The Three Comrades
by
Kristina Roy
Part 1 out of 2
Produced by Joel Erickson, Martin Agren, Josephine Paolucci and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
THE THREE COMRADES
_by Kristina Roy_
of Stara Tura, Slovakia.
Translated by Charles Lukesh
First Edition, 3,000--November, 1941
THE THREE COMRADES
CHAPTER ONE
In the whole wide world there were no comrades who loved each other
better than Petrik,[1] Ondrejko,[2] and Fido. All three were orphans
and had had a hard time in the world thus far. Both parents of Petrik
had died of a malignant fever. He became a public charge and was
sent from place to place, till finally he was placed in charge of
"Bacha"[3] Filina, who was his father's uncle, and had charge of the
sheep pasturing on the mountain clearings of the estate of Lord Gemer.
There was but a poor hut, but to mistreated Petrik it was like a
paradise. Ondrejko, whom they called at home Andreas de Gemer, came
to the old "Bacha" at the order of the doctor, that he might grow
stronger in the mountain air, drinking whey and eating black bread. As
it was, Ondrejko did, and did not, have a father--at least he could
not remember him. He was but two years old when his parents separated
for ever. His mother took him with her when she left, but even then he
did not live with her. She left him with strange people whom she paid
to keep him, and went alone into the world. The people talked about
her; said that she was a famous singer, and that many went from
distant places to hear her.
[Footnote 1: Diminutive for Peter.]
[Footnote 2: Diminutive for Andreas.]
[Footnote 3: "_Bacha_"--shepherd overseer.]
Ondrejko remembered only one of her visits, and that she was very
beautiful, and brought him a box full of chocolates, a rocking-horse,
a trumpet--and who knows what more? After that he never saw her again,
and probably would never see her any more. The lady with whom he
stayed talked about a law-suit, at the conclusion of which it came
about that he belonged neither to the mother nor the father. Finally,
he came to the castle of Lord Gemer, and from there the doctor sent
him to the mountains because he was like a candle that was ready to go
out. About his father he knew only that he was somewhere far away, and
had already a second wife and two boys. It seemed to him he was as
much of an orphan as Petrik. The dog Fido didn't remember his mother
either, because he had hardly begun to run about the kennel when a
wild boar killed her. Thus it is not surprising that all three loved
each other.
For Ondrejko they built a special room beside the shepherd's hut.
There were three large sheepfolds, and "Bacha" Filina had charge
of them all. Ondrejko had in his room a real bed, and a spare one
prepared for the doctor when he came to see him; but, because he was
rather lonesome, he preferred to sleep with Petrik on the hay, and
because Fido couldn't follow them to the loft up the ladder, he at
least guarded the ladder so nothing would happen to the boys. Bacha
Filina was a large man like a giant. His face was aged and stern; all
his teeth were still perfectly white and he had not a single gray
hair; but, strangely, his eyebrows began to get gray. But, when he
creased his forehead above his eagle-like black eyes which could see
everything far and wide, it seemed as if storm-clouds were gathering.
Not only both the boys, but everybody else was afraid of these
storm-clouds, even the herdsmen and the sheep, as well as the
longhaired, fourfooted guards of the sheepfold. Bacha Filina did not
get mad easily, but when he did, it was worthwhile. Though Ondrejko
was the son of his lord, Bacha Filina didn't let him get by with
anything. The boy had not been taught to obey; however, Filina taught
him this hard lesson without scolding him or touching him with even
one finger. When the doctor brought him to the mountains he said to
Bacha, "What this boy needs is to eat black bread and drink whey. He
has been raised on fancy foods and they do not agree with him. It
would be good for him to wash in cold water, but he is afraid to get
wet. You must not worry about him being a Lord Gemer because it is a
question of his health."
"Oh, that!" said the Bacha, wrinkling his forehead, "I am able to
handle such a little brat"--and he was. The first few days Ondrejko
did not dare resist this big man in anything, and now he would not
even dream of it. The boys did not know a more noble man in the whole
world than Bacha Filina. He didn't bother much the whole day what they
did, but in the evening before the sheep were gathered, he sat with
them in God's beautiful nature before the cabin, and there they could,
even had, to tell him everything. They sat near him, one on the one
side, the other on the other, and Fido laid his great hairy head on
the knees of his master and looked on so wisely, that it seemed he,
too, would want to tell all that happened during the day. He was still
a young, lively fellow. You could see by his nose and ears he was not
trained very much; his fur was often quite tangled because he started
quarrels with the older dogs, Whitie and Playwell.
The first time Bacha found the two boys sleeping together on the hay
he frowned and they were afraid of what was going to happen--but
nothing at all happened; he only ordered Ondrejko to spread his sheet
on the hay and cover himself with a blanket; so they both covered
themselves and slept very well in the fragrant hay.
CHAPTER TWO
It was on a Sunday afternoon. The quiet of the holiday was noticeable
even on the mountains where, hand in hand, the little comrades walked.
They were nicely washed and arrayed in Sunday clothing, because Bacha
Filina would not suffer anybody to desecrate Sunday. Everyone who
could, had to go to the next town to church, though it was almost two
hours' walk. He himself seldom went; he was not able to take long
walks. Once a timber fell on his foot in the woods and from that time
on he had pains in it, but since he did not go down to church, he read
in his large old Bible. Today he had gone to church and the boys went
to meet him. They missed him very much. He ordered them to memorize
the reading of the Gospel for the day and each had to recite
separately.
Suddenly Petrik became silent; he drew his comrade aside and pointed
with a silent nod of the head toward a cut-down tree lying in the
woods. There sat Bacha Filina with his head resting in the palms of
his hands as if something were pressing him down to the black ground.
"Let us go up to the Bacha," advised Petrik; "he seems to be sad."
"Truly very sad," worried Ondrejko. "Perhaps the sadness will pass
from him when we come to him."
The crackling of dry branches under the bare feet of the boys roused
Bacha. He looked around. The children stood a short distance off.
Should they go to him--or not?
"Where are you going?" he called to them. They came running. "Only to
meet you, Bacha."
"Well, why did you come to meet me?" His usually rough voice seemed to
sound different. "We were lonesome without you," haltingly admitted
Ondrejko, and presently they sat on the moss carpet at the feet of
Bacha.
"And why, Bacha, were you sitting here so sadly?" Petrik looked
surprisedly at Ondrejko, that he dared to ask. Would not Bacha be
angry?
"Did you think that I was sad?" Bacha stroked the golden hair
surrounding the pale face of the child, which in the sunshine looked
like a halo on a saint.
"And were you not?" The blue eyes of the boy, like two lovely blue
flowers, gazed into the black eagle-like eyes of the man.
"Well, child, I was sad, and you have done well that you came to
meet me. While I rest a while, recite to me the Gospel that you have
learned."
Both boys, one after the other, recited the parable of the rich man
and Lazarus.
"May I ask you, Bacha, to tell me why the rich man did not help
Lazarus?" Petrik dared to ask.
"Why? Because his heart was like a stone. The dogs were better than
he. Remember that, children, and never do any harm to birds or
animals; they are better than we. Now let us go."
Bacha took Ondrejko by the hand and giving his book to Petrik they
walked through the woods toward home. High above them in the clearing
sounded the bells of the flock, and off and on the impatient barking
of Whitie and Playwell, and in between sounded the trumpet of the
youngest herdsman, Stephen. He played with such an ardor that it
seemed the notes were running over;
"Come, come, ye gentle sheep,
Keep out of waters deep;
Pasture on meadows green
Where grass grows sweet and clean."
How the trumpet resounded as if some one were weeping in the woods!
Even the echo seemed to answer in the same way.
The boys liked the beautiful tune. They knew the words of this song,
but Bacha bowed down his proud head as though some great burden were
pressing him down.
After they had finished their simple supper, they sat again as usual
in front of the hut, Bacha on a stump and the boys at his feet. They
were looking one at the other, wondering if they dare ask for some
story. He knew so many of them, and when he was in good humor he knew
very well how to tell good stories.
"I beg, Bacha, will you not tell us something?" Ondrejko finally
asked, and looked at the same time in such a way at Bacha that he
would have to be a very hard man to refuse.
Disturbed from his meditation, Bacha looked for a while into the
beautiful inquiring eyes, then with a deep breath he began:
"Many years ago I was a boy like you two. I'm telling you this that
you may know what you should never become, if the Lord God is not to
be very angry at you. I will tell you today something about myself
which I have not yet told anybody on earth," began Filina. He stopped
a moment and the boys waited eagerly for him to go on.
"When I was five years old my mother died. My father brought another
mother in the house. She was a young, beautiful woman, a widow. With
her came a son from her first marriage. We called him Stephen, and
when I look at you, Ondrejko, I always have him before me as he
entered our hut for the first time. On his head he had a hat with a
long band, a cloak thrown over his shoulder, an embroidered shirt, and
narrow trousers. He was like a picture of a saint--so beautiful and so
lovely.
"I was my father's youngest child. The older ones died, so I never had
a brother, and suddenly he came--and was to be my brother. You love
each other--I know. That also reminds me of my childhood. I began to
love him more than I could my own brother. We were of equal age, but
I was strong and he weak; I was wild and he tame; I was ugly and he
beautiful. In spite of this we loved each other, and our parents were
well satisfied. They could leave him under my care--because they knew
I was able to defend him--and could leave me under his care, because
when he was with me I was much more tame.
"Would that it had remained so always. But a proverb says, not in
vain, that 'Where the Devil cannot go himself he will send an old
woman.' And he sent her to us. It was your father's Aunt, your
great-aunt, Petrik. She came once to us and asked me aside if the new
mother liked me, and was sorry for me that I was a poor orphan. Said
she, 'Who has a step-mother has also a stepfather. Your father doesn't
love you as much as he does Stephen.' She didn't stay long with us.
Just as she came, so she went, but she took with her my love for
Stephen. Because I was so wild and always did something wrong, my wise
father had to punish me often; but Stephen was never punished because
he always did what was pleasing in the sight of father and mother.
From that time on I always remembered the words of the great-aunt
that I was punished and he not because they loved him, and his mother
interceded for him, and there was no one to stand by me. But my
step-mother quite often interceded for me. She was a kind woman and
never did me any harm, but I wanted her to show more love to me than
to her own boy. But that could not be. This wrong thought grew in my
heart, and my envy increased from year to year till we were about as
old as you two boys; and now comes the sad part which I never shall
forget, and that is what is pressing me to the earth unto today."
Bacha pointed over to the mountain opposite them.
