FOR OUT BOYS & GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 270, 15 November 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

FOR OUT BOYS & GIRLS.

EDITED BY

MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

[All Rights Reserved.]

The Spire of St. Stephen's. By Emma W. Demef.itt. «It needs bufc a steady head and a clear Conscience and fche thine: is done.' Those >ereold Jacob's words! 'The clear conscience is nob lacking, thank God ! ~b«t all these weeks of watchliner by a sick bed, and the scanfcy meals, Lye made the head anything bufc sbeady. Tf ifc were but three months ago, my courage would nofc fail me. bub now' - 'The boy broke off abruptly, and stepping back several feeb, stood looking up afc the stately spire bhab towered above him. Fair 'and shapely it rose, wifch gradually receding buttreas and arch until it terminated ab ■ a point over four hundred feeb from the "pavement. All day long Httle groups of men had Straggled across bhe Plata and gathered in ifrout of the great cathedral, elbowing one another aad stretching upon tiptoe to read .the notice nailed to the mac-sive door. ■Many were tha jests passed round. • Does the old sexfcon think men are flies to creep along yonder dizzy height ?' asked 'The prize is indeed worth winning,' said another, 'but'—he burned away with an expressive shrug of fche shoulder —'lifeis gweet.' ' When I try.to reach heaven 'twill be by some less sleep and dangerous way,' kughed a third, with an upward -glance ab the spire. ! 'It makes a strong man feel a bib queer to go up inside as far as fche great; bell and look up at the network of crossing ladders; [bnt to stand outside and wave a flag !— "why, fche mere bhoughb of ib is enough bo imake one's head swing,' said bhe first speaker. ' Jacob Wirbig is bhe only man in all Vienna who has the nerve for such a part' 'Bub be served a good apprenticeship ! s He learned fche knack of keeping a sbeady head during his early days of chamoishunting in the Tyrol. Bufc why does be seek to draw others into clangor? For so much gold many a man would risk his life.' 'lean understand it, Caspar. Twice before, on some grand occasion, has old Jacob stood on tho spire and waved the flag as fche Emperor passed in bhe streets ibelow. And now, after all fche fighting land the victory, when there is to bo a triumphal entry into the ciby and a grand review and such rejoicing as was never known before, he feels in honour bound to supply the customary salute from tho Cathedral. And since this miserable fever, .which has stricken down so many in bhe ciby, has lefb him too weak to abtempb it, ho is trying, as yon see by this notice, to get isome'one to take his place. He offers all the money which the Emperor never fails to send as a reward, to say nothing of the glory J I'll wagor a florin thab he'll offer in vain! Bub come ! leb us be going. There's .too much work to be done, to be loitering ;h,ere.' Twice before on thafc day, once in ,the early morning, and again ab noon, bad the boy sbood as if spell-bound wibh his eyes riveted on bhe beautiful spire. And now the setting of the sun had found him a third time at; his post. The Plabz was deserted, bub the streets beyond were ithronged wibh people hurrying fco their homes. Was ifc fear, or tho chill of bhe night air, thafc sent a shiver over the slender figure- of fche boy as he stood, letting ibis eyes slowly wander from the top of the spire to the base of the tower beneabb, as rf measuring bhe frightful disbance? Bub, 'as he turned away wifch a libfcle gesture of idespair, there rose before him fche vision of ja wan and weary face, as white as the pillow against; which ib rested, and he beard the physician's voice as he gently replaced the wasted hand on fche coverlet. ' The fever has gone, my boy, and all fchafc your 'mother needs now to make her well is good care and plenby of nourishing food.' Tho money offered by old Jacob would do all thab, and much more. Ifc would mean comforfc for fcwo or three years, for both mother and son wibh their simple way of living.

