The　Swiss　Twins
  By　Lucy　Fitch　Perkins
  CONTENTS
  I。　THE　RESPONSIBLE　CUCKOO
  II。　THE　TWINS　LEARN　A　NEW　TRADE
  III。　A　MOUNTAIN　STORM
  IV。　THE　LONELY　HERDSMAN
  V。　THE　PASS
  VI。　NEW　FRIENDS　AND　OLD
  This　book　belongs　to
  I。　THE　RESPONSIBLE　CUCKOO
  THE　RESPONSIBLE　CUCKOO
  High　on　the　kitchen　wall　of　an　old　farm…house　on　a　mountainside
  in　Switzerland　there　hangs　a　tiny　wooden　clock。　In　the　tiny
  wooden　clock　there　lives　a　tiny　wooden　cuckoo；　and　every　hour　he
  hops　out　of　his　tiny　wooden　door；　takes　a　look　about　to　see　what
  is　going　on　in　the　world；　shouts　out　the　time　of　day；　and　pops
  back　again　into　his　little　dark　house；　there　to　wait　and　tick
  away　the　minutes　until　it　is　time　once　more　to　tell　the　hour。
  Late　one　spring　afternoon；　just　as　the　sun　was　sinking　out　of
  sight；　lighting　up　the　snow…capped　mountains　with　beautiful
  colors　and　sending　long　shafts　of　golden　light　across　the
  valleys；　the　cuckoo　woke　with　a　start。
  〃Bless　me！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃Here　it　is　six　o'clock　and　not　a
  sound　in　the　kitchen！　It's　high　time　for　Mother　Adolf　to　be
  getting　supper。　What　in　the　world　this　family　would　do　without　me
  I　really　cannot　think！　They'd　never　know　it　was　supper　time　if　I
  didn't　tell　them；　and　would　starve　to　death　as　likely　as　not。　It
  is　lucky　for　them　I　am　such　a　responsible　bird。〃　The　tiny　wooden
  door　flew　open　and　he　stuck　out　his　tiny　wooden　head。　There　was
  not　a　sound　in　the　kitchen　but　the　loud　ticking　of　the　clock。
  〃Just　as　I　thought；〃　said　the　cuckoo。　〃Not　a　soul　here。〃
  There　stood　the　table　against　the　kitchen　wall；　with　a　little
  gray　mouse　on　it　nibbling　a　crumb　of　cheese。　Along　finger　of
  sunlight　streamed　through　the　western　window　and　touched　the
  great　stone　stove；　as　if　trying　to　waken　the　fire　within。　A　beam
  fell　upon　a　pan　of　water　standing　on　the　floor　and　sent　gay
  sparkles　of　light　dancing　over　the　shining　tins　in　the　cupboard。
  The　cuckoo　saw　it　all　at　a　glance。　〃This　will　never　do；〃　he
  ticked　indignantly。　There　was　a　queer　rumbling　sound　in　his
  insides　as　if　his　feelings　were　getting　quite　too　much　for　him；
  and　then　suddenly　he　sent　a　loud　〃cuckoo〃　ringing　through　the
  silent　room。　Instantly　the　little　gray　mouse　leaped　down　from　the
  table　and　scampered　away　to　his　hole　in　the　wall；　the　golden
  sunbeam　flickered　and　was　gone；　and　shadows　began　to　creep　into
  the　corners。　〃Cuckoo；　cuckoo；〃　he　shouted　at　the　top　of　his
  voice；　〃cuckoo；　cuckoo；　cuckoo；〃six　times　in　all；and　then；
  his　duty　done；　he　popped　back　again　into　his　little　dark　house；
  and　the　door　clicked　behind　him。
  Out　in　the　garden　Mother　Adolf　heard　him　and；　raising　her　head
  from　the　onion…bed；　where　she　was　pulling　weeds；　she　counted　on
  her　fingers；　〃One；　two；　three；　four；　five；　six！　Bless　my　soul；
  six　o'clock　and　the　sun　already　out　of　sight　behind　old　Pilatus；〃
  she　said；　and；　rising　from　her　knees　a　little　stiffly；　she　stood
  for　a　moment　looking　down　the　green　slopes　toward　the　valley。
  Far；　far　below；　the　blue　waters　of　Lake　Lucerne　mirrored　the