"Do you see yonder mountain?" The boys nodded.
"There we used to live at the foot of the mountain. Look toward the
West, where the sun is lying down to sleep; there in the valley lived
the weavers, to whom from all our homes, the wool was carried to be
woven. Two paths led to those huts; the one up and down over the
rocks--the other through the valley, easier but more dangerous,
because there was a stretch of swamp into which, if somebody fell, he
could never get out by himself. One who knew how, could get over by
jumping from rock to rock and to clumps of grass, but it seemed as if
some black power wanted to pull one down.
"Once our parents had us carry our wool. Going, we went the upper
way, as we were told, but after we delivered the wool to the weavers,
Stephen handed me an apple, which the weaver's wife had given him,
saying he had another in his bag from his mother. Mother gave me
nothing for the journey because I didn't take leave of her, and she
didn't even see me when I grabbed my bag. And now, even the weaver's
wife had not given me anything. It made me sad. I got angry, threw the
apple away, and would rather have cried. Here was evidence, I thought,
that what the great-aunt said was true. Nobody cared for me, at home,
nor anywhere else. Everybody liked Stephen, and it always would be so.
"I used to hear some people say that the Devil is walking on the
earth, though we do not see him, and whispers to us what we should
think and do. If it is true, I don't know, but that he was with me
that time and gave me bad, gruesome advice, is sure. Only he could
have told me that. When we left the weavers, I said to Stephen,
'Going over the mountain is too far. Let us go by the lower and more
convenient path; it is nearer.'
"'But mother said we must go only over the hill,' objected Stephen,
'and father called also from the yard, 'Do not go by the lower way.'"
"Well, however it was, when we came where the paths divided we went on
the lower path anyway. I claimed that my feet hurt, I had stubbed my
big toe, and had a thorn in my heel. Stephen was sorry for me, and
thought that when we explained it to mother she would see the reason,
and father also, why we took the lower path after all.
"Truly it was fine to run there, like on carpets, till we came to the
swamp. 'You must now jump from rock to rock,' said I, and I ran ahead.
We came near the opposite side. There was only one more jump. Because
I was larger, and my feet longer I managed to jump over, but I knew
that Stephen could not jump over. There were bunches of grass and I
advised him to run over them. He listened to me, came over two or
three, but the third one began to move under him and he jumped back on
the rock.
"'Stay there,' I called to him. 'Not far from here lives the forester;
I will run for him and he will help you.' I ran as fast as I could but
not to the forester's house.
"'Petrik, do not leave me. I am afraid,' called Stephen after me, and
right after that followed a cry:
"'Mother mine!'
"Thus I have heard him day and night, as in the past years, so even
till today, and I shall perhaps in the hour of death and in the whole
of eternity. I was still a small boy, but a bad one, and at that
moment hard as a rock. 'Surely he will fall in and will drown,' I
consoled myself. 'Nobody will give him any more apples, and people
will love me and me only.' No old criminal could have felt worse than
I felt then. I began to run still faster till my legs broke down under
me and my breath failed. Yes; I ran through the woods alone, forsaken,
as once Cain did when he killed his brother and ran away from the face
of God. Suddenly a great pain gripped me that could not be expressed,
because the voice that whispered to me before, 'Drown him in that
swamp,' now whispered to me, 'You dare not go home. What will you say
when they ask you about Stephen?' Tired and hungry as I was I threw
myself on the ground and started to cry bitterly till I fell asleep.
"At day-break the drivers passed by with their wagons for lumber. They
found me and, recognizing me, laid me sleeping on a wagon and took
me as far as our hut. There they awakened me, laid me down, and
half-sleeping I didn't realize at once what had happened the day
before. I ran to the hall and opened the door.
"The rays of the rising sun struck our bedroom first--the same that
day. It lit up the bed of my father, and ..." Bacha stopped and tears
ran down his cheek.
"And what, Bacha? Oh, what, Bacha?" with bitter cries both boys
exclaimed. The tears were already running down Ondrejko's pale face.
"There on the bed in the rays of the sun like a holy picture, rested
our Stephen, sleeping. Mother sat beside the bed. There was a humming
in my ears and blackness before my eyes, and if father had not jumped
and caught me I would have fallen over. It was long before they
brought me back to consciousness."
"So he didn't drown?" both boys were astonished and rejoicing.
"Didn't he fall into that swamp?"
"He fell in it, children. Oh, he fell in, and there was no man who
could have saved him. But we had a large dog called Whitie who went
around always with us, as Fido with you. When we left home we left him
behind, but he followed us, and the Lord God Himself sent him in that
moment when the stone under Stephen gave way, and he lost his balance
and fell. Whitie caught him by the hair and dragged him to the shore,
and whined and barked till the forester came.
"He carried Stephen to the brook, washed off the mud, and revived him,
for he was almost dead, and then carried him home. I expected father
would punish me but he did not. Mother kissed me crying, and gave me
breakfast. They were afraid something had happened to me. They thought
I had been drowned because I couldn't be found anywhere. I saw clearly
that they both loved me very much, but it did not please me, I was
afraid it would become known what I had intended to do. My parents
are already in eternity, and I can not now ask them for forgiveness
because after death there is no more forgiveness.
"Stephen never let it be known that I made him go that way, and from
that time on we loved each other as from the beginning. I was no
longer jealous of the love of father and mother to him. I knew and
felt now that they loved me also, and that I didn't deserve this love.
"From that time I couldn't look at the dog Whitie. It was always
painful to me that he, a dog, saved Stephen, when I wanted to drown
him. But though he didn't drown that time the Holy God took him to
Himself. He must be angry at me, a sinner, to this day. Thus I say,
'Never do any harm to animals; they are much better than people; they
are God's creatures; they never do wrong things before God but obey
always.' And now, boys, run and go to sleep."
Though the boys had many questions on their hearts they obediently
bade him "good night" and went. For a long time, lying on the hay,
they spoke together about Stephen, how he jumped over the bunches of
grass, how the rock turned under him, how he fell, and how Whitie
saved him.
"I am very sorry for Bacha Filina," said Ondrejko. "I can never forget
it. It must pain him--could it be that God is still angry with him?"
"But where is this Stephen?" worried Petrik. "They were the same age,
so he must be just as old now. Perhaps he will tell us some other time
about him." They were stopped from further talking by Fido. Somehow he
had managed to get to them and they were rejoiced. They told him once
more about the hero Whitie and enjoined upon him to follow him. He
wagged his tail, licked their hands and faces, whining for joy as if
he were promising it all, and when the boys slept, he slept with one
eye open because he had to stand guard over his comrades.
CHAPTER THREE
The following week Bacha Filina had much work to do, so he could not
look much after the boys, though they did all they could; they obeyed
him and tried to please him in every way. On Tuesday the doctor came
to look at Ondrejko. He was told where Ondrejko slept, but he only
laughed: "Good for you, boy, that will help you; though your father is
a great lord and a proud Magyar, everything serves in its time. Thus I
trust we shall live to see that the Tatra Mountains will belong to the
Slovaks and also these woods. Because your grandfather lived there as
a great Slovak, you also as a good Slovak will be living. Just learn
the language of your father and draw near to that soil which they once
cultivated." The boys didn't grasp what he meant. They only felt that
he was their friend.
The evening came. They had to make a bed for the doctor beside
themselves on the hay. In the morning he drank the good milk and ate
the black bread with cheese. Then the boys took him as far as the "Old
Hag's Rock." On the way Ondrejko asked about his father. He learned
that he now lived in Paris and did not purpose to come that year for
the summer. The boy breathed more freely because he felt that if his
father came he would have to go to him, away from Bacha Filina and
away from Petrik. That would not please him; he did not want to go at
all. When the doctor took leave of the boys they followed him with
their eyes as long as they could see his straw hat, then they climbed
the rock to see him better, but in the meantime he had disappeared
altogether. Instead of that they saw on the other side of the "Old
Hag's Rock" a beautiful little valley, and in it a solitary house
with small windows which was made of wood and covered with shingles,
standing there by the brook. It looked like a fairy-story house set
among the springs coming out from the rocks. The herder Steve had told
the boys several times about witches who lived in solitary huts, and
it seemed to them that one of them might be living there. A large
white dog sunned himself in front of the hut. If Fido had been with
them, he surely would have started a fight with him. As the boys were
looking at the cottage the door opened, but no old woman came out,
only a boy who was a little larger than themselves, in a cape and
belt, sandals, and with a hat on his head. The dog jumped up, wagged
his broad tail, and stretched himself, yawned and barked happily. The
boy stroked him on the head and smiled at him, then both began to walk
up toward the great rock.
The dog spied our comrades first and stopped. They could see he was
not as young as Fido, but that he was wise and did not bark uselessly
at anybody, so they knew that he must be friendly to people. Soon the
boys stood face to face, and the strange boy, whose dress indicated
that he was not from that section, greeted them in a friendly manner.
He asked them what they were doing and where they were from. They told
him that they had accompanied the doctor that far. Ondrejko dared to
ask him if he lived in that little house.
"The hut belongs to us, but I am from Trenchin. I came only a week ago
with my father. A distant uncle of my mother died, and because there
is no nearer relative my mother inherited this hut. Father wants to
sell it, but a nice bit of woods with fine timber belongs to the hut,
which we could use very well in our business. Therefore we shall stay
here for some time, cut the wood and take it along."
"And the dog is yours?"
"Yes, it is our Dunaj. He did not want to stay at home; we had to take
him along, though we had to pay for him on the railroad."
"Surely you didn't have him along in the carriage?" ventured Ondrejko.
"Oh, no; and he did not like where they locked him up, at all. He
almost knocked me down when he regained his freedom. Isn't that so,
Dunaj?" The dog whined and cuddled down at his master's feet.
"We too have a dog which is still young, but he also will be big when
he grows up," Ondrejko said, appraisingly.
"And where are you going?"
"Only up here on the rock to see what is behind it. In our country we
also have a large rock, but much higher and broader, and when you look
down from it it seems as if you look down into Sunshine Valley, as the
story goes. And after the storm a rainbow appears, like Heaven's gate
which appeared once to Jacob in a dream. Once upon a time I believed
that Heaven's gate was only there, but today I know that Heaven is
everywhere open that the Lord Jesus might come to us where and when He
wants to. Do you know Him too?"
"Who?" wondered the boys.
"The Son of God, the Lord Jesus. But I see already that you do not
know Him, and He surely sent me to you, so that I could tell you all
that I know. Do you have time?"
