nd in "The Bottom" a solitary pear-tree of
picturesque growth. Having walked round and round it until he found the
most fitting spot, he sat down upon a corner-stone and began to sketch.
The farmers gathered around and looked on. The rumor went rapidly from
mouth to mouth that "the new teacher was copying the trees."

As a background he drew the hill beyond, with the hazel-bush and the
blackberry-hedge which wound around a cliff, as well as the little
field-house built to keep farming-implements or to protect field-hands
against sudden showers: last of all, he added a farmer, with horse and
plough.

Late in the day he rose to return, with his spirits much calmed by his
occupation. Several peasants joined him and gave evidence of a burning
thirst for information. Our friend submitted to it all with the best
grace he could assume. But it was unfortunate that, when asked whether
"it wasn't a fine country hereabouts," he answered, "Tolerable." He saw
but little in it of the picturesque.

Being struck with the clumsiness of the church-steeple, he asked who
had built the church. They looked at each other in astonishment; for
they could not bring themselves to think that there should ever have
been a time when that church was not standing.

At home the teacher sat waiting for Buchmaier, who, he thought, would
come to meet him. The dusk of evening brought out a more lively hum of
voices: the teacher alone sat silently at his open window. The
suggestion of Mat could not but return to his mind; and he thought
seriously of seeking a companion who would rescue him from the lot of
being

"Among monsters the only heart feeling a throb."

It was Friday evening: the young Jews passed, singing through the
streets, according to custom. There was a voice among them once which
no longer sings so merrily. Some songs were given from books: just as
they passed the schoolhouse they sang the beautiful air,--

"Heart, my heart, why weep'st thou sadly?
Why so still, and why so grave?
Sure the stranger's land is lovely:
Heart, my heart, what wouldst thou have?"

[Illustration: The teacher took up his violin and played.]

As the sound died away, the teacher felt the full force of the music in
his soul. He took up his violin and played that remarkable waltz
ascribed to Beethoven,--Le Desir. Nothing of the kind had ever been
heard in the village, and a crowd soon assembled at the