a common soldier!"
they cried, and gathered about the three with mocking laughter and
jeers.

"Where did you come from to be so green?" asked one of them.

"There is no need for you to know, therefore no need for us to tell
you," answered Franz.

"See the hayseeds who come here and think they know it all! I will take
this hat and keep it until its owner tells me what I asked," and he
grasped Paul's hat, intending to run, but Paul was too quick for him,
for he lay hold of the boy's arm, and got his hat.

This was just what the rough street urchins wanted, and they gathered
about the three; pushed against Odysseus-Fritz, Achilles-Franz and
Patroclus-Paul, and as no policeman was near, they would have mastered
the three peaceable, well-bred boys, but at that moment Pixy, who had
been watching the game, sprang in the midst of the melee, grasped the
sleeve of one of the boys, snarling savagely, as if he were a terribly
dangerous dog, indeed. The frightened boy tore himself loose with such
force that he fell to the ground and Pixy, as though scorning to attack
a fallen enemy, grasped the seat of the pants of another boy, tore a
piece out, which released the boy, and he and the others ran as fast as
their feet would carry them from such a dangerous locality. Pixy
followed their hasty flight, barking vigorously, and would have made
another attack had not Fritz called him back. The three Grecian heroes
petted and praised him, and he wagged his tail for joy, and capered
about them as much as to say, "Didn't I make them fly!"

Yet prouder was his young master, and he could not help reminding his
comrades that he was not so foolish after all in bringing his dog to
Frankfort, to which they agreed, for they felt much relieved at the
scatterment of the rough and violent street urchins.

"But," continued Fritz, "it will be better for us to leave here, for
these rough boys may collect a larger company and come back and fight
us; and as brave as Pixy is, he might not be able to manage them all."

"Say, boys," exclaimed Franz after they had walked some distance, "we
will not raise our hats to every soldier that happens along. That is why
the street boys made fun of us. It would be all right if we only knew a
General should he come along for then it would certainly be good form to
raise our hats to him. But we don't know, so we won't raise our hats to
any man in uniform," advised Franz. All agreeing to this decision, they
passed on to the business part of the city, Pixy trotting near them, his
young master holding fast to his rope.

"Just see that splendid clothing-house made of glass and iron, and
filled from basement to roof with beautiful suits of clothing of all
kinds," said Fritz delightedly. "A man could go in there in a
morning-gown, and come out in a quarter of an hour dressed like a
gentleman from head to foot. Father told me of a splendid clothing-house
here in Frankfort, and this must be the one. Let us go in and see it."

"But we cannot take Pixy in," said thoughtful Paul. "Surely they would
not allow dogs in that beautiful place."

"No," replied Fritz, "you boys may go in first, and I will stay here
with Pixy. After you have been through the building you can stay with
him while I go."

Franz and Paul hurried in, and Fritz stood by the great glass front, and
examined with the eyes of an experienced clothing merchant the elegant
cloth garments hanging within.

"They are wonderfully cheap," he said to himself as he considered the
cards upon them. "We could not afford to sell them at that price. But
then who knows whether they are well made? If I were going to buy them,
I would examine them well before paying any money for them."

So the future clothing merchant chatted to himself, and did not take
notice that a tall, handsomely dressed and gentlemanly-looking stranger
was gazing upon him with a smile of benevolent good-comradeship, and at
length spoke to him.

"You appear to be a stranger here, my young friend," he said in a
winning tone, and he lifted his glossy silk hat as he spoke.

"Yes, sir; I was never in Frankfort before; and came only yesterday."

"Then I am sure that there is much to see and to hear that will be new
to you."

"Yes, for I came from the country, and this is the first city I have
ever seen."

"But can you enjoy it so well alone?"

"I am not alone; two of my classmates are with me. They have gone into
this clothing house, and when they come back they will hold my dog and
I will go."

"Then I will remain with you until they come, for I love the company of
young people. I will also be a protection to you, for there are many bad
characters in a great city."

"Yes, I have read and heard of them and it is very kind in you to stay.
I have read in our newspapers of the cunning rogues, and I am on the
lookout for them. My comrades could be more easily deceived than I, for
I am quite sure that I would know one the moment I saw him; and would
like to see one."

"Your reply proves to me that you are intelligent and thoughtful beyond
your years, and certainly have no need of anyone to protect you, for you
can take care of yourself. I wish other boys would read more about these
light-fingered people and they would be on their guard. Now you might be
seeing something while you are waiting for your friends. We might walk
about the square and they will see us when they come out of the store,
for we will keep in sight of it."

Fritz was pleased with this proposal and walked slowly along with his
new acquaintance, who pointed out with his cane objects of interest and
at times laid his hand on the boy's shoulder like an affectionate
father, and Fritz felt perfectly at home with him.

At length they reached a tall column upon which was pasted many bills
and placards.

"Have you read this?" asked the new acquaintance, pointing to one of
them with his cane.

"No, sir."

"Well now, read it aloud."

"Way to the Zoological Aquarium," repeated Fritz.

"Now this one."

"Beware of pick-pockets."

"It is good advice. I must see if I have my money," and he touched his
pocket; his example followed by Fritz.

"Yes, mine is all right yet. How is it with yours, my dear young friend?
I hope your money is in a safe place, that is, if you have any with
you?"

"Yes, I have two dollars and some small money; but better than all, I
have a gold piece that I keep in the safest place in my pocketbook. I am
not intending to spend it for I have enough without it, but my father
said that one ought to have more money with him than he thinks he will
need."

"Your father is evidently a kind and sensible man."

"Yes, he certainly is. He told me to keep my nickels in my vest pocket
that I need not take out my pocketbook when with strangers."

"That is true in most cases, my boy, but from long experience in living
in a city I would advise that you put it all in one place. If all your
money is in your pocketbook you can guard it much better than if your
attention was divided by having to guard two places."

Fritz took the advice and his nickels to the value of two marks were
taken from his vest pocket and put in his purse, and the purse returned
to the pocket of his pants.

"Now that is right, and you may thank this notice which has warned you.
Just see how easily one expert pick-pocket could have gotten your money
had you not been warned," and he showed Fritz how it could be done.

Pixy had kept his eyes upon the stranger and when he saw his hand glide
down to the pocket, he gave a low growl.

"Be quiet, Pixy!" said his master. "Don't you know a friend from an
enemy? Excuse my dog's bad manners, please; he is not in a good humor.
Some street boys attacked us, and he had to fight them off."

"Don't say a word, my dear boy. He is a faithful servant. If he is
jealous of a friend, he would have a still sharper eye upon an enemy if
one should happen along. Now, Pixy, good, brave dog, eat this piece of
candy, and let us be friends."

He took the candy from his vest pocket and offered it, but Pixy scorned
the gift, and gave an angry growl.

"Oh well, doggie, I will not trouble you any longer," and he put the
candy back in his pocket. "Now I must away. Bye-bye, my boy, and
beware--of--pick-pockets," and he disappeared around the corner.

Pixy sprang up to follow, but the boy called him back.

"Franz was right, Pixy, when he said you have no sense," complained
Fritz, as the dog continued to give dissatisfied growls. "You don't know
a kind, good man from a thief and dislike him only because he is a
stranger. Yes," he said to himself, as he walked along back to the
store, "it was real kind in him to warn me, for he did not know but I
was a stupid country boy who had never heard of pocket-took thieves. I
would like to see a thief that could put his hand in my pocket without
my knowing it. Stupid people are yet to be found, for with all the
reports of thieves in the papers, there are people who allow themselves
to be robbed, but they are generally women. People like me would know a
thief the moment they saw him."

By this time he had reached the store, and wondered what kept the boys
so long within.

"They forgot that I am waiting outside," he said to himself, "and I am
terribly hungry. There is a bakery across the street. I will run over
and buy a roll."

No sooner said than done; he ran across, and the odor of fresh bread,
cakes and pretzels filled the place. He bought a roll, and took a bite
while feeling in his pocket for his purse.

"Oh, it is gone!" he cried, turning pale with distress.

"Put your hand in your other pocket," said the saleswoman. "It may be
there."

This was quickly done, but it was not to be found.

"I don't believe you had any money," said the woman, angrily, "but took
that planning to get the roll without paying for it. I will call a
policeman."

"Oh, please don't!" cried the boy, with tears streaming down his cheeks,
"I will pay you when I see my aunt. She is Mrs. Fanny Steiner, number 37
Bornheimer street."

"Yes, now I believe that you are telling me the exact truth that you had
money and have lost it."

"No, I did not lose it; it was stolen from me by a man who warned me
against thieves."

"Then I should certainly call a policeman that you may have a chance of
getting your money by giving a description of the pick-pocket."

"Oh no, please don't call him. I am afraid of a policeman, and don't
want to see one."

"But why? That is foolish of you. They are our protectors. Only bad
boys need fear them; honest people are glad to call upon them in
trouble."

"There comes Franz and Paul out of the clothing store," and he ran to
the door and called them, and they came across the street and into the
bakery.

"What are you crying about?" asked Franz. "Have the street boys been
fighting you while we were in the store?"

"No, I wish it had been the rude, ill-mannered rabble instead of the
polite, kind-appearing gentleman who was a thief and stole my money. I
am so ashamed that I was deceived by his pleasant words. Besides, I have
bought a roll and cannot pay for it."

"Oh, that is all right!" said his companions, taking out their
pocketbooks. "Here is your money for it, lady, and we will each buy a
roll."

"Come, Fritz," said Paul as he took a bite out of his roll, "eat your
roll and come with us. It is no use to stay here."

"Oh, my hunger is gone, and how can I forget my loss when I need my
money every day?"

"But what is the use of fretting over it?" said Franz, impatiently.
"The money is gone, and crying will not bring it back, so you may as
well make the best of it."

"Yes, Franz, it is easy for you to talk that way when you have your
money in your pocket. But mine is gone. Even the few nickels that were
in my vest pocket were taken by the miserable thief," and tears streamed
from the boy's eyes.

"I do feel sorry for you," said the saleswoman. "Had you much money in
your pocketbook?"

"Yes, I had two silver dollars and a ten-mark gold piece with the face
of Kaiser Frederick upon it. My father got it in trade, and he put it on
the Christmas tree for me. It was new and bright and beautiful, and now
it is gone. Besides I had two marks, and the nickels in my vest
pocket--and--"

"What is the use of calling them all over?" complained Franz. "This is
the third time you have called them. They will not come back like tame
birds that know their names."

"Just think of the lines we repeat in school: 'Happy are we if we forget
what we cannot change,'" Paul said by way of comfort.

