People came from a distance of many miles to visit the fair, or market, as they called it. A value had been set upon even the humblest hand-work, and that was an incentive to better things.
It was in the month of June that the building which had been erected in the market-place began to take on an air of bustle and activity. Never had there been so many visitors in Eisenach, and never had the little town seemed half so prosperous. The fair was at the height of its success, when one day there came in for exhibition a case of toys, such toys as few of the present generation had ever seen in Eisenach. Many had gathered about the booth to see this new exhibit, when a lady, who had just been handed from a stately coach by an attendant, was heard to say:
“They must have been the work of Conrad Albrecht. I am glad to find them here. Whenever I made a visit to the Fatherland, years ago, I used to buy his toys and take them to my children; but until now I had supposed he did not make them any more. These will delight my grandchildren.”
And saying this, the speaker selected a number of the playthings, which were taken to her carriage; while those standing near looked on with interest. They recognized this benevolent-looking woman, so simple, yet impressing her dignity on all within her presence, as no less a personage than England’s Queen. Though far removed, Victoria still loved her Fatherland, often returning to the old home not many miles from Eisenach, and it was in those visits that she had come to know the work of Conrad Albrecht’s hands.
All who had seen them declared that these toys which gave evidence of unusual skill were plainly entitled to the prize, whereupon search was made for the one who sent them. Only three of the five judges were made aware of the name of the exhibitor to whom the prize was given, and they were bound to secrecy.
“Who was the maker of these toys?”
This was the question asked on every side, and the answer came that they must be the work of some one elsewhere; for Eisenach, they said, had known only one who could have made such toys, and he, Conrad Albrecht, had been dead for fifteen years.
XV.
