But let us go back to Mitz and Fritz. It seems that I cannot resist telling you a few things about their country as we go along. However, I am sure Mitz and Fritz would not object to that. For all Germans want to learn, even while they play.
Mr. Toymaker tried to sell his toys in the crowded market place of Bayreuth. But he was not very successful. People were thinking only of the glorious music they had come to hear.
Visitors wandered about the town. They stood beside the grave of Wagner in the garden of his home. In this grave the musician is buried with his faithful dog.
| MARKET PLACE—BAYREUTH |
It is here that we find Mitz and Fritz and Mrs. Toymaker. Frank lay at their feet.
"Father is so disappointed," said Mrs. Toymaker. "He has sold so few toys."
"Perhaps in the next town he will sell more," said Fritz. Then he took his mother's hand. "Please," he added wistfully, "tell us something about Richard Wagner."
Mrs. Toymaker was much like Fritz and not very much like Mr. Toymaker. Somehow she forgot her worries about not selling toys when she thought of Wagner. So she smiled and told the children this story:
"When Richard was about fourteen he went to school in Dresden. But he soon became very homesick for his family, who were living in Prague (Präk). He had no money, so he and a schoolmate decided to walk to Prague.