"I doubt if you know her," answered Mrs. Ritter, "but Max knew the mother very well. You remember the frail linen weaver that lived near us? She was his daughter and only child, and she used to come often to the parsonage. She was a pretty girl with large brown eyes, and she could sing beautifully. Do you remember whom I mean?" Just at this moment Trina brought in a message: "Joiner Andreas begs permission to speak with Mrs. Ritter, if it will not disturb her." Quite a commotion followed this announcement. Mrs. Ritter dropped the spoon with which she was serving, and saying hastily, "Excuse me, please," left the room. Otto and Miezi immediately pushed back their chairs to go also, but Uncle Max held Miezi fast. Otto stumbled over something in his haste, and Miezi struggled hard to free herself. "Do let me go, Uncle Max! Let me go!" she cried. "Why do you want to go, Miezchen?" "To see Joiner Andreas. Let me go. Help me, papa." "Tell me why you want to see Joiner Andreas, and I will let you go." "My sheep has but two legs left and no tail, and only Joiner Andreas knows how to fix it. Now let me go." Miezi's papa and Uncle Max laughed as she ran from the room. "Who is this man that has the whole household at his command?" inquired Uncle Max. "You ought to know better than I," answered Colonel Ritter. "Very likely he is an old playmate of yours. I am sure you would enjoy knowing him. Your sister makes us all love him. He is really the corner stone of this household, without whom things generally would go to rack and ruin. It doesn't matter what happens, for 'Joiner Andreas will fix it.' In fact he is helper, adviser, comforter, and friend, all in one." "You may laugh," said Mrs. Ritter, who returned just then, "but I know that Joiner Andreas is a comfort." "So do I," said the husband, playfully. "So do I," echoed Miezi, as she seated herself at the table. "So do I," added Otto, who was rubbing the knuckles he had bruised in his hasty exit. "Then we are all agreed," said the mother. "Now I want you children to go to bed." "To which we are not all agreed," said Otto, teasingly. However, Trina came and they were obliged to go. The mother followed after a time, as was her custom, to hear the children's evening prayer and receive their last embrace for the night. This often required some time, for they were eager to tell her many things, and detained her for their own pleasure. To-night she remained until they were quiet and then returned to the gentlemen in the sitting room. "At last," said Colonel Ritter, apparently as relieved as if he had just conquered an enemy. "You see, Max, my wife's time belongs first of all to Joiner Andreas, and then to the children; if there is any left, it belongs to me."