With such
impressions in 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 Geneva came up for she wanted to talk with the mother.
"My dear, good woman, he certainly must not go up on the mountain again.
He is not 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 dare mention it."
"There, there, my good woman, tell me right away about it," said the lady
encouragingly, expecting something unheard-of.
"He wants so much to be a wood-carver, and has a good deal of talent for
it, but the cost of board and instruction together is more than eighty
francs."
"Is that all?" exclaimed the lady in the greatest surprise, "is that all?
Come, my boy," and she ran to Toni again, "would you really like to
become a wood-carver--better than anything else?"
The joy which shone in Toni's eyes, when he answered that he would, showed
the lady what she had to do.
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