f the circle stood the excluded child. This child
had to strike someone's hand at random and then there was a race around
the circle to see who would first get in the open space inside. This
game was played with the greatest zeal; but suddenly Erick pulled his
hands away from his neighbors' and ran away, so that great confusion
arose.

"We will not let him play any more," cried Churi, much angered.

"Indeed we will," maintained Kaetheli firmly, "perhaps a wasp has stung
him, or perhaps they play the same game where he used to live. When he
returns he can take my hand. Now we will go on."

So it was done, and soon after they were playing again with great glee,
and Erick was forgotten.

Not far from their playground stood a blind man with a barrel-organ
playing his melodies. When Erick had heard the first notes, he had freed
himself and had run away. Now he stood at a little distance from the
organ grinder and listened with strained attention to all the melodies.
When the man left, the boy went quietly toward the cottage, and when
Marianne saw him come, she said to herself: "I had hoped that the
children would make him merry again, and now it seems to me that he is
sadder than he was before."

From that time on Kaetheli looked every evening, when the games began,
to see whether Erick was standing near the hedge, and when she saw him
there she ran to get him. Erick now played every day with the children
and when he was in the spirit of the game, he looked quite happy. But
almost every evening the same thing occurred as on the first. In the
midst of the game Erick stopped, ran away and did not return. Once a
number of wandering journeymen had passed by; they had sung loud and
joyously their wander-songs, one after the other. Away was Erick, and
one could see him far away, quietly following the singing men. Once
trumpet blasts sounded across the meadow to the playing children--for
one of Middle Lot was with the players in the army and was practising
his marches--at once Erick ran away in the direction of the sounds.
Another time a boy with a harmonica had approached the playing children;
it was Erick's turn just then to seek the hiders, but threatenings and
pleadings were of no avail, he did not seek any more. He placed himself
in front of the boy and listened to him; there he remained standing and
did not stir.

Churi in his hiding-place was about to burst with anger because Erick
stopped seeking. He had hoped that E