Gritlis Children | Page 9

and he heard the teacher
explain to the children the meaning of the name Fortunatus. No sooner
did this name reach Mr. Bickel's ear, than he was struck with its
appropriateness to his son. Was not the boy destined to be the fortunate
heir to his father's wealth and position? He went home full of
satisfaction and announced to his wife that the long-sought name was
found, and the child might be taken to church for baptism. So
Fortunatus he was christened; and Mr. Bickel felt sure now that the
hated nickname would be dropped and soon forgotten.

Not so; for as soon as the boy went to school, his playmates decided
that Fortunatus was far too long and pretentious a name for common
use; so they peremptorily shortened it to "Tus"; then, adding it to the
father's appellation, it became "Tailorkin-Fekli-Tus." The first word of
this lengthy and awkward combination was soon dropped off, and the
other two were combined into one word and became Feklitus. With this
the critics were satisfied, and long usage fixed the name so completely
on the boy that at last very few recalled the fine name Fortunatus, and
almost every one supposed that he had been christened Feklitus.
Oscar Stein and Feklitus Bickel both sat at the head of the sixth class in
the village school. This odd arrangement came about in this way. When,
six years before, both entered the school together, Oscar seated himself
at once at the head of the bench; for he was a boy born to lead, and
never thought of being second anywhere. But Feklitus came and stood
in front of him, saying "That is my place"; for his father had told him
that the first place was no more than his right. Oscar would not yield,
and the case came before the teacher, who, finding that Oscar was the
senior by two days, decided in his favor. Feklitus, however, was not to
be put down so; he would not sit below Oscar, so he took the first place
on the next bench, and, as the class was so large a one as to occupy
both benches, the teacher allowed the affair to be settled so, and so it
had continued ever since. And thus both boys were first.
Oscar was well pleased with this arrangement, because it brought next
him a boy whom he much preferred to Feklitus; Fani, the son of Heiri,
the day-laborer. Fani was a lively and courageous fellow, who was
always ready to join Oscar in any undertaking he might have in view,
no matter how bold it might be. Oscar even thought Fani far better
looking than the broad-shouldered Feklitus; who, in his fine cloth suit
with the high collar that made his short neck look as if it was no neck at
all, was boxed up so stiff and tight that he could hardly move; while
Fani was slender and nimble as a lizard, and, though he wore all
summer long nothing more than a shirt and linen trousers, yet he
looked so slight and so graceful that no one noticed how sparely he was
clad. When with both hands he tossed his long dark brown locks back
from his forehead, and looked about with great shining expectant eyes,

then instantly some new plan of comradeship darted into Oscar's busy
brain; some new play in which Fani would be of use, either in the rôle
of Artist, or Noble Bandit, or Tragedy-King. Oscar was always
planning the establishment of something grand; a Club, or Association,
or Band of Fellowship of some kind; and he needed for carrying out his
numerous and complicated projects, a skilful, intelligent, and
enthusiastic assistant like Fani.
Feklitus, on the other hand, was nothing but a hindrance to these
schemes, because he would go into a thing only if he was allowed to
take the principal part in it, and he always behaved as if he had devised
the plan himself as much as Oscar. Still, it was necessary to take him in,
and ensure his favor; as otherwise he would take his whole party into
opposition, and ensure the failure of the enterprise. For the class was
divided into two nearly equal parties, and indeed this party-spirit had
spread so far that the whole school, even down to the primary class,
was divided into two camps, the Oscarians and the Feklitusians. Oscar
had on his side all the independent fellows, all the sons of well-to-do
peasants, all the sons of mechanics who were to follow in their fathers'
footsteps, and all those whose future vocation was decided on, from the
coachman to the teacher.
All the other boys were followers of Feklitus; for he had a terrible
phrase, which he used with great effect, when he wished