Veronica And Other Friends | Page 4

and well done, then you will be a gentleman, even if you are
not a doctor. It doesn't matter what you do; you may be a gentleman if
you persevere and work hard and faithfully."
"Yes, with a horse," said Dietrich.
The little girl had been listening intently to every word of this
conversation. Her black eyes blazed out suddenly as she looked up to
Gertrude and said decidedly,
"I'll be one too."
"Yes, Yes, Mr. Veronica! Mr. Veronica! that sounds well," cried
Dietrich, and he laughed aloud at the idea.
Veronica thought it no laughing matter, however. She pressed
Gertrude's hand firmly and looked up with glowing eyes, as she said, "I
can be one too, can't I mother; say?"
"You should not laugh, Dietrich," said his mother kindly. "Veronica
can be exactly what you can be. If she works steadily, and does not
grow tired and careless, but keeps on till her work is finished and well
finished, she will be a lady as you will be a gentleman."
Veronica trotted along contentedly after this explanation. She did not
speak again. The frowning brows were smoothed and the fiery eyes
now shone with the light of childish joy as she caught sight of the first
flowers that began to peep above the ground. The child's face looked
fairly charming now; her well-formed features framed by the dark locks,
made a beautiful picture.

Dietrich was also silent: but he was pursuing the same train of thought,
for he broke out presently,
"Will she have a horse too?"
"Why not, as well as you. It all depends on how steadily and how
faithfully you both work," replied Gertrude.
"Well, then, we shall have two horses," cried the boy, joyfully. "Where
shall we put the stable, mother?"
"We can see to that bye and bye, there is plenty of time for that. It
won't do for you to be thinking about the horse all the time, you know,
you must keep your mind on your work if you mean to do it well."
Dieterli said no more. He was busy trying to decide on which side of
the house it would be best to put the stable.
That night, Gertrude again hurried down the hill to the doctor's houses
and this time she brought him back with her.
Her husband's illness had taken a turn for the worse, and the next day
he died.
CHAPTER II.
WITH FRESH COURAGE.
A few days later a numerous company of mourners followed another
black bier to the sunny church-yard.
Steffan, the saddler, had been universally respected. He had begun life
modestly; there had been no large industries in Tannenegg in his early
days. He married the quiet and orderly Gertrude, who worked with him
at his trade, and helped support the frugal household. Soon the flood of
prosperity invaded Fohrensee, and naturally the only saddler in the
vicinity had his hands full of work.

Now Gertrude's help was needed in earnest, and she did not fail. They
were soon in possession of a nice little house of their own, with a
garden about it, and no matter how much work she might have to do in
the shop, everything in her own province of housekeeping was as well
and carefully ordered as if Gertrude had no other business to occupy
her time and thoughts. And Steffan, Gertrude and their little Dieterli
lived simple, useful and contented lives and were a good example to all
the neighborhood.
Now, to-day, Gertrude stood weeping by the window and looked across
to the church-yard, where that very morning they had laid her good
man. Now she must make her way alone; she had no one to help her, no
one belonging to her except her two children, and for them she must
work, for she never admitted for a moment that the orphaned Veronica
was not hers to care for as well as her own little Dietrich.
She did not lose courage. As soon as the first benumbing effect of her
sorrow had passed a little, she gazed up at the shining heavens and said
to herself, "He who has sent this trouble will send me strength to bear
it;" and in full trust in this strength she went to work, and seemed able
to do more than ever.
Her property, outside of the little capital which her husband had laid by,
consisted of her house, which was free from debt, and of which she
could let a good part. The question was, whether she could carry on the
remunerative business that her husband had been engaged in, until little
Dietrich should be old enough to assume the direction of it, and pursue
it as his father had done before him. Gertrude retained the services of a
workman who had