Mitz and Fritz of Germany

by Madeline Brandeis

  Now he turned once more to Fritz and boomed, "Do you think one makestoys to be given away to every beggar on the streets? Each time I goout, something happens. Toys are ruined or given away or stolen! And allthe time you must fiddle, fiddle, fiddle!"

  "Yes, yes, Father, you are right," agreed clever Mitzi. "Fritz is astupid little donkey! But now it is Mitz who will keep the violin. Youcan trust me, Father. Come! Let me have the violin."

  She reached up her chubby hands, and slowly a smile spread over the toymaker's red face. The toy maker had a bristly mustache that made himlook like a fierce walrus. But under all his fierceness he loved hischildren.

  MR. TOYMAKER]

  "Very well," he said. "Mitzi shall keep the violin. But," he shook hisfinger at Fritz, "if ever I find you playing upon it again when youshould be working, I shall sell it!"

  At these words, Fritz looked as if the toy maker had struck him. Theviolin had been sent to Fritz by his mother's brother in Mittenwald, atown of violin makers. It was the little boy's dearest possession.

  When their father had left the room, Fritz said, "Oh, Mitz, you are sogood!"

  Mitzi decided that she was hungry again, so she began digging about inthe cupboard.

  She said, "You are a stupid little donkey! And I am not good to you. Iam not!"

  "Oh, Mitz!" said her brother.

  "No, I am never good to you," said Mitzi. She had found a big pickle andwas beginning to gnaw at it. "And never, never will I give you theviolin. Never!"

  "Oh, Mitz!" said Fritz again.

  "Never!" repeated Mitzi. Then she added with a smile, "Unless there isno work to be done!"

  Fritz laughed.

  "Come! Eat a pickle," said Mitzi.

  They sat together, very happy, eating pickles. Ever since Mitzi had beena small child, she had been up to tricks and full of fun. And always,always had she been hungry!

  That night when the children were in bed the toy maker and his wifetalked late into the night. The toy maker was worried. He was notselling his toys. Soon there would not be money enough in the house withwhich to buy food. He was telling his wife that they were very poor.

  EATING PICKLES]

  "I am tired of this life, anyway," said the toy maker. "I want to goaway from Nuremberg. Here people buy only modern toys that are made bymachines. In big towns people do not like the old-fashioned handmadetoys."

  A TOY SHOP IN NUREMBERG]

  "Where would we go?" asked his wife.

  The toy maker replied, "We can wander from place to place. When townsare having fairs, all the country people come to buy. We can go from onefair to the other, selling our toys in the market squares."

  "But how would we travel?" asked Mrs. Toymaker.

  "Ah!" Her husband raised his finger mysteriously. "I have a secret."

  Now, for a long time Mr. Toymaker had been thinking of a wandering life.He was clever with his hands and had been making a wagon, which heplanned to use as a home for his family and himself on their wanderings.He told his wife about it now.

  "We shall travel through Germany like gypsies," he said. "There is asaying that if you cut a gypsy in ten pieces you have not killed him.You have only made ten gypsies. Theirs is a healthful life."

  Mrs. Toymaker thought the plan a good one. She usually agreed with herhusband. In fact, there was only one question over which the toy makerand his wife really disagreed. That was the question of Fritz and hisviolin. Mrs. Toymaker thought it beautiful for people to make music. Mr.Toymaker did not. He thought it a waste of time.

  MRS. TOYMAKER]

  He said, "One cannot touch tunes nor eat them nor play with them as onecan with toys. No, Fritz shall make good, solid toys as I do, notsilly, flimsy tunes, which nobody will pay to hear."

  But still Mrs. Toymaker did not agree. She believed that sometimespeople will pay for things, even if they cannot touch them. It was Mrs.Toymaker who had given Mitz and Fritz their books about Germanmusicians.

  It was Mrs. Toymaker who had said, "In our Germany some of the world'sgreatest composers of music were born. Many of them played cleverly whenthey were little boys. Perhaps--who knows?--my Fritz may grow to be agreat musician."

  But she did not say this to the stubborn toy maker.