"We can spend about an hour," said Petrik, who felt the new stranger
was very friendly and he would like to have him for a comrade.
"Let us then sit down here on the rock, and I will tell you how it was
that I came to the Sunshine Valley the first time, and what kind of
book I found there. I have it even here with me because I could not
be without it. But tell me first your name. I am called Palko, though
they once baptized me in the name of Nicholas. But this is a long
story."
"My name is Petrik, and he is called Ondrejko. At home they call him
Andreas de Gemer in the Magyar tongue, but Bacha Filina says, 'Why
should we break our tongues with foreign names?' Anyhow, Ondrejko is
much nicer," zealously spoke Petrik.
"That is a nice name. It was the name of one of the disciples of the
Lord Jesus who brought to Him the boy with the loaves and fishes. I
have it beautifully written in this book."
In the meantime the boys climbed the rock, sat down, and the new
comrade drew out a book carefully wrapped up in paper and began to
tell them the beautiful things about it. If one would want to repeat
them it would take a whole book.[A]
[Footnote A: See first part of "Sunshine Country."]
Among other things, he told them that whosoever takes this book into
his hands dare not read it otherwise than word for word, from the
beginning to the end, because only in this way will he get to know
the Way which leads to the true Sunshine Country, where, through the
Heaven's gates, the Lord Jesus went to prepare a place for all those
who obediently went that way.
The boys would not have tired listening till the evening, but suddenly
Fido came, and as if he knew that with such a dog as Dunaj he mustn't
start a fight, just licked his comrades and was friendly to the
stranger. His arrival reminded the boys of Bacha, and what he would
say if they stayed too long. They rose, and Palko promised to
accompany them that they might show him where their hut was standing,
and when he had time he would come to visit them.
He ran down to close his house and they had to wait a while. When he
returned he carried a large piece of bread which he divided equally
into five parts, and then they followed the narrow path over the
meadows to the sheepcotes.
The newcomer told them many things on the way. They could hardly part
from him.
When Bacha came to supper they endeavored to out-do one another in
telling him about it. He listened intently, and said he would be glad
when the strange boy, who it seemed was very decent, would visit them.
They all hoped that he would come the next Sunday.
CHAPTER FOUR
It is a true saying that, "People keep with people, and mountains
with mountains." How one person gets used to another you can scarcely
believe until you have seen it yourself. What is it that draws one
to another? Long lived our three comrades with Bacha Filina without
Palko, and nothing was lacking, but now if a day passed without seeing
him it seemed as if they could not stand it. Though it may seem
strange, Bacha Filina would have missed him most. Wherever he went,
whatever he did, he always had in mind the moment when the bushes
parted on that beautiful Sunday afternoon, and, like a picture in a
frame, stood the strange boy so clean and neat with his cape over his
shoulder, small hat in his hand, resting his hand on a shaggy white
dog. It would truly be a fine picture for a painter to paint in those
wide mountains, if he could but make it so true to nature--you could
not look at him enough. And he remembered again how Palko sat with
them in front of the hut with the Holy Book in his hand, reading word
for word, chapter for chapter. Such beautiful and good things. So must
Jesus have looked when He sat amongst the Jewish teachers. Oh, how did
he understand the Word of God! No sermon had moved old Bacha as did
the talks of Palko the boy, though he had heard many in his life.
Bacha had a whole Bible which he read sometimes on Sunday. He had also
a big book with sermons, but since the time that Palko Lesina came
every evening to them it was as if a veil had been removed from the
man's eyes. The Bible became to him the living Word of God.
"The Lord Jesus used to walk by the Sea of Gennesaret," said the boy
seriously. "Now He walks through these mountains of yours. Sometimes
He passed through our mountains to seek us, and now He seeks you."
* * * * *
Again it was Sunday. Filina got the boys ready to go to church, but he
himself remained in front of his hut. Fido who was not permitted to
run with the comrades, lay at his feet. Suddenly he pricked up his
ears, jumped up, and like an arrow flew into the nearby thicket. Bacha
paid no attention. He sat with his head bowed down. He did not even
hear someone speak to the dog, nor hear any greeting; he did not
arouse himself till he heard close to him the pleasant young voice
which he loved so much.
"Good morning, Uncle Filina. Why are you so sad and so lonely? Where
is everybody?"
"Welcome, Palko," gladly replied the man. He held out his brown hand
to the boy. "If I had known you would come, I would not have sent the
boys to the church. Everywhere is the house of God. And I suppose you
are bringing the Bible, about which you spoke yesterday?"
"Yes, I do. My father went away for a few days. He asks you kindly if
you will let me stay with your boys that I may not have to stay alone
in the hut. Will you take me?"
The beautiful eyes of the boy gazed longingly on the face of the man.
"Why, surely. We will be only too glad if you stay with us," answered
Bacha. "But why did your father go home?"
"He went with some wood. He could not take it all at once. The balance
we shall put on a float, and so carry it to our destination. Thus I
could bring the Bible to show it to you."
"Is that the one from Pastor Malina?"
"Yes, Uncle, and I esteem it very much. There are many notes in Latin
which I do not understand, and also some in Slovak. When I look at the
writing I see the pastor in front of me. I would like to show you what
he wrote the last Sunday when he became so seriously ill. Do you have
time for it, Uncle?"
"Oh, yes, my son; it is Sunday. Just read on."
"You will understand it better than I because you are older. There
is something very good: 'I have missed very much; my whole life is
wasted,' began the boy, and his voice sounded so solemn, almost as
if he were reading the Word of God. 'Even though I would, I cannot
improve anything. It is too late; it is too late! Souls passed into
eternity--it may be I did not bring salvation to them. They never come
back that I may ask them forgiveness and love them. Oh, how glorious
are the words, 'By grace ye are saved ... it is the gift of God.' In
this holy gift I take my refuge, my holy God and Saviour. I know that
You have pardoned me and have even taken the punishment that I merited
on Yourself. I cling to Thy cross; I fall at Thy wounded feet, and
thank Thee--Oh, so thank Thee; yes, I will praise eternally Thy holy
name, O Jesus!'" read Palko.
"Thus believed Pastor Malina ..." but the boy stopped because the
Bacha sat with his head bowed down, and cried aloud.
"'Even if I would, I couldn't make anything good. It is too late. The
souls went on to accuse me,'" he repeated in his crying. "That is what
is pressing _me_ down to the ground, and all my good life since that
time doesn't help anything ..."
The boy rested his curly head in the palms of his small hands.
"Uncle, will you not tell me what is worrying you so much? It could
not be the sin that you wanted to drown your Stephen, as Petrik told
me?"
"Stephen didn't drown. I, when something is pressing me, confess it
and feel easier at once."
"The Apostle James says, 'Confess your sins one to another.' It is
true I am only a boy, but I know already how the soul and the heart
ache--and there is no comforter. But the Lord Jesus will grant it to
me that I may be able to understand and to help you."
The man looked at the boy. He stroked his whiskers. "If I have to tell
somebody about it as I have wished for years, it will suit me best to
tell it to you. The Lord God gave you more wisdom than me, an old man,
just as Samuel the boy had more than the old priest Eli."
Bacha strode over to his stump where he usually sat. Palko lay beside
him on the grass. He drew the Bible near him, and laid his hand on the
head of Fido who cuddled close beside. Thus he waited patiently.
"Since Petrik told you what kind of a boy I was, I do not have to
retell it again," began the man presently. His whole appearance did
not fit into that beautiful Sunday morning.
"Thus we both grew up, and I can say with a good conscience that
Stephen and I loved each other very much. I could never forget that he
did not tell our parents how I forsook him in his plight. He convinced
me that our parents loved us both. All was well now and might have
remained so always, had not mother after her sister's death brought to
us her niece, Eva. She was a small beautiful girl. From the beginning
she seemed to be afraid of me, but with Stephen she was at once,
friendly, until I once saved him from vicious dogs. From that time she
clung always to me. Thus it was as we grew up together, and after we
were grown up. You cannot understand more now, therefore I can only
tell you this much. When we became young men, there was no more
beautiful girl to us in the whole wide world. It seemed to me that her
black eyes shone brighter than all the stars, and that such lilies
and roses as were on her face did not bloom on any bush. At that time
there was a large immigration to America. Many times I wondered how
people, just for the sake of mammon, could go so far into the world
when in spite of our poverty it was so beautiful and lovely here. To
me, the woods and meadows were like a paradise and in my heart all was
song--like the heavens; but there is no paradise upon this earth and
the heavens are too high. Once when I returned from work--it was
already evening--mother and father sat in front of the house in
consultation about us children, as they often did. I did not want to
disturb them, therefore I sat down not very far away and listened."
"Do you think, then," said mother, "that one of the children will have
to go to America?"
"You see, my wife, there the people achieve something quicker than we
do here. We suffer bravely and yet barely live," sighed father. He was
a good man but already worn out by hard labor.
"'And which one do you think should?' mother asked with a sigh.
"'That we will leave for them to decide. I think thus: Let one stay at
home and take Eva for his wife, so you have some help. Let the other
one go to America for a few years, and after he has made some money
and God granting that he will return safely, then they may live
together. I would not like that after our death they should be
separated. It is well for them to be together.'
"I noticed how mother gave a sigh of relief, but to me it seemed as if
someone stuck a dagger into me. They surely expected me to go. Stephen
would remain at home and take Eva. That night I did not sleep at home.
A similar trouble overtook me as in my childhood, only stronger and
much more terrible. Where I gathered strength to return in the morning
I do not know. Eva ran to meet me, and as soon as I saw her I told
myself that verily, I would never go to America, and Eva must never
belong to anyone else but to me. Since that hour I could hardly give a
kind look to Stephen though he gave me no reason for anger.
"We had a meadow beyond the swamp. There I went with Eva the next day
to turn over the cut grass, and I asked her to be mine. I did not have
much luck at first, but since I pleaded so much and promised so much,
she finally promised that she would not take anyone else.
"After the affair was settled, Eva bound up a bundle of grass, and
looking around I noticed Stephen departing along the pathway. He had
heard us without us noticing him.
"The following week we had some work in the city and Stephen said that
he would go. Mother tried to prevent him. She had rather I should go
because Stephen did not look very well. Really he looked thin and
pale, as if after a serious illness or before one. But I insisted that
I would not go this time, and father agreed. He had some work for me.
"'Come with me part of the way,' said Stephen the following day, after
he had taken leave of our parents and Eva. So I went. We took the
steep path to the cross above, on top of the hill. There he stopped.
