“Vinzi, Vinzi,” the uncle called to him, “we almost thought you had run away.”
“Oh, I’ll never do that,” Vinzi assured him, panting hard. “I was sitting among the alpine-roses and entirely forgot the time.”
“I’d do just the opposite,” declared Faz. “If I had to sit up there away from everybody and with not even a cow to talk to, I’d have to think all the time, I wonder how late it is?”
“Perhaps you made some pipes?” Russli wanted to find out.
“No, Russli, I’ll make some more tomorrow,” Vinzi replied with understanding.
The father urged them to go into the house, for he longed for a little Sunday music, and first of all for supper, because the mother had refused to give them any till Vinzi should come back. They were all very hungry.
During the next few days Vinzi spent many a happy hour in his beloved rose field, which he could do with a clear conscience. Jos knew what was going on and he saw to it that Vinzi got the fine morning hours to himself. He therefore sent him up as soon as they reached the pasture, for he was dreadfully eager to learn a new song. After a few days Vinzi called his chorus together, and by this time they made such rapid progress that he had to wonder at them. All they had to do was to follow the melody the pipe was playing, which was most pleasing, besides being easy to remember. The chorus sang with great enthusiasm, for the words were easily understood and stayed in their memory without difficulty. They always hated to stop when the time came. Vinzi had only to accompany the song a few times with Jos and Vereli as leaders and all the boys on every pasture could sing it.
When they got together in the morning one would cry to the other: “Let’s sing our song,” for they fully felt that it was their very own.
When Sunday came, all the musicians proceeded up to the grandfather, who having already got wind of the affair, looked forward eagerly to their visit. The number was even larger than the first time, and the performers in their eagerness had barely reached his bench when they began their song. The volume of their voices increased till the end.
“Bravo, bravo!” exclaimed the grandfather delighted. “Once more! Once more!”