The tall man bowed low as he went through the door to the little cottage; he sat down beside the mother and she told about her bad feelings, and how little food she had had. She had felt no pain, only great weakness.
“I have brought you some medicine,” he said, taking the flask out of his pocket.
The mother could not find words for her thanks. “God bless you,” she said with tears. The children added eager thanks, and cried, “Come again, come again.”
The young men told enthusiastically how they had enjoyed their walk, the gorgeous sunset hues, the beautiful moonlight views of the mountains, and the opportunity to see a real Swiss cottage in the Alps. They would not soon forget it, and with many kind words they departed.
Down the path they went with long leaps and strides.
Barty stationed himself on a projecting rock and called after them, “Good-bye, Count Maximilian! Good-bye, Dr. Barbarossa!”—and for a long time the sound of jodels and merry songs came up from the valley below.
Franzelie could not find words to describe the glory of a ride in a chaise, and with a horse. But when the great basket was unpacked, the joy of the little family knew no bounds. It contained so many nice things, not the least of which were a whole round cheese and three loaves of beautiful white bread. The mother said, “The dear Lord has put that thought into the hearts of the young men. We will never forget to pray for them.”
As the students were returning in great glee from their mountain adventure, Maximilian exclaimed: “It is not right, no; it is not right; we have kept that poor widow and her children for a time from starvation, but what will they do in the long winter without good food or warm clothing? I move that we take up a collection this very night and send it to them by our landlord.”
“Count Maximilian,” said Barbarossa, “your intention is good, but the project is impracticable. You forget we are on a long journey; some of us have no more money than we shall need to bring us home again. I propose another motion. It is that we shall form a society, the Bartiania, with a yearly fee. We will make our mothers and sisters honorary members. As soon as we reach home, we will pay in our yearly dues. They will give loving aid and advice and make ready the needed clothing, and the first contribution from the Bartiania Club will be forwarded.”