We looked at each other.
"'Mother told me what plans father had for us. One of us must go to
America,' he began. 'It cannot be you. I saw you and Eva not long ago
on the meadow. Father wants one of us to take Eva. Now that she is
yours what should I do here any longer? Once before in childhood I was
in your way, so that you wanted to get rid of me in that black watery
grave. The second time I shall not stand in your way. It would be
difficult for mother to part with me. You must realize that, because
she has only me. So I want to spare her the leave-taking, but I want
to tell the truth to you that you may be satisfied and not begrudge me
anything more. I am really leaving everything to you: parents, home,
and Eva too. She cannot belong to both. Those were hard moments for
me on yonder meadow. If you had to bear what I went through in those
moments you could not stand it. Thus it is good that she chose you. To
me it was as if I was drowning again, only the swamp into which you
threw me this time was much deeper than the one before. Mother said I
seem to be ill. Here I shall never get well--over there far away, I
can recover sooner. I give you my hand in parting, and you give me
yours without any bitterness. Let us part like brothers.'
"I clasped his hand silently. He took his things, then ran down along
the path into the thicket. Bending over beside the cross I tried to
see him once more--and I did. He lifted his beautiful face marked with
deep sorrow toward the valley where he could see our hut for the last
time. Suddenly tears gushed from his eyes. I wanted to make a step
forward, wanted to call him back, to leave everything to him, and I go
to America. But there was no strength in me. So I let him go for ever.
We never saw him again."
Bacha cried aloud again, and Palko with him.
"Uncle, tell me all, to the end," he begged after a while. "Then what
about his poor mother? How did you tell her about it?"
"I didn't have to tell her, my boy," said Filina as he calmed down.
"He took care of all that. Mother had a distant relative who came
to us the third day and brought everything that Stephen should have
brought from the city; also a letter from him, wherein he begged our
parents not to be angry with him because he was thus leaving for
America. In that letter he again made no mention that it was I who
drowned him in the depths of sorrow. It was a very beautiful letter.
We treasured it as a keepsake, and when mother was dying the poor dear
asked me to have it placed in her coffin. I endeavored to make good to
her the son she lost. After father passed away, mother blessed me many
times for the good care she enjoyed, but it did not bring peace to my
heart.
"The distant relative who brought to us Stephen's letter intended
to go to America himself. He had already bought the ticket, when
circumstances hindered him from going. He complained to Stephen that
he could not go, and Stephen asked him to sell the ticket to him. He
borrowed some money from him on his part of the inheritance. This we
had to repay later, because that ship never reached its goal. It sank
in a storm. Thus you see, Palko, that after all, I had drowned my
brother. If he had not run away from my presence he might have found
another girl and could have lived till today. Thus he died, and his
death accuses me before God's face for my selfishness. Verily, God's
punishment came upon me soon. I enjoyed my happiness but a short time.
From the time that the message reached us about the sinking of the
ship, Eva just pined away, and after the death of our son, she died.
In her fever, not knowing what she said, she told how she loved
Stephen, and I realized that her longing for him made her perish by my
side. Well, now they are both gone and I only am here--all alone."
"And your son, where is he?"
"Him also the good Lord took. When his mother died there was no one
who could give him the necessary care. He took cold, and in three days
he was also with God. Now I have told you everything, my boy. I have
confided all to you, but you do not understand."
"Do not think that I do not understand, Uncle. I know that your heart
is sad because of the injustice Stephen suffered because of your envy.
I know that you have sinned grievously. Why could you not like
the priest, Malina, grasp the cross and the feet of Christ? You
understand, in the Spirit, by faith, and receive the gift of
God--salvation. There further is this quotation: 'Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief,' and here again
it is written, 'It seems to me I am the one, the most sinful of the
sinners, but I believe, I believe, O Lamb of God, that Thou hast died
for me also, and I am casting my heart at the foot of Thy cross, that
Thy blood pouring over me may cleanse it also.'"
"I see there are very good things written there, Palko. Leave this
book with me for some time that I may be able to read it at leisure,
and see if also on me the Son of God will have mercy and forgive my
grievous sins. Now continue to read where we left off last time."
"Now I will also bring the song-book and we shall have a song. This
will be our Sunday worship." Bacha brought the book and they had a
lovely time in worshiping God. Christ came to them through His Spirit
and made the Word of God living, to the young soul who walked with Him
continually like Enoch, and also to the one who could say, "I have
gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant" (Ps. 119: 176).
CHAPTER FIVE
Verily, verily, this quotation is true, "Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews
13:2). Bacha Filina and those in his household proved it. It was just
as if God's blessing had moved to them with Palko Lesina. They all
had success in everything they undertook. The boy was ready to help
everywhere, and set the house in such order as it never had been
before.
"You see, the Lord Jesus lives here," Palko explained sweetly. "He is
here, and we don't know when He comes and where He would like to sit
down. We would not have any place to receive Him."
Stephen taught him how to play the shepherd's horn and he played on
it beautiful Christian songs, so that the mountains fairly resounded.
When he played tag or blind man's buff with the boys he was the
most joyful of them. But as soon as he was invited to read from his
precious Book, he obeyed at once and sat among them, as once his Lord
did among learned old men in Jerusalem. On Petrik especially he had a
good influence. Petrik was often self-willed and disobedient, so that
Bacha had to punish him.
"Why should you make Uncle Filina cross? Just tell it to the Lord
Jesus when the Devil is tempting you, and He will deliver you, He will
help you," advised Palko.
Ondrejko became more quiet and thoughtful. He liked the talks with
Palko very much. He believed everything, even that the Lord Jesus is
constantly present. Therefore it is necessary to be always washed and
clean and dressed decently, and also that it is necessary to give
one's heart to the Lord Jesus when He wants it, and that He takes the
heart and cleanses it. Before Palko realized it, the Lord Jesus had
one servant more. And thus His Holy Word was fulfilled; "I thank Thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes"
(Matt. 11:25). No one can find out how it happens; it passes human
understanding, how the caterpillar in the dried-up cocoon takes a new
life with the arrival of Spring. Before they reached that part in
that precious Book where it begins to tell of the sufferings of and,
finally, the death of the Lord Jesus, Ondrejko felt in his heart that
all happened for him also. He could not quite explain it, and no one
expected him to, but he knew it in his heart.
Once, when he went with Palko to his hut, he prayed that the Lord
Jesus would forgive him everything and asked Him to come into his
heart. Ondrejko thereupon believed without fail that it happened,
because it is still true today, "If thou shalt believe, thou shalt see
the glory of God." Therefore what he believed, he also had. Ondrejko
de Gemer already had suffered much on this earth. He suffered many
heart-aches for the want of a father or mother. Many nights he cried
about it when no one heard him. Very few realize how much pain a
little child may suffer from sorrow and hopelessness from lack of
love. Before Ondrejko came to Filina he often used to wonder what
would become of him, since he had nobody, although both of his parents
were living. Would he always have to live with strange people? A book
could be written of the thoughts of that forsaken little soul while
he was building castles and bridges, and when people thought he was
deeply interested in his play. Fortunately Palko Lesina arrived,
and through his daily talk made it plain to his little comrade that
Someone good and beautiful lives, and that this beautiful and good
One also loved him, little forsaken Ondrejko de Gemer, whom even his
father did not love, and He wanted to live with him always, that
Ondrejko need not feel forsaken anymore. Now he had Someone to bring
his complaints to, and he could confide everything to Him, yea,
everything. How beautiful that was! Yes, verily, the Lord Jesus now
had one servant more.
Even the herdsmen sighed to Bacha, "How shall we ever get along
without Palko Lesina? Ever since the boy has been with us, it seems
that the sunrise looks more beautiful and the dew is richer on the
ground."
"He is a blessed boy," admitted Filina with a sigh. Oh, how very much
he needed this boy! Therefore when, instead of Lesina, a letter came,
he was much relieved. Lesina wrote that he would not be able to come
back till six weeks later, and asked Bacha to keep Palko with him in
the meantime, that he would be useful in every way. He didn't want to
let the boy come home alone because it was so far, and he was his only
child. When that letter came, the boys jumped for joy, and Fido helped
them, but the greatest joy after all was that of Filina himself.
In the evening of that day, while they were sitting before the hut and
Palko was blowing on the horn, suddenly Dr. H. stood before them. With
evident pleasure he noticed the strange boy. Fido wagged his bushy
tail in a friendly manner because more than once he had received a
good bacon-rind from this kind gentleman. Dunaj, stretched out by the
feet of his master, lifted his head also, but made no sound. He knew
already whom to let alone and whom not. Formerly he would have jumped
up and barked, and tested the long coat of the doctor to see if it was
made of good material or not. Today, he would rather snap at a fly
which paid with her life for daring to buzz around his nose. Well, the
dogs did not give it away and the people did not notice that they had
a listener, neither then nor even after Palko began to read in his
Book, where there was written about the great man who was the captain
of the taxgatherers, who had great riches and many friends, but did
not have peace or happiness in his heart because he did not know the
Lord Jesus. Palko read how the Lord Jesus spoke to him while he sat in
the sycamore tree and invited Himself as his guest.
"Uncle Filina," suddenly Palko interrupted, when he came to the words
of the Lord, 'The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was
lost'--"If you simply do just like Zaccheus; and say to the Lord
Jesus, 'This day is salvation come to this house,' that would be
first, the house of your heart and then the whole hut. Uncle, I beg of
you, receive Him today. Zaccheus received Him at once with joy, and
how much greater joy did he find afterward when the Lord Jesus forgave
him all his sins."
Surprised, the doctor looked at the strange boy and also at Bacha who
arose and without a word entered the hut. Then Petrik noticed the
guest; both the boys ran to welcome him and each one wanted to be the
first to tell him who Palko was and what he was doing among them. The
Doctor liked Palko, like everyone else who came in contact with him.
Then the boys found out why the doctor had come that day. He wanted to
find a cottage near the hut where he could place one of his patients
for a week, whom only quietness and air and sun could heal.
"Palko, do you hear?" whispered Petrik, but so loud that all could
hear him. "That cottage of yours is empty, your father will not come
for six weeks, and you could live here with us; that would be a good
place for the lady."
"What did you say, boy?" asked the doctor.
Ondrejko began to explain that Lesina had a cottage at the very foot
of the "Old Hag's Rock," where the path led to town, and that at the
present it was empty.
"Do you think, Palko," asked the doctor, "that your father would agree
to lend us the cabin, if it would suit us?"