  CHURCH OF OUR LADY--NUREMBERG]

  CHAPTER III

  GOODBYE TO NUREMBERG

  The day before the toy maker and his family were to start on theirjourney, Mitz and Fritz went to the market place. They walked throughthe quaint old streets of Nuremberg where they had lived all theirlives. Frank, the dog, followed at their heels.

  They stood looking up at an ancient clock on an ancient church. Underthe face of the clock sat the figure of Emperor Charles the Fifth.

  When the clock struck twelve, a little door at the side opened. A row oftoy knights came marching out, followed by seven electors. Each figurebowed stiffly to the Emperor as it sailed past. Then it disappearedinto a door at the opposite side of the clock.

  Every day this performance took place. Every day Nuremberg childrengathered below to watch it. Fritz sighed when it was over.

  "That is the last time we shall see it," he said.

  "We shall see other things," said Mitzi. "We are going to--to--oh, toevery place that we have read about!"

  "We shall see the homes of great musicians," said Fritz, whose face wasnow beaming.

  The Germans like to remember their great men. Even the school childrenare often taken by their teachers on trips to the towns where poets andpainters and musicians lived. It is no wonder, then, that Mitz and Fritzwere happy and excited about what the next day was to bring.

  As they turned to leave the market place, Mitzi suddenly caught sight ofsome people across the street. They were walking very slowly and gazingabout with the air of seeing things for the first time.

  "Stay here and hold Frank," said Mitzi to her brother. "I am going overto see those strangers. I am going to ask to guide them through thechurch."

  She crossed the street and approached the people. She felt certain thatthey must be Americans or English, for she had watched many like them.She decided to show how well she could speak English.

  "Gute day," said Mitzi.

  "Why, hello, little Gretchen!" said a jolly-looking man.

  "I be Mitzi," said the little girl, with a short bow. "I will show youto the church."

  The people laughed.

  The jolly man said, "You wish to show us to the church? Very well. Ithink the church will be pleased to see us."

  Mitzi took the travelers through the church. She talked a great deal,and sometimes they could not understand what she said. Nevertheless whenthey came out they gave her some coins. Mitzi put the coins in herpocket and bowed again.

  "Danke (daen'k[~e]). Danke," she said; which means "Thanks. Thanks."

  The man said, "You are a good guide, and the church seemed very glad tomeet us."

  "Yes, ma'am," said Mitzi.

  She was trying to use all the English words she knew. Then sheremembered a sentence which an English boy had once taught her. He hadbeen a very naughty boy. He had told her that it was a most polite andrespectful thing to say.

  So the little German girl lifted her round face to the stranger, smiledsweetly, and said, "You--are--a--silly--goose!"

  Mitzi could not understand why there was a roar of laughter from her newfriends. She turned and ran across the street to where Fritz and Frankwere awaiting her.

  A HOUSE IN NUREMBERG]

  "Come. We are going home to lunch now," she said to her brother.

  She pulled the coins out of her pocket and showed them to Fritz. Thenshe pulled something else out of her pocket and began to eat. It was abit of sausage.

  They passed funny houses with pictures painted on them, and old shopsfull of wonderful toys and ornaments and gingerbread. They passed toyshops and sausage stands. There are a thousand different kinds ofsausages in Germany.

  Germany is the children's gingerbread country. Think of all the childi
shdelights that have come out of Germany: Christmas trees, cuckoo clocks,Hansel and Gretel, Grimms' Fairy Tales, and the Pied Piper!

  And toys! When a toy is marked "made in Germany," we know that it isvery fine, because Germany is the toy center of the world.

  In Switzerland you would climb the Alps and eat cheese. In Ireland youwould kiss the Blarney Stone and eat stew. In Italy you would see theart galleries and eat spaghetti. In China you would visit the Great Walland eat rice. But in Germany, especially if you are a child, you wouldgo to the toy shops and eat gingerbread.

  CHAPTER IV

  BAYREUTH AND A PLAN

  Did you ever dream of becoming so great that a whole town would exist inyour memory? That is what happened in the case of Richard Wagner, thelittle boy who stood in a market square and listened to "The Huntsman'sChorus."

