that they needed this interchange of thoughts to help each other and themselves.  Naturally, the children were first discussed, with their varied joys and sorrows, wants and wishes; next, the doctor’s patients, who came to the house from far and near; and last, the many calls for sympathy and advice that reached their ears and their hearts from all the country round about; for many were those who brought their troubles of all kinds to this hospitable house, where they were always sure of help and encouragement, of support in word and deed.  So the two sisters, on this, as on many another evening, had so many things of interest to discuss and decide, that, under their busy hands, the heap of unmended stockings in the work-basket melted away unobserved, while many a neighborly plan and kindly conspiracy were hatched by their warm hearts and busy heads; and it was very late when at last they separated to their well earned rest.

CHAPTER III.

In the village and in the school.

The village of Buchberg consisted of several scattered farms, and of groups of houses and cottages that peeped out from among thriving fruit trees.  Only a few houses stood near the church; the school-house, the sexton’s house, the substantial old-fashioned dwelling of the mayor of the little community, and two or three peasants’ cottages.  Dr. Stein’s house stood quite by itself at a little distance from the others, on a slight elevation, quite surrounded by trees.  The biggest buildings in all Buchberg stood on the principal street of the town; these were the fine house and the enormous factory of Mr. Bickel, who had built them both.

Between the street and the dwelling lay a sunny flower-garden; not a tree nor a shrub was planted in it, lest the grandeur of the mansion should be concealed in the least from public view.  Here lived the wealthy manufacturer, with his wife and their only son.  The family occupied only the lower floor; upstairs the six great splendid rooms were always closed and their shining green blinds always drawn down.  No one ever entered there except Mrs. Bickel, who now and then came up to air and to dust and to admire them.  Her little boy was allowed to go with her sometimes; but he had to leave his shoes at the door; and he stood just inside, half awe-struck in the gloom; staring at the unused chairs and the stiff furniture.  Mr. Bickel was a very important person in the village, for in his factory he employed a great many persons, both young and old; he was very clever at finding out what people were good for, and knew just how much they could work, and what they could do best, and how much they were worth to him.  It was said that whenever a child was born in Buchberg, Mr. Bickel began at once to calculate how many years would pass before it would be old enough to be put upon his pay-roll.  And almost all the children knew that their future destiny would surely bring them under Mr. Bickel’s management, and they learned early to stand respectfully aside when he came along the street, with his thick gold-headed cane, and his shining watch chain with the bunch of seals, that shook and glittered and jingled majestically from afar.