"Why would he not agree?" said the boy with shining eyes. "Does not
the Lord Jesus say, 'I was sick, and ye visited Me?' If the cabin
suits you I will give you the key. Just let the sick one come."
It was too late in the evening to go to see the place; so the boys
prepared to go with the doctor early in the morning to the cottage.
This time the doctor did not sleep with the boys in the hayloft,
because he spoke a long time with Filina. When Filina went to look at
the boys, as it was his custom to do every evening, he stood above
them a long time in deep thought, then he carefully covered Ondrejko,
and sadly stroked his forehead, gently, as if he was very sorry for
the boy. But why? Did he not look very lovely, somewhat browned from
the sun, with beautiful roses on his velvet-like cheeks, and his small
mouth as red as a poppy-flower. It was plainly noticeable how the
mountain air and plain food were strengthening and healing him. His
face also betrayed his inner happiness which the Lord Jesus had put in
his heart. Why then was Bacha sorry for him?
During the night, a thunderstorm of short duration passed over the
mountain. The spring morning broke very beautifully, as it can only
after a storm. On the grass hung large pearls, and the leaves of the
trees were full of diamonds as the sun shone on them. Everything sang
praises to the Creator--every bird, every insect, and fly. The vapor
rose like the smoke from a great sacrifice. No wonder then that Palko,
leading their expedition, began to sing. Petrik gave a sigh, glanced
at the doctor, thinking, "What will he say to that?" Ondrejko joyfully
joined him, with his clear voice ringing like a golden bell. And thus
it sounded over the mountains:
"Let us give thanks to God our heavenly King;
To Him who loved and kept us, let us sing.
To Him be given honor, glory, praise;
To God, Eternal, let our voices raise.
We pray, 'Be constantly with us this day
And guard us from all evil by the way,
That we may to Thy glory ever live,
And blessings to our neighbors ever give;
And when at last we reach the glory shore
We know that we shall praise Thee evermore.'"
The doctor knew that song. He had learned it in his childhood. It made
him add his own voice to those clear notes of the children. It may
seem strange, but it is true, that nothing will refresh the mind like
such an early morning song, sung whole-heartedly on such a beautiful
morning, when all nature is joining in praises to the Creator, and at
every step man feels His holy, pure, and shining nearness.
"Listen, Palko," the doctor said after a moment's silence when the
song was finished; "do you understand what we have sung?"
"That song?" wondered the boy; "Isn't every word quite clear?"
"Do you think so? Then you explain it to us," smiled the doctor
good-humoredly.
"Explain it? Why, we know well what the good Lord sent us during the
past night, and we can walk sound and refreshed through this world,
and that He is our King. We also know that He is the everlasting God."
"Well, that is so, but little children know that much. Go on."
"The third verse I like very much. He is already on the earth, always
present with us, even now He goes with us, and so will protect us from
evil all day long. I am very glad to see at least a small piece of His
garment."
"Where do you see it?" asked Ondrejko.
"Just look how the rays of the sun shine around us. On every drop of
dew you see a piece of the rainbow. That is the hem of His garment,
and in that soft breeze, His Spirit is touching us. He is very near
to us. Verily, He is a good Father. We cannot see Him just because we
could not bear the full glory. What a man was Daniel! Yet he almost
died when he saw Him. But also this verse is beautiful, 'That we may
to Thy glory ever live.'"
"And how do you do that, you little doctor of theology?" said the
doctor.
"I think," said Palko, "that just what we do today is pleasing to
the Lord Jesus; we are going to look for a place for one of His sick
sheep, and if you should like the cottage we will gladly take care of
the necessary wood and flowers. It is clean already, even the windows
are washed."
"You little wise man, and lo, surely there is that cabin of yours."
"Yes, yes," cried the boys. And Dunaj, as if he would confirm it, ran
directly to the door.
"Listen, boy, that cottage of yours is just as if it had been built
for that patient of mine," admitted Dr. H., after he had looked the
cottage over inside and out. "I shall have some furniture brought
here, carpets shall cover the floor, that it be not cold, and your
bed and table we will put in the kitchen, that will be for her nurse.
Though the windows are small there are three of them, so there will
be plenty of sun all day long. And what surroundings! This beautiful
valley with the background of green woods and high mountains! The
spring is close to the house, and, too bad there is no bench beside
it!"
The three boys cried, "We shall ask Bacha, and he will send Stephen."
"He can make a very beautiful bench," said Ondrejko. "We can go and
watch the sheep for him in the meantime."
The doctor stroked the boy's golden hair. "I would like to see you
turn in the sheep."
"But he would not have to do that," remarked Palko; "for that purpose
we have Whitie and Playwell. They are very wise dogs."
"Well, now; we shall see what can be done. But the bench must be put
here. I would like to taste that water."
Palko ran for the flowered pitcher and a cup. They all drank their
fill. The water was excellent. Then they sat beside the brook, and the
doctor pulled cheese and bread out of his pocket. Each of the boys
had his own bread--and quite a big piece at that. When Bacha cut the
bread, he counted also on the appetites of Dunaj and Fido. The doctor
divided the cheese. They ate the cheese and bread, and drank water. It
tasted good to all of them.
Dunaj did not move his eyes from Palko, who shared with him
faithfully. Greedy Fido ran from one comrade to the other and even sat
down in front of the doctor, and not in vain. But when he came near
Palko, Dunaj growled at him, which certainly in a dog's language
meant, "Are you not ashamed?" So Fido did not try it a second time.
The doctor saw how the children enjoyed their food and noticed that
Ondrejko also ate with a good appetite. He suddenly began to say,
"Palko, you said that you would carry wood to the cottage. That will
not be necessary. I will have a cord of wood brought and cut, but if
you would take care of bringing the flowers that would be very good.
The lady is to drink whey. As long as she is weak you could also bring
that to her every morning. As soon as she is strong enough she will
have to go to the sheepfold herself, and ask for it at the hut. Now,
what do you say? Will you help me so that she will get better soon?"
They all heartily agreed that they would do it.
"I will tell you what is the matter with her. For a long time she made
day out of night, but she could not change the day into night. Thus
she lacked many nights' rest. Now she would like to sleep, but she
cannot! She is a sad, unhappy person, and has lived to see much
sorrow. It will be well if you help me to cheer her up; then she will
recover sooner."
"And does the lady understand Slovak?" fearlessly asked Palko. The
doctor smote his forehead.
"You are a wise little fellow, boy. I didn't think of that. But wait!
I overheard when she bought oranges, she spoke in Czech. Then you will
be able to understand each other. Do you want to help me, boys?"
"We would like to very much," said Ondrejko.
"If Bacha will permit us," added Petrik. Palko thought that nothing
would hinder him as long as he was there.
In good spirits the boys returned to the sheepcote. The doctor left
them at the "Old Hag's Rock." They took from him a closely-written
note for Bacha Filina, who readily enough agreed to everything. He
even sent Stephen to build the bench, and also gave permission to the
boys to carry whey and flowers to the sick lady.
CHAPTER SIX
Again it was Sunday. That day no one from the hut went to church. Very
early in the morning they read a part of the Word of God, sang a song,
prayed, and everybody went his way. Filina had an invitation from the
manager of the Gemer estate. He had to go to the castle, and the boys
said they would go to Palko's cottage, not to enter, because the
doctor had the key, but to see if the wood had been already brought
and where the draymen had stacked it. But who can describe their
surprise when they reached the cottage. They saw all the windows open
and on the kitchen-table sat a large white cat. The fur around her
head looked like a cap. Her eyes were blue and round like those of an
owl. Her long broad tail hung out of the window. Around her neck she
had a band decorated with small pearls, and a small gilt bell was
hanging from it. When they saw her they were glad they had not brought
the dogs along. Fido went with his master and Dunaj was somewhere
roaming in the woods.
"Someone must live here already," remarked the surprised Ondrejko.
"Really, so it is. The cat would not be sitting there by herself,"
added Palko. They walked carefully around the cottage. In the yard
they found the wood already cut and stacked. Then they took counsel
together. If the ladies had already come, they must find flowers for
them. The boys calculated that by the time they would return, the new
inhabitants of the cottage would be up.
When they returned, in about an hour, each one had a large bouquet of
flowers and foliage. Palko arranged them for all three. He was already
a master in that work. Ondrejko carried his bouquet before him with
both hands, so that he could hardly see the path in front. Petrik
carried his bouquet over his shoulder. He was the first to notice that
the door was open and smoke was coming from the chimney.
The next moment an elderly lady with a black dress and white cap
stepped into the doorway. Her otherwise good-looking face bore
evidence of much care, and she looked distressed, seeming to say,
"What shall I do now?"
"She certainly needs something," said Palko, as the boys ran toward
the cottage.
To their greeting, the lady answered in the Czech language. Her kind
face brightened as she looked at the boys and their large bouquets.
"Are you the nurse of the sick lady?" Palko began. "We promised the
doctor that we would bring flowers, so we have brought them now. They
are wilted, but if you put them in the brook they will freshen up."
"Thank you very kindly. My lady will be glad."
Taking the flowers from the boys, the lady placed their ends in the
brook.
"Since you are not familiar here, perhaps you will need something that
you cannot find in the woods," Palko said thoughtfully. "We shall be
glad to serve you; just let us know."
"I shall be very thankful, boys, if you will help me. We have brought
everything except salt and bread, which we do not have, because the
bag in which the eatables were, must have been left in the coach. We
came late last night instead of this morning, so the doctor did not
accompany us, and my surroundings are still strange."
"We will bring some salt and bread. Our hut is near by," Petrik cried
zealously. "Also the whey will be ready. Come on, Ondrejko."
"Are they to bring us milk and bread from the hut?" inquired the lady.
"That will be from us," Ondrejko assured her. "But we have to go at
once so that we can return soon."
"I will stay with you," decided Palko, "because the cottage belongs
to my father. Although you may be used to having things arranged
differently, I may be able to show you where you can put one thing and
another."
"So this is your cottage? Then you can advise me where to put
everything that we have brought along. What shall we call you?"
"Palko Lesina. The other boy is Petrik Filina, and the third one is
Ondrejko de Gemer."
"What is his name?" asked the lady, startled.
"De Gemer. The sheepfolds belong to his father. The doctor sent
Ondrejko to Bacha Filina because he was weak. Here he thrives well.
From the time that he has lived as we live and not like a gentleman,
he has been getting well and strong. And how about your lady; could
she sleep last night?"
