, where the
street children came and found it. It was clear he did not understand
its meaning. The little support he needed was freely proffered by the
neighbouring shopkeepers, but he ate nothing save a morsel of dry bread,
of which it was remarked that he each day broke off a small portion and
laid it by--not to eat later on, for it was seen that he never missed it
if removed, nor took it again if suffered to remain. It was one of the
secrets of his nature none could rightly account for.

Although many wealthy and benevolent people of the city wished to
provide the poor, boy with a more comfortable home, the shopkeepers
protested against his removal. Some, loved his innocent, childish
features, and would have missed him sorely; others, were superstitious
enough to think, and even say, that he had brought luck to the
bird-market,--that every one had prospered since he came there; and
some, too, asserted, that having selected the spot himself, it would
be cruel to tear him away from a place where accustomed and familiar
objects had made for him a kind of home. All these reasonings were
backed by the proposal to build for him a little shed, in the very
spot he had taken up, and there leave him to live in peace. This was
accordingly done, and poor Fritz, if not a "Burgher of Inspruck," had at
least his own house in the bird-market.

Months rolled over: the summer went by, and the autumn itself now drew
to a close; and the various preparations for the coming winter might be
seen in little hand-barrows of firewood deposited before each door, to
be split up and cut in fitting lengths for the stoves. Fur mantles
and caps were hung out to air, and some prudent and well-to-do folks
examined the snow-windows, and made arrangements for their adjustment.
Each in his own way, and according to his means, was occupied with the
cares of the approaching season. There was but one unmoved face in
the whole street--but one, who seemed to take no note of time or
season--whose past, and present, and future, were as one. This
was Fritz, who sat on his accustomed bench gazing at the birds, or
occasionally moving from his place to peep into a cage whose occupant
lay hid, and then, when satisfied of its presence, retiring to his seat
contented.

Had the worthy citizens been less actively engrossed by their own
immediate concerns, or had they been less accustomed to this humble
dependant's presence amongst them, it is likely they would have r