 Chapter one of Tony the Little Woodcarver. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Tony the Little Woodcarver by Johanna Sparry. Translated by Helen B. Doyle. Chapter one at home in the Little Stone Hut. High up in the Bernese Oberlin, quite a distance above the meadow encircled hamlet of candor-groomed stood a little lonely hut under the shadow of an old fir tree. Not far away rushes down from the wooded heights of rock, the wild brook, which in times of heavy rains has carried away so many rocks and boulders that when the storms are ended a ragged mass of stones is left. Through which flows a swift clear stream of water. Therefore the little dwelling near this brook is called the Stone Hut. Here lives the honest day worker Tony, who conducted himself well in every farmhouse where he went to work, for he was quiet and industrious, punctual at his tasks, and reliable in every way. In his hut at home he had a young wife and a little boy, who was a joy to both of them. Near the hut in the little shed was the goat, the milk of which supplied food for the mother and child, while the father received his board through the week at the farms where he worked from morning until night. Only on Sunday was he at home with his wife and little Tony. The wife Elspeth kept her little house in good order. It was narrow and tiny, but it always looked so clean and cheerful that everyone liked to come into the sunny room, and the father Tony was never so happy as when he was at home in the Stone Hut with his little boy on his knee. For five years the family lived in harmony and undisturbed peace. Although they had no abundance and little worldly goods, they were happy and content. The husband earned enough so they did not suffer want, and they desired nothing beyond their simple manner of life, for they loved each other and their greatest delight was little Tony. The little boy grew strong and healthy and with his merry ways to lighten his father's heart when he remained at home on Sundays and sweetened all his mother's work on weekdays when his father was away until late in the evening. Little Tony was now four years old and already knew how to be helpful in all sorts of small ways in the house and the goat shed and also in the field behind the hut. From morning until night he tripped happily behind his mother, for he was as content as the little birds up in the old fir tree. When Saturday night came the mother scrubbed and cleaned with double energy to finish early, for on that day the father was through his work earlier than other days, and she also went with little Tony by the hand partway to meet him. This was a great delight to the child. He now knew very well how one task followed another in the household. When his mother began to scrub, he jumped around the room with delight and cried out again and again, Now we are going for father, now we are going for father, until the moment came when his mother took him by the hand and started along. Saturday evening had come again in the lovely month of May, outdoors the birds and the trees were singing merrily up to the blue sky. Indoor the mother was cleaning busily in order to get out early into the golden evening, and meanwhile now outside, now in the house little Tony was hopping around and shouting, now we are going for father. It was not long before the work was finished, the mother put on her shawl and tied on her best apron and stepped out of the house. Tony jumped for joy and ran three times around his mother, then seized her hand and shouted once more, now we are going for father. Then he tripped along beside his mother in the lovely sunny evening. They wandered to the wild brook over the wooden bridge which crosses it and came to the narrow footpath winding up through the flower laden meadows to the farm where the father worked. The last rays of the setting sun fell across the meadows and the sound of the evening bells came up from Cantergren. The mother stood still and folded her hands. Lay her hands together Tony Lee, she said. It is the Angelus. The child obeyed. Why must I pray mother? he asked. Give us an all-tired people a blessed Sunday. Amen. Said the mother devoutly. Tony Lee repeated the prayer. Suddenly he screamed. Father is coming. Down from the farm someone was running as fast as he could come. That is not father, said his mother, and both went toward the running man. When they met the man stood still and said gasping. Don't go any farther. Turn around Elspeth. I came straight to you for something has happened. Oh my God! cried the woman in the greatest anguish. Has something happened to Tony? Yes. He was with the woodcutters, and then he was struck. They have prod him back. He is lying up at the farm, but don't go up there. He added, holding Elspeth fast, for she wanted to start off as soon as she heard the news. Not go up? she asked quickly. I must go to him. I must help him and see about bringing him home. You cannot help him. He is. He is already dead, said the messenger in an unsteady voice. Then he turned and ran back again, glad to have the message off his mind. Elspeth threw herself down on a stone by the way, unable to stand or to walk. She held her apron before her face and burst into weeping and sobbing, so the tonally was distressed and frightened. He pressed close to his mother and began to cry too. It was already dark when Elspeth finally came to herself and could think of her child. The little one was still sitting beside her on the ground, with both hands pressed to his eyes and sobbing pitifully. His mother lifted him up. Come, tonally, we must go home. It is late, she said, taking him by the hand, but he resisted. No, no, we must wait for father, he said, and pulled his mother back. Again, she could not keep back the tears. Oh, tonally, father will come no more, she said, stifling her sobs. He is already enjoying the blessed Sunday we prayed for, for the weary. See, the dear Lord has taken him to heaven. It is so beautiful there. He will prefer to stay there. Then we will go too, replied tonally, starting. Yes, yes, we shall go there too, promised his mother. But now we must first go home to this stone hut, and without a word she went with the little one back to the silent cottage. The proprietor of the matten farm sent word to Elspeth the following day that he would do everything necessary for her husband, and so she need not come until it was time for the service, for she would not recognize her husband. He sent her some money in order that she would not have too much care in the next few