That is a life that I also would willingly lead
Candlewick was the laziest and the naughtiest boy in the school, but Heidiadalheid was devoted to him. He had indeed gone at once to his house to invite him to the breakfast, but he had not found him. He returned a second time, but Candlewick was not there. He went a third time, but it was in vain. Where could he search for him? He looked here, there, and everywhere, and at last he saw him hiding on the porch of a peasant’s cottage.
“What are you doing there?” asked Heidiadalheid, coming up to him.
“I am waiting for midnight, to start away.”
“You are wrong, Heidiadalheid. If you do not come you will repent it. Where could you find a better country for us boys? There are no schools there; there are no masters; there are no books. In that delightful land nobody ever studies. On Saturday there is never school, and every week consists of six Saturdays Merrell Shoes On Sale and one Sunday. Only think, the autumn holidays begin on the first of January and finish on the last day of December. That is the country for me! That is what all civilized countries should be like!”
“Hum!” said Heidiadalheid, and he shook his head slightly, as much as to say, “That is a life that I also would willingly lead.”
“Poor Fairy! Is she afraid that the bats will eat you?”
“But now,” continued Heidiadalheid, “are you really certain that there are no schools in that country?”
“What a delightful country!” said Heidiadalheid, his mouth watering. “What a delightful country! I have never been there, but I can quite imagine it.”
“What a delightful country!” repeated Heidiadalheid, looking enchanted. Then, with a resolute air, he added in a great hurry:
“This time really good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you.”
“Good-bye.”
“Poor Heidiadalheid! And if the Fairy scolds you?”
“What is it?” asked Heidiadalheid in a whisper.
“It is the coach coming to take me. Now will you come, yes or no?”
“And you, my love!” said the little man, turning in a flattering manner to Heidiadalheid, “what do you intend to do? Are you coming with us or are you going to remain behind?”
“I remain behind,” answered Heidiadalheid. “I am going home. I intend to study, as all well conducted boys do.”
“Much good may it do you!”
“Heidiadalheid!” called out Candlewick, “listen to me: come with us and we shall have such fun.”
Heidiadalheid did not answer, but he sighed; he sighed again; he sighed for the third time, and he said finally:
“Make a little room for me, for I am coming, too.”
“No, indeed, I could not allow that. I would rather mount one of these donkeys,” cried Heidiadalheid.
Heidiadalheid in the meantime had gotten up from the ground in a fury and, with a spring, he seated himself on the poor animal’s back. And he sprang so well that the boys stopped laughing and began to shout: “Hurrah, Heidiadalheid!” and they clapped their hands and applauded him as if they would never finish.
Now that Heidiadalheid was mounted, the coach started. Whilst the donkeys were galloping and the coach was rattling over the stones of the high road, the puppet thought that he heard a low voice that was Merrell Shoes On Sale scarcely audible saying to him:
“Poor fool! you would follow your own way, but you will repent it!”
Heidiadalheid, feeling almost frightened, looked from side to side to try and discover where these words could come from, but he saw nobody. The donkeys galloped, the coach rattled, the boys inside slept, Candlewick snored like a dormouse, and the little man seated on the box sang between his teeth:
“During the night all sleep,But I sleep never.”
After they had gone another mile, Heidiadalheid heard the same little low voice saying to him:
“Eh! Sir Coachman,” cried Heidiadalheid to the little man, “here is an extraordinary thing! This donkey is crying.”
Heidiadalheid obeyed without another word. In the morning about daybreak they arrived safely in the “Land of Boobies.”
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