Early in the morning the men came and packed the stove in a big crate full of hay and took it away. When August saw them hauling it away he resolved to follow the stove as far as he could. He went to the railroad station and saw the men put the crate on the platform. Then they put it in a big box car and were making ready to start when August slipped into the car and hid himself just as the train started.
He soon found a way to get into the great stove when he curled up into a little bundle and went fast to sleep. Hirschvogel was on its way to its new master, but August was inside going along, too. What happened to him we shall see in the next story.
THE NÜRNBERG STOVE
(Adapted from Ouida)
Part Two
Adherence to worthy family traditions is an admirable virtue.
We left August fast asleep inside the precious stove. The journey was long and cold, and the train stopped and started and August was jolted about until he woke up stiff and cold and sore. He ate some cheese and bread he had in his pocket and turned over the best he could, but still he was very cramped and hungry.
At last the train stopped and August felt himself lifted out of the box car and set down on the platform. He was afraid the men would find him inside, so he kept very still, although he was so cold and hungry that he almost cried. Then a cart came along and the stove and August were lifted up and carried for miles and miles and set down in a warehouse where they stayed all night. August managed to creep out in the middle of the night and get some snow and ice to quench his thirst. Then he ate the last of his bread and cheese, went to sleep on some hay, and woke up just in time to get back into the stove and pull the wrapping in place as the men came in.
The men came in early and carried the stove in another cart somewhere, then lifted it up and took it up stairs over soft carpets, and then set it down on the floor. August kept very still for he was sure this was a very grand house, and besides that, he was very weak with cold and hunger.