CHAPTER III.

THE OLD SCHOOLMASTER'S FIDDLE.


Stineli and Rico freed themselves from the crowd of children gathered
before the schoolhouse, and wandered off together. "Were you thinking so
that you could not sing with us to-day, Rico?" asked Stineli. "Were you
thinking again about the lake?"

"No, it was quite another thing," replied the boy. "I know how to play
'Little lambkins, come down,' if I only had a fiddle."

Judging from the deep sigh that accompanied these words, the wish must
have weighed heavily on Rico's heart. The sympathetic little Stineli
began at once to contrive some means of helping him to get his wish.

"We will buy one together, Rico," she said suddenly, full of delight at
a happy thought that had entered her head. I have ever so many pieces of
money,--as many as twelve. How much have you got?"

"None at all," said the boy sadly. "My father gave me some before he
went away, but my cousin said I should only spend it foolishly, and
she took it from me, and put it up on the shelf in a box where I
cannot get it."

Such a trifle did not discourage Stineli. "Perhaps we have enough
without that, and my grandmother will give me some more soon," she said
consolingly. "You know, Rico, a fiddle can't cost so very much; it is
nothing but a bit of old wood with four strings stretched across it,