"Yes, Paul, that is all right when people are not in trouble, but it
will not bring back my beautiful, bright gold-piece and my--"

"It was not very smart of you to allow yourself to be robbed," rejoined
Paul quickly. "No thief would have gotten the chance to fool _me_ that
way. I would not have been so friendly with a strange man as to allow
him the chance to get his fingers in my pocket."

"Oh, Paul! you think you are very wise, but you would have been taken in
just as I was by his smooth, sleek speech. The rascal was so pleasant
and kind! It is a lesson to me, but that does not bring my money back;
oh, my gold-piece, and my two dollars--boo--hoo--hoo--"

"Oh, do be quiet!" warned Franz. "Don't you see that people are
gathering about the door?"

"Yes, you are right; I will be quiet, but we must go back now to Aunt
Fanny's. I have had enough of Frankfort for one day."

To this the others agreed, but when they left the bakery they went in
the wrong direction, and had gone many squares before they realized
their mistake.

"Yes, you are going exactly in the opposite direction from 37 Bornheimer
street," said a policeman whom they accosted. "Face about and enquire
of policemen and postmen whom you meet, and in time you will get there."

This they did and when they reached 37, Mrs. Steiner was on the porch
looking for them. They ran up the steps and Franz and Paul left
explanations to Fritz, who fell upon her neck weeping, and sobbing, "Oh,
Aunt Fanny, it is gone, all gone!"

"What is gone? Tell me, my little Fritz. You frighten me."

"My pocketbook, with my beautiful, bright gold-piece with the picture
of Kaiser Frederick on it, and my two hard dollars, and my two
mark-pieces--and my nickels; all are gone!"

"But, my pet, suppose you have lost your pocketbook, that is not saying
that it cannot be found. There are plenty of honest people in the world
who would be glad to return it if they could find the owner. We will
search the papers and we may see in the 'found' column that some one has
it, and will give it up to you."

"But, aunt, it is not an honest person but a thief who has it. I had no
idea that anybody could steal from me," and he poured forth the whole
story, concluding with, "Oh, my beautiful, bright gold-piece, with the
face of Kaiser Frederick upon it!"

"Stolen! Dear Fritz, that is an entirely different thing from being
lost. I, too, would never have thought of you allowing yourself to be
robbed, for you spoke of reading so much about pick-pockets. It is
evident that your dog was a better judge than his master. He had no
confidence in the man, while you almost gave him your pocketbook."

"Oh, Aunt, don't remind me of that! I know it too well myself."

"No, dear, and I am sorry for your loss, and hope it will not make you
lose confidence in your fellow-men. For one thief in the world there are
thousands of honest people, but in a strange city and in a crowd one can
be on guard without hurting the feelings of any stranger. Now I will
hurry to the police station and give the information. No doubt you are
not the only one the rascal has robbed, but if I can help it you will be
the last, for a time at least. Franz, my boy, go to the kitchen and stir
the beans. Stir quietly all the time I am gone. The soup and the veal
roast are ready, and we can eat as soon as I come back, which will be in
a few minutes."

She threw a little, fleecy shawl over her head and ran down the steps
as lightly as a girl of fifteen. The boys in the meantime were in the
kitchen, Fritz being so comforted by his aunt's sympathy and help that
he could turn his attention to the dinner.

"This is pea-soup," he said, "and I certainly like it. Do you, Paul?"

"Yes, and the veal and the beans are good."

"But I could enjoy them all more if I had not lost my money. Oh, my
beautiful gold-piece with the--"

"Likeness of Kaiser Frederick upon it," finished Franz. "Oh, Fritz, do
give us a rest! It is gone, and if you tell it a thousand times, it will
not make the thief bring it back and put it in your pocket. No, the
rogue will have many good meals with its help, and the money will find
its way into many pockets."

"Yes, that is what makes me feel so badly about it. I tried to save
every penny of it and now it is gone! No wonder that you can feel
cheerful! you have your money, but I--"

At that moment his Aunt Fanny returned, and brought some cheer with her.

"While the police have no clue to the thief," she slid, "as no one saw
the theft committed, yet they will take every means to trap him. And
now, Fritz, don't grieve any more. You shall not feel the need of money
if I can help it, for when you want it you shall have it. Now we will
take the meat and other things to the table, but first I must fix Pixy's
plate."

This was done and Fritz carried it to the porch, then they took seats at
the table, their plates were filled and a dish of the pea-soup was at
each plate. The kind little hostess was glad to see that they ate
heartily and enjoyed their dinner. As she glanced at Fritz she said to
herself: "Thank goodness that it was his money that was lost instead of
his appetite. That would be a far worse loss than even his gold-piece."

Roast veal, potatoes, beans and lettuce disappeared like mist, and
before they arose from the table she said: "Boys, is your hunger
entirely satisfied?"

"Perfectly satisfied!" was the unanimous response.

"Oh, what a pity!" she said, as if reflecting.

"Why a pity, Aunt Fanny?" asked Fritz.

"Because I have a basket of fine ripe cherries in the cupboard which I
intended for dessert. But as you are satisfied, I suppose we must wait
for another time."

The young guests looked crestfallen, and for a time were silent; then
Franz came to the rescue with the right word.

"Cherries," he remarked, "have so much juice that I do not know that
they could be called food. Instead, I would say that they are more like
drink."

"Franz, you are a born lawyer," laughed Aunt Fanny. "You certainly
deserve a fee for that brilliant opinion. As you say that you are
satisfied that you have sufficient food, you may bring in a fresh drink
in the shape of ripe, red cherries."

Franz was not slow to obey, and soon four heaps of cherry stones proved
that the new drink was appreciated.

"Now could you enjoy another dessert?" asked Aunt Fanny, smilingly. "One
that you will appreciate quite as much as the red cherries? Look!" and
she held up a letter and two postals.

"Oh, please, please! They bring us news from home," cried the boys in a
breath; and Fritz asked who was to get the letter.

"It is for Paul, and you and Franz get the postals. Now you can read
them while I take the dishes from the table."

"Oh," exclaimed Franz, "they have gathered the summer pears, and I was
not there to help. But all are well, and they send love to Aunt Steiner
and thank her for her goodness to me. Boys, what have you in yours?"

"All are well," responded Fritz, "but father says I should not have
brought Pixy. He says that he will not only be a trouble to us and to
Aunt Fanny, but it will do the dog no good."

"I have never thought to ask where you got Pixy," remarked his aunt,
"perhaps you can tell me, Fritz."

"Yes, aunt. He belonged to a neighbor who did not want him so gave him
away. One cold day in winter the poor dog came all the way back, half
starved, and scratched at our neighbor's door; but the hard-hearted man
threw a bucket of cold water upon him and he ran to our door. Father
took him in, fed and dried him, and the first week kept saying, 'If I
only knew of some one who wants a good, gentle, young dog.' After
another week he said, 'I will keep the dog. I could not bear to give him
to some one that might not be kind to him.' So we kept him and named him
Pixy, which father said was another name for fairy. I hope nothing will
happen to him on this journey, for father would be so sorry."

"We will all care for him, that nothing may happen," said his aunt,
cheerfully.

"Aunt Fanny, when I write home, will you write a line in my letter and
say that you will see that nothing happens to Pixy?"

"Certainly, I will say that we will take the best care of him that we
can."

"Oh, yes, Pixy will be all right, but my beautiful, bright gold-piece
which--"

"Have you begun to sing that old song again?" exclaimed Franz. "You have
been robbed of your money, and you are robbing us of pleasure!"

"Oh yes, you can talk of pleasure, but I--"

"Listen, my boy," said his aunt, "worrying will not bring your
pocketbook back, and you must not lose this beautiful afternoon in
grieving; but go out and see something of the city. My old friend and
cousin, Gotfried Braun, is coming to go with you and will point out
places of interest. He knows them all for he has lived in Frankfort all
his life, and will give you the history of them."

"I am real glad. I love to see and hear of historic places," said Paul,
and he had scarcely finished speaking when the old gentleman stepped in
and was greeted as a loved friend.

"All the young people of his acquaintance call him Uncle Braun, and I
think he will be pleased to have my boys call him that, will you not,
cousin?" she enquired, turning to the old man.

"I certainly will, and now let us set out, for we have much to see."

"Can I take Pixy, Uncle Braun?" asked Fritz.

"Yes, you can take him, for we are not going into any buildings to-day,
but when we visit them he cannot go unless he wears jacket and trousers
and walks upright."

Fritz was jubilant over this and the three rushed for their hats, and
they were off. Mrs. Steiner, standing upon the porch, looked after them
until they were out of sight.

"Thank good Braun that I can stay at home this afternoon for I have many
things to do that cannot be put off any longer," she said to herself, as
she set to work to put the place in order and then go out to buy things
to cook for supper.




CHAPTER VI

A WHOLE DAY OF SIGHT-SEEING


The four descended the steps, Fritz leading Pixy, and were soon in the
main streets of the city, where the constant hurrying of feet and the
rush of traffic was a continual subject of wonder to the country boys.
In the windows of the large stores they saw so many things that were new
to them, some of them from foreign countries, that they could scarcely
move on and Uncle Braun waited patiently, answering innumerable
questions.

"Is this the first time that you have ever seen diamonds, pearls and
other precious gems?" he asked when they remained long at the windows of
a large jewelry store.

"Yes," Fritz replied, "our parents have none, nor have our neighbors.
Oh, how beautiful they are! and just see the price that is upon the
earrings."

"Yes, ten thousand marks."

"Ten thousand marks," echoed Franz. "Why, that would buy a house and
garden in the Odenwald."

"Does any person except queens and other royal people wear such things?"
asked Paul.

"Certainly! There are many people in Frankfort who buy and wear them. If
you are surprised at the price of the earrings, I am sure that you would
be more astonished did we know the price of the diamond necklace."

"Uncle Braun, do you suppose that it was this jewelry store that was
robbed a few weeks ago?" asked Fritz. "I saw an account of it in a
Frankfort paper."

"I cannot say. There are many jewelry stores here, also many thieves."

"Oh," cried the boy, at the remembrance of his own loss, "my new, bright
gold-piece--"

"With the likeness of Kaiser Frederick upon it!" completed Franz. "You
see we can repeat that wail all right."