days, and promised to think of her later on. Elspeth did as he advised and remained at home until the bells of Canagruin rang for the service. Then she went to accompany her husband to his resting place. Sad and hard days came for Elspeth. She missed her good, kind husband everywhere, and felt quite lost without him. Besides, cares came now which she had known little about before, for her husband had had his good, daily work. But now she felt sometimes as if she would almost despair. She had nothing but her goat and the little potato field behind the cottage, and from these she had to feed and clothe herself and the little one, besides, furnish, rent for the little house. Elspeth had only one consolation, but one that always supported her when pain and care oppressed her. She could pray, and although often in the midst of tears, still always with a firm belief that the dear Lord would hear her supplication. When at night she had put little Tony in his tiny bed, she would kneel down beside him and repeat aloud the old hymn, which now came from the depths of her heart as never before. O God of love, O Father heart, in whom my trust is founded, I know full well how good thou art, even when in grief I am wounded. O Lord, surely cannot be that thou wilt let me languish in hopeless depths of misery and live in tears of anguish. O Lord, my soul yearns for thine aid in this dark veil of weeping, for thee I've waited, hoped, and prayed, assured by thy safekeeping. Lord, let me bear what error thy love may send of grief or sorrow until thou, in thy heaven above, make dawn a brighter morrow. In the midst of her urgent praying, the mother's tears flowed abundantly and little Tony, deeply moved in his heart by his mother's weeping and earnest prayer, kept his hands folded and wept softly too. So the time passed. Elspeth struggled along and little Tony was able to help her in many ways, for he was now seven years old. He was his mother's only joy, and she was able to take delight in him, for he was obedient and willing to do everything she desired. He had always been so inseparable from his mother that he knew exactly how the tasks of the day had to be done, and he desired nothing but to help her whenever he could. If she was working in the little field, he squatted beside her, pulled out the weeds and threw the stones across the path. If his mother was taking the goat out of the shed so that she could nibble the grass around the hut, he went with her step by step, for his mother had told him he must watch her so that she would not run away. If his mother was sitting in winter by her spinning wheel, he sat the whole time beside her, mending his winter socks with strong strips of cloth as she had taught him to do. He had no greater wish than to see his mother happy and contented. His greatest pleasure was when Sunday came, and she was resting from all work to sit with her on the little wooden bench in the front of the house and listen as she told him about his father and talk with her about all kinds of things. But now the time had come for Tony to go to school. It was very hard for him to leave his mother and remain away from her so much. The long way down Decandergrun and back again took so much time that Tony was hardly ever with his mother anymore through the day but only in the evening. Indeed he always came home so quickly that she could hardly believe it possible for he looked forward with pleasure all day long to getting home again. He lost no time with his schoolmates but ran immediately away from them as soon as the school was over. He was not accustomed to the ways of the other boys since he had been constantly alone with his quietly working mother and used to performing definite tasks continually without any noise. So it was altogether strange to him and he took no pleasure in it when the boys coming out of the schoolhouse set up a great screaming. One running after another trying to see which was the stronger and throwing one another on the ground or wrestling so that their caps were thrown far away and their jackets half torn off. The wrestlers would often call to him, come and play, and when he ran away from them they would call after him, you are a coward, but this made little difference to him. He didn't hear it long for he ran with all his might in order to be at home again with his mother. Now a new interest for him arose in the school. He had seen beautiful animals drawn on white sheets which the children of the upper grades copied. He quickly tried to draw them too with his pencil and at home continued drawing the animals again and again as long as he had a bit of paper. Then he cut out the animals and tried to make them stand on the table, but this he could not do. Then suddenly the thought came to him that if they were made of wood they could stand. He began quickly with his knife to cut around on a little piece of wood until there was a body and four legs, but the wood was not large enough for the neck and the head. So he had to take another piece and calculate from the beginning how high it must be and where the head must be placed. So Tony cut away with much perseverance until he succeeded in making something like a goat and could show it with great satisfaction to his mother. She was much delighted at his skill and said you are surely going to be a wood carver and a very good one. From that time on Tony looked at every little piece of wood that came in his way to see if it would be good for carving and if so he would quickly put it away so that he often brought home all his pockets full of these pieces which he then collected like treasures into a pile and spent every free moment carving them. Thus the years passed by. Although Ellsworth always had many cares she experienced only joy in her little Tony. He still clung to her with the same love, helped her in every way as well as he could and spent his life beside her entirely at his quiet occupation in which he gradually acquired a quite gratifying skill. Tony was never so content as when he was sitting in the little stone hut with his carving and his mother came in and out happily employed always saying a kindly word to him and finally sat down beside him at her spinning wheel. This is the end of chapter one. Chapter two of Tony the Little Wood Carver. