he
stooped down, and gathered the few flowers remaining, some asters, and
her especial pride, some autumn violets. Tying them together, she gave
the nosegay to Anton, "because," said she with a pleasant smile, "you
are a German."

A quick step was now heard in the yard, and in came the tenant with
reddened cheeks, and made his bow to them.

He was a fine young man, with a sensible countenance and a trustworthy
manner. Anton spoke encouragingly, and he readily produced his accounts.

"We will look over the stock now," replied Anton; "the books I will take
with me. Come to me to-morrow at the castle, and we can arrange the
rest."

"The horses are in the fields," said the tenant; "I drive one plow
myself, and the shepherd's lad helps with the other. We have only four
horses here; once there were twelve in the stable. We have of late
cultivated little more than was necessary for ourselves and the cattle.
There is a want of every thing."

However, the survey turned out cheering on the whole; the buildings
were in tolerable repair, and the crops lately got in promised to keep
the flocks through the winter. Last of all, the farmer, with a pleased
smile, opened a door in his dwelling-house, and pointed out a heap of
pease. "You have seen the straw and hay already," he said, "but here are
the pease which I hid from the steward, thinking they belonged to you.
Indeed, there was some selfishness in it," continued he, candidly, "for
we were so placed that we got nothing, and I was obliged to think of
some way of keeping the farm going in case the winter brought no help."

"Very good," said Anton, smiling; "I hope we shall understand each other
well. And now to the sheep. Come with us, farmer."

The carriage rolled slowly along the fields, the tenant eagerly pointing
out their condition. Not the fourth part of the land belonging to the
farm was plowed; the rest had been in pasture for many years past.

As they approached the flocks, the only living creatures of any worth on
the estate, Karl impatiently jumped out.

The shepherd slowly came to meet the strangers, accompanied by his two
dogs, one an old experienced character, who walked at the same pace as
his master, and looked with as much intelligence and discrimination at
the new authorities; the other a young fellow, a pupil, who vainly
attempted to maintain the aspect of calm dignity becoming his
responsible calling, but kept running with youthful eagerness ahead of
hi