"Don't tease him, Franz, my boy," remarked Uncle Braun in a kind, yet
rebuking tone. "You have not as yet had the opportunity to show us how
you would act if all your money was stolen. Fritz has nothing to be
ashamed of that he was deceived by the smooth-tongued stranger. I will
tell you what happened to a baker, a middle-aged man, who has lived in
Frankfort all his life. He was sitting in his bakery one day when he
heard the footsteps of a man going up the steps of his house, which had
two front doors, one leading into the bakery and the other up the
stairway to the bedrooms.

"He went to the door and looked up and there was a man who appeared to
be going up, but was in reality coming down backwards. He halted when he
heard the sound at the door.

"He had a large bundle tied up in a compact roll, consisting of bed,
pillows and bed clothing and did not appear to be in the least haste.

"'What are you doing there?' called the baker.

"'Isn't this the pawn-broker's shop?' asked the stranger.

"'No, that is on the next square. You go to the corner and turn to the
right, and there you are.'

"'Thank you!'

"The baker returned to his bakery and the man went out and down the
street. When night came and the family went to retire there was no bed
or bed-clothing in the baker's room. The clever thief had made off with
them."

Fritz seemed somewhat comforted to hear that he was not the only one who
had been outwitted.

Farther on the boys took keen interest in a bicycle race.

"Oh, look at them!" Fritz exclaimed. "A whole regiment of them! How can
the dealer sell so many?"

"He must sell a great many more than you see there in order to pay the
rent of his store."

"Yes," agreed Fritz, knowingly, "the rents are high with us, too; there
is one man in our village who pays one hundred and eighty marks for the
rent of his store."

"That is quite a sum of money, my boy," smiled Uncle Braun, "but look at
this small store we are passing. I happen to know that the rent of it is
ten times your one hundred and eighty marks."

"Is that possible? Then if he got but a mark for each pair of shoes, he
would have to sell eighteen hundred pairs in a year to make the rent."

"I don't know how many he sells, but I do know that he has been there
for a long time and does a flourishing business."

"Oh, listen to the music in this store!" exclaimed Paul, "singing, and
no singer to be seen."

"I thought it would surprise you. That is a phonograph. Now listen, do
you know the air?"

"Yes, it is from '_Der Freischutz_,' and oh, how beautifully it is done!
How can it be possible for it to sing so correctly?" and the triplets
listened with delight. They would have lingered much longer but Uncle
Braun reminded them that time was passing, and there was much more to
see.

"Do you know anything of the poet Goethe?" he asked as they passed
along.

"Oh, yes!" they all exclaimed eagerly.

"Would you like to see the house in which he was born? I am sure you
would, so we will go directly to it. The old house has been restored and
is just as it was when he lived there. He was born in 1749. How old
would he be if living?"

It did not take the triplets an instant to state exactly the number of
years, then their old friend asked which of Goethe's poems they liked
most.

"I like the 'Singer,'" said Paul, "and I like the 'Erlking,' but when my
father read it aloud to us last winter my little sister crept under the
sofa. She was afraid."

By this time they had reached the old house, and it was a delight to the
triplets to see the rooms in which he had played when a boy like them.
They looked from the windows from which he had gazed at the fields
beyond, and did not wonder that every intelligent stranger who came to
Frankfort paid a visit to the old house, where the greatest poet that
Germany has ever known--John Wolfgang von Goethe--lived and wrote.

"Where would you like to go next?" asked Uncle Braun.

"To the bridge over the Main," they answered promptly, for they believed
that they would never grow weary of watching the cool, rippling water
making its way to the Rhine and from thence to the sea. So to the bridge
they went and leaned upon the parapet and gazed upon the scene as they
had done the evening before.

"Did you ever hear how Frankfort got its name?" asked their guide.

"No, we never heard."

"It is said that at that point," he continued, designating it with his
cane, "the river was at one time so shallow, owing to a ridge of rocks
under its bed, that it could be forded by persons on foot. One time
when Charlemagne--or Charles the Great--was battling against the Saxons,
he was compelled to retreat before them, and they were in hot pursuit.
The French forces were weak, while the Saxons were strong, but if he and
his army could cross the Main, all would be safe. A heavy fog rested
upon the river and they could not find the safe fording. The French ran
up and down the shore, hoping to see someone who could tell them the
location of the ford, but found no one. The enemy was advancing rapidly
upon them and they had about given up in despair, when they saw a deer
with her young step into the water and cross safely. In full confidence
that the instinct of the animal had guided her correctly, they followed
and reached the south side of the Main safely. The Saxons followed, but
could not find the shallow place to cross, for there was no deer to
guide them, and the city, dating from that time, was called
_Frankenfurt_ or Frankfort."

This narrative was of deep interest to the boys, who gazed at the spot
where Charlemagne had crossed more than eleven hundred years before.

"Did he live in Frankfort?" asked Paul.

"Yes, for even at that time the city was of some importance. He built a
fine palace which he named 'Frankfort,' and did much to improve the city
and neighborhood. He formed great hunting troops to destroy the wild
animals which infested the forests and did much damage, bears, wolves,
wild hogs and buffaloes making the forests dangerous to travelers."

Now that they had heard this story of the river, they took keen interest
in all that concerned it, especially the vessels upon its placid waters.

"They can carry great burdens," remarked Fritz, "more than many horses
could pull."

"Suppose we have a question in arithmetic," said Uncle Braun. "I am sure
that any one of you can solve it. If one such vessel could carry thirty
thousand hundredweight, how many horses would it take to draw that
burden if two horses could draw fifty hundredweight, and how many wagons
and drivers if each driver had two horses?"

Fritz was the ready reckoner of the three, and quickly answered, "Twelve
hundred horses, six hundred wagons, and six hundred drivers."

"Then you can see how much cheaper it is to have freight carried by
sea."

"What are those boards for reaching from the shore out over the water?"
asked Paul.

"They are for those who wish to take a bath in the Main; and on these
warm evenings it is very agreeable to have this refreshment to weary
bodies. Would you boys like to take a bath?"

"What would it cost?" asked Fritz.

"Eight cents."

"Then I can't take it. I have no money. Oh, my beautiful, bright gold--"

"But would you take the bath if I pay for it?"

"Do you mean for Franz and Paul, too?"

"Yes, for all three."

"Franz, do you and Paul take the bath, and Uncle Braun can give me the
eight cents, which is just the same to him as if I took the bath."

"Oh, Fritz, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" exclaimed Paul. "It
was not money, but a bath that Uncle Braun offered us."

Fritz had thought of this before Paul spoke, and his face had turned
very red, and he could not raise his eyes to the face of his old friend.

But Uncle Braun laughed heartily at the different expressions upon the
countenances of the three boys.

"I am much older than our little man, Fritz, and I must say that I would
be tempted to strike a bargain with somebody if every penny was stolen
from me. Now in such a predicament, I think we should help each other,
so I will give Fritz five nickels to put in his empty pocket which will
at least make a jingle."

"No, no, I will not take them!" cried Fritz, flushing warmly, "I am
ashamed of myself."

"Fritz," said Paul, "it is a very different thing for you to take the
money that Uncle Braun offers you as a gift, than to ask for money in
place of a bath when he offers you the bath."

Franz saw the affair in the same light and advised the acceptance of the
nickels, but added that it would take too much time to take a bath when
there was so much they wished to see.

They passed on to the residence streets of the city where were some
elegant dwellings, one of which especially attracted the attention of
Fritz.

"Does a Rothschild live there?" he asked.

"No; there is no male descendant of Mayer Anselm Rothschild living now
in Frankfort; nor is there now a Rothschild banking house."

"Was Mayer Anselm always rich?" asked Fritz.

"No. He came of poor Jewish parentage, and lived in his childhood in a
poor little dwelling in a narrow street, but by his honesty and strict
integrity he became the founder of a banking house known over the world,
and his five sons, Anselm, Solomon, Nathan, Charles and James, became
heads of great banking houses in different cities."

"Then the father was born in Frankfort?" remarked Paul.

"Yes. Mayer Anselm Rothschild was born in Frankfort in the year 1743,
and died here in 1812."

"Then he was six years older than Goethe," commented Paul.

"Yes, they were great men in their different lines, and were
contemporaries; that is, they lived at the same time."

"But it must have been tiresome to stay in a bank and count money,"
remarked Franz. "I would rather be a forester and live in the woods. My
father says that healthy blood and sound limbs are better than money."

"Yes, but a rich man can live where he chooses," quoth Fritz. "If Mayer
Rothschild wished to live in the woods, he could have done so. Couldn't
he, Uncle Braun?"

"Yes, but his living there would only be for pleasure, while the father
of Franz lives there to protect and care for our forests. Each man
should do his duty to the best of his ability in the sphere that
Providence has placed him."

"Boys, do you see that old gray tower rising high above the treetops?"
he continued. "It is the old Eschenheimer tower, and gave its protective
strength to the city wall, which long ago has disappeared; but the old
tower remains a monument of the past. Do you notice that ivy has climbed
to its very top? There was an old saying that when ivy reaches the top
of any high building, the beginning of the end has come, and you will
soon see that building in ruins. But the ivy reached the top long ago,
and the tower still stands."

"And looks strong enough to stand forever," said Paul.

"Did you ever hear of Hans Winkelsee, who was once imprisoned there?"
asked Uncle Braun.

"No. Please tell us about him," said the three eagerly.

"Hans Winkelsee was, in his time, one of the boldest, most daring
robbers that ever infested the Frankfort forests and the foresters did
their best to entrap him and make him their prisoner, but for a long
time he eluded them. At length his time came, and he who had lived the
wild, free life of a bird of prey was in a narrow cell at the top of
Eschenheimer tower, judged guilty of so many crimes that he was
sentenced to death.

"He who had roamed the forest, after deer and other wild animals, and
had lain in wait to plunder travelers, now saw nothing, heard nothing
but the creaking of the weather-vane on the top of the tower, which
tormented him by day and robbed him of sleep by night until he preferred
going to the gallows to longer imprisonment.

"'Oh, that I were free to see the bright sunshine, the moon and the
stars; hear the thrush sing and the owl hoot!' he would say to himself
in the darkness of his cell. 'But I see nothing, hear nothing but the
horrible grating sound overhead.'

"'Well, Winkelsee,' said the jailor one evening as he stood at the cell
door, 'you must feel it a great relief to be safely in here, as would a
bear that had escaped the hunters and the dogs, and was safe in the
depths of his cave.'

"'I could endure it if it were not for that fiendish weather-vane. If I
only had my good rifle in my hand and was upon the ground, I would shoot
a bullet hole through it for every night it has robbed me of sleep.'

"'Now, Winkelsee, do you really imagine that you could shoot to the top
of the tower from the ground?'

