been a
teacher in our schools for many years. She also has an intimate
knowledge of the country described in this story for she has often
visited the places mentioned. Through her knowledge and love of the
country about which Madame Spyri wrote, and speaking her language, the
translator, Helene H. Boll, appreciates her thoughts, and has faithfully
reproduced them in this absorbing little story.

THE PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS

Chapter I In the Parsonage of Upper Wood
Chapter II A Call in the Village
Chapter III 'Lizebeth on the Warpath
Chapter IV The Same Night in Two Houses
Chapter V Disturbance in School and Home
Chapter VI A Lost Hymn
Chapter VII Erick Enlists in the Fighting Army
Chapter VIII What Happens on Organ-Sunday
Chapter IX A Secret that is Kept
Chapter X Surprising Things Happen

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Portrait of Madame Spyri

Now the lady held out her hand and said in a friendly tone, "Come here,
dear child"

Churi....unexpectedly gave him such a severe push that Erick rolled
down the rest of the mountain side

He threw both arms around the old gentleman's neck and rejoicingly
exclaimed: "Oh, Grandfather, is it really you?"

CHAPTER I

_In the Parsonage of Upper Wood_

The sun was shining so brightly through the foremost windows of the old
schoolhouse in Upper Wood, that the children of the first and second
classes appeared as if covered with gold. They looked at one another,
all with beaming faces, partly because the sun made them appear so, and
partly for joy; for when the sunshine came through the last window, then
the moment approached that the closing word would be spoken, and the
children could rush out into the evening sunshine. The teacher was still
busy with the illuminated heads of the second class, and indeed with
some zeal, for several sentences had still to be completed, before the
school could be closed. The teacher was standing before a boy who looked
well-fed and quite comfortable, and who was looking up into the
teacher's face with eyes as round as two little balls.

"Well, Ritz, hurry, you surely must have thought of something by now.
Now then! What can be made useful in a household? Do not forget to
mention the three indispensable qualities of the object."

Ritz, the youngest son of the minister, was usually busy thinking of
that which had just happened to him. So just now it had come to his
mind, how this very morning