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Updated: June 13, 2025
At last he said, "It is true that when one goes among strangers there is much to be learned; but I cannot let Stineli go, there can be no question of that. She is needed here at home; but one of the others may go, Trudi, perhaps." "Yes, yes: that will do," said the mother. "I cannot get along without Stineli." Then Trudi raised her head from her plate, and said, "That suits me very well.
At these words Stineli began to weep as her grandmother had never seen her do before; and she sobbed and sobbed, saying, "The good God did not do it: I did it, grandmother; and therefore I feel as if I should die of anxiety. It was I who proposed to Rico to go to find the lake, and now he has fallen into a ravine, and is dead; it has hurt him dreadfully, and it is all my fault."
Silvio really did keep quiet, and Stineli went after Rico. When they reached the hedge, Rico turned about, and pointed towards the brightly lighted window that looked so pleasant and friendly from the garden, and said, "Go back there, Stineli. You belong there, and there you are at home; but I belong in the streets. I am a homeless fellow, and shall always be so: now let me go away."
You may tell your father I will do any thing he wishes, if he will only let you come back soon." Rico said nothing at all. And Stineli went off; and day after day it seemed as if a big black cloud lay over the household, and as if the very sun outside had ceased to shine. And so it went on from November to Easter, when everybody was rejoicing; but it was still sad in Rico's house.
"Yes; but you forget something," continued Stineli. "The good God may say, 'If Rico wants any thing from me, he should pray to me." In reply to this, Rico had no answer. He remained silent for some time; then he said, "Repeat the Lord's Prayer again, Stineli: I will learn it." His companion gladly complied, and it was soon learned.
And, saying this, he looked at his friend exactly as he had looked when he came away from the schoolmaster's house, and joined Stineli at the wood-pile, so long ago, saying then, "It is all of no use!" Stineli went to Silvio's bedside, and said softly, "Be a good boy, Silvio; and to-morrow I will tell you the very prettiest and drollest story about Peterli; but now do not make a noise."
Do you know the way?" "You must cross the Maloja. I have been there with my father once. He pointed me out the road that goes all the way down the mountain, first this way, then that, and far below lies the lake; but so far, so far, that it is scarcely possible to go there." "Oh! that is easy enough," said Stineli.
Stineli was quite excited: thought a bit, and looked up, then down, and sang again, "And the lambkins, and the lambkins, And the heavens so blue; And red and white flowers, And the green grasses, too." Then Rico fiddled and sung the verse with her, and said again, "Some more." Stineli laughed, and, glancing at Rico, sang,
I will take half of the house of you, and the same with the garden and all the land; so one half will be yours, and the other Silvio's." "I shall give my half to Stineli," said the child. "So shall I," said Rico. "Oh, ho! now the whole thing belongs to her, the garden, and the house, and all that is in them; and Rico and his fiddle, and I too. Now let us go on with our song."
As they entered the garden, Stineli called out too loud, in her delight, "Oh, the beautiful, beautiful flowers!" Silvio heard these unfortunate words, and pulled himself up in an instant, crying out, at the top of his lungs, "Here comes Rico with his Stineli!" His poor mother thought that he had an attack of fever.
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