"Oh, my poor lady!" sobbed the elderly woman. "If she only knew. I
don't know whether she slept in the night, but now she sleeps as she
has not slept for a long time. Come, Palko, enter softly."
It was good that there was a hall between the bedroom and the kitchen,
for thus the sleeper was not disturbed. Palko proved to be a very good
helper. From the kitchen which looked like a county fair, they carried
away trunks, bags, coverings, raincoats, and towels, into the clean
storage room, which the lady had not yet discovered. Some things they
laid on the shelves which Lesina had already put up, and others were
hung on nails on the wall. One of the trunks, the lady emptied. In it
were the china and all the kitchen utensils. These Palko carried at
once to the new kitchen cupboard. Some things he hung up near the
stove. One of the table-cloths he spread over the table. After he had
found the broom which his father had made from the branches that he
had cut and brought, he swept the kitchen, for with the carrying in of
so many things, much dirt had accumulated. He ran with the pitcher for
water, and placing one of the bouquets in it, set it on the covered
table. Just as he had finished, his comrades came running, hot and
perspiring. Ondrejko carried the crock with a narrow neck, completely
covered with braided straw, and the covered can of milk. Petrik
carried quite a heavy bundle on his back.
When the nurse returned from the storeroom she could hardly believe
her eyes. On the table on a wooden plate lay the black-bread, salt was
in a new wooden bowl, cheese in a dish, on a plate there was fresh
golden butter, and in a can, milk. The fire that had gone out in the
kitchen stove, was burning brightly now. The boys sat on the bench by
the window, Palko standing in front of them.
"Are you already here, my children?" asked the nurse; "and what have
you brought?"
"Bread and salt, as you have asked. The whey is in the crock. The milk
we brought for you, because you are not sick," explained Petrik.
Ondrejko added, "It may be that your lady will not want to drink the
whey today, and that you will make coffee instead, for yourself."
"For you," Petrik added, "there is also butter and cheese. Palko is
able to do this because some day all this around here will be his."
The boys were surprised when the eyes of the nurse suddenly filled
with tears. She wiped them off and kissed the small messengers.
"You are right, Ondrejko, today I will fix coffee, and you all will
take breakfast with me. In the meantime perhaps my lady will be up."
Before the coffee was finished, the boys found out that the nurse's
name was Moravec and that they could call her Aunty; that she was born
in the mountains of northern Bohemia in just such a cottage as this.
She went to America with her parents, and was married there, but when
her husband died, and not having her own daughter any more, she had
served this lady ten years, and took care of her like her own child.
Before the boys realized it, each had in front of him a beautiful
cup with a golden edge, full of fragrant coffee, and a big piece of
Bohemian bun. After all, they had found the seemingly lost bag, and
really, it would have been a pity if the good Bohemian buns had been
lost!
Just as their breakfast was finished, the sound of a silver bell was
heard from the room. Aunty ran in quickly, like a young girl.
"Perhaps it is time for us to go," advised Petrik. Ondrejko looked at
Palko to see what he would say. He had succeeded in attracting the
beautiful cat to him. She sat beside him on the bench, and with her
front paws, like a squirrel, took the dipped bun from him. Now she was
even sitting on his knees and was purring.
"We cannot leave these dishes thus, when they were dirtied by us. She
has no help here," said Palko.
So he ran with a tin bucket for water, and Petrik ran to bring wood.
In the meantime Ondrejko remained alone in the kitchen, when the doors
of the bedroom opened. At first he heard the voice of Aunty--and then
another. The blood rushed to his head, the voice was so clear and
so beautiful. Oh, such mysterious recollections, as from times
so distant, very distant, as if from the secrets of long past
remembrances! What they said he did not understand. The cat wriggled
out of his hands, lifted its long tail and jumped to the door.
The door was not fully closed and she opened it with one paw and
disappeared before the eyes of the surprised boy. He was not even
aware of it. He was so fully taken up with the voice that he did not
hear any more. The boys' coming disturbed and awakened him.
Palko washed the dishes, Petrik dried them; they put everything away,
and disappeared as quietly as they could.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Seven days passed. How short! but sometimes how long seven days may
be! How much one can live through, experience, and suffer! Time
passes; you awaken, wipe your eyes, and wonder if it is true that it
has passed already.
Even thus Ondrejko de Gemer, wandering through the woods, wondered
if all was true that had passed in the last seven days, or if it was
merely a dream. Oh, it was no dream, really. She came, the sick lady.
Truly, she lived in Palko's cottage and though Ondrejko had carried
the whey there already three times he had not seen her. Aunty always
said that she was asleep, and must sleep very much. Ah, why did she
always sleep just when he came? She had spoken already to Petrik, and
gave him a box full of candy. Palko had already read to her from his
Book, and had told her that she was almost as beautiful as his mother
at home; Ondrejko, alone, had not seen her yet.
How much he had prayed already, especially that morning, that she
might not be asleep again when he went there, that he also might
welcome her to those woods and mountains. Formerly Ondrejko didn't
think of it, but he did now, when the herdsmen, especially Stephen,
again and again reminded him that these sheepfolds were his father's,
and therefore his also, and that he had a rightful claim to
everything. When they gave him cheese and butter for the lady, they
gave him plenty, saying, "Just take it; it is yours." This thought
seemed to appeal to him--all is ours. If Palko could say "our
cottage," why could not Ondrejko say, "our sheepfolds, our land, and
our woods? Oh, then she came to us though she lived in the cottage of
Palko. When she gets stronger she will come to us to drink whey from
our sheep."
Lost in his meditation, the boy did not realize that he had come to
the parting of the paths, one of which turned above to the "Old Hag's
Rock," and the other, below to the cottage in the valley. The weather
was again so clear that from the green clearings in the woods you
could hear the great bells of the rams and the little ones of the
sheep.
"There is the ringing of the bells of our sheep," smiled the happy
Ondrejko. He ran quickly to the bench, intending to sit upon it and
rest, but he did not do so for it was occupied by someone like one of
the fairies from the woods of which Stephen often told him, that on
St. John's Night came out of the "Old Hag's Rock" and danced on the
meadows. None of them could be more beautiful than the lady sitting
on the bench, with its firm back covered with a flowery blanket; a
similar cushion lay on the arm-rest, and on the cushion rested a white
arm. On the small narrow palm a forehead was resting, and beautiful
dark-gray eyes looked far away above the mountains.
The boy set down the crock and folded his arms.
Thus he looked at the lily-white face, and the lips which seemed as if
the Lord God had made just for song. And again his heart felt as if
someone carried him far, far away, into the land of remembrances. It
is too bad that the lady, covered with a light yellow Cashmere shawl
does not look at the boy. Is he not also good-looking? and how
beautiful! On Saturday the doctor sent him a new suit, almost the same
kind as Palko had, but the shirt was embroidered with flowers, with
broad sleeves, narrow pants, decorated sandals, a round hat with
bands, and a small embroidered bag. Petrik also received a new suit,
the kind that he used to wear. Ondrejko was very glad that now he
would be altogether like his comrades. When they were all three in the
church yesterday, the people looked around at them.
If the lady would only look this way! Surely she never saw such a
beautiful little Slovak! But she did not look. At last, the boy came
to himself. Oh, surely, it must be she!--surely, herself! Who else
would be sitting on his bench? And she had that beautiful cat beside
her. Here she was, already up, and he was just bringing her breakfast.
He was late! Oh, he knew it was necessary for the whey to be warm.
When, then, will she eat her breakfast?
He took courage and greeted her. The lady aroused herself, opened her
big eyes, and in surprise looked at the boy timidly drawing near.
"Good morning," greeted Ondrejko. "I am bringing you the whey, but
surely too late. However, I have hurried quite a bit, therefore please
do not be angry at me."
"Do you bring me my breakfast?" the lady asked astonished. She arose
and took the heavy crock out the hand of the boy. "It must be very
heavy for you."
"It was not," said Ondrejko, more at ease, as he fastened his
beautiful eyes on the lady's face. Oh, how happy he was that finally
he too could see her, and that she talked with him and even took him
by the hand.
"And what is your name?"
"Ondrejko," he replied.
"And do you live here at these sheepfolds?"
"Yes," said he, "I live with Bacha Filina. I like it very much."
The lady walked with the boy and he carried the crock. She was small
in stature, but every movement reminded one of a princess.
"Why did not Petrik or Palko bring this whey?" she asked, to start a
conversation with Ondrejko.
"We change about," said he.
"Change about? But I have never seen you before."
"I have carried the whey already three times, but you have always been
asleep," said Ondrejko.
"So, I have always been asleep during your visits? Therefore I will
not leave you quickly today. You must rest with us. Look, Aunty is
already waiting." The lady stopped and almost joyfully handed the
crock to Aunty Moravec.
"Look who brought the whey for us today, but you are already
acquainted. We have seen each other for the first time now! Please
prepare a good breakfast for my guest." The hands of Aunty shook
somewhat when she received the crock, and she hastened to heat the
whey at once.
Who could have told Ondrejko how the Lord Jesus would answer his
prayer? Petrik saw the lady only in the kitchen, but she took him into
her room. How beautifully she had things arranged there! A plush sofa
and arm-chair, and many such things as they had in the castle de Gemer
were in the room. He was permitted to sit with her on the sofa and
look over a large book with photographs, all of beautiful lands and
cities. She pointed them out and named them.
"And you have been in all these places?" he dared to ask.
A sad expression clouded her face. "Yes, I have, Ondrejko, but now I
have only one wish--to remain forever in these mountains and never
again have to look at that evil, deceitful world outside."
After a while Aunty brought breakfast. Ondrejko had to sit down at the
beautifully-covered table. He was used to praying before eating in the
hut, so he did it now also, and in the joy which overflowed his heart,
he added, "I thank Thee, dear Lord Jesus, that You have so kindly
answered me."
The lady had already lifted the cup to her lips, but she set it down
again, and as if ashamed, bowed her head too. A tear appeared on her
golden eyelashes. When the boy had finished eating, she asked him what
he had asked Jesus Christ for. He confessed how much he had desired
to see her, and that he almost envied his comrades. Then he asked
permission to look also into the other book which lay on a small
table. It was full of photographs of people. He looked at her out of
the corner of his eye, because about ten of them were pictures of
herself, but she was dressed in all kinds of strange costumes. In one
of the pictures she had on a loose dress like a cloak and a crown on
her head. Under the picture was printed, "Mary Slavkovsky as Marie
Stuart." The boy rested his curly head on his small palms, and
thought.
"Why do you look so much at that picture?" said the lady, stroking his
golden curls.
