"What? You want to take Jos too?" he said excitedly. "Then my going is out of the question. If Jos isn't home to keep things in order, I'll not take a step away from here; you can reckon on that."
Mrs. Lesa patiently explained that for one day, and that Sunday, the farmhand could attend to the stable work, and Jos would be back again Monday morning. Nothing would be neglected.
"And then think, Vinzenz," she concluded, "Jos has done much for us, and we have never given him the slightest pleasure. He would certainly enjoy this trip. It is because of him that you have the time to go to your other farm and to put things in order there. You can afford to be away eight days for when Jos is with me, I can promise you everything will be done at home."
Vinzenz Lesa was a just man and always ready to do what justice called for. After weighing the pros and cons, he was glad of this opportunity to give Jos a well-earned holiday, and said decisively, "Well, we'll make the trip. Tell Jos at once; he will plan everything out that needs to be done while he is away."
"Tomorrow morning," promised Mrs. Lesa, rejoicing that she could give the good news to all the children, especially to Jos.
When she made the happy announcement the next morning, Alida and Stefeli jumped for joy, and Hugo said, "Then everything isn't quite over! It will be much easier to go away when everybody goes with us."
Jos could hardly conceive that such pleasure was for him. He would see the city, and much beautiful country on the way. It would be his first journey, for he had never been away from his mountain home until the time he came to Leuk.
Sunday arrived, and the merry party journeyed off through the green country. The trip was much finer than they had imagined. Alida and Stefeli talked incessantly and when Hugo was not taking part in the conversation, he was pointing out the interesting things along the way which might otherwise have been unobserved. Jos, on the other hand, was so engrossed with all that was new to him that he gazed about in silence.
Thus the hours flew by and the children jumped up in astonishment when Mr. Lesa said, "Watch out now, we will soon be in Freiburg."
A few minutes later there was a call of "Freiburg!" and the train stopped. Mrs. Lesa peered out of the window, and yes, there stood the gentlemen waiting to receive them. She could not help giving a sigh for she had hoped till this moment that Mr. Delrick might bring Vinzi along. But he was not there.