Rico and Wiseli | Page 5

come down,' if I only had a fiddle."
Judging from the deep sigh that accompanied these words, the wish
must have weighed heavily on Rico's heart. The sympathetic little
Stineli began at once to contrive some means of helping him to get his
wish.
"We will buy one together, Rico," she said suddenly, full of delight at a
happy thought that had entered her head. I have ever so many pieces of
money,--as many as twelve. How much have you got?"
"None at all," said the boy sadly. "My father gave me some before he
went away, but my cousin said I should only spend it foolishly, and she
took it from me, and put it up on the shelf in a box where I cannot get
it."
Such a trifle did not discourage Stineli. "Perhaps we have enough
without that, and my grandmother will give me some more soon," she
said consolingly. "You know, Rico, a fiddle can't cost so very much; it
is nothing but a bit of old wood with four strings stretched across it,
that will be cheap, I'm sure. You must ask the teacher about it
to-morrow morning, and then we will try to find one."
So it was settled, and Stineli resolved to do all she could at home to
make herself useful by getting up bright and early, and making the fire
before her mother was afoot, thinking that, if she worked busily from
morning till night, perhaps her grandmother would put a bit of money
for her in the bag.
After school the next day Stineli went out and waited alone behind the
wood-pile at the schoolhouse corner, for Rico had made up his mind at
last to ask the teacher how much it would cost to buy a fiddle. He was
such a long time about it, that Stineli kept peeping out from behind the
wood-pile, quite overcome with impatience, but only saw the other
school children who were standing about and playing; but now
certainly,--yes, that was Rico who came around the corner.
"What did he say? How much does it cost?" cried Stineli, almost
breathless with suspense.

"I had not the courage to ask," was the sad answer.
"Oh, what a shame!" said the girl, and stood still and disappointed for a
moment, but not more. "Never mind, Rico; you can try again
to-morrow," she said cheerfully, taking him by the hand and turning
homeward. "I got another bit of money from my grandmother this
morning, because I got up early and was in the kitchen when she came
in."
The same thing happened, however, the next day and the day after.
Rico stood for half an hour before the door without getting courage to
go in to ask his question. At last Stineli made up her mind to go herself,
if this lasted three days more. On the fourth day, however, as Rico was
standing, timid and depressed, before the door, it opened suddenly, and
the teacher came out quickly, and ran into Rico with such force, that the
slender little fellow, who did not weigh more than a feather, was
thrown backward several feet. The teacher stood looking at the child in
great surprise and some displeasure. Then he said, "What does this
mean, Rico? Why do you stand before the door without knocking, if
you have a message to deliver? If you have no message, why do you
not go away? If you wish to tell me any thing, do so at once. What is it
that you wish?"
"How much does a fiddle cost?" Rico blurted out his question in great
fear and haste. The teacher's surprise and displeasure increased visibly.
"I do not understand, Rico," he said, with a severe glance at the boy.
Have you come here on purpose to mock me? or have you any
particular reason for asking this? What did you mean to say?"
"I did not mean any thing," said Rico abashed, "only to ask how much
it would cost to buy a fiddle."
"You did not understand me just now,--pay attention to what I am
saying. There are two ways of asking a question: either to obtain
information, or simply from idle curiosity, which is foolishness. Now
pay attention, Rico: is this a mere idle question, or did somebody send
you who wishes to buy a fiddle?"
"I want to buy one myself," said the boy, taking courage a little; but he
was frightened when the angry reply came, "What! what did you say?
A forlorn little fellow like you buy a fiddle! Do you even know what
the instrument is? Have you any idea of how old I was, and what I
knew, before I obtained one? I was a teacher, a regular teacher; was

twenty-two years old, with