Gritlis Children | Page 8

kinds to this hospitable house, where they were
always sure of help and encouragement, of support in word and deed.
So the two sisters, on this, as on many another evening, had so many
things of interest to discuss and decide, that, under their busy hands, the
heap of unmended stockings in the work-basket melted away
unobserved, while many a neighborly plan and kindly conspiracy were
hatched by their warm hearts and busy heads; and it was very late when
at last they separated to their well earned rest.
CHAPTER III.

IN THE VILLAGE AND IN THE SCHOOL.
The village of Buchberg consisted of several scattered farms, and of
groups of houses and cottages that peeped out from among thriving
fruit trees. Only a few houses stood near the church; the school-house,
the sexton's house, the substantial old-fashioned dwelling of the mayor
of the little community, and two or three peasants' cottages. Dr. Stein's
house stood quite by itself at a little distance from the others, on a
slight elevation, quite surrounded by trees. The biggest buildings in all
Buchberg stood on the principal street of the town; these were the fine
house and the enormous factory of Mr. Bickel, who had built them
both.
Between the street and the dwelling lay a sunny flower-garden; not a
tree nor a shrub was planted in it, lest the grandeur of the mansion
should be concealed in the least from public view. Here lived the
wealthy manufacturer, with his wife and their only son. The family
occupied only the lower floor; upstairs the six great splendid rooms
were always closed and their shining green blinds always drawn down.
No one ever entered there except Mrs. Bickel, who now and then came
up to air and to dust and to admire them. Her little boy was allowed to
go with her sometimes; but he had to leave his shoes at the door; and he
stood just inside, half awe-struck in the gloom; staring at the unused
chairs and the stiff furniture. Mr. Bickel was a very important person in
the village, for in his factory he employed a great many persons, both
young and old; he was very clever at finding out what people were
good for, and knew just how much they could work, and what they
could do best, and how much they were worth to him. It was said that
whenever a child was born in Buchberg, Mr. Bickel began at once to
calculate how many years would pass before it would be old enough to
be put upon his pay-roll. And almost all the children knew that their
future destiny would surely bring them under Mr. Bickel's management,
and they learned early to stand respectfully aside when he came along
the street, with his thick gold-headed cane, and his shining watch chain
with the bunch of seals, that shook and glittered and jingled
majestically from afar.

From this fine house every morning came young Feklitus, Mr. Bickel's
son, and through the sunny garden and up the street he went on his way
to school. Over his back was slung a leather satchel, wondrously
embroidered with the big initials "F.B.," surrounded with a garland of
beautiful roses; a Christmas gift from his mother.
"Feklitus" was only a nickname, and this is the way it originated. His
grandfather was a tailor by trade; a person of very small stature and
obscure position; altogether a very humble personage to be the father of
a great man, such as his son afterwards became, and, because he was so
diminutive in every way, he went, in the neighborhood, by the
nickname of "Tailorkin." His only son was christened Felix, and as the
common nickname of Felix is Fekli, the boy became universally known
as "Tailorkin-Fekli." This was very displeasing to Felix, who early in
life determined to make something of himself, and who soon began to
rise and grow rich. The Buchbergers, however, were not disposed to
drop the name which amused them, merely because it vexed the owner;
so even now, although when they met the great man they always
addressed him with due respect as Mr. Bickel, yet behind his back he
was still Tailorkin-Fekli. He suspected this underhand familiarity, and
was not a little disturbed by it.
When, after he had become a great man, and had built himself a
splendid new house, he had a son born to him, he determined to find a
name for the child which could not be tampered with as his own had
been; and he delayed the baptism as long as possible, while searching
for one to suit his purpose. It so happened that about this time he was
called upon in his capacity as School-Inspector to be present at the
yearly examinations at the school-house;