  glowing　colors　of　the　mountain…peaks　beyond　its　farther　shore；
  and　nearer；　among　the　foothills　of　old　Pilatus　itself；　a　little
  village　nestled　among　green　trees；　its　roofs　clustered　about　a
  white　church…spire。　Now　the　bells　in　the　steeple　began　to　ring；
  and　the　sound　floated　out　across　the　green　fields　spangled　with
  yellow　daffodils；　and　reached　Mother　Adolf　where　she　stood。　Bells
  from　more　distant　villages　soon　joined　in　the　clamor；　until　all
  the　air　was　filled　with　music　and　a　hundred　echoes　woke　in　the
  mountains。
  The　tiny　wooden　cuckoo　heard　them　and　ticked　loudly　with
  satisfaction。　〃Everybody　follows　me；〃　he　said　to　himself　proudly。
  〃I　wake　all　the　bells　in　the　world。〃
  〃Where　can　the　children　be？〃　said　Mother　Adolf　aloud　to　herself；
  looking　about　the　garden。　〃I　haven't　heard　a　sound　from　either
  the　baby　or　the　Twins　for　over　an　hour；〃　and；　making　a　hollow
  between　her　lands；　she　added　her　own　bit　of　music　to　the　chorus
  of　the　hills。
  （line　of　music　notation）
  she　sang；　and　immediately　from　behind　the　willows　which　fringed
  the　brook　at　the　end　of　the　garden　two　childish　voices　gave　back
  an　answering　strain。
  （line　of　music　notation）
  A　moment　later　two　sunburned；　towheaded；　blue…eyed　children；　a
  boy　and　girl　of　ten；　appeared；　dragging　after　them　a　box　mounted
  on　rough　wooden　wheels　in　which　there　sat　a　round；　pink；　blue…
  eyed　cherub　of　a　baby。　Shouting　with　laughter；　they　came　tearing
  up　the　garden　path　to　their　mother's　side。
  〃Hush；　my　children；〃　said　Mother　Adolf；　laying　her　finger　on　her
  lips。　〃It　is　the　Angelus。〃
  The　shouts　were　instantly　silenced；　and　the　two　children　stood
  beside　the　mother　with　clasped　hands　and　bowed　heads　until　the
  echoes　of　the　bells　died　away　in　the　distance。
  Far　down　on　the　long　path　to　the　village　a　man；　bending　under　the
  weight　of　a　huge　basket；　also　stood　still　for　a　moment　in　silent
  prayer；　then　toiled　again　up　the　steep　slope。
  〃See；〃　cried　Mother　Adolf　as　she　lifted　her　head；　〃there　comes
  Father　from　the　village　with　bread　for　our　supper　in　his　basket。
  Run；　Seppi；　and　help　him　bring　the　bundles　home。　Our　Fritz　will
  soon　be　coming　with　the　goats；　too；　and　he　and　Father　will　both
  be　as　hungry　as　wolves　and　in　a　hurry　for　their　supper。　Hark！〃
  she　paused　to　listen。
  Far　away　from　out　the　blue　shadows　of　the　mountain　came　the　sound
  of　a　horn　playing　a　merry　little　tune。
  〃There's　Fritz　now；〃　cried　Mother　Adolf。　〃Hurry；　Seppi；　and　you；
  Leneli；　come　with　me　to　the　kitchen。　You　can　give　little　Roseli
  her　supper；　while　I　spread　the　table　and　set　the　soup　to　boil
  before　the　goats　get　here　to　be　milked。〃　She　lifted　the　baby　in
  her　arms　as　she　spoke；　and　set　off　at　a　smart　pace　toward　the
  house；　followed　by　Leneli　dragging　the　cart　and　playing　peek…a…
  boo　with　the　baby　over　her　mother's　shoulder。
  When　they　reached　the　door；　Leneli　sat　down　on　the　step；　and
  Mother　Adolf　put　the　baby　in　her　arms　and　went　at　once　into　the
  quiet　house。　Then　there　was　a　sound　of　quick　steps　about　the
  kitchen；　a　rattling　of　the　stove；　and　a　clatter　of　tins　which