"'I don't imagine it. I know it, and it would be a joy to me to have
revenge upon it for robbing me of sleep.'

"'Hans Winkelsee, the burgomaster and the judge who condemned you would
believe you a boaster, or out of your mind did they hear you say this,
for it is simply impossible.'

"'You can go and tell them, and say that if I lose my life upon the
gallows, they lose the best marksman in the kingdom.'

"The jailor shook his head, then turned the key in the lock and went
slowly down the steps. He believed that the judge and the burgomaster
would laugh at him should he give them Winkelsee's message. Yet he
feared that if the imprisoned man died upon the scaffold, he would feel
self-reproach and remorse for not giving him the one chance for his
life.

"He went to the judge and told him, and a council was called to discuss
the question. As in most cases, part were in favor of giving him the
chance for his life, and the other part believed that he was planning
a flight, and his associates would gather about to help him escape.

"But there were huntsmen among them who were eager to see what Winkelsee
could do and argued that if he failed, it would then be time enough to
have him executed, so they decided that as soon as the clock struck
twelve the next morning they would allow him the trial of his skill.

"A deputation was sent to tell him of the decision.

"'I am not afraid of the gallows,' he said, 'but am willing to have a
chance for my life on condition that I have my own rifle and one of my
comrades accompany me to the spot where I take my stand. Can you agree
to this?'

"They assured him that both requests should be granted, and hoped that
the trial would be a success.

"'I have no fear in regard to it. I know what I can do. Now you can
leave me to myself, and to-morrow I will leave this martyr cage and be
as free as the birds of the air.'

"'Winkelsee, I advise you not to take the affair so lightly. If you
fail, your last chance for life fails with it.'

"The news of the trial of his skill spread through the city and the next
day at twelve a great crowd assembled to witness the test of skill.

"When Hans was escorted to the spot by one of his associates, his rifle
was put in his hand. He pressed it to his breast as if it were a long
lost friend, examined it carefully to see that it had not been tampered
with, then said, 'I am ready. Shall I shoot?'

"The burgomaster nodded and Hans took aim at the weather-vane and fired.

"Stillness reigned in the great multitude, then hunters and marksmen
shouted and cheered, for there was a bullet hole in the weather-vane,
plainly visible to the spectators. Hans loaded the rifle, took aim, a
second bullet whizzed through the air, and a second hole appeared in the
weather-vane close to the first.

"'He is in league with satan,' cried a voice in the crowd. 'No mortal
being could do that without the evil one's help.'

"'He is satan himself,' cried another, 'and could shoot a hole through
the moon if his rifle would reach that far.'

"Shot after shot followed, each one leaving a bullet hole in the vase,
until the whole nine were there, and anyone having good eyes can see
them to-day."

"Fritz, Franz, I see them!" cried Paul. "Oh, he was a wonderful
marksman. I wonder if anyone is living now who could do it?"

"But," suggested Franz, "how easily the maker of the weather-vane could
make the nine holes before it was placed on the top of the tower."

"You boys can settle that question among yourselves," replied Uncle
Braun, "but listen to the rest of the story. The burgomaster and
councilmen were glad to have the chance to spare the life of the
stalwart and expert marksman, and told him that he was free to go,
providing he would no longer molest travelers in the forest.

"He made no reply, and the councilmen held a consultation and one of
them went to him with another offer.

"'The head-master of hunting died lately, and his place must be
filled,' he said. 'You have given such an exhibition of your skill as a
marksman that we offer the place to you. You can then live in the city
of Frankfort and have all the rights and privileges of a citizen,
together with the compensation that goes with the office, and our good
wishes.'

"All expected Winkelsee to accept this offer with gratitude, but he
waved his hand in refusal.

"'I do not wish the place,' he said. 'All my life I have been free and
free I will be. My imprisonment let me see what it is to be buried
alive. I would feel if enclosed by the walls of a city as a chaffinch
would feel in the craw of a hawk. No matter if your city walls enclose a
larger place, it is yet a cage. No, I will not stay. Hans Winkelsee
seeks the woods. There he was born, there he will die and be buried
under a shady oak tree.'"

The boys were so interested in the story that they did not realize that
it was past their supper hour, but Uncle Braun knew that they must be
hungry.

"We will go into a restaurant," he said, "and each of you can order
whatever you wish just so that the price does not exceed ten pennies for
each. That will buy enough to stay your hunger until you can reach home
to enjoy the good supper your aunt will have ready."

"Ten cents will get enough for us and leave a little over for Pixy,"
remarked Fritz.

"No, I will provide for Pixy. He, too, is my guest."

It was a new and pleasant experience to the boys to give an order in
A fine restaurant, and each chose ten cents' worth of cake, which they
pronounced delicious, and which with glasses of cool water refreshed
them greatly.

"Would it not be well to take your kind aunt some of the cake which you
like so well?" asked Uncle Braun.

"We should have thought of it ourselves," said Franz. "Paul and I will
buy twenty cents' worth and Fritz need not help because he has lost his
money."

"There was no need to remind him of his loss," rebuked Paul.

"There is no need to remind me, true enough," sighed Fritz, "for it is
never out of my mind. When I saw the fine houses I thought to myself
that it took gold-pieces like mine to build them. When I saw the tower
and heard the story of Winkelsee, I thought that I would not give my
gold-piece for his rifle and when I walk along the streets I think that
perhaps I may find a gold-piece like the one I lost."

"But, my dear boy," said Uncle Braun, "what would be your gain would be
someone's loss; perhaps it would be the only piece that a poor widow had
to pay rent or to buy bread for her children."

"I am ashamed that I wished to find one, but my gold-piece was so new
and bright."

"There is no need to be all the time grieving about what cannot be
helped," grumbled Franz.

"My boy," said Uncle Braun kindly, "do not censure him. It is a comfort
to speak to friends of what troubles us, and a pleasure to speak of what
interests us. I knew three young men in college who were very fond of
the pleasures of the table. What they had to eat, what they wished to
eat, and where they hoped to eat, seemed to be their only object in
life, and they spoke of it continually. It certainly was not
entertaining or instructive conversation."

"But I wish to do my share toward buying the cake for Aunt Steiner,"
said Fritz, and he took out ten cents of the money given him by Uncle
Braun, the other boys each added ten, and quite a large piece of the
rich cake was ordered, wrapped in white paper, paid for and then they
were ready to go to 37 Bornheimer street, for Uncle Braun had decided
that they had enough sight-seeing for one day.

They parted from their kind guide with many thanks for the pleasures he
had given them, and went slowly up the long steps. When they opened the
door of the cheerful supper room, all was so homelike and comfortable,
and Mrs. Steiner welcomed them so gladly that they felt that it was a
great blessing to have a second home.

"Dear boys," she said, "rest a little while, then one of you get a
pitcher of fresh water and all go to your room and wash faces and hands
and brush your hair, and you will be refreshed and rested for supper."

Fritz had carried the cake, and when his aunt returned to the kitchen he
slipped it back of the stove until the proper time to present it, then
all went to their room.

"Are you hungry?" asked Franz.

"Yes, hungry as a wolf," replied Paul, "but don't let us speak of it
again, or Aunt Steiner will think that we are Odenwald wolves and all we
came to see her for is what we get to eat. You know what Uncle Braun
said of those three young men and I don't wish to be like them."

Upon returning to the supper room Fritz said, "Let us set the table for
Aunt Fanny."

"All right," responded Franz, springing up. "Do you put on the
tablecloth and I will put on the dishes."

"No, let us both spread the cloth, and both put on the dishes," returned
Fritz, but Franz got a plate from the cupboard, and when Fritz attempted
to take it out of his hands it fell to the floor and broke into many
pieces.

"Now see what you have done!" ejaculated Franz.

"No, what you have done," retorted Fritz.

Question and answer flew back and forth like snowballs in winter, and
then Mrs. Steiner appeared at the door.

"Dear, dear, that is a great display of crockery!" she said.

"Franz did it," said Fritz.

"No, it was Fritz."

"Oh, you innocent lambs," she said laughingly, "of course neither of you
did it, so it must be that little man on the clock face who stepped down
to break a plate. Or perhaps it was the dog; he is hiding his face
between his feet as if ashamed to look up."

"No, no, Aunt Fanny, it was not my Pixy," exclaimed Fritz, "I will take
all the blame upon myself."

"It was partly my fault," echoed Franz, "and I am sorry that the plate
is broken."

"So am I," rejoined Fritz, "and I will pay for it."

"Hear him, offering to pay for it," laughed Mrs. Steiner, "when he has
no money. Never mind, my boy, you need not pay for the plate. I have
plenty more, and here is a mark to put in your empty purse."

"But, Aunt Fanny, my purse is not empty," and he told of the nickels
given him by Uncle Braun.

"It was kind in him to take you out; and he is very generous in every
way. Now pick up the pieces of plate, and put them upon this waiter and
then we will set the table and have supper."

This was done, and while his aunt was out of the room Fritz took out one
of the pink plates, put the cake upon it and set it in the middle of the
table. It was a great surprise to her and she was gratified that they
remembered her while they were out, and said so, whereupon the
conscientious boys would not let her remain in ignorance of the fact
that it was Uncle Braun who suggested it.

"Well, it is no matter who first thought of it," she said cheerfully,
"you boys used your money to prepare a surprise for me. We will cut it
in four parts and it will make a fine dessert."

The boys insisted that she should keep it all for herself, but she said
she would enjoy her part more when all had a share, so they did not
refuse it.

"Now, boys, tell me something of your afternoon," said Mrs. Steiner, and
each vied with the others to describe what they had seen. Fritz
contributed his share of it by telling of his wish that he could find a
gold-piece on the street, and what Uncle Braun said in regard to it,
ending with "Oh, my new, bright, gold-piece with the--"

"Oh, dear, are we again to hear that cry?" grumbled Franz. "You are like
Hannibal weeping upon the ruins of Carthage."

"You have not lost any gold-piece, and you are wrong about Hannibal; it
was Scipio who wept on the ruins of Carthage."

"You are both wrong," corrected Paul, "it was Marius who wept upon the
ruins of Carthage. Wasn't it, Aunt Steiner?"

"My dear boy, I have forgotten much that I once knew of ancient
history, but I think that Hannibal was a great Carthagenian general who
fought the Romans. Whether he wept or not over the ruins of Carthage I
cannot say; but I do know that you boys are tired and sleepy and the
sooner you get to bed the better. Go now, don't forget to say your
prayers; and Fritz, see that your head keeps on the pillow of the lounge
and not on the chair beside it."




