Hans Brinker; Or, The Silver Skates

by Mary Mapes Dodge

  XLIII

  A DISCOVERY

  The next sun brought a busy day to the Brinkers.

  In the first place the news of the thousand guilders had of course to betold to the father. Such tidings as that surely could not harm him. Thenwhile Gretel was diligently obeying her mother's injunction to "cleanthe place fresh as a new brewing," Hans and the dame sallied forth torevel in the purchasing of peat and provisions.

  Hans was careless and contented; the dame was filled with delightfulanxieties caused by the unreasonable demands of ten thousand guilders'worth of new wants that had sprung up like mushrooms in a single night.The happy woman talked so largely to Hans on their way to Amsterdam, andbrought back such little bundles after all, that he scratched hisbewildered head as he leaned against the chimneypiece, wonderingwhether, "bigger the pouch, tighter the string" was in Jacob Cats, andtherefore true, or whether he had dreamed it when he lay in a fever.

  "What thinking on, Big-eyes?" chirruped his mother, half reading histhoughts as she bustled about, preparing the dinner. "What thinking on?Why, Raff, would ye believe it, the child thought to carry halfAmsterdam back on his head. Bless us! he would have bought as muchcoffee as would have filled this fire-pot; 'no--no--my lad,' says I, 'notime for leaks when the ship is rich laden'--and then how hestared--aye--just as he stares this minute. Hoot lad! fly around amite. Ye'll grow to the chimney-place with your staring and wondering.Now, Raff, here's your chair at the head of the table, where it shouldbe, for there's A MAN to the house now--I'd say it to the king's face.Aye, that's the way--lean on Hans; there's a strong staff for you!growing like a weed too, and it seems only yesterday since he wastoddling. Sit by, my man, sit by."

  "Can you call to mind, vrouw," said Raff, settling himself cautiously inthe big chair, "the wonderful music-box that cheered your working in thebig house at Heidelberg?"

  "Aye, that I can," answered the dame, "three turns of a brass key, andthe witchy thing would send the music fairly running up and down one'sback--I remember it well--but, Raff," (growing solemn in an instant)"you would never throw our guilders away for a thing like that?"

  "No, no, not I, vrouw--for the good Lord has already given me amusic-box without pay."

  All three cast quick, frightened glances at one another and atRaff--were his wits on the wing again?

  "Aye, and a music-box that fifty pouch-full would not buy from me,"insisted Raff; "and it's set going by the turn of a mop handle, and itslips and glides around the room, everywhere in a flash, carrying themusic about till you'd swear the birds were back again."

  "Holy St. Bavon!" screeched the dame, "what's in the man?"

  "Comfort and joy, vrouw, that's what's in him! Ask Gretel, ask my littlemusic-box Gretel, if your man has lacked comfort and joy this day."

  "Not he, mother," laughed Gretel. "He's been _my_ music-box, too. Wesang together half the time you were gone."

  "Aye, so," said the dame, greatly relieved. "Now, Hans, you'll never getthrough with a piece like that; but never mind, chick, thou'st had along fasting; here, Gretel, take another slice of the sausage; it'll putblood in your cheeks."

  "Oh! Oh! mother," laughed Gretel, eagerly holding forth her platter,"blood don't grow in girls' cheeks--you mean roses--isn't it roses,Hans?"

  While Hans was hastily swallowing a mammoth mouthful in order to give asuitable reply to this poetic appeal, Dame Brinker settled the matterwith a quick:

  "Well, roses or blood it's all one to me, so the red finds its way onyour sunny face. It's enough for mother to get pale and weary-looking,without----"

  "Hoot, vrouw," spoke up Raff hastily, "thou'rt fresher and rosier thisminute than both our chicks put together."

  This remark though not bearing very strong testimony to the clearness ofRaff's newly awakened intellect, nevertheless afforded the dame intensesatisfaction; the meal accordingly passed off in the most delightfulmanner.

  After dinner, the affair of the watch was talked over and the mysteriousinitials duly discussed.

