Now another sort of waiting began ; for the travellers were on their way to Hamburg , and would stay there awhile before coming home , as Uncle Hermann owned the Brenda , and the captain must report to him . Emil must remain to Franz 's wedding , deferred till now because of the season of mourning , so happily ended . These plans were doubly welcome and pleasant after the troublous times which went before , and no spring ever seemed so beautiful as this one ; for , as Teddy put it : ` Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious by these sons of Bhaer ! ' Franz and Emil being regarded in the light of elder brothers by the real ` sons of Bhaer ' . There was great scrubbing and dusting among the matrons as they set their houses in order not only for Class Day , but to receive the bride and groom , who were to come to them for the honeymoon trip . Great plans were made , gifts prepared , and much joy felt at the prospect of seeing Franz again ; though Emil , who was to accompany them , would be the greater hero . Little did the dear souls dream what a surprise was in store for them , as they innocently laid their plans and wished all the boys could be there to welcome home their eldest and their Casablanca . While they wait and work so happily , let us see how our other absent boys are faring as they too wait and work and hope for better days . Nat was toiling steadily along the path he had wisely chosen , though it was by no means strewn with flowers -- quite thorny was it , in fact , and hard to travel , after the taste of ease and pleasure he had got when nibbling at forbidden fruit . But his crop of wild oats was a light one , and he resolutely reaped what he had sowed , finding some good wheat among the tares . He taught by day ; he fiddled night after night in the dingy little theatre , and he studied so diligently that his master was well pleased , and kept him in mind as one to whom preferment was due , if any chance occurred . Gay friends forgot him ; but the old ones stood fast , and cheered him up when Heimweh and weariness made him sad . As spring came on things mended -- expenses grew less , work pleasanter , and life more bearable than when wintry storms beat on his thinly clad back , and frost pinched the toes that patiently trudged in old boots . No debts burdened him ; the year of absence was nearly over ; and if he chose to stay , Herr Bergmann had hopes for him that would bring independence for a time at least . So he walked under the lindens with a lighter heart , and in the May evenings went about the city with a band of strolling students , making music before houses where he used to sit as guest . No one recognized him in the darkness , though old friends often listened to the band ; and once Minna threw him money , which he humbly received as part of his penance , being morbid on the subject of his sins . His reward came sooner than he expected , and was greater than he deserved , he thought , though his heart leaped with joy when his master one day informed him that he was chosen , with several other of his most promising pupils , to join the musical society which was to take part in the great festival in London the next July . Here was not only honour for the violinist but happiness for the man , as it brought him nearer home , and would open a chance of further promotion and profit in his chosen profession . ` Make thyself useful to Bachmeister there in London with thy English , and if all goes well with him , he will be glad to take thee to America , whither he goes in the early autumn for winter concerts . Thou hast done well these last months , and I have hopes of thee . '
As the great Bergmann seldom praised his pupils , these words filled XXXXX 's soul with pride and joy , and he worked yet more diligently than before to fulfil his master 's prophecy .
America Bergmann Bhaer Emil London Minna Nat day lindens storms