Tite comes home. Then you can show them to him as a proof of what a true
and good girl I have been."

Hanz viewed this act of kindness on the part of Mattie with an air of
surprise and astonishment. It was in such beautiful contrast to her
father's rudeness and severity that he was at a loss how to account for
it.

"Vel, vel!" exclaimed Hanz, raising his hands, "you pees sho goot a gal
as I ever did she. Yes, mine shild, I never shees no petter gals as you
pees." And he rose from his chair, and approaching Mattie, patted her on
the shoulder encouragingly. "You pees such a goot girl," he repeated,
"and you will pe mine goot friend, eh?"

"Certainly I will. Why should I be anything else?" replied Mattie,
looking up smilingly in his face.

Hanz shook his head. "It pees sho now as nopody can shay who pees his
friend, and who pees not his friend. I pees sho glad you pees mine
friend."

"I should like to know, Father Hanz, what troubles you?" resumed Mattie,
whose quick eye read in his face the trouble that was making his heart
sad. "Tell me what troubles you, Father Hanz, and I will be a friend to
you, no matter who it is."

"Mine shilds," replied the old man, drooping his head, "dar vas un man,
he shay as he pees mine goot friend. Dat friend he pees mine enemy. He
prings shorrow into mine house. Unt he prings dat shorrow when mine poor
Tite he pees sho far away as I ton't know where he is."