“Now, my boys,” she continued cordially, “you cannot fail being hungry, and I hope you will eat heartily and if the meat and potatoes fail us, we can make out with this good brown and white bread, and butter and new milk and these stewed pears.”

The boys were glad to obey and the viands disappeared like magic.  Mrs. Steiner had many questions to ask about her brother and his family but would not disturb Fritz until he had finished supper.  An old adage came into her mind as she saw them eat, “When a sheep bleats you may be sure he has no food in his mouth.”

She was glad to see that they heartily enjoyed their supper, and when finished she made a proposition.  “You can rest while I put the place in order for the night and then we will take a walk.”

“Can I take Pixy?” asked Fritz eagerly.

“Certainly, if you lead him by his cord, and if a policeman speaks to you about your dog having no tag or muzzle, tell him that you are from the country and are only visiting Frankfort, which is your reason for not having one or the other.”

“But I am afraid the policeman will take him.  I would rather stay here with him.”

“There is no danger of him taking the dog from you.  The most he could do would be to make you pay a fine; and I am sure he will not do that when we explain matters to him.  Now we will go.”

“Where are all the people going?” asked Fritz when they reached the street.  “At home we only see a crowd when the church service is over and that is but for a little while.  Here the street seems alive all the time.”

“Yes, Frankfort has more than three hundred thousand inhabitants and of course many are on the street, some caring for business, others for pleasure, and some, like us, are sight-seeing.”

“Just see that beautiful place like a rich man’s garden!” said Franz, “with trees and plants and flowers, and so many people walking there.”

“Yes, they are the public gardens or promenades, and are in place of what was once the fortifications of the city.  In the early part of the nineteenth century part of them were taken away and this splendid girdle of plants and beautiful walks took their place.”

“Oh, it is lovely, lovely!” exclaimed Paul.  “I never before saw a garden lighted, and with so many gas lamps that it is as bright as if the sun were shining.  Can we go in?”

“Yes, but we will wait here a little while.  Do you see this beautiful lake surrounded by trees?  In a few minutes you will see a beautiful scene which will surprise you.”

“Oh, this is the surprise,” cried the boys in a breath, for like magic myriads of gas lights sprang up along the line of the trees and the Main river.  It was a bewildering sight to the country boys, who had no words to express their pleasure.

“And two rows of lights are across the river,” exclaimed Paul.

“Yes, they are on the fine new bridge over the Main; and above is the old bridge and several others which you can visit while in Frankfort.”