  Mitz and Fritz and their parents arrived in Bayreuth (B[=i]'roit') intime for the Wagner festival. People had come from all over the world tohear the great Wagner operas. They are performed in a beautiful theaterbuilt especially for that purpose.

  During the festival, the whole town talks and thinks and remembersRichard Wagner. In every shop window are pictures of the composer. Evena newspaper is published which prints only matters concerningRichard Wagner.

  HOME OF RICHARD WAGNER--BAYREUTH]

  Mitz and Fritz left their wagon home and began to wander through thewoodland town. Fritz was so happy and excited that one would havethought it his own festival. He had read and heard much about Bayreuth.

  CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE FESTIVAL]

  Mitzi, too, was impressed. But this did not stop her from nibbling at abar of chocolate and smearing her round face.

  "What do all the blue and white banners mean?" asked Fritz.

  "They are the colors of Bavaria," said Mitzi.

  Just as we have our states, so has Germany hers. In each part of thecountry the people are different from those of other parts.

  In the United States the southern people are different from the westerncowboy. In Great Britain the Scotch are different from the Welsh. InSwitzerland the Italian-Swiss are different from the French-Swiss.

  THE SCHUHPLATTLER, A NATIVE FOLK DANCE OF THE BAVARIANMOUNTAINS]

  In Germany the Bavarian is a jolly farmer The German who lives by theRhine is fun-loving and cheerful. But the Prussian is strict and veryserious.

  Mr. Toymaker was a Prussian. So is the former Kaiser, who ruled Germanybefore the World War. Now the ex-Kaiser is living quietly in Holland,and Germany is a republic like our country.

  But let us go back to Mitz and Fritz. It seems that I cannot resisttelling you a few things about their country as we go along. However, Iam sure Mitz and Fritz would not object to that. For all Germans want tolearn, even while they play.

  Mr. Toymaker tried to sell his toys in the crowded market place ofBayreuth. But he was not very successful. People were thinking only ofthe glorious music they had come to hear.

  Visitors wandered about the town. They stood beside the grave of Wagnerin the garden of his home. In this grave the musician is buried with hisfaithful dog.

  MARKET PLACE--BAYREUTH]

  It is here that we find Mitz and Fritz and Mrs. Toymaker. Frank lay attheir feet.

  "Father is so disappointed," said Mrs. Toymaker. "He has sold so fewtoys."

  "Perhaps in the next town he will sell more," said Fritz. Then he tookhis mother's hand. "Please," he added wistfully, "tell us somethingabout Richard Wagner."

  Mrs. Toymaker was much like Fritz and not very much like Mr. Toymaker.Somehow she forgot her worries about not selling toys when shethought of Wagner. So she smiled and told the children this story:

  "When Richard was about fourteen he went to school in Dresden. But hesoon became very homesick for his family, who were living in Prague(Praek). He had no money, so he and a schoolmate decided to walk toPrague.

  "It was a long distance, and the boys grew very weary and hungry. Atlast Richard made up his mind to hail the first coach and to beg formoney. The other boy was timid and hid in the bushes.

  "Richard stood in the center of the road as a coach came along. He heldup his hand and the coach stopped. But the poor boy's knees wereshaking, and he could hardly speak."

  Mitzi interrupted her mother. "Why not?" she asked. "I would havespoken. I would have said, 'Give me money. I am hungry.'"

  "Yes," laughed Mrs. Toymaker. "I have no doubt of that. For you arealways hungry and you can always talk! But, you see, Richard wasdifferent."

  "A bit foolish, like Fritz," said Mitzi knowingly.

  The mother paid no attention to this remark but went on with her story:"The people in the coach were kind and threw money to Richard. He andhis friend had a good dinner and finally reached Prague. But they saythat he never forgot this experience."

  A light began to shine in Mitzi's eyes as her mother finished the tale.An idea had been born in her busy little head. That evening after suppershe took Fritz by the hand.

  "Come," she whispered. "I have something to tell you--something veryexciting." She led him away from their wagon, out upon the moonlit road."Fritz," she said, "I have thought of a way to help Father. I thoughtof it after Mother told that story about Richard Wagner. Now, if Richardhad been a boy musician like you, he might have played for people and--"

  "Do you mean that he might have played on his trip to Prague?" askedFritz.

