Bad as his luck had been, he resolved not to be cast down: he was as diligent and as thrifty as ever; and he resolved, when he became Bürgermeister of Rapps, to be especially severe on sneaking thieves, who crept into houses that were left to the care of Providence and the municipal authorities. A light was everlastingly burning in his window; and the people, as they passed in the morning, said, "This man must have a good business that requires him to be up thus early;" and they who passed in the evening, said, "This man must be making a fortune, for he is busy early and late." At length Hans leaped down from his board with the work that was to complete his sum, a second time; went; returned, with the future Bürgermeister growing rapidly upon him; when, as he turned the corner of the street--men and mercies!--what a spectacle! His house was in a full burst of flame, illuminating, with a ruddy glow, half the town, and all the faces of the inhabitants, who were collected to witness the catastrophe. Money, fiddle, shop-board--all were consumed! and when poor Hans danced and capered, in the very ecstasy of his distraction--"Ay," said his neighbors, "this comes of leaving a light in an empty house. It was just the thing to happen. Why don't you get somebody to take care of things in your absence?" Hans stood corrected; for, as I have said, he was soon touched to the quick, and though in his anger he did think it rather unkind that they, who advised the light, now prophesied after the event; when that was a little abated, he thought there was reason in what they now said. So, bating not a jot of his determination to save, and to be Bürgermeister of Rapps, he took the very next house, which luckily happened to be at liberty, and he got a journeyman. For a long time, his case appeared hard and hopeless. He had to pay three hundred per cent, for the piece of a table, two stools, and a couple of hags of hay, which he had procured of a Jew, and which, with an odd pot, and a wooden spoon or two, constituted all his furniture. Then, he had two mouths to feed instead of one wages to pay; and not much more work done than he could manage himself. But still--he had dreamed; and dreams, if they are genuine, fulfill themselves. The money grew--slowly, very slowly, but still it grew; and Hans pitched upon a secure place, as he thought, to conceal it in. Alas! poor Hans! He had often in his heart grumbled at the slowness of his _Handwerks-Bursch_, or journeyman; but the fellow's eyes had been quick enough, and he proved himself a hand-work's fellow to some purpose, by clearing out Hans's hiding-place, and becoming a journeyman in earnest. The fellow was gone one morning; no great loss--but then the money was gone with him, which _was_ a terrible loss.