On the evening of the following day Vinzi went upstairs with his mother. When they came to his little room, he said to her. “Oh, mother, it is so lovely to be at home again; won’t you please come in and say good-night to me the way you used to do?”
Before going to bed that night Stefeli had run outside, as if looking for some one. She found Mr. Delrick sitting on the bench as usual, just as she had expected.
“When you go to the mountain, Mr. Delrick, will you give somebody a message from me?” she inquired, as soon as she had joined him.
After expressing his readiness to do so, Stefeli went on: “Won’t you please tell Uncle Lorenz that Jos mustn’t go home yet. He promised to leave him here till father sends him away, and I know that he’ll never do that.”
Mr. Delrick promised faithfully to deliver her message. He could not help smiling to himself when he remembered how similar were the three messages he was asked to take. Mr. Lesa had begged his cousin Lorenz to leave Jos with him, if possible, as he could hardly live without the boy. A few moments later Jos had appeared, very anxious to let his father know that he could not yet come home. So much had still to be done before the winter, and then spring would be here again. This year’s work could barely be finished before next year’s labors would begin. His Uncle Vinzenz should really not be left alone, for it was settled now that Vinzi would stay away for good. Mr. Delrick said to himself with a smile that Cousin Lorenz would not be able to gainsay this threefold request, especially against his own firm promise.
Mrs. Lesa went into Vinzi’s room and sat down on his bed. This vividly brought back to her the dreadful evening before he had departed for the Simplon. It was the first time Vinzi had been left alone with his mother since his return. He began to pour out his heart to her and told her all about his life in Dresden. He had not written, because his father had said that it was no good. He could not relate enough of Mr. Delrick’s fatherly kindness to him in every way. Vinzi was allowed to study many things, especially music. One splendid teacher taught him to play the organ and the other gave him instructions in the laws of music. From the latter he had learned to understand these and all their marvels. This lesson had been a great joy to him and he had been impatient for it every time.
“But my organ lesson was better yet,” Vinzi added. “Oh, mother, I never realized one could look forward so much to anything. It was always like a great feast to me.”
With boundless happiness the mother looked at the radiant eyes of her boy. “And isn’t it part of your happiness, Vinzi, to live with Mr. Delrick? It must be wonderful to belong to his home and be with him so much!” she inquired.
“Yes, and not a small part of it either,” he cried out. “I am glad you know him, otherwise you could have no idea how kind, affectionate and helpful he is. Everybody in his house is good to me, too, for his sake. Mrs. Wyneken, his housekeeper, who has charge of everything, is as kind to me as if she were my grandmother. Frederick the butler, and Minnie, the maid, both wait on me and won’t let me do anything for myself. It is mostly because they all love to hear me play the organ. Mrs. Wyneken says that Mr. Delrick has grown happy again since I play it. He had lost every one in the world he loved and had been very sad. He has a little organ in a large room downstairs. Mr. Delrick asks me to play it for him every night. Sometimes we can hardly stop. Now you know what my life in Dresden is like. But I cannot say how much I look forward to my little hayloft on the mountain under the stars.”
“Vinzi,” said the mother, “do you ever thank God for all the blessings He has heaped upon you. Do you realize that it is He who has given you everything?”