  must　have　pleased　the　cuckoo；　and　soon　she　reappeared　in　the　door
  with　a　bowl　and　spoon　in　her　hands。
  The　bowl　she　gave　to　Leneli；　and　little　Roseli；　crowing　with
  delight；　seized　the　spoon　and　stuck　it　first　into　an　eye；　and
  then　into　her　tiny　pink　button　of　a　nose；　in　a　frantic　effort　to
  find　her　mouth。　It　was　astonishing　to　Baby　Roseli　how　that
  rosebud　mouth　of　hers　managed　to　hide　itself；　even　though　she　was
  careful　to　keep　it　wide　open　while　she　searched　for　it。　When　she
  had　explored　her　whole　face　with　the　spoon　in　vain；　Leneli　took
  the　tiny　hand　in　hers　and　guided　each　mouthful　down　the　little
  red　lane。
  Over　their　heads　the　robin　in　the　cherry　tree　by　the　door　sat
  high　up　on　a　twig　and　chirped　a　good…night　song　to　his　nestlings。
  〃Cherries　are　ripe；　cherries　are　ripe；　cherries　are　ripe　in
  June；〃　sang　the　robin。　At　least　that　is　what　Leneli　told　the　baby
  he　said；　and　surely　she　ought　to　know。
  Before　Baby　Roseli　had　finished　the　last　mouthful　of　her　supper；
  Father　and　Seppi　appeared　with　the　bundles；　and　then　there　was
  the　clatter　of　many　little　hoofs　on　the　hard　earth　of　the　door…
  yard；　and　round　the　corner　of　the　old　gray　farm…house　came　big
  brother　Fritz　with　the　goats。　With　Fritz　came　Bello；　his　faithful
  dog；　barking　and　wagging　his　tail　for　joy　at　getting　home　again。
  Bello　ran　at　once　to　Leneli　and　licked　her　hand；　nearly　upsetting
  the　bowl　of　milk　in　his　noisy　greeting；　and　the　baby　crowed　with
  delight　and　seized　him　by　his　long；　silky　ears。
  〃Down；　Bello；　down；〃　cried　Leneli；　holding　the　bowl　high　out　of
  reach；　〃you'll　spill　the　baby's　supper！〃　And　Bello；　thinking　she
  meant　that　he　should　beg　for　it；　sat　up　on　his　hind　legs　with　his
  front　paws　crossed　and　barked　three　times；　as　Fritz　had　taught
  him　to　do。
  〃He　must　have　a　bite　or　he'll　forget　his　manners；〃　laughed　Fritz；
  and　Leneli　broke　off　a　crumb　of　bread　and　tossed　it　to　him。　Bello
  caught　it　before　it　fell；　swallowed　it　at　one　gulp；　and　begged
  for　more。
  〃No；　no；〃　said　Leneli；　〃good　old　Bello；　go　now　with　Fritz　and
  help　him　drive　the　goats　to　the　milking…shed；　and　by　and　by　you
  shall　have　your　supper。〃
  Fritz　whistled；　and　instantly　Bello　was　off　like　a　shot　after
  Nanni；　the　brown　goat；　who　was　already　on　her　way　to　the　garden
  to　eat　the　young　green　carrot…tops　she　saw　peeping　out　of　the
  ground。
  〃It's　time　that　child　was　in　bed；〃　said　the　cuckoo　to　himself；
  and　out　he　came　from　his　little　house　and　called　〃cuckoo〃　seven
  times　so　reproachfully　that　Leneli　hastened　upstairs　with　the
  baby　and　put　her　down　in　her　crib　at　once。
  Baby　Roseli　did　not　agree　with　the　cuckoo。　She　wanted　to　stay　up
  and　play　with　Bello；　and　hear　the　robin　sing；　but　Leneli　sat　down
  beside　the　crib；　and　while　Mother　Adolf　milked　the　goats　she　sang
  over　and　over　again　an　old　song。
  〃Sleep；　baby；　sleep！
  Thy　father　watches　the　sheep；
  Thy　mother　is　shaking　the　dreamland　tree
  And　down　falls　a　little　dream　on　thee。
  Sleep；　baby；　sleep！〃
  〃Sleep；　baby；　sleep！
  The　large　stars　are　the　sheep；
  The　little　stars　are　the　lambs；　I　guess；
  And　the　silver　moon　is　the　shepherdes