This was the way he talked when Barefoot came on Sundays to the charcoal kiln to see him, and brought him food, and tobacco for his pipe. She would often teach him how he could cook better food at the wood-coals, and little puddings, that he could himself prepare. But Dami would only have things just as they happened, and insisted, although he might have improved his housekeeping, upon living wretchedly, till the time when he would shine out as a soldier. Barefoot opposed this eternal looking forward to a coming time, and letting the present slip away. She knew that Dami indulged that secret idleness which consisted in self-pity, and this she thought would end in his becoming good-for-nothing. Only with the utmost exertion could she induce him to buy himself an axe out of his own earnings. This was his father’s, which Mathew had bought at the sale of Josenhans’ effects.
Barefoot often returned almost despairing from the forest. This did not last long. The inward trust, and native courageous gayety, which belonged to her disposition, expressed itself voluntarily in cheerful songs forever upon her lips; and those who did not know her history would never have remarked that Barefoot had now or ever a single sorrow. The cheerfulness that arose from an involuntary consciousness that her duty was well performed, and all her leisure devoted to the comfort of Mariann and Dami, impressed upon her countenance a constant joyousness. None in the house laughed as gayly as Barefoot. Old Rodel said her laugh was just like the song of the quail. She was always so helpful and respectful to him, that he gave her to understand that he should remember her in his will. Barefoot did not trouble herself nor expect much from this. She relied upon nothing but the wages, which were justly hers, and whatever she performed beyond this for others, she did from benevolence and a generous disposition. Was not this to be a true Sister of Charity?
CHAPTER VIII.
SACK AND AXE.
FARMER SCHECKEN’S house was rebuilt handsomer than before the fire. With the winter came the drawing for recruits, but never was there such sorrow at drawing an exemption as that Dami displayed. He was in despair, and Amrie grieved with him, for she thought the soldier’s discipline an excellent means to make the indolent Dami more firm and steadfast. But she said, “Take it as a sign that you must from this time forth support yourself like a man. You are like a little child that cannot feed himself, but must have his food given him.”
“You would reproach me,” said Dami, “for what you do for me.”
“No, indeed, that I did not mean. Do not stand there so doleful, to see who will do something for you, either good or bad; act for yourself!”
“That I will,” said Dami, “I will do something that will astonish you.”
For a long time he gave no hint of what he had in his mind; he went boldly through the village, and talked freely with every one, and worked industriously in the forest at wood-splitting. He had his father’s axe, and seemed with it to have gained his father’s strength.