Mitz and Fritz of Germany

by Madeline Brandeis

  "See what a nice supper we are to have," said Mrs. Toymaker.

  She was smiling, but Mitzi noticed that there were tears in her blueeyes. Mitzi noticed something else besides the tears.

  "Mother!" she cried. "Where is your pretty blue necklace?"

  Mrs. Toymaker had always worn a string of sparkling blue beads. Theywere quite valuable and were her only piece of jewelry. She had lovedthem because Mr. Toymaker had given them to her before Mitz and Fritzwere born.

  Mrs. Toymaker did not answer Mitzi. She began to untie the bundles.

  "See," she said. "Black bread and milk!"

  "But, Mother," insisted Mitzi, "where is your necklace? Have you lostit?"

  Mrs. Toymaker saw the terror in Mitzi's eyes. That necklace had seemedto the little girl the finest and prettiest in all the world. Hermother was not her mother without it.

  Mrs. Toymaker did not know what to say. She drew Mitzi close and kissedher.

  But Mr. Toymaker said, "Enough of this, Mitzi. Go and help prepare thesupper. You are too curious!"

  "But, Father--" began Mitzi.

  "Very well, then," said Mr. Toymaker. "I shall tell you. We sold thenecklace so that we could buy food. Now, are you satisfied?"

  Mr. Toymaker's voice sounded cross. But his face looked very worried.

  "Oh, the beautiful necklace!" cried Mitzi.

  Mr. Toymaker untied a package.

  "Oh, the beautiful cheese!" he sniffed.

  He was trying to make the best of things. He was trying to be jolly--poorMr. Toymaker!

  "One cannot grieve about neck decorations," he said, "when the stomachcries out to be decorated!"

  CHAPTER XIV

  THE CONCERT

  Mitzi decided to hold the concert in a park. The market square was toonoisy and bustling. She wanted her brother's beautiful music to have abeautiful setting. The two children walked through Mendelssohn Street,Bach Street, Beethoven Street, and Mozart (M[=o]'tzaert) Street.

  "Leipzig is a wonderful city," thought Fritz. "They have named theirstreets after their musicians."

  What would Father think of that? There was no street named after a toymaker!

  Bismarck Street was named for a great German leader. The strength andwisdom of Prince Otto von Bismarck helped Germany to become a powerfulnation.

  THE PARK IN LEIPZIG]

  In the park many people strolled to and fro. Some were reading. Thechildren came upon a silver pond with beautiful shady trees all aboutit.

  "Now, Fritz," said Mitzi, "you must stand here beside the pond. See howpeaceful it is. Your music will float across the water. It will soundlike music from heaven."

  Fritz put on the homemade Pied Piper cloak. Then he stood beside thepond and began to play. Several people stopped, among them a group ofstudents with books under their arms.

  "Is the young musician your brother?" asked one student of Mitzi.

  "Yes," answered Mitzi. "And I am his sister."

  MITZI WAS HAPPY]

  The youths laughed and gave her a coin.

  "Play some Mendelssohn, young one," they said to Fritz.

  The boy obligingly played what they requested. The audience grew. Somethrew coins and asked Fritz to play certain tunes. He could play nearlyeverything they called for. Mrs. Toymaker had been a good teacher.Besides, Fritz could play anything after he had heard it once.

  Mitzi was very happy. She beamed at the crowd of listeners.

  "Now," she thought, "is the time to fetch Father." She whispered toFritz, "I am going for Father. I shall be back presently. Play until Icome."

  As Mitzi turned to leave, she bumped into a gentleman who carried aviolin case under his arm. Mitzi did not know that this gentleman was animportant music master. She hardly looked at him.

  She said quickly, "Excuse me, please," and pushed her way out of thecrowd. She must go for her father.

  The music master stood quite still, listening. What was that he heard?What did he see? A little boy standing beside a pond, playing the violin--alittle boy with a smiling face, playing the violin better than any of themusic master's grown-up pupils. Who was this little boy? Where had helearned to play like that?

  The music master drew closer to Fritz. He asked Fritz to play compositionsby Bach and Mozart. He was astonished at how well Fritz played them.