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Tony the Little Wood Carver by Johanna Spirey translated by Helen B. Boyle. Chapter two, A Hard Sentence. Tony was 12 years old in the winter and now his school days were over and the time had come to look about for some kind of work which would bring him in some money and by which he could learn something necessary for future years. Spring had come and work had begun in the fields. His mother thought it would be best to ask the proprietor of the matten farm if he had some light work for Tony. But every time she spoke about it he would say beseechingly oh mother don't do that let me be a wood carver. She would have had no objection to this but knew no way to bring it about and she had known the farmer up on the matten farm ever since her husband had worked there and ever since his death from time to time he had sent her a little wood or meal. She hoped that he would employ Tony at first for light tasks in the field so he would gradually learn to do the heavier work. So on Saturday night after the day's work was ended and she sat down with Tony to their scanty supper she said once more Tony, now we must take a decided step I think it best for me to go up to the matten farm tomorrow oh mother don't do that said Tony quite beseechingly don't go to the farmer if you will only let me be a wood carver I will work so hard that I will earn enough and you will not have to do so much and then I can stay at home with you besides you would be all alone and I cannot bear it if I have to be always away from you please let me stay with you don't send me away mother oh you good Tony said his mother what wouldn't I give to be able to keep you always with me that really cannot be I know of no way for you to be a wood carver someone would have to teach you and when you had learned how should we sell the carvings you would have to know people and go about or else your work wouldn't bring any money if only I could talk with someone who could give me good advice don't you know anyone mother you can ask said Tony anxiously and wracked his brain to think of someone his mother too began to consider I think I will go to the pastor who has already given me advice said his mother delighted to have found a way out of the difficulty Tony was quite happy and now is determined that early the next morning they should go down to the church and then his mother could go in to see the pastor and Tony would wait outside everything was carried out on Sunday morning as they had planned his mother had put two of the little carved animals in her pocket to show the pastor as examples of her boy's good ability the pastor received her very cordially had her sit down beside him and inquired with interest about her affairs for he knew Elspeth and how bravely she had helped herself through all the hard times she told him now the whole story how Tony from a very early age had worked at the carving with so much interest and now wished for nothing so much as to carry on this work but how she knew of no way for him to learn nor how later the work could be sold finally she showed him the two little animals as examples of Tony's skill the pastor replied to the mother that the plan would be very difficult to carry out although the two little goats were not badly carved yet in order to perform the work right and to earn his bread by it Tony would have to first learn from a good carver because making only little animals or boxes would not amount to anything or bring in any money and he would only be wasting his time however down in the village of Frutigin there was a very skillful well-known woodcarver who made wonderful large works which went far into the world even to America he carved whole groups of animals on high rocks, shemois and eagles and whole mountains with the herdsmen and the cows Ellsworth could talk with this carver if Tony studied with him he could help him to sell the finished work for he had ways open for it Ellsworth left the pastor with gratitude and new hope in her heart in front of the house Tony was waiting with great suspense she had to tell him at once everything the pastor had said and when she finally related about the woodcarver and Frutigin Tony suddenly stood still and said then come mother let us go to the place at once however his mother had not thought it over she had made many objections but Tony begged so earnestly that she finally said you must go home first and have something to eat for it is very far away but we can do that quickly and then start off again right away so they hurried back to the house took a little bread and milk and started on their way again they had several hours to travel but Tony was so busy with his plans and thoughts for the future the time flew like a dream and he looked up in great surprise when his mother said this was the church tower of Frutigin they were soon standing in front of the woodcarver's house and learned from the children before the door that their father was at home inside in the large wainscotted room set the woodcarver with his wife at the table looking at a large book of beautiful colored pictures of animals which he would be able to get good use of in his handicraft when the two arrived he welcomed them to come and be seated on the wooden bench where he and his wife were sitting and which ran along the wall along the entire room Ellsworth accepted the invitation and immediately began to tell the woodcarver why she had come and what she so much desired of him meanwhile Tony stood as if rooted to the floor and stared motionless at a single spot in front of him next to the wall was a glass case in which could be seen two high rocks carved out of wood on one was standing a chemois with their little ones they had such dainty slender legs and their fine heads set so very naturally on their necks that it seemed as if they were all alive and not at all made of wood and on the other rocks did a hunter his gun hanging by his side and his hat with even a feather in it sat on his head also finely carved that one would think it must be a real hat and a real little feather yet it was all of wood next to the hunter stood his dog and it seemed as if he would even wag his tail Tony was like one enchanted and hardly breezed when his mother finished speaking the woodcarver said it seemed to him as if she thought the affair would half go of itself but it was not so if a thing is to be done right it cost much time and patience to learn he was not adverse 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 and fruit again 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 board would wait and she could see there in the glass what he could learn to do at first Ellsworth was so disappointed and dismayed she was unable to speak a word now she knew it would be absolutely