No, indeed! I never imagined such a thing," he replied, looking as
surprised and pleased as the boys could possibly desire.

"Yes; they can cook, and as it is nearly time for our afternoon meal, we
will give you a sample of how they can help me."

"Set them at it as early as convenient, sister, and when finished I can
pass an hour or more with you at the forest park before starting to
Cassel, if you care to go."

"That will be charming. Fritz, you may go now and grind the coffee, and
put in a tablespoonful more, now that we are having a guest to share it
with us. Franz, you will please peel and chop the cold boiled potatoes,
and brown them nicely and cut thin slices from the cold boiled ham, and
put them upon the pink plate. Paul will please set the table, and then
go to the bakery and get a seed cake in honor of the returned prodigal."

The boys set to work and the odor of the mocha coffee as it was being
ground floated into the sitting-room.

"You always have fine coffee, sister," remarked Mr. Heil.

"Yes, it is good, and the reason is that it is genuine coffee, no
chicory or other mixture. Yet I have seen passable coffee made of poor
material by an adept. Our dear old grandmother was compelled in
war-times to make it from chicory, but would use no deception, so when
she invited friends to take supper she would not say, 'Come to afternoon
coffee,' but 'Come to chicory.'"

Paul in the meantime had set the table neatly, and had returned from the
bakery with a fine large seed cake, Mrs. Steiner having given him two
marks to pay for it.

The potatoes, ham, good brown and white bread, butter and lettuce was
now upon the table, Fritz brought the coffee, and all took seats at the
hospitable board.

Mr. Heil at his sister's request asked the blessing, then with pleasant
chat the meal progressed, the guest assuring the boys that he did not
know that he had ever enjoyed one more.

"If it would not tire you too much, sister, I would prefer that we walk
to the Forest-house, as I would like to call on the way at the Stayman
cloth house and leave an order for cloth and ready-made clothing."

"I prefer walking this lovely evening."

"And oh, papa, we are glad to go there, for we know Mr. Stayman! We
spent part of the time with him watching the fireworks," exclaimed
Fritz. "Do you know, papa, that he is a tailor?"

"Yes, and I hope that you will have as good knowledge of how the work
should be done as has Mr. Stayman w