  In the meantime Mitzi hurried to her father's booth in the square.

  "Father," she cried, "come! Come quickly! I have something to show you."

  Mr. Toymaker jumped as if he had been shot.

  "What do you mean by startling me like that?" he said to Mitzi. "You arelike a young thunderbolt!"

  Mitzi's cheeks were glowing. Her eyes danced.

  "Fritz is playing--" she began eagerly.

  But Mr. Toymaker cut her short. He was in a bad mood. He had sold notoys again today and he could not find his friend, Mr. Krauss. He wasjealous, too, of the toyshop keepers who were selling their handsomewares. Now he spent his rage upon little Mitzi.

  "Stop!" he cried. "Do not speak again of that boy's silly playing! Goand bring him to me now. You and he shall keep my booth for me. I amgoing once more to look for Mr. Krauss."

  Mitzi's glowing cheeks turned pale. She pulled at her father's sleeve.

  "No, no! You must come with me," she pleaded. "Please, Father, close upthe booth just for a little while, until we return, and come--"

  "Enough!" cried Mr. Toymaker. "Do you tell me what to do or do I tellyou what to do? Now, go and fetch that lazy brother of yours. Bring himback here to help you keep my booth for me."

  FRITZ PLAYED]

  When poor, weeping Mitzi returned to the park, the gentleman with theviolin case was still there. He stood very close to Fritz. The boy wasplaying a minuet. A rather large crowd still remained. Mitzi waiteduntil Fritz finished playing the minuet. Then she went up to him.

  "Oh, Fritz," she said, "Father would not come with me. He wants us to goto the market place right away."

  Fritz let his violin fall to his side. A look of disappointment passedover his face and covered the smile.

  "Do not leave yet," said a voice. "Play some more."

  It was the music master speaking. Mitzi wiped a tear with the corner ofher apron and looked at the gentleman with the violin case. Hisexpression was kind.

  "We must go," she said to him. "But we shall be back again tomorrow."

  Mitzi did not know just why she said that. Only quite suddenly she haddetermined that she would be back tomorrow.

  Some one in the crowd called, "One more selection! Come, young one;play!"

  A coin came tumbling at Fritz's feet.

  "Yes, yes! More music, little fiddler! More music!" cried others.

  Mitzi sniffed to drive away her tears. Then she jumped upon a bench.From there she could look down upon the people. And Mitzi Toymaker beganto make a speech!

  STOOD ON HER HEAD]

  "Ladies and gentlemen," she began.

  Fritz thought his sister looked like a little leader. Her head wasthrown back. Her two plump legs were wide apart. Her arms were folded.Fritz had to smile.

  "I am glad, ladies and gentlemen," Mitzi said, "that you liked mybrother's playing. Come back again tomorrow afternoon, and Fritz willgive another concert!"

  The people clapped their hands and shouted, "Hoch (h[=o]k')!" which islike "Hurrah."

  Then some one called out, "What can _you_ do, little girl?"

  Mitzi gave the speaker a quick glance.

  "I can do this," she said; whereupon she stood on her head.

  There was a loud laugh from the crowd.

  "Tomorrow, then!" cried several people.

  The crowd began to move away. But the music master hesitated. Should hesay something? No, he would return tomorrow. He turned his steps in thedirection of home. But he could not forget the wonderful playing he hadjust heard. Perhaps, after hearing the little musician again tomorrow,he would try to help the youngster.

  CHAPTER XV

  FRITZ AND HIS VIOLIN
>
  Sadly the brother and sister set off for the market square.

  "Never mind, Fritz," said Mitzi. "We will go back to the park tomorrow.The people liked your music. They will come again, and perhaps Fatherwill come and--"

  Mitzi broke off suddenly. She stopped in the middle of the street withher mouth open.

  "Fritz! Fritz!" she cried. "Oh, Fritzie!"

  "What is the matter? What is it?" asked Fritz, puzzled.

  He could see nothing to disturb his sister like this. He had not beenwalking in mud puddles.

  "I have thought of the very thing!" said the girl. "I know just what weshall do. Oh, why didn't I think of it before?"

  "What is it?" asked her brother.

