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 evening, as he had something to talk with her
about.
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