  Hans had just pushed back his stool, intending to start at once forMynheer van Holp's, and his mother had risen to put the watch away inits old hiding place, when they heard the sound of wheels upon thefrozen ground.

  Some one knocked at the door, opening it at the same time.

  "Come in," stammered Dame Brinker hastily trying to hide the watch inher bosom. "Oh! is it you, mynheer! Good day; the father is nearly well,as you see. It's a poor place to greet you in, mynheer, and the dinnernot cleared away."

  Dr. Boekman scarcely noticed the dame's apology. He was evidently inhaste.

  "Ahem!" he exclaimed, "not needed here, I perceive. The patient ismending fast."

  "Well he may, mynheer," cried the dame, "for only last night we found athousand guilders that's been lost to us these ten years."

  Dr. Boekman opened his eyes.

  "Yes, mynheer," said Raff. "I bid the vrouw tell you, though it's to beheld a secret among us, for I see you can keep your lips closed as wellas any man."

  The doctor scowled. He never liked personal remarks.

  "Now, mynheer," continued Raff, "you can take your rightful pay. Godknows you have earned it, if bringing such a poor tool back to theworld, and his family, can be called a service. Tell the vrouw what's topay, mynheer; she will hand out the sum right willingly."

  "Tut! tut!" said the doctor kindly, "say nothing about money. I can findplenty of such pay any time, but gratitude comes seldom. That boy's'thank you,'" he added, nodding sidewise toward Hans, "was pay enoughfor me."

  "Like enough ye have a boy of your own," said Dame Brinker, quitedelighted to see the great man becoming so sociable.

  Dr. Boekman's good-nature vanished at once. He gave a growl (at least,it seemed so to Gretel) but made no actual reply.

  "Do not think the vrouw meddlesome, mynheer," said Raff; "she has beensore touched of late about a lad whose folks have gone away, none knowwhere; and I had a message for them from the young gentleman."

  "The name was Boomphoffen," said the dame eagerly. "Do you know aught ofthe family, mynheer?"

  The doctor's reply was brief and gruff.

  "Yes. A troublesome set. They went long since to America."

  "It might be, Raff," persisted Dame Brinker, timidly, "that the meesterknows somebody in that country, though I'm told they are mostly savagesover there. If he could get the watch to the Boomphoffens with the poorlad's message, it would be a most blessed thing."

  "Tut! vrouw, why pester the good meester and dying men and women wantinghim everywhere. How do ye know ye have the true name?"

  "I'm sure of it," she replied. "They had a son Lambert, and there's an Lfor Lambert and a B for Boomphoffen, on the back; though to be surethere's an odd J too, but the meester can look for himself."

  So saying, she drew forth the watch.

  "L. J. B.!" cried Dr. Boekman springing toward her.

  Why attempt to describe the scene that followed! I need only say thatthe lad's message was delivered to his father at last--delivered whilethe great surgeon was sobbing like a little child.

  "Laurens! my Laurens?" he cried, gazing with yearning eyes at the watchas he held it tenderly in his palm. "Ah, if I had but known sooner!Laurens a homeless wanderer--Great Heaven! he may be suffering, dying atthis moment! Think, man, where is he? Where did my boy say the lettermust be sent?"

  Raff shook his head sadly.

  "Think!" implored the doctor. Surely the memory so lately awakenedthrough his aid could not refuse to serve him in a moment like this.

  "It is all gone, mynheer," sighed Raff.

  Hans, forgetting distinctions of rank and station, forgetting everythingbut that his good friend was in trouble, threw his arms round thedoctor's neck.

  "I can find your son, mynheer. If alive, he is _somewhere_. The earth isnot so very large. I will devote every day of my life to the search.Mother can spare me, now. You are rich, mynheer; send me where youwill."

  Gretel began to cry. It was right for Hans to go bu
t how could they everlive without him?