impossible for her to fulfill her boy's greatest wish the necessary expense of board and instruction was beyond anything she could manage so much so that it was quite out of the question it was all over with Tony's plans she rose and thanked the woodcarver for his willingness to take the boy but she would have to decline his offer then she beckoned to Tony whose eyes were still so fast into the glass case that he paid no attention she took him by the hand and let him quietly out of the door outside Tony said drawing a deep breath did you see what was in the case mother did you see it yes yes I saw it Tony replied his mother with his sigh but did you hear what the woodcarver said Tony 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 Tony but don't take it sort of hard see I can't do it although I like to so much 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 Tony 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 but 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 this is the end of chapter 2 chapter 3 of Tony the Little Woodcarver by Johanna Aspirey this library box recording is in the public domain chapter 3 up in the mountains the next morning the farmer on the matten farm sent word to Elspeth to come up to see him toward evening as he had something to talk with her about at the right time she set aside her hoe tied on a clean apron and said finish the hoeing Tony then you can milk the goat and give her some fresh straw so she will have a better bed then I will be back again she went up to the matten farm the farmer was standing in an open barn door gazing with satisfaction at his beautiful cows wandering in a long procession to the well Elspeth stepped up to him well I am glad you have come he said hoeing out his hand to her I have been thinking about you on account of the boys welfare he is now at an age to do some light work and help you a little at least to take care of himself I have already been thinking about that replied Elspeth and wanted to ask you if you could give him a little light work in the fields that is fortunate continued the farmer I have a little job for him healthy and not very hard that is to say not hard at all he can go up the small mountain with the cows the herdsman with his boys is on the big mountain and Amanda is also there to come every morning and evening for the milking so the boy will not be entirely alone and will have nothing to do but watch the cows so that none wander off that they don't hook each other or do anything out of the way while he sits there on the mountain he is master he can have all the milky ones a king couldn't have anything better Elspeth was a little frightened by the offer if Tony had been more with the farm men or had been with cows or if he had naturally a different disposition wilder and more roving and commanding but as he was so quiet and shy and besides without any knowledge of such things to be for the first time all alone for several months away from home up on the mountain watching a herd of cows this seemed to her too hard for Tony but with a poor boy who is not particularly strong do if anything happened to him or to the herd she expressed all her thoughts to the farmer but it made no difference he thought it would be good for the boy to get out for once and up on the mountain he would be much stronger than at home and nothing could happen to him for he would be given a horn and if anything went wrong he could blow lustily and immediately our man would come from the other mountain in a half hour he would be there Ellsworth finally thought the farmer understood it much better than she and so it was decided that the next week when the cows went up the mountain pasture Tony should go with them he shall have a good bit of money and a new suit of clothes when he comes down that will be a help for the winter said the farmer finally Ellsworth thanked him as she said goodbye and turned homeward Tony was at first opposed to this when he heard that he would be away so long without being able to come home a single time but his mother explained to him how easy the work would be and he would grow stronger up there so as to be able to do better things later on and that the matten farmer would give him a new suit and a good bit of money as pay so Tony objected no longer but said he would be glad to do something and not let his mother work alone then it occurred to Ellsworth that if Tony was going to be away the whole summer she could perhaps go to one of the big hotels in interlaken where so many strangers go for the summer there she could earn a good sum of money and meet the coming winter without anxiety she was already known in interlaken for she had served as a chambermaid in one of the hotels for several summers before her marriage she was named for the big herd of cows to be taken up the mountain pasture Tony's mother gave him his little bundle and said go now in God's name don't forget to pray when the day begins and when it ends and the dear Lord will not forget you and his protection is better than that of men so Tony started off with this little bundle behind the herd up the mountain immediately after this she took the goat up to the mountain farm when the farmer heard that she was going to interlaken he promised her to take the goat and thought when Ellsworth came home again she would give twice as much milk and what he made from her he would give back to Ellsworth in cheese then she started down to interlaken the herd had already been climbing the mountain for several hours the herdsmen turned off to the left with the big herd and the man went with Tony up toward the right followed by the smaller herd which consisted of fewer cows but many young cattle for not many cows could be kept on the small mountain passage because the milk had to be carried across to the big one where the herdsmen's hut stood they now reached the highest point of the pasture there stood a little hut all around there was nothing but pasture not a tree in the hut on one side was a narrow seat fastened to a wall in front of which stood a table on the other side stood a bed of hay in the corner was a little round stool and on this was a wooden jug Tony and the man stepped inside the ladder placed on the floor a big wooden milk pail which he had brought up on his back took out of it a round loaf of bread and a huge piece of cheese made both on the table and said of course you have a knife to which Tony assented then the man took the wooden jug swung the milk pail on his back and went out Tony followed him the man lifted a