. As soon as she reached home,
she quickly tied the goat, without going into the cottage at all, and ran
back the same way she had come, down again to Kandergrund.

The Pastor told her with great consideration, how Toni had not borne the
life on the mountain very well and they had been obliged to bring him
down, and since it seemed best for him that he should go at once to a good
physician for the right care, he had sent the boy immediately to Bern.

His mother was very much shocked and wanted to travel the next day to see
for herself if her child was very ill.

But the Pastor said that would not do, but that she should wait until the
doctor allowed a visit, and she could be sure that Toni was receiving the
best care.

With a heavy heart Elsbeth went back to her cottage. She could do nothing
but leave it all to the dear Lord, who alone had been her trust for so
many years. But it was only a few days later when the Pastor sent her word
that she was to go to Bern at once, as the doctor wished her to come.

Early the following day Elsbeth started. About noon she reached Bern and
soon was standing in front of the door of the sanitarium.

She was led to the doctor's living-room and here received with great
friendliness by his wife and with still keener sympathy by the lady from
Geneva, who had so lived in the history of poor Toni and his mother that
she could hardly think of anything else but how to help these two. She had
had only the one child and could so well understand the mother's trouble.
She had even asked the doctor to allow her to be present when he took the
boy to his mother, in order to share in the joy, if the poor boy's delight
at seeing her again would affect him as they hoped.

Soon the doctor appeared, and after he had prepared the mother not to
expect Toni to speak at the first moment, he brought him in. He led him by
the hand into the room, then he let go and stepped to one side.

The mother ran to her Toni and tried to seize his hand. He drew back and
pressed into the corner staring into vacancy.

The women and the doctor exchanged sad looks.

His mother went up to him and caressed him. "Toneli, Toneli," she said
again and again in a tender voice, "don't you know me? Don't you know your
mother any more?"

As always before Toni pressed against the wall, made no motion and stared
before him.

In tender tones the mother continued mournfully:

"Oh, Toneli, say just a single word! Only look at me