When the lad again faced the Cathedral ifc was wifch an involuntary straightening of the shrinking figure. 'With God's help I Wilt try,' he said aloud, wibh a determined lijig to his voice, • and I must go at ones bo let Master Wirtig know. Now thab I havo finally decided, ib is strange how the fear has flown. Ifc is the hesitating thafc takes the courage oub of one ! After all—' he paced back, back, back, until he was far enough from the Cathedral to get a good view of the noble structure. ' Who knows ? It may look more difficult than ifc really is ! 'Tis bub a foothold of a few inches, bub 'tis enough. If it were near fche ground I should feel as safe as if I were on tho floor of the great hall in fche Stadfc Haus. Why, then, should I fear up yonder ?' The flush in the western sky suddenly deepened to a vivid crimson. The clouds above the horizon, which a moment before had shone like waves of gold, became a &ea of flame. The ruddy, glow illumined bhe old cathedral, touching rich carving and lace-like tracery with a new splendour, "while far over sculptured dome and stately tower rose the lofty spire, bathed from flnial to base in the radiant light. The boy made a step forward, and slipping back the little cap from his locks stretched oufc his clasped hands towards the sky. «O Mary, tender mobher !' he cried. • Plead thou for me in my time of need to-morrow ! O Jesu ! be near to help and save!'

He replaced fche cap and hurried across Platz to fche crowded fchoroughfare ■Wond. Ac fche end of three blocks he %ned into a narrow street and stopped in front of a high bouse wifch steep, tiled roof. ;*he lamp in fche swinging iron bracket a hove the door gave such a feeble light ttafc he was obliged bo grope his way trough the hall to the stairs.

Ab bhe second landing he paused for a foment, fancying that he heard a light footfall behind him, bub all was still, and on fco fcho nexb floor. Again " c Btopped, thinking fchat he caught; the sound of a stealthy, cat-like fcread on fcho below. ' Who's there?' he called out boldly, but; fche lingering echo of his own v °ice was bhe only answer. . 'How foolish I am !' he exclaimed. 'Ib , 18 bub the ctafcber of my shoes on fche stone stairs.' Up another flight and down fche Io "a, narrow enbry he went, and still he could nob shake off bhe feeling bhab he was be ing followed. Ab bhab momenb a door opened and a peered out, holding a candle high ah ove her head. ' Is that you, Franz ?' she said. • My brother has been expecting you this halt hour.' By the flickering iighb of candle Franz could sco bhab there was jj° one in the entry. He turned, impelled °y a strong desire to search bhe tall cupboard near the stairs and see if anyone had £°?cealed himself within, bub the dread of being laughed ab kepb him bacik, and he followed, the woman inbo a room where a

grey - haired man safe, leaning wearily against bhe back of hia chair. 'You may go now, Kafcrina,' said bhe man, motioning fco an adjoining room and when the door closed he turned to Franz trembling wifch eagerness. • Well bave you decided ?' ' ' ' I will try, Master W lr tip_> The old sexton wrung his thin hands nervously. ' Bub if you should fail >' 'In God is my' trust, 'answered the boy "Te- , ?, Ut ° ne " if " is as good as another ! \\ hy nob say, if you succeed ? Ib sounds more cheery.' _ 'God grant it/answered fche man, sinking back m his chair. ' I had thought bhab ib would bo some hardy, young sprig who should accept my offer-some sailor or stonemason, whose calling had taught him to carry a sfceady head. I never dreamed bnafc ib would be a mere lad like thyself, and worn out, too, wifch the care of thy sick mother ! Even now I feel I do thee a grievous wrong to listen to thy entreaties.' ' Think not of me, Master Wirtip ; think rather of my mother. Shall we let her die, when a few moments on yonder spire would furnish the means to make her well ? Tho kind physician who would have helped me was smitten wifch the fever yesterday, and bhere is no one fco whom I can go.' ' Had I been as prudent as I ought, I could have aided thee. But this lingering illness has used up what I had put aside" Here is a little for thy present need—some brobh for thy mother, and a bite for thyself, for thy cheeks look as pinched as if thou hadsfc nofc eaten a good meal for a fortnight. He pulled oub a covered basket from under bhe table, and continued: ' I shall arrange with Nicholas, for he has worked wibh me so long that he is as familiar with the ladders as myself, to go wibh bhee up to the little, shining window, and pass oufc the flag. Thou must leb thyself down outside the window until thy toes touch the ledge below. Then, thou musb creep cautiously around, to bhe opposite side of fche spire and wave the flag. "Look always straight before thee or. "up afc tho sky. Thy safety lies in not glancing below. I believe in my heart; thou "wilt succeed. Howl wish fchafc bhis graceless Nicholas, this unruly nephew of mino, werb such an one as thou ! Then should I have some comforb. Bub wifch his evil companions and bad ways he brings mo naughb bufc sorrow. Listen, Franz, if all goes well thou shalt have his place in helping me wifch the care of fche Cathedral. There is no longer any dependence to be placed on him.' In his excitement old Jacob's voice rang through fche room. ' What is it ?' he asked, as he caw Franz start and look toward the door.

