St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, October 1878, No. 12 | Page 5

trust my child's conduct will
prove how grateful we both feel. He would like to begin at once, I
know, but must, of course, wait a few days till another boy is found to
take his place as herd-boy."
Herr Dahn nodded approvingly, and told them to let him know as soon
as a substitute was found. How thankful they were that evening as they
talked over the happy termination of their troubles, and still more so
when a neighbor came in to tell them that Bridgetta and some others of
the village had voted against Stephan continuing his post as herd,
alleging that they feared to trust him any longer with their goats. This
was, of course, very unpleasant news, for it was a sort of disgrace to be
thus displaced, however undeserved. It also explained the cause of
Bridgetta's extreme coolness and indifference as to how they had
obtained the money. No wonder she was unfriendly after her action,
which, but for the fresh turn affairs had taken, would have seriously
injured them.
However, Stephan was now free to begin his new work the next day,
when all arrangements were made, and he was introduced as an
apprentice to his new master, Heinrich Brand.

PART II.
Stephan had been with the violin-maker about six weeks, when one day
the little Gretchen, his master's daughter, rushed in to tell them the
cows were coming down from the Alp.
It is the custom in the Bavarian Tyrol to send the cows to small
pastures high up among the mountains where the grass is green and
plentiful, being watered by the dews and mists, and less exposed to the
scorching sun. Here the cows remain all the summer under the care of
two or three men, called "senner," or women, called "sennerinnen,"
who are always busily engaged making butter and cheese, and rarely
come down to the valley, even for a day, till the season is over, when,
collecting their tubs, milk-pans, and other dairy utensils, they descend
the mountain with great rejoicings and consider the day a festival.
This return is an event of importance in every village. Brand, like his
neighbors, hastened out with his little daughter, and told Stephan to
follow them. The gay procession wound slowly along the main road,
accompanied by a band of music playing a cheerful Tyrolese air. The
cows came trooping along, decorated with garlands of wild flowers,
preceded by peasants in their gayest costumes, carrying blue and white
flags. The "sennerinnen" wore their brightest neckerchiefs and gowns,
and seemed quite rejoiced to be down among their friends again.
Stephan joined his mother in the crowd, and they were in the full
enjoyment of the scene when he suddenly exclaimed: "See, mother,
there's the lost goat!" and sure enough there it was, limping along by
the side of a "sennerin." One leg was evidently broken or severely
injured, but otherwise the little animal looked well and fat.
Old Bridgetta had likewise seen it, and the three hastened to question
the "sennerin," who seemed very glad to find the owner, and told them
it had been brought to the Alp by a peasant, who gave her a florin to
take care of it and bring it down to the village as soon as she could. He
did not tell her where he had found it, or indeed any particulars, so she
supposed the poor little thing had fallen over some precipice and

broken its leg, which was, however, nearly well.
[Illustration: STEPHAN SHOWS THE BARON'S LETTER TO
GRETCHEN. [SEE PAGE 775.]]
"Goats don't often fall in that way,--stones are much more likely to
have caused the mischief," said Bridgetta, with a meaning look at
Stephan, which was, however, only noticed by his mother, who replied:
"Well, Bridgetta, if you still think so badly of my boy, you can keep the
money as a recompense for the damage done to your goat, though I am
quite convinced he has had nothing to do with it Some day we shall
hear the truth of the whole affair, and of that I make no doubt."
"I don't want your money," said the old woman, testily, "and shall
return it as soon as I have sold the other goat;"--whereupon, she took
the leading-string from the "sennerin" and hobbled off with her
new-found property, apparently as little pleased as possible.
The next day, the five florins were sent back, and then Stephan told his
mother, for the first time, how he had promised to return the money if
he ever found the goat again. This now seemed impossible, for he knew
neither the name nor address of the gentleman. The money was,
therefore, put away safely, and the savings of a few months soon made
up the original sum of six