The cheerful cries of the home-coming boys could now be heard. In order to assist them the father went outside while the mother turned towards the kitchen. The time had come to put everything on the table in order to avoid impatience on their part and burnt throats.
The next day the man from Leuk returned. After putting a glass of wine before him Lorenz Lesa sat down at his side.
“What shall I tell them?” asked the man.
“Tell my cousin Vinzenz that everything here is going well,” began Lorenz, “and that his boy is very happy. He sings and whistles like a bird in seed time, and we with him.”
“And that we love him as if he were one of us,” added the wife. “We want to keep him here till the very last day of autumn.”
“Yes, and tell my cousin,” the uncle continued, “that we should like to keep him for the winter if he has no objection. He has not annoyed a soul up here, on the contrary he has made every one happy.”
“Vinzenz Lesa will be glad to hear that. I’ll carefully give him your message,” said the man. “Mrs. Lesa also wants to know how the boy is looking. She wants me to tell her exactly, but I suppose he is not to be seen.”
“No, for the boys are all on the pasture from six in the morning till six at night. They sing and whistle and could not have a better time,” said Lorenz. “My cousin will approve of that, I am sure, for he would certainly not like him to stay at home.”
“And tell Mrs. Lesa that she need not worry,” the woman went on. “Her boy looks as well and sprightly as a cricket. If he should be ill I’ll see to him as if he were my own.”
“Well, that’s splendid,” said the messenger from Leuk. He was satisfied with the news he could bring to Mrs. Lesa, for she had pressed him to inquire into the smallest details, many of which he had quite forgotten.