' I thought I heard a rabbling of the labch —as if some ono was outside.'

' It's nothing bufc the wind drawing through the entry.'

Franz took up his basket and bade the old sexton good nighb. After he had passed into the sbreefc a figure crept oub from the cupboard, and stole down stairs. The light by fche door showed a boy aboub 17 years old wibh an evil scowl on his face. ' And so thou art to take my place, Franz Halle,' sneered. 'That is nothing new. Twice this year has our master, the goldsmith, preferred thy work to mine, and haat set thee over me. Truly, I wish thou mays fall , to-morrow and break thy neck.'

When Franz reached home the kind neighbour who was watching by his mother's bed motioned for him fco be quiet. ' Tho sick one i 3 sleeping well,' 6hs said, 'if I had bub some good broth bo give her when sho wakes.' Franz pointed to fche basket, and the delighted woman began the preparations for the evening meal. When the invalid awoke fchey gave her a few spoonfuls of the broth and had bhe sabisfacbion of seeing a fainfc colour come inbo the white cheeks as she sank into a peaceful slumber.

' Do fchou go fco bed, Franz ! I will stay with thy mother to-nighfc, and to-morrow too, for thafc matter, co thafc thou cansb have the wholo day to thyself. Thou needesfc it after all thy care and watching. I like nnfc these parades and these marches of triumph. They remind me boo much of my boy whose young life helped bo purchase the victory,' and the good frau wiped away