CHAPTER VII

THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS


The next morning just as Mrs. Steiner and her guests had finished
breakfast the doorbell rang, and she went to the door, opened it but
drew back startled, when she saw a tall policeman.

"Why are you here?" she asked anxiously.

"It is a strange thing that people seem frightened as if fearing arrest
when we come to their doors," he said in a kindly tone. "They should
look upon us as protectors against thieves and other evil-doers, yet
they seem to look upon us as enemies."

"Yes," said Mrs. Steiner pleasantly, "one cannot deny that when a
policeman comes it seems to signify trouble."

"Well, I am not bringing trouble. I only came to enquire if there is a
boy here named Fritz."

"Yes, Fritz is here. He is my brother's son, and is visiting me."

The boys had heard all and made a rush for the door, where they stood
behind Mrs. Steiner, gazing with intense interest at the tall, dark man
who had such piercing black eyes and a moustache so large that Fritz
told his aunt afterward that it looked as if a blackbird had lighted
upon his upper lip and spread its wings under his nose.

"Now, which one of these boys is Fritz?" he asked.

"This one," said the aunt, turning to the boy, who was doing his best to
hide Pixy from the eyes of the law. But Pixy was not willing to be
obscured. He did not like the looks of the man, and gave one of his low
growls.

"Call your dog away, boy, I have no business with him, although he has
no tag. However that is no harm, so long as he stays in the house. Now,
Fritz, what is your other name?"

"Fritz Heil. My father is a clothing merchant, and his store--"

"I do not have need to know of him. Did you lose a pocketbook
yesterday?"

"No, it was stolen from me."

"Well, I came to take you to the police commissioner."

"Aunt, has the policeman arrested me?" asked the boy, clinging to his
aunt's arm.

"You are not under arrest, boy," laughed the man. "You are only wanted
as witness. We hope to catch the thief. Now forward, march."

"Yes, Fritz, go and do what you can to help. Do you think you can find
your way back?"

"I will see that he gets back all right, madam," and down the steps they
went, Franz and Paul looking after them until they disappeared from
view.

Fritz was received so kindly by the police commissioner that he felt
entirely at ease.

"So you were robbed, my little man. How did the churl look who picked
your pocket?"

"Oh, he was no churl, but a pleasant gentleman with a soft voice."

"Yes, we know this pleasant gentleman. How was he dressed the day you
saw him?"

"He wore a tall silk hat, a black broadcloth coat and vest, and although
it was a warm day, he had on a fine thin overcoat."

"Entirely right. You describe him well as to clothing. Now about his
face and form?"

"He was tall and slender, had a smooth face, black hair and black eyes
that looked quickly about him like a squirrel, and he had a scar over
his left eye."

"Exactly! Now tell me about your pocketbook."

"My mother gave it to me at Christmas, and--"

"There is no need to tell me that, my son."

"Yes, there is need, because in it is a tiny card on which is written
'To my loved Fritz, from his mother; Christmas.'"

"Oh, it is well to know this. Describe the pocketbook."

"It is of red leather, and has a bright clasp, and upon it I scratched
'Fritz' with my pocket knife."

"That is enough, my boy. Is this it?" and he held upon a red leather
pocketbook.

"No, mine is the same shape, but smaller."

"Is this it?" holding up another.

"Yes!" cried the boy joyously and reached for it.

"First tell me what is in it."

It was no trouble for Fritz to enumerate the coin; he had done it too
often to forget.

"The pocketbook is yours, my little man. Tell me, do you recognize this
photograph?"

"Yes, it is he; the very one, only his overcoat was not buttoned when he
robbed me."

"Exactly. We know our man and he is now behind iron bars. When your
aunt came here and gave the information, I sent one of my detectives to
a public house where these rascals congregate; and, sure enough, there
was your fine gentleman partaking of a good dinner washed down by a
bottle of good wine at your expense. Your gold-piece is safe and one of
the dollars. He used the other and the small change for his
refreshments. Here, take your pocketbook, and I wish to say that there
are not many grown people who could observe and describe so well the
thief who robbed them."

"I will not trust anybody again as I did that smooth-talking stranger.
I will be on the lookout all the time for thieves."

"Oh, my boy, do not let this affair make you suspicious of your
fellow-creatures, or you will never have a peaceful hour upon earth. Of
course, we should not trust entire strangers too much, and should carry
our money in a secure place. The safest is a pocket on the inside of
your vest, a thief could not well get his hand in there. And now let us
shake hands in farewell, and may you have a pleasant visit to
Frankfort!"

The boy left the office in splendid spirits, for he felt richer than
when he first owned the pocketbook and the gold-piece, for he had it
again, when he thought it was gone forever. The policeman took him in
sight of number 37, and he ran the rest of the way alone. He saw his
aunt on the porch waiting for him.

"Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I have my gold-piece and my pocketbook,"
and he held it up in glee.

"Oh, my boy, had we Pixy back, that would be a greater joy," said Mrs.
Steiner.

"My Pixy!" cried the boy. "Isn't he in the house?"

"No, my poor boy, and I have no idea where he is. After you left, the
affectionate creature was so lost without you that I could not quiet his
restlessness. Franz and Paul had gone out to walk around the square, and
left the door open a little way and while I was in the kitchen to see if
the bread was ready to put in the oven Pixy slipped out. I saw him
disappear, and ran after him as fast as my feet would carry me, but he
escaped."

Fritz broke into bitter weeping and his aunt wept with him for she had
no comfort to offer, and when Franz and Paul came they, too, were deeply
worried over the loss, for they blamed themselves that they did not see
that the door was latched.

"What can we do?" they asked Mrs. Steiner.

"The first thing is to run to the station-house and tell the police.
They have found the thief and may find the dog."

"Oh, Fritz, have you really got your gold-piece?" they asked in a breath.

"Yes, and my pocketbook, but they are no pleasure to me now that I have
lost Pixy, and I am the only one to blame. If I had left him at home,
instead of bringing him to Frankfort without papa's knowing it, this
would not have happened," and again he wept and the others could offer
no comfort.

"If I don't find Pixy, I will not go home," he sobbed; "Papa and mamma
and little sister love him so, and even our servant girl will grieve if
Pixy never comes back."

"Let us not lose time in grieving," said his aunt, putting her hand upon
his shoulder, "but let us do what we can to find him."

"Yes, we will go," said Fritz, "for the longer we wait, the further away
he will be," and he ran out, followed by his comrades.

The first person they met was a carpenter with his tools upon his
shoulder.

"Have you seen my dog, my Pixy?" asked Fritz as the three halted and
looked up in his face. "A beautiful, black dog with curly hair on his
neck and shoulders?"

"No, I have seen no black dog," and the boys ran along again, asking
every one they met.

"You are only asking me to plague me," said a cross old woman, not
heeding the tearful eyes of Fritz. "The street boys are getting more
tormenting all the time."

At length a kind-hearted woman told them that she had seen a black dog
on the next street, and they ran in breathless haste to see it, but
alas! it was not Pixy, for while resembling him, it did not recognize
the name of Pixy, nor the voice of Fritz calling it.

"This is my dog, boys! What do you mean by trying to toll him away?"
exclaimed a gentleman, coming to the door of a store; but when Fritz
explained that he had lost his dog, the gentleman believed him and
became a sympathizing friend.

"I will give you the advice to go to the animal asylum," he said. "Stray
dogs and other animals are taken there and good care given them until
the owners claim them."

"Oh, if my Pixy falls in good hands until I can find him," said Fritz.

"I must tell you, boys," continued the gentleman, "that in Frankfort, as
in other cities, there are people who will steal dogs in order to get a
reward. But your dog may only be lost, and the best way will be to put a
notice in the morning paper. Then if he is at the asylum, they will let
you know."

At that moment a well-known voice said, "Good day, doctor, what
important business have you with my young friends?"

It was Uncle Braun who spoke, and the boys were so delighted to see him
that half their trouble seemed to be gone.

"Don't be so distressed, Fritz," he said. "I will put a notice in the
paper saying that a black dog answering to the name of Pixy has strayed
away, and will promise a reward to anyone who will bring him to 37
Bornheimer street. Now run home, boys, and do not keep Mrs. Steiner
anxious about you."

He added to his kindness by going with them as far as number 37, and
when the triplets hurried up the steps, they found Mrs. Steiner on the
porch watching for them. She was sad to see that Pixy was not with them,
but cheered Fritz by saying that Uncle Braun generally succeeded in
what he undertook, and all ate dinner with hope in their hearts. But
when they arose from the table and Fritz saw Pixy's plate on the back
porch, he threw his arms about his aunt, and wept.

"Oh, Aunt Fanny," he said, "if I only knew that Pixy was in the asylum
or some other safe place, and not wandering the streets, hungry and
looking for me, I would not feel so badly! but I am afraid the street
boys will throw stones at him and he will run away and never come back."

"If your gold-piece that you gave up as lost was found, so Pixy may be.
Do not cry any more, my darling, or you will be sick. Perhaps your dog
may be on his way back to the Odenwald."

"If we had walked all the way he might track us, but we came in the cars
from Umstadt."

"In spite of that disadvantage he may find his way home, as he did the
time your neighbor gave him away."

"Where will we go to-morrow?" asked Paul with the kind intent of taking
Fritz's thoughts from his trouble.

"In search of Pixy."

"No," responded Mrs. Steiner, "that will be of no use. You might walk
the streets from morning until late at night every day, and it would be
of no advantage to you or the dog. Let us go this afternoon to the
zoological gardens and see the many animals from foreign countries. We
will have some dinner and then go, that we may have a long afternoon at
the gardens."

This was a happy thought. Nothing could have taken the boy's mind from
his loss of the dog so well as did the many varied interests which the
gardens offered.

Near the entrance was a large, fine building used by visitors as a
resting-place, and for refreshments. Mrs. Steiner did not pass it by,
but the four went in and she bought a supply of cake as a supplement to
their light dinner. Then they went to see the splendid crested pea-fowls
that were spreading their brilliantly tinted fans on the green lawn. As
they passed a company of gay-plumaged parrots they were crying, "Dora!
Dora!" and Mrs. Steiner told the boys of a lady who owned the large
green parrot and was so weary of hearing it scream, "Dora! Dora!" from
morning until night, that she gave it to the garden; and now all the
parrots screamed "Dora."

"Ask it what its name is," she said to Fritz.

"What is your name?" he asked, going close to it.

"Same as yours," was the reply, followed by croaking laughter.

