"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.
Elsbeth thanked him as she said good-by, and turned homeward.
Toni 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, that 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
Toni objected no longer, but said he would be glad to do something and not
let his mother work alone.
Then it occurred to Elsbeth that, if Toni 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 chambermaid in one of the hotels for
several summers before her marriage.
When the day came for the big herd of cows to be taken up to the mountain
pasture, Toni'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.
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