  They began to walk on again, but Mitzi was still in a state ofexcitement. She clutched Fritz's arm and started to talk. Her wordstumbled over on top of one another, they were in such a hurry to comeout.

  "You shall be a real Pied Piper, Fritz!" she chattered. "Tomorrow I'llmake another speech in the park. I'll ask the people to follow you justas the children followed the Pied Piper. While you are playing you willwalk away. You'll be like the Piper leading the rats and the children.Only, instead of leading them to a cave, you'll lead them to--"

  "Where?" asked Fritz, wide-eyed.

  "To Father!" said Mitzi.

  "Oh, Mitz!" cried Fritz, horrified.

  "Oh, rats!" said the girl. "You'll do as I say. What fun! I know thepeople will follow. They are such jolly people! And what a splendidway to show Father!"

  The sadness had left Mitzi. She beamed. She skipped along and sang,until Fritz caught some of her joy.

  They arrived at their father's booth. But the toy maker was not there.He had closed his stand. So the children went home to their wagon. Theyfound their father awaiting them there. The toy maker was twirling hismustache. He had a strange expression on his face.

  "Now, Father," said Mitzi, "you can go and look for Mr. Krauss. Fritzand I will watch the booth for you."

  But Mr. Toymaker did not move. Instead he smiled in a way which left hiseyes unsmiling.

  "I have decided not to go," he said. "I have decided to do somethingelse."

  "What, Father?" asked Mitzi.

  "Tonight," said Mr. Toymaker, "we shall have sausage and sauerkraut andother good things for supper." Then he turned to Fritz, saying, "Give methe violin."

  The boy drew away his precious violin. Mitzi stood in front of herbrother.

  "GIVE ME THE VIOLIN"]

  "Father," she asked, "why do you want Fritz's violin?"

  "Because I am going to sell it," said Mr. Toymaker. "It is a fineviolin. It will bring much money. Besides, it is quite useless to me.Give it here."

  But neither child moved. Mitz and Fritz stood like two little statues.

  "Do you hear me?" cried Mr. Toymaker. "I want the violin. Give it tome."

  Still they did not move. They stood looking up at the toy maker likegingerbread children out of "Hansel and Gretel."

  Mr. Toymaker reached out his hand to take the violin from Fritz. But theboy put it behind his back.

  "Please, please," he said, "don't take it away from me, Father!"

  Now Mr. Toymaker really did not want to hurt Fritz any more than hecould help. He loved this little fellow, even if he did think the boy tobe only an idle, music-loving scamp.

  "Fritz," he said in a kinder tone, "you will soon be a man. You mustlearn to bear disappointments. Come, now! Give me the violin like a goodboy."

  "PLEASE, FATHER"]

  As he spoke, the toy maker took the violin from his son's hands. Thenhe patted Fritz on the head.

  "YOU MUST LEARN TO HELP OTHERS"]

  "You must learn to help others, Fritz," he said. "You must, above all,help your father."

  Fritz longed to cry out and say, "But that is just what I want to do,Father!"

  Only he could not speak. His eyes were full of tears, and when hebrushed the tears away, the toy maker was gone. So was the boy's belovedviolin!

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE PIED PIPER

  The Toymaker family had sausage and sauerkraut and other good things forsupper. They ate their supper beside a camp fire near their wagon. Thatis, Mr. and Mrs. Toymaker did. But Mitz and Fritz could not eat. No,even Mitz could touch nothing--not even sausage!

  Mrs. Toymaker tried to comfort them, but it was hopeless. Fritz staredat the ground, and his heart ached. He thought he should never againplay his violin. Mitzi sat with Frank's long nose on her lap and strokedthe dog's floppy ears.

  "Tomorrow," thought Mitzi, "the crowd will come to the park to hearFritz play, and there will be no Fritz!"

  Of course, Mitzi did not know that the music master would come, too. Thekind music master would return. He would look for the little boy whosemusic had pleased him so much. He would wonder what had happened to theclever youngster whom he wanted to help. Mitzi did not know this. If shehad known it, she would have been more unhappy than she already was.

  The next morning passed much the same as the day before. Mr. Toymakersold nothing at his booth in the market place.