This amused the boys greatly and they would have remained there longer,
but they heard low growls from a great cage not far away and going
nearer they saw upon a low rock in the centre of it a lioness lashing
her sides with her tail and uttering low growls. The floor of the cage
was of sand and stretched upon it was the king of beasts, his great head
upon his paws, and his savage eyes resting upon the bystanders. At
length he arose, and coming to the great iron rungs that surrounded it,
he yawned, and the boys started back in affright from the terrible mouth
and teeth, but he soon returned to the sand.

"Pixy's mane is prettier than the lion's," said Fritz. "Oh, my Pixy!"

"Yesterday it was your gold-piece, now it is Pixy," grumbled Franz
impatiently. "You should be glad that your dog is running in the open
air, instead of being fastened up in a cage."

"Yes, I am glad of that, but, oh, I cannot keep from crying when I think
of the street boys, and how they may chase him."

"Come to this cage, boys," called Mrs. Steiner, "I wish you to see a
lion that I once held in my arms and petted as if it were a kitten. He
is now a great, grown lion, but he was born in this garden, and crowds
came to see him and some people would give the keeper a fee to be
allowed to take it in their arms. No one would dare to touch him now."

"Except myself," said the keeper who came up that moment, put his hand
in the cage and combed the long mane with his fingers.

"Is he always so tame?" asked Paul.

"Yes, except at meal time; then they are hungry and show their native
ferocity; I would not dare to put my hand in his cage then. If you will
come here at five o'clock, you will see him fed."

They promised to come, then went to see the panther, the hyena, and the
wolves; and then Mrs. Steiner called them to go to the great pavilion
where the monkeys lived and played as merrily as if in their native
haunts; running over the branches of the tree in the centre and swinging
from the ropes, chattering, grinning, teasing each other, and making
themselves generally amusing to the many spectators who crowded about
their pavilion.

"I never imagined so many in one place," said Fritz, "and they are
flying past and around each other so fast that it makes one's head giddy
to watch them. I like that little fellow that is so playful and
good-natured. Now a lady has given him a lump of sugar; and oh, see that
bigger monkey has taken it from him and eaten it. That is a shame!"

Fritz was so interested in the cunning little creature that he was glad
when the lady gave him another lump of sugar which he put quickly in his
mouth, swelling out his jaw in a comical manner while his little, sharp
eyes were watching the other monkey. But alas! the old tyrant rushed
down upon him, took the sugar out of his mouth, and put it in his own,
and slapped the little one he had robbed right and left.

"Oh, it is certainly a shame," said Fritz, and he took off his hat, and
put it under his arm while he wiped his heated forehead; when in a flash
the little monkey he had so pitied rushed down, grasped his hat, drew it
through the rungs and was up on the branches almost before Fritz knew it
was gone.

"Oh, Aunt Fanny, he took my hat while I was looking at the big one
eating the sugar. Oh, see! he is tearing off the blue ribbon band, and
biting pieces out of the rim and dropping them down for the little
monkeys," and tears rolled down Fritz's cheeks.

The keeper, hearing the laughter, came at once, and with a pole knocked
the hat out of the monkey's hands, and although many little black
fingers clutched it as it lay a second on the floor, it was brought to
the rungs by the pole and Fritz secured it. But little remained of the
rim, and what there was of it was ragged; and when he put it on, peals
of laughter from the spectators sent him crying to his aunt. But alas!
she too was laughing, and the boy felt that his last friend had gone
over to the enemy.

"Oh, little Fritz!" she said, trying in vain to look sympathizing and
serious, "there is one kind of bird they can add to their collection
to-day and that is the _pechrogel,_ for surely you, poor child, are that
unlucky bird. But never mind; your luck will change; your Pixy will come
back, and I will buy you a new straw hat."

"Yes, but we must go away from here. It makes me sick to see the people
laughing at me."

"Yes, we will go and see the birds. That is my favorite place in all the
garden."

On their way, they passed the cage where serpents of every kind were
twisting and squirming about, among them the terrible boa-constrictor,
and the python; but Mrs. Steiner could not look at them, and asked the
boys to stay but a little while, but they could halt at the tanks of the
South American alligator, the rhinoceros, the great turtle, and the
hippopotamus; all animals which the boys had never seen except in
pictures and were of wonderful interest to them.

The bird enclosure was truly an attractive place. Among the branches
overhead were many kinds of small birds singing, chirping and
chattering, and Mrs. Steiner pointed out several which should have been
acquaintances of the Odenwald boys, but to her surprise they did not
appear to know their names.

"I am ashamed that I, a forester's son, and living in the country all my
life, do not know the names of our native song birds, but know the
foreign ones from seeing them in pictures," said Franz. They gazed long
at the wise looking owls who were blinking on a wall of masonry, which
represented an old tower; then turned their attention to the swan and
spoonbills, and other aquatic fowl sporting in the clear water of the
lake, while on the shore marched the stately flamingoes, resembling
red-coated soldiers.

On a rocky point rested an eagle, and upon another a Golden Condor
spread its great wings.

"Oh, see!" cried Fritz, "here comes a great elephant carrying an organ
in his trunk. See, he is setting it down; now he is turning the crank
and playing a beautiful waltz."

Of all the new and interesting things they had seen, this was the
greatest delight to the boys; and their delight was not dampened by
having the animal musician hold out his trunk for pay. Fritz gave him
one of his beloved nickels, which was immediately passed to the keeper,
and when Mrs. Steiner gave him a sweet bun which she had brought in her
pocket especially for him, he put it in his capacious mouth and
swallowed it with evident relish.

After the elephant organ-grinder had received all the pay he could
gather from the people congregated about the bird enclosure, he passed
on with his organ, and Mrs. Steiner took her guests to the bear pits,
and to their delight, they saw the great polar bear, the black bear and
many others of which they had seen illustrations, and after watching
them as much time as they could spare they passed on to see the
giraffe, and from thence to the pen of the zebra. They were earnestly
engaged in counting its beautiful stripes when from a great tent near
they heard the sound of some wild and warlike instrument which seemed to
serve as a summons, for people were hurrying to the tent. Mrs. Steiner
told the boys to come, and all went through the opening and found that a
company of Nubians were about to give a performance. They were in native
costume, their coal black hair stiffened with grease to make it stand
straight up, their brilliant white teeth in contrast with their black
faces.

They commenced the performance by a representation of a sham battle with
their spears; and our Grecian heroes were reminded of their weapons
which to their regret they were advised to leave in the Odenwald. It was
with intense interest they watched the many different exploits exhibited
in the one-hour's performance. When it was finished, Mrs. Steiner
suggested that they go to the pavilion on the terrace and have rolls and
chocolate while they rested.

This proposition was readily accepted, and just as they finished, Mrs.
Steiner upon glancing at her watch found that it wanted but five
minutes of five o'clock.

"And we were to see the lions fed," exclaimed Fritz.

"You can go," said his aunt, "I will stay here and rest," and she
pointed out the nearest way for them to go. They were just in time to
see the keeper walking to and fro before the cage of the great African
lion, holding upon the point of a long pole a piece of raw beef. The
lion sprang against the stout iron bars which made the cage tremble, and
reached out his terrible claws as if to grasp not only the meat but the
keeper who was watching a suitable moment to toss in the meat. At length
this was done, and the ferocious beast with low growls pounced upon it,
took it between his paws, while his eyes rolled about as if dreading an
enemy who would take it from him, then tore it to pieces and swallowed
it.

The panther was next fed. He took his meat slyly to a distant corner of
his cage to eat it. When the boys returned to Mrs. Steiner she said,
"Now we have not seen all that is to be seen in the garden. Would you
like to stay longer?"

"No, Aunt Fanny," replied Fritz, "I have seen and heard so much that
I don't think I could remember any more," and to this Franz and Paul
willingly agreed, and they set out cheerily for home.

They had enjoyed a charming afternoon and the refreshments that Aunt
Steiner had selected had been so abundant and good that new life seemed
to thrill them as they moved along.

"Look, Fritz," cried Paul excitedly, "there is Pixy."

"Where?" cried the boy, reddening with surprise and joy.

Paul's finger was pointing to a black dog, with head and tail depressed
from hunger and weariness, but Fritz knew his dog.

"Pixy! Pixy!" he cried joyously, and the three boys ran toward him and
the stout well-grown boy who was leading him. As if electrified Pixy
raised his head, and barked from joy as he struggled to break away from
the rough hand that held him. The three boys grasped the rope, but were
powerless to wrench it from the hand that held it.

"Let go!" cried Fritz, "Pixy is mine and you shall not have him."

"No, he is mine. I bought him to-day from a strange gentleman. Let go
the rope, or I will give you a blow upon the head that will keep you
from seeing and hearing for awhile."

A regular struggle now ensued. The big boy planted a blow on Fritz's
face which caused the blood to stream from his nose, but he held on to
the rope until knocked down; whereupon Franz and Paul ran behind the
boy, pulled him backward on the ground, the three jumped forward, and
two of them grasped his arms while the other sat upon his ankles; and
Pixy did his share by catching one leg of his pantaloons in his teeth
and holding fast.

Mrs. Steiner, in the meantime, was almost sick from fright; but summoned
strength to call "Help! Help!" and several men ran to separate the
combatants.

"Whose dog is it?" asked a gray-haired gentleman when he could
understand the fight enough to know that it was to obtain possession
of Pixy.

"It is mine!" sputtered the big boy, "and these three rascals are trying
to get it from me."

"It is mine!" cried Fritz; "we brought Pixy from the Odenwald. We came
to visit my Aunt Steiner. There she is."

"There comes a policeman," called a boy in the crowd that had gathered
around; and the big boy rushed away, disappearing around a corner, which
convinced all that he was not the owner of Pixy.

"I am glad that your boy got his dog. He fought a hard battle to recover
it," said one.

"Yes, and just see his face is all bruised and bleeding, and his nose
swollen, perhaps disfigured for life. And see his nice suit of clothes
all dusty, and a hole torn in his pants; and his stockings, even, have
blood upon them!"

And truly poor Fritz was a sorry looking object. His hat, thanks to the
monkey, did not add to his appearance. His aunt had intended stopping at
a store on their way home to get a new straw hat, but on account of his
battered appearance decided to wait until next day.

"But, Aunt Fanny!" said the logical Fritz, "I may look worse to-morrow
than I do to-day; and why should we care more for the people in the
store than on the street? Besides, the rim of the new straw hat will
hide the bruise on my forehead."