  Dr. Boekman made no reply, neither did he push Hans away. His eyes werefixed anxiously upon Raff Brinker. Suddenly he lifted the watch, andwith trembling eagerness attempted to open it. Its stiffened springyielded at last; the case flew open, disclosing a watch-paper in theback bearing a group of blue forget-me-nots. Raff, seeing a shade ofintense disappointment pass over the doctor's face, hastened to say:

  "There was something else in it, mynheer, but the young gentleman toreit out before he handed it to me. I saw him kiss it as he put it away."

  "It was his mother's picture," moaned the doctor; "she died when he wasten years old. Thank God! the boy had not forgotten. Both dead? It isimpossible!" he cried, starting up. "My boy is alive. You shall hear hisstory. Laurens acted as my assistant. By mistake he portioned out thewrong medicine for one of my patients--a deadly poison--but it was neveradministered, for I discovered the error in time. The man died that day.I was detained with other bad cases until the next evening. When Ireached home, my boy was gone. Poor Laurens!" sobbed the doctor,breaking down completely, "never to hear from me through all theseyears. His message disregarded. Oh, what must he have suffered!"

  Dame Brinker ventured to speak. Anything was better than to see themeester cry.

  "It is a mercy to know the young gentleman was innocent. Ah! how hefretted! Telling you, Raff, that his crime was like unto murder. It wassending the wrong physic he meant. Crime indeed! why our own Gretelmight have done that! Like enough the poor young gentleman heard thatthe man was dead--that's why he ran, mynheer. He said, you know, Raff,that he never could come back to Holland again, unless"--shehesitated--"ah, your honor, ten years is a dreary time to be waiting tohear from----"

  "Hist, vrouw!" said Raff sharply.

  "Waiting to hear," groaned the doctor, "and I, like a fool, sittingstubbornly at home, thinking he had abandoned me. I never dreamed,Brinker, that the boy had discovered the mistake. I believed it wasyouthful folly--ingratitude--love of adventure, that sent him away. Mypoor, poor Laurens!"

  "But you know all, now, mynheer," whispered Hans. "You know he wasinnocent of wrong, that he loved you and his dead mother. We will findhim. You shall see him again, dear meester."

  "God bless you!" said Dr. Boekman, seizing the boy's hand, "it may be asyou say. I shall try--I shall try--and, Brinker, if ever the faintestgleam of recollection concerning him should come to you, you will sendme word at once?"

  "Indeed we will!" cried all but Hans, whose silent promise would havesatisfied the doctor even had the others not spoken.

  "Your boy's eyes," he said, turning to Dame Brinker, "are strangely likemy son's. The first time I met him it seemed that Laurens himself waslooking at me."

  "Aye, mynheer," replied the mother proudly. "I have marked that you weremuch drawn to the child."

  For a few moments the meester seemed lost in thought; then, arousinghimself, he spoke in a new voice:

  "Forgive me, Raff Brinker, for this tumult. Do not feel distressed on myaccount. I leave your house to-day a happier man than I have been formany a long year. Shall I take the watch?"

  "Certain you must, mynheer. It was your son's wish."

  "Even so," responded the doctor--regarding his treasure with a queerfrown, for his face could not throw off its bad habits in an hour--"evenso. And, now, I must be gone. No medicine is needed by my patient; onlypeace and cheerfulness, and both are here in plenty. Heaven bless you,my good friends! I shall ever be grateful to you."

  "May Heaven bless you, too, mynheer, and may you soon find the dearyoung gentleman," said Dame Brinker earnestly, after hurriedly wipingher eyes upon the corner of her apron.

  Raff uttered a hearty "Amen!" and Gretel threw such a wistful, eagerglance at the doctor, that he patted her head as he turned to leave thecottage.

  Hans went out also.

  "When I can serve you, mynheer, I am ready."

  "Very well, boy," replied Dr. Boekman with peculiar mildness. "Tellthem, within, to say nothing of what has just passed. Meantime, Hans,when you are with your father, watch his mood. You have tact. At anymoment he may suddenly be able to tell us more."

  "Trust me for that, mynheer."

  "Good day, my boy!" cried the doctor, as he sprang into his statelycoach.

  "Aha!" thought Hans, as it rolled away, "the meester has more life inhim than I thought."