Some days later the herdsman really went over with one of his boys and
found Toni still crouched in the corner just as the man had seen him. Toni
made no sound to anything the herdsman said to him, did not move and kept
staring always before him.
"He must go down," said the herdsman to his boy, "go with him right away,
but take care that nothing happens to him and be good to him; the boy is
to be pitied," and he looked at Toni with sympathy, for the herdsman had a
good heart and took delight in his own three big, healthy boys. The one he
had with him was a strong, sturdy fellow of sixteen years. He went up to
Toni and told him to stand up, but Toni did not move. Then the lad took
him under the arms, lifted him up, like a feather, then swung him on his
back, held him firmly with both hands, and went with his light burden down
the mountain.
When the Matten farmer saw Toni in such a sad condition, which remained
just the same, he was alarmed, for he had not expected such a thing. He
did not know at all what to do with the boy. His mother was far away, no
relatives were there, and he himself did not want to keep Toni while in
this condition. He could take such a responsibility, but he did not want
to do so. Suddenly a good thought came to him, the same as the people
there in every difficulty, in every need and every trouble, always have
first of all:
"Take him to the Pastor," he said to the herdsman's boy, "he will have
some good advice to give, which will help."
The lad immediately started off and went to the Pastor, who allowed the
boy to tell him as much as he knew about the details of the case, how Toni
came to be in this condition and how long it had lasted; but the lad knew
very little about it all. The Pastor first tried every means to make Toni
speak, and asked him if he would like to go to his mother, but it was all
in vain, Toni did not give the least sign of understanding or interest.
Then the pastor sat down, wrote a letter and said to the herdsman's boy:
"Go back to the Matten farm and tell the farmer to harness his little
carriage and send it to me, and then I will see that Toni goes to-day to
Bern. He is very sick; say that to the farmer."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account