"That is true, Fritz, and I know of a fountain on our way home where you
can wash the blood from your face and hands and as much as we can off
your clothes, and with a new hat, you will look much better."

All this was done, and Fritz was really proud of his new hat, and glad
to leave the torn one at the store to be thrown away.

When they reached home, Mrs. Steiner's first care was to give the hungry
and tired Pixy a plate of good bread and milk, which he ate gratefully
and then lay down upon his piece of carpet by the window.

Oh, how good it was to them all to see him there! and how good the
supper which Aunt Steiner prepared, and how good the restful home to the
weary ones, and how welcome the comfortable beds to which they retired
as soon as supper was finished!




CHAPTER VIII

PIXY IN TROUBLE


The next morning Mrs. Steiner arose earlier than usual to put in order
the boys' clothes which had been damaged in the fight for Pixy. There
was some mending and much cleansing to be done, but all was finished in
good time, when she called them to get ready for breakfast.

"Yes, Aunt Fanny, we are coming," said Fritz, and then followed "oh's"
and "ah's" and other signs of discomfort as they arose to dress, and
found themselves stiff and sore from the exertion and the blows of the
afternoon before.

It was a great satisfaction to Mrs. Steiner to see that the swelling
which had disfigured Fritz had disappeared, and his nose was in its
normal condition. The boys were so enthusiastic over their visit to the
zoological garden, and so refreshed by sleep that all had a cheerful
time while enjoying the substantial breakfast which their hostess had
prepared.

"I loved that cute little monkey, Aunt Fanny, and was so sorry to see
it treated badly by the big monkey, and then to think it was so mean as
to tear up my straw hat."

"But he would not be a monkey if he were not playful," laughed Aunt
Fanny; "and he did it in play. There is Uncle Braun," she continued as
the doorbell rang. "He has come to take you out sight-seeing."

The three boys hurried to admit him, and came back holding him by the
hand.

"I am glad you gave these boys breakfast in good time this morning," he
said after greeting Mrs. Steiner, "for I wish them to see two more of
the noted places of Frankfort on the Main, and when they get older they
can visit Frankfort on the Oden and compare the two cities."

"You have selected good places, if you still think of taking them to
those you spoke of the day you were here."

"Yes, they have seen Goethe Square, and Schiller Square. Now I wish them
to see Romerberg Square and the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. Could you
not make it convenient to go with us?"

"No; for it would not do to take Pixy in any of the buildings, and he
could not be left alone here. But after I attend to some matters, I
will take him out for a walk."

The boys were ready to go, and they set out, their first visit being to
the Cathedral.

Their way led across a part of the beautiful promenade, and the equally
beautiful Ziel street, and later through the narrow streets of the
middle ages, and in a short time they stood before the mighty buildings
called the Kaiser Cathedral, so called because from the year 1711 the
German emperors were crowned there.

The magnificence of the carved work upon the portal charmed the boys,
and when they entered they were filled with admiration of the splendid
stained glass windows and the grand paintings. They stood for some time
gazing at the monument of the Emperor Gunther of Schwartzburg, and Uncle
Braun informed them that he was the only emperor who had been buried
there.

They heartily appreciated the privilege of seeing the great cathedral in
the company of one who could give them reliable information, and when
they left it, they walked through the narrow, ancient streets on their
way to the Romerberg Square, and their guide said as they passed along,
"In it stands the Romer, or Council House where the German emperors
were elected and entertained.

"When crowned in the cathedral they walked to the Council House,
followed by a great retinue of princes and the other great people of the
earth, while the streets, doors, windows and roofs of the houses were
filled with spectators.

"When the crowned emperor disappeared within the walls of the Council
House, all eyes were turned in expectation to the windows of Kaiser
Hall. Very soon the centre one was opened, and the Kaiser appeared in
his imperial robes, the crown upon his head, in his left hand the
imperial globe of the kingdom, and in his right the sceptre.

"A storm of applause greeted him, and at the same moment all the bells
of the city rang in rejoicing over the crowning of a new emperor."

It was a delight to the boys after hearing this on their way there to
step into this Kaiser Hall and see the portraits of the emperors looking
down upon them. Uncle Braun told them of each emperor, and was glad to
see that they were very well acquainted with history, and in turn could
tell him something of each of them.

"It would have been easier to study history if we could have come to
this Kaiser Hall first," remarked Franz. "I know a good deal of Charles
the Great, but I like better to hear of Frederick Barbarossa."

"You are making a great chasm in your likings," laughed Uncle Braun;
"see how many emperors come between them. Besides, I think you are
mistaken in thinking it would have made history easier had you come here
first. Instead, your knowledge of history has made you take interest in
these portraits which you could not have taken had you not known
something of them. So it is with all travelers. The more they have read
of a place, the more intelligent appreciation they have of it when they
see it."

The boys gazed with great interest at each portrait, and also at the
white marble statue of Emperor William I, which had been placed there
and unveiled in March, 1892.

"Now that we have enjoyed living in the past, let us step out upon the
balcony and look at the present in the form of the beautiful Romerberg
Square, its green lawn, and its fountain," suggested their guide.

It was a stirring scene upon which they gazed. People were going to and
fro; and among them Franz saw two familiar figures.

"Fritz," he said, "there is Aunt Steiner and Pixy."

"So it is Aunt Fanny," cried Fritz, joyously; "Aunt Fanny, do you see
us? Pixy! Pixy!"

Scarcely had the sound of the loved voice reached the dog, when he
sprang forward, dragging the weak little woman, who was compelled to
leap and bound over the grass at a pace which was, to say the least,
unaccustomed. She called, coaxed and upbraided by turns, but Pixy never
halted in his race, nor looked back to see how she was faring, but was
making with all speed for the balcony. At length Mrs. Steiner could hold
out no longer. She dropped the line and sank into a seat on the lawn,
and Pixy, released from his burden, sprang up the steps of the Council
House where he was met by a watchman.

"What are you doing in here, you black Satan?" cried the surprised man
as Pixy ran in. "Out with you! Out with you!"

But Pixy had seen the open door into the balcony, had spied his master,
and ran to greet him with every evidence of delight.

"Whom does that black beast belong to?" asked the watchman, hurrying
out.

"To me," replied Fritz, "but--"

"How dare you bring him in here? Come out, both of you."

Uncle Braun advised Fritz to pacify the angry man by telling how it
happened that Pixy got in, but the watchman would not listen, so Fritz
hurried out to his much-tried relative, followed by the others.

"Oh, Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I am so sorry that Pixy acted so
badly," he exclaimed.

"No, no; don't blame Pixy for your own fault. You should not have called
him. The affectionate creature was rejoiced to hear your voice. You
called him and he was glad to obey."

"Yes, it was my fault. I should have known what Pixy would do."

"Oh, no one is to blame. It was merely a mistake," said Uncle Braun,
joining in the conversation; "but you are all tired, especially the
aunt, and you must ride home."

He called a carriage, and before they could make objection they were
helped in, with Pixy at their feet.

"Bornheimer street, number 37," said Uncle Braun to the coachman as he
put a coin in his hand, and they were off.

"Oh, how nice it is to live in a great city!" remarked Franz. "In the
country when any of the people wish to ride out, the horse must be
brought up from the field and curried, the harness be put on, the
carriage taken from the carriage-house, the whip and carriage robe
gotten from their places, the horse put to the carriage, and then when
the drive is over everything has to be put back in its place."

"Yes, child, all one needs in a city in order to obtain these things is
money; and Uncle Braun has certainly done us a favor to-day to add to
his many kindnesses. I really don't know how I could have walked home,
for my knees trembled and my back ached. Never in my life did I take
such long steps, and run and bound as I had to do while trying to keep
back that black rascal."

"But it was not Pixy's fault. You said so yourself, Auntie!"

"Yes, I did say it. It was your fault in calling 'Pixy! Pixy!'"

The moment the dog heard his name he sprang up, put his paws on her lap,
and looked into her face with such an affectionate expression in his
brown eyes, that she could not help patting his head and saying, "With
it all, one cannot help loving you."

The carriage stopped at number 37, and Pixy sprang to the pavement,
followed closely by the boys, who helped Mrs. Steiner out carefully, and
with one on each side she went slowly up the long steps.

"Certainly such help is not to be despised," she said. "You are my
gallant cavaliers."

She took out her key as she spoke and unlocked the door, and was
surprised to see several letters which had been pushed under it during
her absence.

"They are only business circulars, I suppose," she said as the boys
gathered them up and put them on the table.

She put on her glasses, took one up, broke the seal and read:

"In reference to your notice in the 'Intelligencer' that you offer a
reward for the recovery of your dog, I write to say that it can be found
at 395 New street. If you send ten marks between twelve and one o'clock,
and a rope, you can have your dog.

"Respectfully,

"M.R."

"Now just hear that, boys! Whoever heard the like of this? If he asks
two marks for catching the dog, then he asks eight marks for one day's
feed. He must have fed it on pound cake and champagne."

"It would take my gold-piece to pay it, if the dog were really Pixy,"
remarked Fritz.

"Yes, but it is not Pixy. Let me see what this one says."

"We have your dog, and you can have it, if you will put a notice in the
paper that you will put twenty-five marks in our hand for it. If you
agree to this, then you can come to the Hessen statue with the money,
and take your dog.

"P.P."

"Wonderful that P.P. promises to bring a dog that we already have and
who is lying comfortably on his piece of carpet by the window. Now here
is a stylish looking letter. Let us see who is the writer.

"Highborn gentleman (or lady).

"I see that you speak of having lost your dog. Do not imagine that it
was lost; it was stolen. It is evident that you like dogs, so I write to
say that I have a fine Spitz which I will sell you. His brother sold for
twelve marks and I think you will be willing to give that sum. If so,
bring the money to Roderberg square at four o'clock. With due respect,

"Euphrosine Sauerbier."

"Fritz! Fritz! Your dog has shown me that there is more rascality in
Frankfort than I ever imagined," exclaimed Aunt Steiner; "or, upon
second thought, I believe they are foreigners. I am sure that no
Frankforter would do such tricky things."

"Here is a postal, Aunt, that you have not seen," said Fritz.

"Read it, my boy. Of course it is from another swindler," and Fritz
read:

"To No. 37 Bornheimer street:

"I have found your dog, and will bring it to you if you will tell me
through the paper how much the reward is.

"H.Y.R."

"Will bring us Pixy, and Pixy sitting by looking at us! Well, well, I
would never have believed it! But just see, it wants ten minutes of our
dinner hour. Franz, do you and Paul wash your hands and set the table,
and Fritz can help clear off when we have finished."