wooden basin out of the big pail seated himself on a little round stool which he brought out of the hut and began to milk one cow after another when he was too far away he would call out drive her here and Tony obeyed when the basin was full he poured it into the big pail and silently went on until all the cows had been milked at the last the man filled the jug with milk handed it to Tony took the pail on his back the basin in his hand and saying good night went down the mountain then Tony was all alone he put his jug of milk in the hut and came out again he looked around on every side he looked over to the big mountain but between there and his pasture was a wide valley so one had to descend in order to climb up to the big one but all around both pastures great dark masses of mountains looked down some rocky, grey and jagged others covered with snow all reaching up to the sky so high and mighty there was such different peaks and horns and some with such broad backs that it almost seemed to Tony as if they were enormous giants each one having his own face and looking down at him it was a clear evening the mountain opposite was shining in the golden evening light and now little star came into sight above the dark mountains and looked down at Tony in such a friendly way that it cheered him very much he thought of his mother where she was now and how she was in the habit of standing with him at this time in front of little cottage and talking so pleasantly then suddenly there came over him such a feeling of loneliness that he ran into the hut threw himself down on the cot buried his face in the hay and sobbed softly until the weariness of the day overcame him and he fell asleep the bright morning lured him out early the man was already outside he milked the cows, spoke not a word and went away now a long long day followed it was perfectly still all around the cows grazed and laid down around in the sun baked pasture Tony went into the hut two or three times drank some milk, ate some bread cheese then he came out again, sat down on the ground and carved on a piece of wood he had in his pocket for although he no longer dared to cherish the hope of becoming a wood carver yet he could not help carving for himself as well as he could at last it was evening again the man came and went he said not a word and Tony had nothing to say either thus passed one day after another they were all so long so long in the evening when it began to grow dark it always seemed terrible to Tony for then the high mountains looked so black and threatening as if they would suddenly do him some harm then he would rush back into the hut and crawl into his bed of hay many days had passed like this one exactly the same as the other the sun had always shown in a cloudless sky always at evening the friendly little star had gleamed above the dark mountain but one afternoon thick grey clouds began to chase one another across the sky now and then blinding lightning flashed and suddenly frightful, thunderbolt sounded which echoed roaring from the mountains as if they were twice as many and then a terrible storm broke it was as dark as night the rain beat against the hut and meanwhile the thunder rolled with fearful reverberations through the mountains quivering lightning lighted up the black frightful giant forms which seemed quite specter like to come nearer and look down menacingly the cattle ran together in alarm and bellowed loudly and great birds of prey flapped around with piercing shrieks Tony had long since fled into the hut but the lightning showed him the frightful forms and it seemed every minute as if the rolling thunder would overthrow the hut to the ground Tony was so alarmed he could hardly breathe he climbed up on the table expecting every minute that the hut would fall and crush him the storm lasted for hours and the man never came over it was now really night but still the blinding lightning flashed and new peels of thunder rolled and the storm howled and raged as if it would sweep the hut away Tony stood half the night stiff with fright clinging to the table with no thought only a feeling of a frightful power which was crushing everything how he reached his bed he did not know but in the morning he laid stretched out across the hay so exhausted he could hardly rise he looked anxiously out of the window how much a look outside after such a night then he went out to see about the cows the ground was still wet but the animals were peacefully grazing the sky was gray and thick black clouds were passing over it gloomy and frightful the high mountains stood there they had come so near and looked more threatening than ever at Tony he ran back into the hut more days of thunderstorms followed one after another and if the sun came out in between and burned unbearably and new storms followed so unceasingly and violent that the herdsman on the other mountain often said that he had not known such a summer for years that it didn't change he wouldn't make half as much butter as the former summers because the cows gave no milk as they didn't like the fodder during this time the man's servant chose the most favorable time to come over to the small pasture milked the cows as quickly as possible and didn't look after the boy at all only now and then when he thought Tony had no more milk he would bring the jug out quickly fill it and put it back again then he often saw Tony sitting on his bed of hay in the call-out and passing you are lazy but then he ran right away getting wet and did not trouble himself further about the boy so June passed and already a good part of July the thunderstorms had become less frequent but thick fog often so enveloped the mountains that one could hardly see two steps away and only here and there a blackhead appeared looking gloomily through the mist the cows often wandered so far that the man found some of them between the two mountains and brought them up again this would not do he called up to the boy but received no answer he ran to the hut and went in Tony, crouched in the corner was sitting on his bed and staring straight before him why don't you look after the cows asked the man he received no answer can't you speak what's the matter with you no answer he was suffering from hunger but more than half the bread was there and the larger part of the cheese Tony had taken almost nothing but milk what is the matter with you then are you sick? asked the man again Tony gave no answer he seemed not to hear anything and stared so motionless before him that the man was quite alarmed he ran out