  At noon he said, "There is no use staying here any longer."

  He closed up his booth, and they went back to the wagon. After lunch Mr.and Mrs. Toymaker sat upon the steps of their wagon. They talked andtalked about what they were to do.

  "We could go to some small town and settle down," said Mrs. Toymaker."When winter comes, a wandering life will not be very pleasant. Mitzand Fritz should go to school. This gypsy life is not the best life forthem."

  SAT UPON THE STEPS OF THEIR WAGON]

  Mr. Toymaker said, "That is quite true. Let us find a town where peopleare not spoiled by fine toys. There we shall settle and be content tolive simply."

  "I do wish--" began Mrs. Toymaker.

  She had started to talk about Fritz. However, she knew that it made Mr.Toymaker angry. So she stopped.

  They sat together for a long time. Mrs. Toymaker knitted. Mr. Toymakersmoked a pipe. Both were so full of serious thoughts that they did notwonder about Mitz and Fritz. They did not wonder why the children hadnot been there since noon. As the shadows grew longer and a little latebreeze blew up, Mrs. Toymaker arose.

  "I must prepare supper," she said. "I wonder where the children are."

  She called, "Fritz! Mitz!" But there was no answer.

  "What is that I see in the distance?" asked Mr. Toymaker.

  He shaded his eyes with his hand. He looked in the direction of thesetting sun. Mrs. Toymaker looked, too. Black forms were coming towardthem. A crowd of people was drawing near, following some one who mademusic.

  "Listen," said Mrs. Toymaker. "The notes of a violin!"

  Mr. Toymaker stood up. The music, sweet and lively, came to them moreclearly. Slowly the forms of the people grew more distinct as they drewcloser.

  "Why, it is a Pied Piper!" exclaimed Mrs. Toymaker. "It must be the jokeof some children."

  But all the time Mrs. Toymaker thought she knew who it was. She thoughtshe knew that it was really--Yes, now there could be no doubt about it!

  "It is Fritz!" cried Mrs. Toymaker. "It is our own little Fritz!"

  CHAPTER XVII

  THE MUSIC MASTER

  The strange procession stopped before the wagon of the toy maker. ThePied Piper continued his playing. The crowd stood listening. When thepiece was finished, they clapped and threw coins and shouted, "Hoch!"

  Then a gentleman carrying a violin case hoisted the Pied Piper upon hisshoulder. He walked over with the Pied Piper to where the toy makerstood.

  "Sir," said the violin-case gentleman, "I believe this is your son."

  Mr. Toymaker was so amazed that he could only nod his head.

  The gentleman went on, "Your son's playing has made us all very happy.We followed his music just as the children of long ago followed thePied Piper of Hamelin."

  The people began to laugh and cheer and call for more music.

  But Mr. Violin-Case said, "The concert is over. Now I a
m going to seeMr. Toymaker alone."

  "HERE IS YOUR SON!"]

  When the people had left, Mr. Violin-Case and Mr. Toymaker went into thewagon together. There they stayed for quite a long time.

  Outside, Mrs. Toymaker drew her children close to her.

  "Tell me," she said. "Do tell me all about it."

  Mitzi said, "Good! I'll tell you, Mother. But first I must have apretzel to eat. I have had nothing since morning."

  Mitzi helped herself to a fistful of the salty, twisted crackers. Shebegan to eat and to talk at the same time--a feat which cannot be donevery well.

  Her words sounded to Mrs. Toymaker like "Yummeemummee."

  The mother laughed and said, "Fritz had better tell me."

  Fritz began, "Mitzi believed all along that people would really like mymusic. She wanted to show Father. So today we went back to the same parkwhere I played yesterday."

  By this time, Mitzi had swallowed her first pretzel, so she continuedthe story: "I stood upon a bench. I talked very loudly so everyone couldhear. I said that our father had sold Fritz's violin and that Fritzcould not play for them. I said I was sorry that we could not keep ourpromise and give another concert. Then the gennamemmaeppa--"

  "Mitzi!" laughed Mrs. Toymaker. "How can I understand you when you areeating pretzels?"

  "The gentleman stepped up to us," went on Fritz.

  "What gentlemen, dear?"