PAGE "FERDINAND AND LEOPOLD ... WOULD HELP WITH THE CATTLE" (_See page 100_) _Frontispiece_ ST. STEPHAN'S CHURCH 12 EMPEROR FRANZ-JOSEPH 22 "'CHEER UP, MY LAD,' SAID THE STRANGER" 29 "IT TOWERED HIGH ABOVE HER HEAD" 72 STATUE OF ANDREAS HOFER, NEAR INNSBRUCK 83 "TRAMP THUS, IN VAGABOND FASHION, OVER THE MOUNTAINS!" 111 THE ROSENGARTEN 121 Our Little Austrian Cousin CHAPTER I A VISIT TO OLD VIENNA "HURRAH!" shouted Ferdinand, as he burst into the living-room, just as his mother was having afternoon coffee. "And what makes my son so joyful?" asked Frau Müller, as she looked up at the rosy cheeks of her young son. "Hurrah, mother! Don't you know? This is the end of school." "So it is," replied the mother. "But I had other things in my head." "And, do you know," the child continued, as he drew up to the table where the hot coffee emitted refreshing odors, "you haven't told me yet where we are to go." "No, Ferdinand, we've wanted to surprise you. But help yourself to the cakes," and the mother placed a heaping dish of fancy kuchen before the lad. Ferdinand did not require a second invitation; like all normal boys, he was always hungry; but I doubt very much if he knew what real American-boy-hunger was, because the Austrian eats more frequently than we, having at least five meals a day, three of which are composed of coffee and delicious cakes, so that one seldom has time to become ravenous. "But, mother," persisted the child, his mouth half filled with kuchen, "I _wish_ I knew. Tell me when we start; will you tell me that?" "Yes," answered his mother, smiling. "To-day is Wednesday; Saturday morning we shall leave." "Oh, I just can't wait! I _wish_ I knew." "Perhaps father will tell you when he comes," suggested the mother. "Do you think you could possibly wait that long?" "I don't believe I can," answered the lad, frankly; "but I suppose I shall have to." That evening, when Herr Müller returned from his shop, Ferdinand plied him with questions in an effort to win from him, if possible, the long-withheld secret. "Well, son, there's no use trying to keep you in the dark any longer. Where do you guess we are going?" "To see Cousin Leopold in Tyrol." "Well, that's a very good guess, and not all wrong, either; but guess again." "Oh, I can't. It must be splendid, if it's better than visiting Cousin Leopold." "Well, it _is_ better," continued Herr Müller; "for not only are we going to pass a few days with your Tyrolese relations, but we are going to a farm." The boy's face fell visibly. "To a farm!" he exclaimed. "Why, Uncle Hofer has a splendid farm in Tyrol; that won't be very new to me, then."