Part 4 (1/2)

and on through every one of the stanzas. Stineli was br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with fun.

”Come,” she said, ”let's make some more rhymes. How will this do?

”Oh, climb, little lambs, To the beautiful green, Where the winds are all hushed And the clouds are unseen.”

This made them laugh, and they sang the verses two or three times.

”More, Stineli!” cried Rico, encouragingly, and Stineli went on:

”Little lambs, little lambs, Under heavenly blue, 'Mong numberless flowers Of exquisite hue.

”There's a boy who is sad, Here's a girl who is gay; But all lakes are alike Made of water, they say.”

They laughed again and sang their verses over several times. ”I wish we had some more,” said Rico; so Stineli added two more stanzas:

”Little lambs, little lambs, So playful yet shy; Gay and happy are they, Though they know not just why.

”Now the boy and the girl At the lake are so glad; If we think not at all, Can we ever be sad?”

Then they began from the beginning and sang all the verses over and over again, and the more they sang them the better they liked their song. They tried to sing other songs during the afternoon, but every little while they would go back to what Rico called ”Stineli's song,”

but what she called ”our own song.”

Once while they were singing, Stineli stopped abruptly and clapped her hands for joy. ”I have just thought of a way to get to your pretty lake without money,” she said exultantly.

Rico looked inquiringly at his companion.

”Don't you see?” she added hastily. ”Now that you have a violin and know a song, it is very simple. You can stop at the door of the inns to play and sing; then the people will give you something to eat and let you sleep there, for they will know that you are not a beggar. You can keep on going until you get there, and you can come back in the same way.”

They were still discussing the plan when they noticed that it was growing dark. They had not heard the vesper bell. Running down the hill, they found the grandmother out looking for them.

They ran joyfully to her, taking it for granted that she knew they would have come earlier had they been aware of the time. ”Oh, grandmother!” exclaimed Stineli; ”you will be astonished to find how well Rico can play. We have a song all our own that we want to sing to you.”

The grandmother smiled. It was a pleasure to her to see the children together. ”I can see that you have enjoyed the afternoon,” she said when the song was ended. ”I wonder, Rico,” she continued, ”if you can play my favorite tune, 'With heart and voice to Thee I sing.' We will all sing if you can play for us.”

The grandmother sang softly the first verses of the hymn and Rico took it up readily, for it proved to be familiar. Then the three joined in the singing, the grandmother speaking each verse before they began:

”With heart and voice to Thee I sing, Lord of my life's delight!

O'er all the earth let love take wing To make dark places bright!

”I know that Thou the well of grace And everlasting art; Thou, Lord, to whom we all can trace The pure and true of heart.

”Why then unhappy should we live And sorrow day and night?

Oh, let us take our cares and give To Him who has the might.

”He never will refuse His aid If you a prayer will send; Whatever in His care is laid Shall have a happy end.

”Then let the blessing onward go, And cause it not to stay, That you may rest in peace below And happy be alway.”