"Is this really you in all these pictures? Have you perhaps played in
a theatre?" said Ondrejko.
She was astonished. "What do you know about theatres? Have you perhaps
been in one of them?"
"No," he shook his head. "That could not be possible. I have not
been." The boy's face saddened.
"What do you mean, Ondrejko?" said the lady, drawing him nearer to
her.
"Oh, my mother also is pictured in photographs, but I shall never see
her again."
"Your mother?" said she, wonderingly. "Is she not a country woman?"
"Oh, no!" The eyes of the boy glowed. "She is a famous singer, but I
shall not see her again, because she has forgotten me long ago--and so
I have nobody to look after me, no mother, no father, although I was
adjudged to him. I used to be very sad about it, but since Palko came
to us, and I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and received Him in my
heart, I am no more just a forsaken orphan, because He loves me, and
He it with me." The boy stopped because the lady became very pale, and
the arm with which she had caressed him, fell down and a deep sigh
escaped her lips.
"Aunty!" cried the scared boy, and not in vain. Aunty Moravec ran into
the room. She washed the deathly-pale face of the lady with some kind
of fine-smelling water. She placed a cushion under her head and put
her feet on the sofa. After a while, the lady began to breathe better
again. Aunty took the boy by the hand and led him to the kitchen. At
his anxious questioning she told him only that the lady was still
very weak and must rest. Ondrejko repeated to her what they had been
speaking about together. At hearing this, Aunty sighed and caressed
him, and said, "It is all in vain. It had to come and the sooner the
better." She did not hinder Ondrejko from going home, but did not
allow him to carry the crock.
"Send Palko, in the afternoon. He promised to take the lady to you.
From tomorrow on, she is to come to your sheepfold to drink the whey.
The doctor ordered that."
"But is she not sick?" the boy said, showing some anxiety.
"She is not sick any more, only weak, and this weakness she must
overcome by walking," responded Aunty.
In this world there is no sweetness without bitterness. If something
strange had not happened, that boy would have returned home very proud
and happy. Thus Bacha Filina found him not far away, all in tears,
and when he took him into his strong arms like a little lamb, the boy
threw both arms around his neck and told him everything.
"Bacha, I have surely said something bad, though I really don't know
what, and she became very sad about it," cried Ondrejko.
"Do not cry," the man comforted him. "You said only what the Lord God
put in your mouth. Anyway, when the lady comes in the afternoon, all
will be well again."
With these words, the Bacha carried the tired boy to his wooden hut,
laid him on the bed, and sat beside him. He stroked his arm and
forehead, and before long he had put his little charge to sleep. Then
he looked at him once more, sadly, and left. About half-an-hour
later the herdsmen found him dressed in his Sunday suit going in the
direction of the "Old Hag's Rock." They thought he was going to town,
and wondered why, because he had been there only yesterday.
At the same time, bitter crying sounded in Palko's cottage, which
Aunty Moravec could in no way silence. There the weeping lady said,
"He was here; he, my beautiful golden-headed child, and I did not know
him. The heavy crock he brought to me himself. He wanted to see me,
but did not recognize me. How could he, when I myself did not know
him? That his own mother forgot him long ago is not true. All the
glory of the world could not replace my lost treasure. Oh, my father,
my father! If you only knew what became of your daughter! You taught
her to fold her hands in prayer, but she forgot everything--even that.
Unfortunate, betrayed wife, craven mother! If you only knew how your
warnings have been literally fulfilled!"
The lady cried bitterly. There was no comfort for her. Usually there
is none for the son or daughter who has trampled the good advice of
his parents under his feet and after that has had to suffer everything
which has been foretold them.
Finally Aunty went out. She heard steps in the hall. After a while she
returned asking if Bacha Filina might enter, that he would like to
speak of something important with the lady.
In a moment Bacha was in the room. "I have come, Madame Slavkovsky, to
talk with you," he began seriously. "It is time to make an end to
the sin, which for years you have already committed as to my little
charge. The doctor told me that you are his mother, and my lord is his
father. Now is this tender, sensitive child to grow up as somebody
said: 'Whether father or mother, whether sister or brother, nobody
comes to welcome me'?" The man spoke seriously.
The lady stretched out her hands towards him imploringly. "What can I
do? They took him away from me and adjudged him to De Gemer. My lawyer
did everything that he could, but in vain."
"But would you love him, would you like to take care of him as it
behooves a decent mother, if my lord would return him to you?"
"Why would I not! I deserve that you ask me that. Whether you believe
me or not, Bacha Filina, I would give everything if I could only get
him back again. I see he loves me, unworthy though I am."
"Yes, he loves you as only forsaken children know how to do. Therefore
I came to you, lady--today or never God gives you an opportunity to
get your treasure back again. Your former husband fell deeply into
debt. His administrator received the order to sell the estate of the
De Gemer family. If you have enough money--the doctor told me that you
have--buy it out of the first hands before the Jews get hold of it.
When your lawyer writes him that you will have the estate turned over
to the boy, if Lord de Gemen will give it to you in black and white,
he will be glad to do so, I know, and will give you the boy. He always
boasted that the 'De Gemer' estate shall belong to Ondrejko, his
first-born. Everybody in the neighborhood knows about it. It would not
be such a great shame on the family, that they had to sell the family
castle, if, after all, the property remained in his son's hands. It
is a beautiful estate, and it is wisely managed. It will bring a much
larger income later on, than it does today. Even if you had to borrow
some money to purchase it, it would be worthwhile to do so."
"Oh, Bacha Filina!" The lady took the man's hard right hand into her
small ones. "How can I thank you enough for this good and beautiful
advice? I don't know if my ready money will suffice, but I have
beautiful jewelry, and when I sell that, we will have something to
start with at least. I am not altogether so unfamiliar with managing
as you may think; I am the daughter of a farmer. But who will buy this
for me? My lawyer is not here."
"Leave Ondrejko with the doctor. Ride to the administrator's office
and buy the estate yourself. He has orders to sell it. Do not begin to
deal about the boy before the estate is yours. At least, that is what
I think. But today let Ondrejko know that you are his mother, that the
boy may not suffer longer. Come to us in the afternoon. I will send
Palko for you."
Filina arose. "I would not have come to you while you are still weak,
but we must hurry with the buying, and Ondrejko cared so much that he
shook all over, thinking that surely he had said something bad to
you so that you fainted. The boy is very tender. He needs not only
strengthening with me--that is only for the body--but his heart needs
a mother. The God in the heavens has become his Father. Good-bye,
then."
"Bacha Filina," the lady stopped the man. "Do you know why I parted
with De Gemer? Or do you think that because I am a singer, I have left
him like an unfaithful wife?"
"The doctor told me that my lord had wronged you. I do not ask more.
Everyone of us has enough of his own sins. God sees us and knows us.
Do not judge that ye be not judged." The deep voice of Filina sounded
almost gentle. He shook her hand and left.
* * * * *
"Uncle Filina! Did you already return from the city?" sounded a voice
from the clearing where he went to look at the flock. Palko ran to
meet him. In his hand he carried a basket full of beautiful mushrooms.
"I was not in the city, Palko; but what are you doing here?" Filina
was cheered with Palko's presence and sat down on an old log overgrown
with moss. The boy joyfully threw himself down on the deep mossy
cushions.
"I carried a letter to Stephen which the forester's boy brought for
him from his mother. It cheered him very much. She had been sick, but
now she writes to him herself. Praise the Lord!"
"I am very glad of that; she is a good woman. And the son which has no
mother has no home anywhere," said Filina. "Where did you find these
mushrooms?"
"They are beautiful, aren't they? Oh, I just happened to see them. Joe
said he would cook the stew for supper. They will fit in well."
"Yes, they will. Pick out the best ones, and take them to the ladies
this afternoon, in your cabin. Perhaps they will like them."
"Shall I really go for the lady? Will it not be too far for her yet?"
thoughtfully asked the boy.
"I think not, but you must go slowly."
"But she is still so weak, Uncle."
"I know it; I have just left her."
"Is that so? You saw her? And you just came from there? Did you stop
there on the way from town?"
Bacha was silent for a moment as if deciding something. Then he
fastened his eagle eyes on the boy's face. "Palko, I am going to tell
you something. God grant that you may help me in a very difficult
thing."
"I would love to, Uncle. Just tell me."
"The master of these sheepfolds is Ondrejko's father. You know that;
do you not?"
"Yes, I know it."
"And the beautiful lady there, is his mother."
"What did you say!" Palko jumped up at once and sat down again. "But
how is it that they are not together, and that Ondrejko is not with
them?"
"They had parted, and he took another wife many years ago."
"And the Lord Jesus permitted that? It seems to me that He said, 'It
should not be so.'"
"You know, Palko, the world does many things that the Lord God
forbids--even this. I know it is a sin, but it is already that way and
it cannot be changed now. The lady, before De Gemer took her, was a
famous singer in America. She must have been very beautiful because
she is still so today. He brought her to Europe to his family. They
were displeased with him because the lady was not of noble birth. They
did not treat her well, and he did not stand by her as would have been
his duty. Because as far as I know him, he is not the man to guard his
wife against the whole world. It may also be that he has been sorry
already, that he had shut himself out of the world because of her,
while on the other hand, many noble ladies were offered him. How it
was among themselves, I do not know. I only know that once, when he
was not at home, she took the boy and fled away. Then they lived in
Budapest. She did not know how to make a living any other way--so she
gave the boy into the care of strange people, and went again to the
theatre. Then came the law suit. He charged her with leaving him, and
she did not want to return to him, so the court separated them. They
adjudged the boy to his father, and so he came to us. While Ondrejko
was with those people, where she cared for him, they told him all good
things about her, but when he came to where his father put him you can
imagine that they did not speak well of her. So the poor boy has heard
all kinds of stories about his mother, and yet he longs for her, and
so I visited the lady today. I wanted to advise her how she could
take the boy herself and acknowledge him today. Therefore I tell you,
Palko, everything, that you may tell Ondrejko who it is that is coming
to us today."
There was silence in the mountains. Bacha looked at the boy deep in
thought. "Will you tell him, Palko?"
"Yes, Uncle. But I must first ask the Lord Jesus for help, for that is
not a small thing. It is good that Ondrejko is already God's lamb. He
will even help his mother to find the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we will
do that part. But, Uncle Filina, when will you tell me that you have
received Him?--that you are His?" The question from the boy, put with
so much loving concern, brought the tears into the man's eyes.
