Even his dear sheep he hardly heeded, and his pet ewes, Katte and
Greta, and the big ram Zips, rubbed their soft noses in his hand
unnoticed. So the summer droned away,--the summer that is so
short in the mountains, and yet so green and so radiant, with the
torrents tumbling through the flowers, and the hay tossing in the
meadows, and the lads and lasses climbing to cut the rich, sweet
grass of the alps. The short summer passed as fast as a dragon-
fly flashes by, all green and gold, in the sun; and it was near
winter once more, and still Findelkind was always dreaming and
wondering what he could do for the good of St. Christopher; and
the longing to do it all came more and more into his little
heart, and he puzzled his brain till his head ached. One autumn
morning, whilst yet it was dark, Findelkind made his mind up, and
rose before his brothers, and stole down-stairs and out into the
air, as it was easy to do, because the house-door never was
bolted. He had nothing with him; he was barefooted, and his
school-satchel was slung behind him, as Findelkind of Arlberg's
wallet had been five centuries before.
He took a little staff from the piles of wood lying about, and
went out on to the highroad, on his way to do heaven's will. He
was not very sure what that divine will wished, but that was
because he was only nine years old, and not very wise; but
Findelkind that was in heaven had begged for the poor; so would
he.
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