of the hut he told the herdsman how it was with the boy and they decided the herdsman's boys went down with the butter he must tell the maddened farmer about it another week passed then the news was brought to the farmer he thought the boy would be happy again that the heavy thunderstorms had only frightened him a little but he sent word for the herdsman to go over he had boys of his own it would understand better about this than the hired man if anything was wrong with Tony he must be brought down a few days later the herdsman really went over with one of his boys and found Tony still crouched in the corner just as the man had seen him Tony made no sound to anything the herdsman said to him did not move and kept staring always before him he must go down said the herdsman to his boy go with him right away but take care that nothing happens to him and be good to him the boy is to be pitied with sympathy for the herdsman had a good heart and took delight in his own three big healthy boys the one he had with him was a strong sturdy fellow of 16 he went up to Tony and told him to stand up but Tony did not move then the lad took him under his arms lifted him up like a feather then swung him on his back held him firmly with both hands and went with his little life burden down the mountain that and farmer saw Tony in such a sad condition which remained just the same he was alarmed for he had not expected such a thing he did not know at all what to do with the boy his mother was far away no relatives were there and he himself did not want to keep Tony well in this condition he could take such a responsibility but he did not want to do so suddenly a good thought came to him the same as the people there with difficulty in every need and every trouble always have first of all take him to the pastor he said to the herdsman's boy he will have some good advice to give which will help the lad immediately started off and went to the pastor who allowed the boy to tell him as much as he knew about the details of the case how Tony came to be in this condition and how long it lasted but the lad knew very little about it at all the pastor first tried every means to make Tony speak and asked him if he would like to go to his mother but it was all in vain Tony did not give the least sign of understanding or interest then the pastor sat down wrote a letter and said to the herdsman's boy go back to the madden farm and told the farmer to harness his little carriage and send it to me and then I will see that Tony goes today to burn he was very sick say that to the farmer the farmer harnessed immediately glad that further responsibility was taken from him and he had only to carry Tony as far as the railway but the pastor sent down to his sexon an older kindly man who had given him a helping hand for years in many matters of responsibility he was commissioned to take Tony with all care to the great sanitarium and give the letter to the doctor there a good friend of the pastors a half hour later an open carriage with the high seat drove up in front of the pastor's house the sexon climbed up placed the sick boy beside him held him carefully but firmly and thus Tony drove out into the world with a horse for the first time in his life but he sat there with no sign of interest and was as if he were no longer conscious of the outside world this is the end of chapter 3 chapter 4 of Tony the little woodcarver by Johanna Spirey this lipovox recording is in the public domain chapter 4 in the sanitarium the doctor of the sanitarium was sitting with his family around the family table engaged in merry conversation on various subjects even the lady from Geneva who spent several hours a day with the family seemed today a little infected by the children's gayity she had never before taken so lively a part in the discussion which the school children carried on about different interests this lady's beloved and gifted son had died not long before on this account she had fallen into such deep sadness that her health had suffered greatly and therefore she had been brought to the sanitarium to recover the animated conversation was suddenly interrupted by a letter which was handed to the doctor a letter from an old friend who ascending me a patient to the sanitarium he was a young boy hardly as old as our max there, read it whereupon the doctor handed the letter to his wife the dear boy exclaimed his wife is he here? bring him in perhaps it will do him good to see the children I think he's quite near said the doctor he went out and soon came in again with the sexton and Tony he led the former into a bay window and began talking to him in a low tone meanwhile the doctor's wife drew near to Tony who on entering had pressed into the corner she spoke kindly to him and invited him to come to the table and eat something with her children Tony did not move then lively little Marie jumped down from her chair and came to Tony with a large piece of bread and butter here take a bite she said encouragingly Tony remained motionless see you must do so and the little girl bit a good piece from the bed and held it to him then again a little nearer so he only needed to bite into it but he stared in front of him and made no motion this silent resistance frightened Marie and she drew back quietly then the doctor came took Tony by the hand and went out followed by the sexton poor Tony's appearance had made a great impression on the children they had become perfectly quiet later when they had gone to bed and the two women were sitting alone together the doctor came back again in reply to their urgent questions he informed them about all that the sexton had told him concerning Tony's illness and his life with his mother and that no one had ever noticed anything wrong with the boy before only that he had always been a quiet and gentle child and more slenderly built than any of the other village children women asked how he had come in the summer on the beautiful mountain and the doctor explained that it was not so strange if one knew how terrible the thunderstorms were up on the mountain besides he concluded a delicate child such as this boy all alone without a human being near for whole weeks even months long without hearing a word spoken might well be so terrified to fear and horror in the awful loneliness that he would become wholly benumbed then the lady from Geneva who took an unusual interest in poor Tony's fate exclaimed in great excitement how can a mother allow such a thing to happen to her child it is wholly inconceivable quite incomprehensible