"I do not know myself, what to tell you, my boy. It is all so strange
to me. From the time that I took the Lord Jesus, like Zaccheus,
it seems to me there is no more of that great burden that always
oppressed me. Sometimes it seems to me as if the Son of God was
actually with me, and when I read the Bible it seems as though He is
living in my heart and opens my eyes. Now I don't know, my boy, what
more can I do."
"Oh, Uncle," Palko began to jump for joy. "Really, you have already
accepted Him. He came and took away your load, and threw it behind
God's back."
"What do you say, boy?" said the surprised man. "Is that all?"
"Yes, that is all. We are only to believe Him. You know well how He
said, 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.' Don't you believe He means what He says?"
"I do believe, my boy, and already believe, and even understand all
like Zaccheus. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He
came to seek even me, the lost sinner, and I let Him find me."
When the next moment they kneeled before God, the man and the boy,
there was great joy in heaven that again a sinner had received the
Lord Jesus Christ. Because to those who receive Him, to them gave He
power to be the sons of God. Thus the angels wrote His name in the
Lamb's book of Life. They wrote that Peter Filina believed, and that
Jesus of Nazareth took his heavy burden of sin upon His cross, there
suffered for him the penalty of death, and thus it was that Filina was
forgiven all, and received the Son of God for ever and ever. So for
the first time Filina prayed with his whole heart to God as his
Father. He thanked the Lamb of God for His death, and thanked Him also
for Palko whom He had sent to those mountains.
When they were done, the boy sighed deeply. Said he, "Since I am
finished with you, I don't have to ask the Lord Jesus any more for
you, but can ask so much better for Ondrejko's mother. Surely He will
grant to me that she will soon accept Him too."
They went together a little way, but Bacha turned to the clearings and
Palko ran back again to the hut at the sheepfold. On the way, he sang
until the echo rang everywhere.
There was much stirring in the hut that afternoon. The boys cleaned
and arranged everything so that no particle of dust could be found
anywhere. They brought flowers to Ondrejko that he might braid a chain
of them. It was a very long one. Bacha himself afterwards draped it
over the door.
"Well, it is time for me to go," announced Palko. "Ondrejko, come with
me part of the way. I saw some nice flowers not far away and you can
pick them. These we will place on the table afterwards."
"Verily it is time that you go," agreed Bacha, "and go together."
Ondrejko obeyed very gladly. Merrily the boys went into the woods and
soon found the flowers they wanted.
"Let us sit down a while," said Palko when they had picked the flowers
and placed them in the nearby spring. "I would like to tell you
something. Do you remember anything about your mother?"
"About my mother?" said the surprised Ondrejko. That kind of question
he did not expect. "I remember but a little, that she was very
beautiful, and had a very fine voice."
"And if she suddenly came for you, would you be glad?"
"For me?" and the boy's beautiful eyes opened wide. "She cannot come
for me any more, because I do not belong to her, but to father."
"And what did the lady where you lived formerly tell you about her?"
"That she left father and me because she loved the theatre more than
us, and because sometimes the people hitched themselves to wagons
instead of horses, and gave her beautiful jewels."
"And you believed it?" retorted Palko, with clouded face.
"No, I did not believe it, because I loved her, loved her very much."
"You are right; don't you believe it. Bacha Filina told me that she
went away because your father's family did not like her because she
was not of noble birth as themselves. But she went to the theatre only
because she could not make her living otherwise. Your father brought
her from a very great distance to which she could not return. What
could she do? What the theatre is, I do not know. Only that she sang
there beautifully. Perhaps that would not have been so bad if she had
known the Lord Jesus as we know Him. He would surely have advised and
helped her otherwise, and if that which she did was wrong, when she
once knows Jesus and asks Him to forgive her, He will do so. But we
must tell her about Him, you and I."
"We? But she is far away, very far."
"Do not believe it, Ondrejko. The Lord Jesus sent her back as far as
here. The lady at our cottage--that is she."
"You say that is she?" Ondrejko jumped up.
"Yes, yes; that is she."
"She was just like her, and had the same kind of a voice! And so it
aroused in my heart remembrances of long ago when she spoke and when
I looked at her. It seems to me I recognized her, but she didn't know
me," sadly sighed the boy, and his eyes filled with tears.
"But how could she have recognized you in those farmer's clothes? We
too, Petrik and I, hardly recognized you."
"Do you think so?" Ondrejko calmed down. "Palko, take me to her; she
doesn't know that I am her Andreas. She doesn't know me."
"She knows already. Uncle Filina was there. He told her the truth."
"Oh, then take me with you, because I have made her very sad--till she
almost died."
"I don't care. Come, then. Surely the Lord Jesus wants it so."
* * * * *
No matter how long Ondrejko Gemersky lives he will never be able to
forget how it was when the doors in the cottage opened and a beautiful
lady in a light blue dress, the color of forget-me-nots, stepped out.
In her hands she carried a broad hat, but she dropped it with a cry,
"My Ondrejko!" as she ran toward them. He flew like an arrow to meet
her.
"Mother, my mother!"--and already held her around the neck. She,
kneeling, hugged him to her breast. They both cried, and Palko with
them.
"Oh, mother, my mother, how I love you! Verily I am yours, and surely
you will keep me now," begged Ondrejko with tears. He stroked the
beautiful face and forehead of the lady.
"Yes, you are mine." She jumped up. "I will not give you up any more
to anyone, anyone in the world. But no, come, my son, we have to go to
Bacha Filina. He will take care of it, that no one can take you away
from me."
Surely Ondrejko will never forget this, nor how they walked together
to the sheepcote, how well they were received there, what a good time
they had that afternoon and evening, because Ondrejko's mother slept
together with Aunty Moravec in his hut. Bacha counted on that. He took
counsel with Aunty and sent Stephen to the cottage to bring whatever
was necessary for the lady, especially sheets, covers, etc. Thus
Ondrejko sat beside his mother in the evening when Joe roasted the
lamb over the fire, and Petrik helped Aunty to cook soup in the pot.
Bacha told them about the life at the sheepcotes, and many interesting
things from his experiences with the flocks. Then they had supper
together, there in the open. Then they sang the evening song, prayed,
and Palko read from his Book. At Filina's request he read the 15th
chapter of the Gospel of Luke, about a good shepherd, about a woman
who lost her coin, and about a prodigal son who had a good father, but
nevertheless ran away from him, and how badly he fared in the world
until he returned to his father. During the reading Palko made many
beautiful remarks, as he usually did. They all loved to hear him. When
he closed, only the fire crackled, and the stars in the heavens were
sparkling like a multitude of eyes. The moon lit up the tops of the
mountains and woods. Often one of the sheep rang its bell in the fold.
Bacha suddenly lifted up his bowed head, and spoke with a voice such
as they had never heard before: "That lost and found sheep am I, my
children. The gracious Lord God forgave all my sins. The Lord Jesus
sought and found me, and I have surrendered myself to Him altogether,
including our huts. Let us pray."
He took his hat off, folded his hands, and prayed thus, "Our Father,"
in such a manner, that nobody had ever heard such a prayer before.
Never will Ondrejko de Gemer forget that moment, but I think that none
of the others present there will ever be able to forget it either.
When in the huts everything quieted down--not even the dogs barked
that night--Bacha, as his custom was, walked all around to see if
there was any danger anywhere, before he betook himself to rest. He
walked also around the wooden hut and suddenly stopped. There on
Ondrejko's little bench, under the window, wrapped up in a shawl,
Madame Slavkovsky sat in the moonlight. Her hands were twined around
her knees, and she was thoughtfully looking into the beautiful starry
night. He coughed, that she might not be startled. She turned her
head, and with a motion indicated her wish that he should take a place
beside her. He obeyed.
"You said, Bacha Filina, that that lost and found sheep was you," she
began in her sweet, sad voice. "That woman who lost that coin is also
I. More than that even, I am the prodigal daughter."
"What do you mean by that, lady?" asked Filina seriously.
"When Palko explained how good that father was and how the naughty boy
left him, I thought that I did just that to my good dear father; and
therefore, from that time on, what sad experiences I have had!" She
sighed deeply.
"Tell me all about it. I am an old man and could be your father. I
shall understand you."
"Yes, I will tell you everything, because if you had not saved my poor
child he would not have had anybody. Did you not care for him like a
father?"
"We lived on a beautiful farm in America," she went on. "My
grandfather and grandmother came from Bohemia as a young couple. They
bought a small farm and worked diligently, and God blessed them. They
were good people, who trusted in God. They had one son and a daughter.
Their son wanted to study, so they sent him to school. As he did not
work on the farm they had to take a helper, and he also came from the
old country. They took a liking for him at once because he fitted in
so well in the family. Once when grandfather was so seriously ill that
he thought he would die, he called his helper and asked him, since he
was single and without relatives in the land, if he would marry his
daughter. He would be more easy if he knew in whose hands he had left
his daughter and wife. That the daughter liked the good-looking and
good-hearted young man, they knew well. But the young man asked for
some time to think it over, and then told their daughter his history
from the old country. What it all was I don't know, and when she,
in spite of it all, was willing to take him, he acceded to my
grandfather's wish, and none of them were ever sorry for it. My father
was very kind to my mother. She had no reason to be sorry that she had
married him. Grandfather recovered from his illness. For many years
after that he worked together with his son-in-law and everything went
well, so that with his help the small farm became a large one. My
recollections are only of the big farm. I was their only child. My
uncle Vojta was at that time a professor in New York, was married, and
advised my parents to send me to him there, that I might go to school
and become a lady. Grandfather approved of this; thus I was at home
only in the summer, and over the winter at Uncle's in school till I
was really trained. My Uncle noticed that I had a talent for singing,
and the teachers confirmed it. Without the knowledge of my home folks
he sent me to learn to sing. I loved to sing, but loved still more the
praise showered upon me by the audiences at the school-concerts.
"In the meantime, so great a change transpired in my home that I
hardly recognized it when they called me to grandfather's deathbed.
Our farm was not far from the mountains. In those mountains was a
mission conference for several weeks. Our whole family used to go to
listen to those speakers who held religious lectures there--and all
of them, as it was well-known about there, turned to Christ. I shall
never forget how happy grandfather died, how he blessed us all, and
with what fortitude grandmother bore her loss. For the first time I
was really glad to be able to run away from my dear parents to my
Uncle's. My beloved ones started a family altar at home. They sang
songs to the honor of the Lamb who, they claimed, had delivered them
from their sins. Well, I did not like to sing those songs. It seemed
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