"Lay your hands together Toneli," she said, "it is the Angelus."

The child obeyed.

"What must I pray, Mother?" he asked.

"Give us and all tired people a blessed Sunday! Amen!" said the mother
devoutly.

Toneli repeated the prayer. Suddenly he screamed: "Father is coming!"

Down from the farm some one was running as fast as he could come.

"That is not Father," said his mother, and both went towards the running
man. When they met, the man stood still and said, gasping:

"Don't go any farther, turn around, Elsbeth. I came straight to you, for
something has happened."

"Oh, my God!" cried the woman in the greatest anguish, "has something
happened to Toni?"

"Yes, he was with the wood-cutters, and then he was struck. They have
brought him back; he is lying up at the farm-but don't go up there," he
added, holding Elsbeth fast, for she wanted to start off as soon as she
heard the news.

"Not go up?" she said quickly. "I must go to him; I must help him and see
about bringing him home."