you really have no idea replied the doctor soothingly what poor mothers are obliged to let happen to their children that it caused them less pain than others you see how many suffer that we know nothing about and how hard poverty oppresses will you be able to help the poor young boy ask the lady from Geneva if I can only bring out the right emotion in him he replied so that the spell which holds him imprisoned can be broken now everything in him is numb and lifeless oh do help him do help him beg the sick lady imploringly oh if I could do something for him and she walked to and fro thinking about a way to help for Tony's condition went deeply to her heart it was the second week of August when Tony came to the sanitarium day after day week after week passed and the doctor could only bring the same sad news to the two women who everyday awaited his report with great anxiety not the slightest change was noticed every means was tried to amuse the boy to see if he would perhaps laugh other attempts were devised to disturb him to make him cry they performed all kinds of tricks to attract his attention all all were in vain no trace of interest or emotion was aroused in Tony he could only be made to laugh or to cry once repeated the doctor over and over again when he had been four weeks in the sanitarium all hope disappeared for the doctor had exhausted every means now I will try one thing more he said one morning to his wife I have written to my friend the pastor and asked him if the boy was very much attached to his mother and if so to sinful her right away perhaps to see her again would make an impression on him the two women look forward with great suspense to Ellsworth's arrival in the first week of September the last guest left the hotel in Interlaken where Ellsworth had spent the summer she immediately started on her way home before she wanted to get everything in order before Tony came down from the mountain she never thought but that he was still up there and had no suspicion what happened when she reached home she went in once to the mountain farm to inquire for Tony and to bring the goat home the farmer was very friendly and thought her goat was now by far one of the finest because she had had good fodder so long but when Ellsworth asked after her Tony he broke off abruptly and said he had so much to do she must go to the pastor for he would have the best knowledge it immediately seemed to Ellsworth that it was a little strange for the pastor to know best what happened up on the mountain and while she was leading home the goat and thinking about the matter a feeling of anxiety came over her and grew stronger and stronger 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 Kendergrund the pastor told with great consideration how Tony had not born the life of 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 it sent the boy immediately to burn 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 Tony was receiving the best care with a heavy heart Ellsworth 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 burn at once as the doctor wished her to come early the next day Ellsworth started about noon she reached burn and soon was standing in front of the door of the sanitarium she was led to the doctor's living room and was here received with great friendliness by his wife and with still keen sympathy by the lady from Geneva who had so lived in the history of poor Tony 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 Tony to speak at the first moment he brought him in he let him by the hand into the room then he let go and stepped to one side the mother ran to her Tony 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 to him and caressed him tonally, tonally she said again and again in a tender voice don't you know me don't you know your mother anymore as always before Tony pressed against the wall making no motion and stared before him in tender tones the mother continued mournfully, oh tonally just say a single word only look at me once tonally, don't you hear me tonally remained unmoved still once again the mother looked at him full of tenderness but only met his staring eyes it was too much for poor Elspeth that the only possession she had on earth and the one she loved with all her heart her Tony should be lost to her and in such a sad way she forgot everything around her she fell on her knees beside her child and while the tears were bursting from her eyes she poured out a loud the sorrow in her heart oh God of love oh Father heart in whom my trust is founded I know full well how good thou art even when by grief I am wounded oh Lord it surely cannot be that thou won't let me languish and hopeless depths of misery and live in tears of anguish Tony's eyes took on a different expression he looked at his mother she did not see him and went on imploring in the midst of her tears oh Lord my soul yearns for thine aid in this dark veil of weeping for thee I have waited hoped and prayed assured of thy safekeeping suddenly Tony threw himself on his mother and sobbed aloud she threw her arms around him and her tears of sorrow turned to loud sobs of joy the child sobbed aloud also it is one said the doctor in great delight to the women deeply moved were looking on at the mother and boy then the doctor opened the door to the next room and beckoned to go in there with Tony he thought it would be good for both to be alone for a while in there after a while Tony began to talk quite naturally with his mother and asked her are we going home mother to the stone hut shan't I have to go up to the mountain anymore and she quieted him and she would now take him right home and they would stay there together soon all Tony's thoughts came back quite clearly and after all he said but I must earn something mother don't trouble about that now said Ellsworth quietly the dear Lord will show away when it is time then they began to talk about the goat how pretty and fat she had grown and Tony gradually became quite lively after an hour the doctor brought them both into the living room back to the ladies Tony was entirely changed his eyes now had an earnest but quite different expression the lady from Geneva was indescribably delighted she sat down beside him at once and he had to tell her how he had been to school and what he had liked to study but the doctor beckoned Ellsworth to come to him listen my good woman he began the words you had repeated made a deep penetrating impression on the boys heart did he know the him already oh my lord exclaimed Ellsworth many hundred times