"But Aunt Fanny!" exclaimed the astonished Fritz, "when did you cook
dinner?"

"I did not cook any, yet we will have it, and a good one, and all we
have to do is to set the table, and as quickly as possible."

This was a mystery which the boys could not unravel, yet they hurried to
wash and dry their hands, the cloth was spread neatly, napkins put to
the places, and the dishes on, when a trim-looking girl came in carrying
a long basket in which was a bucket of lentil soup, a roast of veal with
vegetables and a plate of fine summer pears.

She nodded pleasantly to all, put the dinner quickly and deftly upon the
table, set the basket on a chair, and with a smile and a nod went out
and down the steps.

"Well, I never!" ejaculated Fritz. "How did you get this dinner cooked,
Aunt Fanny?"

"Very easily. All I had to do was to leave an order at a cook shop, and
you see the result. Yes, little Fritz, as I said in regard to the
carriage, in a large city one can get the comforts and luxuries of life
if he has the money. Without that, many doors and also hearts have to
remain closed. I ordered a dinner to-day because it is a change for me
as well as for you, for it is very seldom I have a meal except as I
prepare it myself. Now let us eat our dinner."

They took their seats, the blessing was asked as usual, and Mrs. Steiner
carved the roast, giving generous pieces to the hungry boys.

The soup was all that could be desired, as was each dish of the prepared
meal, and they sat at the table after they finished until the girl came
for her basket and bucket and departed, and Fritz was helping take the
dishes to the kitchen, when the door bell rang.

"Now I wonder if that is another policeman?" ejaculated Aunt Steiner, as
she went to the door and opened it.

There stood a stout young man with a cigarette between his teeth, who
set one of his feet within the room, so that she could not have closed
the door had she tried. He was leading a black dog by a rope--which
squeezed past him into the room--and he did not appear to think it
necessary to remove his cap, as he said with a foreign accent: "Dog
lost--I got him, yes, I brought him."

The dog was black, but much larger than Pixy, was shaggy and unkempt,
and had a cross and savage look, very different from the well-kept and
gentle Pixy.

"We have found our dog," replied Mrs. Steiner. "I am sorry that you
went to the trouble of bringing one."

"Found your dog? Where is he?"

"Fritz, bring Pixy here," called his aunt, and Fritz came with his dog,
followed by Franz and Paul.

"I have been more than half an hour coming here with this dog in answer
to your advertisement, and should be paid for my trouble," said the
young man, gruffly.

"It is not our fault that you came. It is not our dog. See, he is not at
all like ours and he does not answer to the name of Pixy."

"See if he don't," and he jerked the dog's head up by the cord as he
called "Pixy!"

"No matter if his name is Pixy, he is not our dog. Our dog is here, as
you see."

The man grew angry and raised his voice, and the dogs, who had been
eyeing each other with no friendly looks, snarled and sprang upon each
other, and the small entry was the scene of such a fierce battle, and
resounded with such shrill yelps and much thumping and bumping about
that the very coats and hats on the pegs trembled. Pixy was full of
fight, but the strange dog was much the larger, and scored a victory,
while Pixy ran howling under the sofa in the dining-room.

Mrs. Steiner was so weak from fright that she had to hold to the open
door for support; and tears were running down Fritz's cheeks. They all
hoped that the man would leave, but no, he wanted money. He changed his
reason for demanding it, claiming that he should have payment for the
injury to his dog.

"Asking for money when your wild beast dragged our poor Pixy over the
floor as if he were a bundle of old rags?" cried Mrs. Steiner in
astonishment.

"Your dog commenced it! He snarled at my dog."

"He did it from fright, I think, and your dog bit him and tore out some
of his silky, black hair, and Pixy is now lying under the sofa, his
teeth chattering from fear."

"What do I care where he is! If my Turk mastered him, that is not saying
that my dog is not hurt."

"So your dog is not named Pixy but Turk," commented Mrs. Steiner.

The man took no notice of this; his object was money and he resolved to
get it.

"I should have a dollar at least for my trouble," he said.

"I wish a policeman would happen along. There are not enough of them in
Frankfort," remarked Mrs. Steiner. "Look out of the windows, boys, and
if you see one beckon to him to come. I would give a dollar this minute
to see one."

"Why should you give a dollar to a policeman? Give the dollar to me, and
I will go and take my dog."

"Not a penny, Aunt Fanny!" called Paul. "He would better leave now, and
quickly, or he will see what he will get."

It would have been hard for Paul to have told what the man would get,
but his determined manner had its effect and the man ran down the steps,
instantly followed by Turk.

Mrs. Steiner sank upon the sofa, pale and nervous; Fritz sat by her
shedding tears of regret that he had brought his dog to Frankfort; and
Pixy crept out from his covert and tried to comfort them.

"I feel nervous and exhausted over the dog fight, and the rudeness of
that man," said Mrs. Steiner, "and will lie down upon the sofa and rest
awhile. Franz, you and Paul can take the dishes and other things to the
kitchen and Fritz can put water on the gas stove to heat."

"Oh, Aunt Fanny, let us wash the dishes," said Paul.

"Certainly you may," and in great glee the two boys did the work
nicely, while Fritz fed Pixy and gave him fresh water.

"Now I feel rested," said Mrs. Steiner, rising, "and you boys have been
such a help that I have time to go out on business in the city. Who will
go with me?"

"I will go!" said Franz, "and I!" exclaimed Paul.

"Aunt Fanny, if you will excuse me, I will stay at home and write a
letter. Besides, I can rest," said Fritz.

"Certainly I will excuse you, dear child; and if you get tired of
staying alone and wish to take a walk, leave the key on the first floor
with the Steerers," and the three went cheerily down the steps and Fritz
was alone with his black friend.

"Pixy," he said as he commenced to write, "whom do you suppose my letter
is to? It is to Aunt Fanny for we are going home, Pixy; yes, going home.
We will surprise them. I will tell you how we will do, Pixy. When we are
near our house I will take off your cord, and you can run in the open
door of the store and see papa. Then you can run in the open door of the
house and see mamma and sister. Mamma will say, 'Why, here's Pixy!
Fritz cannot be far away.'"

This plan seemed to suit Pixy admirably, and Fritz continued with his
letter. When it was finished he folded and addressed it to "Dear Aunt
Fanny," and laid it upon the table. He hurried into the bedroom, put
such things in his knapsack as he would need before Paul and Franz came
home, strapped it over his shoulder, put his rain-coat over his left
arm, took the end of Pixy's cord in his right, and descended the steps
after carefully locking the door, and putting the key into the hands of
the Steerer servant, he set out for home.




CHAPTER IX

THEY VISIT THE CLOTHING HOUSE


When Mrs. Steiner and the boys returned they found the door locked.

"Run down, Franz, and get the key. I told Fritz to leave it there if he
went out for a walk and the boy took my advice."

Franz soon returned, the door was opened and they entered, Mrs. Steiner
sinking down upon the sofa with the sigh, "Oh, those steps, those
steps!"

"Aunt Fanny, here is a letter upon the table. It is for you, and written
by Fritz," said Paul.

"By Fritz!" laughed Aunt Fanny, "gone out for a walk and left a letter
for me! Read it, Paul."

The boy opened the missive and read, each sentence meeting with comments
from his interested listeners.

"Dear Aunt Fanny: Pixy was not to blame for the dog fight; and the time
he ran into the Council House he was not to blame, because I called
'Pixy! Pixy!' I should have kept my mouth shut."

"The dear Fritz! He is right, but I am sorry he takes it so much to
heart."

"You know, Aunt Fanny, that Pixy is but a dog, and has not a man's
understanding."

"Yes, Fritz, I remember that much of my studies in natural history,"
laughed his aunt.

"I have not as much understanding as a man, either, or I would not have
brought Pixy to Frankfort."

"The boy is certainly right there."

"I am sorry that you stood and held him while we were in the buildings
and you had to run and jump when I called 'Pixy!' If he had not come he
would have been disobedient or stupid; and my father will tell you that
he is neither disobedient nor stupid. You will not have to hold his cord
again."

"Now what does he mean by saying I will not have to stand and hold his
cord again?"

"We are now on our way home," continued Paul, "and papa will be glad to
see me and Pixy."

"For heaven's sake! Has the boy run off?"

"Yes, he must mean that," replied Paul.

"Oh, he is only joking. Run to your room, Franz, and see if he has taken
his knapsack."

"Yes, and his rain-coat is gone. Shall we finish reading the letter?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Steiner with tears in her eyes.

"Dear Aunt Fanny, I thank you for your goodness, and for the mark you
gave me; and want to say that I will never again bring a dog to visit
Frankfort."

"Oh, that boy has made my heart heavy! I feel as if I will never see him
again and it is all Pixy's fault. Is that all?"

"Yes, and oh, Aunt Fanny, I wish we had not been so harsh with Fritz in
regard to Pixy," said Paul.

"Now you are trying to make me more unhappy than I am when I am enough
distressed that the boy has run away without bidding us good-bye."

"No, but we are to blame. We were as glad as was Fritz that Pixy was
with us on the way to Frankfort; then when he became a trouble we blamed
Fritz. I wish we could do something now. Perhaps the train has not left
for the Odenwald, and if we go to the depot he may be there, and we can
bring him and Pixy back."

"Oh, you dear boy, to think of this! Yes, go quickly. But hark! I hear a
step on the porch. He is at the hall door. Yes, thank heaven, the boy
has come back of his own free will!" And she ran and opened the door.

"Fritz! Fritz!" she called as she saw the tall form of her brother, and,
clasping his hand, she led him to the sitting-room. "Did you see Fritz
at the station?"

"No, is he not here?"

"He left for home without bidding us good-bye, and it is all on account
of the dog. The boys were just going to the depot to see if he is
there."

"It is no use to go. If he had been there, I would have seen him, and
Pixy would have found me."

"What are we to do about it?"

"Do nothing. It will be an experience for him to be allowed to follow
his own inclination in the matter. He will be surprised when he reaches
home to know that I am here. I am on my way to Cassel on business and
stopped off to see you and my boy."

"But I feel so anxious about him," said his sister. "I would ask the
police to see to it but am ashamed, for I had to apply to them when his
purse was lost, then when his dog was lost and now it would be to tell
them that both dog and boy are gone. Uncle Braun put a notice in the
paper about the dog, and oh dear! there seems to be no end to what that
notice brought;" and she told of the letters and the dog fight.

"I am

Showing first 200,000 characters. Full text: gutenberg.org/ebooks/15426