ALONG THE ROAD
Mr. Toymaker heard of a fair to be held in Mainz (M[=i]nts). So he
decided to go there at once, although it was some distance from
Bayreuth.
On the journey the children were kept busy. Fritz had to help his father
with many things. Mitzi had to help her mother. They found no time to
try their plan. But they did not forget it.
[Illustration: GROUP OF HIKERS ON THE MARCH]
Along the road they saw much of interest. They passed small hotels for
young travelers hiking about the country. In different lands there are
different sports. Spain has her bullfights. England has her cricket.
Switzerland's high mountains are popular for snow and ice sports.
The United States plays baseball. But Germany hikes.
[Illustration: AN OLD CASTLE MADE INTO AN INN FOR HIKERS]
All over the land, in the summer time and even in winter, one meets
groups of walkers. Children walk with teachers. Older children walk
alone. As they walk they sing. They admire their country and learn. They
stop overnight in these little youth inns--hotels made especially for
boys and girls.
"Some day I am going with a group," said Mitzi. "I am going on hiking
trips."
"Not until you are a bachfisch (bäk´fish)," said Fritz.
In Germany a young girl is called a "bachfisch," which means "baked
fish."
But not so long ago in Germany girls did not hike and swim and play
tennis. But now it is different. Girls are interested in everything,
just as they are in America.
The Toymaker family journeyed through Hanau (Hä´nou), home of the Grimm
brothers. The children spoke of these two devoted men, who had always
worked together. Some of their stories have become famous, as, for
instance, "Hansel and Gretel" and "Tom Thumb."
The family moved on toward Frankfurt.
The five Rothschild brothers had lived in Frankfurt. They had become the
richest men in Europe and were called "The Five Frankfurters." Mrs.
Toymaker remembered that the great poet, Goethe, had been born there.
[Illustration: KASSEL; OLD STREET IN THE "GRIMM QUARTER"]
[Illustration: SABABURG CASTLE IN THE GERMAN FAIRY TALE FOREST NEAR
KASSEL IS THE PALACE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY AND BLUEBEARD FAME]
Mitzi hoped to eat her fill of sausages. Frankfurt is supposed to be the
home of the "hot dog." But she had more important hopes than eating "hot
dogs." She was going to carry out her plan for Fritz's concert when they
reached Mainz.