Toni, the Little Woodcarver | Page 6

which
could be seen two high rocks, carved out of wood. On one was standing
a chamois with her little ones. They had such dainty, slender legs, and
their fine heads sat so naturally on their necks that it seemed as if they
were all alive and not at all made of wood. On the other rock stood a
hunter, his gun hanging by his side, and his hat, with even a feather in it,
sat on his head, all so finely carved, that one would think it must be a
real hat and a real little feather, and yet all was of wood.
Next the hunter stood his dog, and it seemed as if he would even wag
his tail. Toni was like one enchanted and hardly breathed.
When his mother finished speaking, the wood-carver said it seemed to
him as if she thought the affair would half go of itself, but it was not so.
If a thing was to be done right, it cost much time and patience to learn.
He was not averse to taking the boy, for it seemed to him that he had a
desire to learn; but she would have to pay for his board for a couple of

months in Frutigen, besides paying for his instruction, which would be
as much as his board, and she herself must know whether she could
spend so much on the boy. On the other hand he would promise that the
boy would be taught right, and she could see there in the glass case,
what he could learn to do.
At first Elsbeth was so disappointed and dismayed she was unable to
speak a word. Now she knew that it would be absolutely impossible for
her to fulfill her boy's greatest wish. The necessary expense of board
and instruction was beyond anything that she could manage, so much
so that it was quite out of the question. It was all over with Toni's plans.
She rose and thanked the wood-carver for his willingness to take the
boy, but she would have to decline his offer. Then she beckoned to
Toni, whose eyes were still so fastened to the glass case that he paid no
attention. She took him by the hand and led him quietly out of the door.
Outside Toni said, drawing a deep breath:
"Did you see what was in the case? Mother, did you see it?"
"Yes, yes, I saw it, Toni," replied his mother with a sigh, "but did you
hear what the wood-carver said?"
Toni had heard nothing; all his mind had been directed to one point.
"No, I didn't hear anything; when can I go?" he asked longingly.
"Oh, it is not possible, Toni, but don't take it so to heart! See, I can't do
it, although I would like to so much," declared his mother; "but
everything would come to more than I earn in a year, and you know
how hard I have to work to manage to make the two ends meet."
It was a hard blow for Toni. All his hopes for many years lay destroyed
before him; but he knew how his mother worked, how little good she
herself had, and how she always tried to give him a little pleasure when
she could. He said not a word and silently swallowed his rising tears,
hut he was very much grieved that all his hopes were over, since for the

first time he had seen what wonderful things could be made out of a
piece of wood.
CHAPTER THIRD
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS
The next morning, the farmer on the Matten farm sent word to Elsbeth,
to come up to see him towards evening, as he had something to talk
with her about. At the right time she laid aside her hoe, tied on a clean
apron, and said:
"Finish the hoeing, Toni; then you can milk the goat and give her some
fresh straw, so she will have a better bed. Then I will be back again."
She went up to the Matten farm. The farmer was standing in the open
barn-door gazing with satisfaction at his beautiful cows, wandering in a
long procession to the well. Elsbeth stepped up to him.
"Well, I am glad you have come," he said, holding out his hand to her.
"I have been thinking about you on account of the boy's welfare. He is
now at an age to do some light work and help you a little, at least to
take care of himself."
"I have already been thinking about that," replied Elsbeth, "and wanted
to ask you, if you could give him a little light work in the fields?"
"That is fortunate," continued the farmer. "I have a little job for him,
healthy and not very