The instinctive affection of the children, of which the teacher had been dreaming, was so great that they scampered away the moment they saw him in the distance. Here and there only a very courageous boy would remain standing, and acknowledge his presence with a friendly nod, though without taking off his cap,--the latter for the simple reason that he wore none.
Near the schoolhouse they found a fine boy of six or seven years of age. "Come here, Johnnie," cried Mat: "see, Mr. Teacher, this is my boy. Keep a tight rein on him: he can learn well enough, only he don't always want to. Shake hands with the gentleman, Johnnie: he's your teacher now: you must mind him. What do you say to a stranger?"
"God greet you!" said the boy, stretching out his hand without hesitation.
The teacher's face beamed at this welcome from childish lips. He was in his paradise again the moment he divined a kindly inclination of a childish heart toward him. Stooping down to the boy's face, he kissed him.
"Will you be fond of me?" he asked.
The child looked at his father.
"Will you be fond of the gentleman?" asked Mat.
The boy nodded, but could not speak,--for the tears were coming into his eyes.
The three men went on their way, and the little fellow ran home in all haste, without looking behind him.
Buchmaier and Mat installed the teacher in his new dwelling.