Part 27 (1/2)

When these facts were made known in the village, everybody was very much interested and excited, for nothing of the kind had happened before in that small place. In the school, particularly, every thing was topsy-turvy, for the children were as much excited as their elders. Otto scarcely stopped to take breath all day long, for he ran from one place to another, hoping to hear the latest news at each. He came to the house, on the third evening, in such a state, that his mother told him that he must sit perfectly quiet and silent for a little while before he communicated the piece of news with which he was bursting.

At last he was calm enough to tell them that they wanted to set Joggi free, for he had been shut up all this time; but the poor fellow was so convinced that they only wanted to take him out to cut off his head, that he fought against being removed with all his might. So they decided to take him out by force, and two men dragged him into the open air. He fought and screamed so violently, that a crowd soon a.s.sembled; and the poor, foolish fellow, becoming more and more alarmed, had darted away like an arrow to the nearest barn, where he took refuge from his imaginary danger in a stall, cowering down in a heap in one corner, and would not let anybody approach him. His countenance showed his terrible fear. He had been there all day and night; and now the peasant to whom the barn belonged said if he did not move soon, he would use the pitchfork to him.

”It is a sad, sad story, my children,” said their mother, when Otto had finished. ”Poor Joggi! how terribly he must suffer from his fear, that n.o.body can relieve him of, because he cannot understand what is said; and yet he is perfectly innocent of any evil deed or wish. Oh, if you had only told me what had happened that evening on the coast! Your keeping that a secret has had very, very sad consequences. Cannot we do something to comfort and rea.s.sure him again?”

p.u.s.s.y was almost crying. ”I will give him my red candy c.o.c.k,” she said, tearfully.

Otto was much disturbed, but he said, scornfully,--

”Yes; a nice present for a grown up man,--a sugar c.o.c.k! You had better keep it for yourself.”

After a moment he asked his mother, however, to allow p.u.s.s.y to carry some food to Joggi in the barn: he had not eaten any thing for nearly two days.

His mother was more than willing, and had a basket filled at once with bread and sausage and cheese for the children, and sent them off without delay. Poor Joggi! there he was cowering in the stall, white as a sheet, and dared not stir. The children gradually drew near, and presently Otto held out his basket and showed the food, hoping to tempt Joggi.

”Come out, Joggi. See, all this is for you to eat.”

There was no sign of movement.

”Do come out, or the peasant will stick his pitchfork into you.”

The poor fellow gave a piteous moan, but still did not stir.

Now p.u.s.s.y went quite close to him, put her mouth to his ear, and said, gently, ”Do not be frightened, Joggi; they won't cut off your head. My papa will help you, and will not let anybody harm you. And see, Joggi; here is a candy c.o.c.k, all red. Santa Claus sent you this on the Christmas-tree.” And the little girl took the c.o.c.k very carefully from her pocket, and held it out to Joggi.

This little gift had a wonderful effect. Joggi looked at his friend without fear, then at the candy c.o.c.k, and presently began to laugh. It was many days since he had laughed. He rose slowly from his corner, and followed Otto out of the barn behind p.u.s.s.y. When they got well out of the yard, Otto said,--

”You can take this basket, Joggi; we are going up there to our house.

Your way is down yonder.”

But Joggi shook his head, and followed close to p.u.s.s.y's heels. They all went up the hill. Their mother watched the little procession coming, and her heart began to feel lighter; and she also noticed how the poor, foolish Joggi held his sugar c.o.c.k in his hand, and laughed at it with childish satisfaction.

They all three entered the house and went into the sitting-room, where p.u.s.s.y fetched a chair, and, taking the basket in her hand, beckoned Joggi to come to her; and when he was seated at the table, she spread out the bread and cheese and sausage before him, saying, very gently, ”Now do eat,--eat up every bit, Joggi, and be happy again.”

The poor fellow obeyed, and left no crumbs. He never relinquished his hold of the red c.o.c.k, however. He held it in his left hand, and nodded and smiled at it from time to time. For bread and cheese and sausage he had often received, but a red candy c.o.c.k never before.

At last he went down the hill to his cottage. With very happy looks Mrs.

Ritter and Otto and p.u.s.s.y followed his retreating form, and noticed that he changed the red c.o.c.k from one hand to another, and had evidently forgotten his fears. Mrs. Ritter had not visited Andrew during three days. There was so much going on all the time, that she had not perceived how the time pa.s.sed; and then she no longer felt the least anxiety about him. He was well cared for,--of that she was certain,--and was on the best road towards health and strength.

As soon as Colonel Ritter could go, he took the news of the arrest and imprisonment of Andrew's brother to the good carpenter, who listened to the story quietly, and said, after a while,--

”It was his will. It would have been far better for him to have asked me for a little money. I should have given it to him, but his way was ever a blow rather than a kind word.”

Mrs. Ritter went down the mountain one cold, frosty morning, and went smiling to herself all the way; for she had pleasant plans and projects in her heart. Just as she opened the door of Andrew's cottage, Wiseli came out of the sitting-room. Her eyes were swollen and red. She had been crying. She gave Mrs. Ritter her hand very shyly, and ran into the kitchen, and shut the door. Mrs. Ritter had never seen Wiseli look in this way. What could have happened? She went into the sitting-room.

There sat Andrew by the window. He, too, looked as if a bad piece of news had been brought to him.

”What has happened?” asked Mrs. Ritter; and forgot to say ”good-morning,” in her anxiety.

”Oh, oh!” sighed Andrew. ”I wish that the child had never entered my house.”