  "Yes," said Mitzi. "In every town. The people would have thrown him somuch money that he could have bought all the bread and sausage and--"

  Fritz laughed at Mitzi's wide eyes.

  "Well, but what has that to do with our helping Father?" he asked.

  "Don't you see?" she replied. "You shall play on the streets, and peoplewill throw coins. Then, even if Father cannot sell toys, we shall stillhave money with which to buy food."

  "Oh, Mitz!" said Fritz.

  "Oh, whist!" cried Mitzi impatiently. "I am going to make you do it!You'll see how easy it will be."

  "But Father will not let me do it," said Fritz. "He does not like myfiddling. He would punish me."

  "We won't tell him," said Mitzi. "He only forbade you to play when heputs you to work. Other times, it is not wrong for you to do it. So,when Father is selling toys in the next market place, we'll run off. Youshall play your violin, and pretty soon crowds of people will gatherand--"

  "Oh, Mi--" began Fritz.

  "Oh, fiddlesticks!" snapped Mitzi. She took him firmly by the arm."Come," she said. "It is all settled. It is a fine plan. So now let usfind something to eat and then go to bed."

  CHAPTER V

  ALONG THE ROAD

  Mr. Toymaker heard of a fair to be held in Mainz (M[=i]nts). So hedecided to go there at once, although it was some distance fromBayreuth.

  On the journey the children were kept busy. Fritz had to help his fatherwith many things. Mitzi had to help her mother. They found no time totry their plan. But they did not forget it.

  GROUP OF HIKERS ON THE MARCH]

  Along the road they saw much of interest. They passed small hotels foryoung travelers hiking about the country. In different lands there aredifferent sports. Spain has her bullfights. England has her cricket.Switzerland's high mountains are popular for snow and ice sports.The United States plays baseball. But Germany hikes.

  AN OLD CASTLE MADE INTO AN INN FOR HIKERS]

  All over the land, in the summer time and even in winter, one meetsgroups of walkers. Children walk with teachers. Older children walkalone. As they walk they sing. They admire their country and learn. Theystop overnight in these little youth inns--hotels made especially forboys and girls.

  "Some day I am going with a group," said Mitzi. "I am going on hikingtrips."

  "Not until you are a bachfisch (baek'fish)," said Fritz.

  In Germany a young girl is called a "bachfisch," which means "bakedfish."

  But not so long ago in Germany girls did not hike and swim and playtennis. But now it is different. Girls are interested in everything,just
as they are in America.

  The Toymaker family journeyed through Hanau (Hae'nou), home of the Grimmbrothers. The children spoke of these two devoted men, who had alwaysworked together. Some of their stories have become famous, as, forinstance, "Hansel and Gretel" and "Tom Thumb."

  The family moved on toward Frankfurt.

  The five Rothschild brothers had lived in Frankfurt. They had become therichest men in Europe and were called "The Five Frankfurters." Mrs.Toymaker remembered that the great poet, Goethe, had been born there.

  KASSEL; OLD STREET IN THE "GRIMM QUARTER"]

  SABABURG CASTLE IN THE GERMAN FAIRY TALE FOREST NEARKASSEL IS THE PALACE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY AND BLUEBEARD FAME]

  Mitzi hoped to eat her fill of sausages. Frankfurt is supposed to be thehome of the "hot dog." But she had more important hopes than eating "hotdogs." She was going to carry out her plan for Fritz's concert when theyreached Mainz.

  CHAPTER VI

  MAINZ AND A BEGGAR

  "Come quickly, Fritz. Now, we can slip away!" said Mitzi.

  They were in the market place of Mainz. Their father was sitting at abooth under a striped umbrella. He was selling a few toys, and he lookedmore cheerful than usual.

  Mitzi led her brother down the street.

  "Quickly, come! We shall stand here before this big church," she said.

  They had stopped in front of a beautiful old cathedral. Near by stoodthe statue of a man holding a sheet of paper in his hands.