a bear,

Tho morning dawned with a bright, blue sky and a crisp breeze which shook oufc the. folds of the tropical banners floating from every tower and turret. The city was one blaze of colour. The gorgeous festoons on column and arch and fagade were matched by the rich tints of fche splendid costumes in bhe sbreefc below. On every side, bhe black eagles of Ausbria sbood oub distinctly from their gleaming orange background. The procession was duo at fche Cathedral by the middle of the afternoon, but owing to some delay ifc was nearly sunset when the salute from the ' Fort' told of the approach of the troops. To Franz, the hours had dragged wearily on, and he sprang up joyfullyVhen Nicholas finally appeared in the little room in fche tower, with the furled fins' under his arm. ' Come,' he said gruffly. ' You have jusb bime to climb up and take %-our stand on the spire.' Up bhe boys Wont, as far as bhe greab bell, Franz close behind Nicholas. Thus far, fche ascenfc had been easy, bufc from, this point; the steps long, frail ladders terminafcirtg in small platforms, and steadied by iron bar?. Still they toiled upward, more slowly and cautiously' now, for fche danger increased wifch every turn. Ab lasb, they halted, sido by side, on the little platform under bhe sliding winclow. To Nicholas' surprise Franz stood there, surveying ifc all without flinching. The younger boy turned fco his burly companion." .'Somehow, we've never been very good friends. I don't think fche fault was all on my side, because you wouldn't leb me be your friend. And we have had a good many quarrels ! Won't you shake hands with me now and wish me good luck ? If—if—' arid there was jusb bhe suspicion of a bremor in bhe winning voice— ' I should never see you again, I should like to feel thafc we were friends afc fche last. You're very good to come up here wibh me.' To his dying day, Nicholas never forgot the slight, almost girlish figure, standing there, with the wistful little smile, and the pleading tenderness shining in the blue eyes. He touched bhe slender outstretched hand with his own, bub dropped it suddenly as if hs had received an electric shock. He tried to say ' good luck,' but his tongue seemed glued to the roof of hia mouth. ' Look™ you, Franz 1' ho murmured hoarsely. ' When you are safe outside I'll hand oufc fche flag. I'll wait till you reach fche ODposifce side Of the spire and call oufc " All's well," and then I'll go down and leave you fco make your way back. And glad I shall be to leave this miserable trap in mid-air.' Franz's face was deathly pale, bub his eyes shone like fcwo Bfcars. He climbed up nimbly through the opening, and let himself carefully down fco fche stone ledge oubside, and reached up for the flag. A few moments passed which seemed like ages to the waiting Nicholas. Then a cheery ' All's well' rang oub wibhoub a quiver in the steady voice. The older boy's face grew black with rage. ' What nerve fche pale, sickly, little thing has !' he muttered between his teeth. ' I believe he'll do ib after all ! And so this baby gets nofc only the prizes ab the goldsmith's, bub bhe money and. the glory of this thing, bo say nobhing of his taking my place in the Cabhedral.' He raised his" hand to the window, and sbood in fronb of ib for a moment.. Then he began fche descent; as if some demon were after him. The frail ladders vibrated and swayed wifch fche dangerous strain, bufc down he went, wifch reckless haste, unbil he reached, bhe second plabform, when he raised his hands wibh nni agonised gesbure bo his ears as if he was trying to shut oub the voice of conscience thab kepb calling to him: ' Back 1 back, before it is too late ! Stain not thy young soul with Buch a crune.'

Sbill he hurried down wifch flying sbep fco the landing near the great bell, where he

paused, and stood leaning breathless against one of.the crossbeams of the bower. Into the fierce, turbulent passions of the troubled face stole a softened expression, lighting up the swarthy lineaments like a gleam of sunshine. 'I will go back and undo the horrid deed,' he cried, as if in answer fco the good angel pleading within his breast. ' I am coming, Franz ! God forgive me.' _He had turned to make fche l ascent, and his hand was sfcrefcohed oub fco grasp bhe side of bhe ladder, when his toe caught in a coil of rope on the platform, and missing his hold he plunged down, down, into fche space beneath. In the meantime, Franz had made his way safely around the spire,, and stood quietly with the end of the flagstaff on fcho ledge beneath, waiting for the signal. It came in a few moments ; bhe thunder of the great gun on the Platz, and bracing his feeb firmly, he unfurled bhe _la» and slowly waved ib back and forth. From tbe answering roar of artillery.and the cheer upon cheer that floated up through the air, he knew fchat his salute had been seen. With a light hearb he began to retrace his steps, edging himself cautiously, inch by inch, to the window. To bis surprise, the sliding wooden panel was closed. With one hand he grasped bho iron ring fastened fco the wall beneath the window, and wifch the other pushed firsb gently, and then wibh all his mighb, bub the panel remained fast. He tried to batter ib with bhe flagstaff, bub soon found fchab in his cramped position ifc only increased his danger. Again and again be endeavoured to force ib open, breaking his nails and bruising his finger tips in his frenzy, bufc to no purpose. Suddenly the conviction dawned upon him that- the window was bolted from the inside. With a despairing sob he tobbered backward, but •his grasp on fcho ring held, and with a supreme effort he pulled himself close to the wali, and tried to collect his scattered wits. 'Ib is no use to shout,' he said aloud. ' Ifc is more than folly to make myself heard from this height, I might a<. well save my strength. All bhab remains for me to do is fco wait; patiently. Some one will be sure to miss me and come to my relief. In God is my fcrusfc !' and hia courage rose with bhe words. The broops disbanded, and the people hurried off to fche brilliantly-lighted cafes and theatres, all unconscious of fche pale, silent boy clinging with desperate grip fco the spire, with bub a narrow shelf of sbone between him and a horrible death. The sunset faded inbo bhe twilight, and wibh a sudden wave darkness drifted over the earth. The noise in the sbreen grew fainterandfainter. The minutes lengthened into hours, and still bhe boy sbood there as bhe nighb wore on, occasionally shifting his position bo ease his cramped and aching limbs. The nighfc wind pierced his bhin clothing, and his hands wero benumbed with the cold. One by one the bright constellations rose nnd glittered and dipped in the sky, and the boy still managed fco keep his foobhold, as rigid as bhe stone statues on fche dome below.