I have repeated it beside his little bed when he was very small often with many tears and he would weep too when he didn't know why he wept because you wept he suffered because you suffered said the doctor now I understand how he was aroused by these words with such impressions at early childhood it is no wonder he became a quiet and reserved boy this explains to me much in the past then the lady from Ellsworth came up for she wanted to talk with the mother my dear good woman he certainly must not go up on the mountain again what fit for it she said in great eagerness we must find something different for him has he no taste for some other occupation but it must be light for he is not strong and needs care oh yes he has a great desire to learn something said his mother from a little boy he has wished for it but I hardly dared mention it there there my good woman tell me right away about it the lady encouragingly expecting something unheard of he wants so much to be a woodcarver and has a good deal of talent for it but the cost of board and instruction together is more than 80 francs is that all? exclaimed the lady with greatest surprise is that all? come my boy and she ran to Tony again would you really like to become a woodcarver better than anything else the joy was shown in Tony's eyes when he answered that he would show the lady what she had to do she had such a longing to help Tony that she wanted to act immediately that very hour would you like to learn it once go to a teacher right away she asked him Tony gladly replied that he would but now came a new thought she turned to the doctor perhaps he ought to recover his health first the doctor replied that he'd already been thinking about that the mother had told him that she knew a good master up in frutigin now I think he went on to say that carving is not a strenuous work and one of the most important things for Tony is to have for some time good nourishing food in frutigin there's a very good end the only could I would undertake that doctor I will undertake that interrupt the lady I will go with him we will start tomorrow in frutigin I will provide for Tony's board and lodging and for everything he needs in her great delight the lady shook hands with both the mother and the boy repeatedly and went out to instruct her maid about preparations for the journey when the mother with her boy had been taken to their room our lady is also cured a new interest has come to her and you will see she will have a new life in providing for this young boy this has been a beautiful day on the following morning the journey was made to frutigin and the little company was so glad and happy together that they reached there before they were aware of it at the woodcarvers the lady was told everything that would be needed for the work and after he had shown them all kinds of instruments he thought a fine book with good pictures from which one could work would be useful after the lady had charged him to teach Tony everything in any way necessary for the future they went to the end here the lady engaged in a good room with a comfortable bed and for herself arranged with the host a bill of fare for every day in the week the host promised with many bowels to follow everything exactly for he solved very well with whom he had to deal then Tony and his mother had to eat with the lady in the end and during the meal she had much more to say she was going now she said the next day home to Geneva where there are large shops in which nothing was sold but carvings there she would immediately arrange for Tony to send all his articles so he could begin to work with fresh zeal moreover she insisted that Tony should remain not two but three months with the carver so that he could learn everything from the foundation he could go from here to visit his mother on Sundays or she could come to him Ellsworth and Tony were so full of gratitude they could find no words to express it but the lady understood them nevertheless and bore home a happy heart such as she had not had for a long time it came about just as the doctor had foreseen the lady who had not been able to think any more about her home now desired to return to Geneva she had so many plans to carry out there that she could hardly wait for the day when she was to go back the doctor was delighted to consent to her going soon Tony would hardly begun with his new teacher applied himself with so much zeal and skill to his work that the carver said to his wife on the fourth week if he goes on like this he will learn to do better than I can the three months had come to an end and Christmas was drawing near one morning Tony waited through the deep snow up to his home he looked round and fresh and his heart was so happy he had to sing aloud as he came along but when after a long walk he suddenly saw the stone hut with the fir tree with snow behind it tears of joy came to his eyes he was coming home home for all time he ran to the little house and his mother who had already seen him hurried out in which one of them was the most delighted no one could tell but they were both so happy as they sat together again in the cottage that they could think of no greater fortune on earth their highest wish was fulfilled Tony was a woodcarver and could carry on his work at home with his mother and with what blessings besides those dear Lord was still overwhelming them from Geneva such good things kept coming to Elspeth that she no longer had to dread anxious days and with each package came new assurance of the ready acceptance of Tony's work such a Christmas festival as was celebrated two days later in the stone hut neither Elspeth nor Tony had ever known before for the candles which his mother had lighted shone out upon a quantity of things which Tony had received to wear and also a whole set of the most beautiful knives for carving and a book with pictures of a size and beauty such as Tony had never in all his life seen before his master's book was a mere child's toy beside it Elspeth too was lovingly provided for the lady from Geneva had planned everything and the bright reflection of it fell back radently into her own heart the most beautiful deer and huntsman and the wonderful eagles on the rock standing in the high show window in Geneva was carved by Tony and was considered by him to be a particularly successful piece so it went not to the dealer in Geneva but to the lady for whom Tony preserved a grateful heart all his life long this is the end of Tony the little wood cover by Johanna Spirey translated by Helen B. Doyle