him
as if she thought the affair would half go of itself, but it was not so.

If a thing was to be done right, it cost much time and patience to learn.
He was not averse to taking the boy, for it seemed to him that he had a
desire to learn; but she would have to pay for his board for a couple of
months in Frutigen, besides paying for his instruction, which would be as
much as his board, and she herself must know whether she could spend so
much on the boy. On the other hand he would promise that the boy would be
taught right, and she could see there in the glass case, what he could
learn to do.

At first Elsbeth was so disappointed and dismayed she was unable to speak
a word. Now she knew that it would be absolutely impossible for her to
fulfill her boy's greatest wish. The necessary expense of board and
instruction was beyond anything that she could manage, so much so that it
was quite out of the question. It was all over with Toni's plans.

She rose and thanked the wood-carver for his willingness to take the boy,
but she would have to decline his offer. Then she beckoned to Toni, whose
eyes were still so fastened to the glass case that he paid no attention.
She took him by the hand and led him quietly out of the door.

Outside Toni said, drawing a deep breath:

"Did you see what was in the case? Mother, did you see it?"

"Yes, yes, I saw it, Toni," replied his mother with a sigh, "but did you
hear what the wood-carver said?"

Toni had heard nothing; all his mind had been directed to one point.

"No, I didn't hear anything; when can I go?" he asked longingly.

"Oh, it is not possible, Toni, but don't take it so to heart! See, I can't
do it, although I would like to so much," declared his mother; "but
everything would come to more than I earn in a year, and you know how hard
I have to work to manage to make the two ends meet."

It was a hard blow for Toni. All his hopes for many years lay destroyed
before him; but he knew how his mother worked, how little good she
herself had, and how she always tried to give him a little pleasure when
she could. He said not a word and silently swallowed his rising tears, hut
he was very much grieved that all his hopes were over, since for the first
time he had seen what wonderful things could be made out of a piece of
wood.

CHAPTER THIRD

UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

The next morning, the farmer on the Matten farm sent word to Elsbeth, to
come up to see him towards eveni