' Two, three, four/ pealed bhe bells in their hoarse, deep tones, and when bho first glimmer of dawn tinged the easfcen. horizon with pale yellow, the haggard face'lighted with expectancy, and from the ashen lips which had been moving all night in prayer came the words, 'In God is my brusb.'

' Whab is bhe meaning of yonder crowd ? a?ked one of fcwo artisans, v/ho had meb while hurrying across tho Platz to their work.

''What! havo you nob heard? All Vienna is ringing wifch the news. Ib was young Franz, bhe goldsmith's apprentice, who climbed oufc on the spire yesterday and wjjved bhe flag. In some way, the little window near the top was fastened on bhe inside, and tho poor boy was forced to stay out all nighb clinging bo tho spire. Ib is only a short timo ago thab he waa discovered and broughb fainbing, down the ladders. After working over him a little while he seemed all right, and was carried to his home. And there's another strange thing ! Nicholas, ' old Jacob Wirtig't. nephew, was picked up, mangled and bleeding afc fcho foob of the tower stairs this morning. He has just been taken to fche hospital.'

The nexb day Franz received a summons from fche Emperor. As be followod bhe officer who had been sent to conduct him to bhe palace, to his surprise the marble steps and the corridor beyond were lined on either side wifch the soldiers of the Imperial Guard, and as the slender, boyish figure, wifch its crown of golden hair, passed beween fche files, each mailled and bearded warrior reverently saluted.

On he went, through another chamber and into a spacious hall wifch marble floors and hangings of rich tapestry. On both sides were rows of courtiers and officers,tho rich costumes and nodding plumes, and splendid uniforms, with their jewelled orders contrasting strangely with the lad's plain, home-spun garments. ' Ifc is the Emperor,' whispered the guide as they drew near a canopied throne, and Franz dropped on ono knee. He felt the hand whifh was placed on his bowed head tremble, and a kind voice said, ' Rise, my boy ! kneel nofc'to me ! Ib is I thy Emperor who" should rafcher kneel to do thee homage for thy fllial piety. • My brave lad, I know fctiy story well. Ask of mo a place near my pet-son, aid for thy sick mother —what thou wilfc, and it is granted thee ! And remember thafc as long as fche" Emperor of Austria shall live ho will feel himself honoured in being known a\ thy

friend.'

In a short time another summons came, this time from the hospital. Afc the end of a long row of beds lay Nicholas, with his arm bandaged, and strips of plaster covering the gashes on his forehead. Franz !' he groaned, 'If God has forgiven me, why cannot you? And you believe'that I speak the truth when I tell you that I was sorry for whab I had done, and I had turned bo go back and unbolt bhe door, when I tripped and fell.' Franz bent over him with a bright, smile. 'I forgive you evei-yfahing, Nicholas,' he said, sweetly, ' so please leb ua say no more about it. It wasn'b a bad exchange. I lost an enemy, brub I gained a friend,' and bhe bands of the two boys meb in a firm, loving grasp. .