What Sami Sings with the Birds | Page 6

yours; don't spend it foolishly. Sami,
think of what you promised me. Don't neglect to pray, it will bring you
comfort and happiness which you will need. Try to associate with
God-fearing people and live with them, then you will learn only good.
Go, now, Sami, and call Herr Malon. I must talk with him."
Sami went and came back with the man of the house. He stepped up to

Mary Ann's bed, and tried to encourage her, as that was his way. But he
was alarmed at her appearance and wanted to go for the doctor, as he
told her. But she held him fast and tried with great difficulty to express
herself in his language, for she had only a scanty knowledge of it.
Malon nodded his head understandingly and then hurried away. When
he returned to the room a couple of hours later with the doctor, Sami
was still sitting in the same place by the bed, waiting very quietly for
his grandmother to wake up again. The doctor drew near the bed. Then
he spoke with Malon a while, and finally came to Sami. He told him his
grandmother would never wake again, that she was dead.
Malon was a good man; he said he himself would go with Sami part of
the way until he found some one who could talk with him and take him
further; but he must put all his belongings together in a bundle. Then
the two men went away.
After a while the young woman of the house came, for the forsaken boy
had deeply aroused her sympathy. She found Sami still sitting in the
same place by the bed. He was looking steadfastly at his grandmother
and weeping piteously. The woman spoke to him, but he did not
understand her. Then she took everything out of the cupboard and
drawers, packed them into a bundle and showed Sami that he was to eat
the bread and milk on the table. Sami swallowed the milk obediently,
but the woman put the bread in his pocket. Then she led the boy once
more to the bed, that he might take his grandmother's hand in farewell.
Sami obeyed still sobbing, and let himself be led away by the woman.
Herr Malon was already waiting beside his little cart in which lay
Sami's bundle. The boy understood that he was to draw the cart, but he
knew not where. He wept softly to himself for it seemed to him as if he
were going out into the wilderness where he would be wholly alone.
Malon went on ahead of him.
It was the same way Sami had often gone with his grandmother down
to La Tour. When he came to the wall by the brook, he sobbed aloud.
How lovely it had been there with his grandmother! He could not see
the way because of his falling tears, but he heard Herr Malon's heavy
step in front of him, and he followed after. At the little station house

above the vine-covered church Malon stopped. Soon after the train
came puffing along. Malon got in and pulled Sami after him, and they
started away. Sami crouched in a corner and did not stir. They travelled
thus for an hour. Sami did not understand a word that was spoken
around him, although several times one and another tried to talk with
him a little, for the softly weeping boy had indeed awakened their
sympathy.
The train stopped again. Malon got out and Sami followed him. They
went a short distance together and then Malon stepped to the left into a
large garden and then into the house. Here he talked a while with the
man of the house, who from time to time looked pityingly at Sami.
Then Malon took Sami's hand, shook it and left him behind alone in the
big room.
After some time the man of the house came back and a sturdy fellow
behind him. The latter began to talk in Sami's own language. He
wanted to console the boy and said he would soon go on in a carriage.
Then Sami asked if he was his cousin, and if this was the village of
Zweisimmen? But the fellow laughed loudly and said he was no cousin,
but a servant here in the inn, and the place was called Aigle. Sami
would have to travel an hour longer and would not reach Zweisimmen
before twelve o'clock at night. But there was a coachman here from
Interlaken, who had to go back and would take him along.
The man of the house had bread and eggs brought for Sami and when
he said he wasn't hungry, he put everything kindly into the boy's pocket.
Then he led the boy out. Outside stood a large