"See, Father," she said. "See what Fritz's music has brought!"
Mr. Toymaker looked at the coins in Mitzi's hand. Then he looked at the happy face of the little girl. And then he turned to Fritz, who was smiling at him.
"You are a very naughty boy!" he said.
The smile left Fritz's face. Mitzi caught her father's arm.
"But, Father," she said. "You don't understand. Fritz did nothing wrong. He only played his violin when he had finished the work you gave him. He played in the town, and people threw coins because they liked his music."
| "SEE, FATHER!" |
"What?" cried Mr. Toymaker. "Do you tell me that people paid to hear a boy scratching upon a fiddle? It is not true! Fritz has stolen this money!"
| "FRITZ HAS STOLEN THE MONEY!" |
"Father!" gasped Fritz.
His face had gone white. Mitzi's eyes became two round bowls.