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Studies in Systems, Decision and Control 405

Kofi Kissi Dompere

The Theory
of Problem-Solution
Dualities and
Polarities
Information-Decision-Choice
Foundations of the Unity of Knowing
and the Unity of Science
Studies in Systems, Decision and Control

Volume 405

Series Editor
Janusz Kacprzyk, Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Warsaw, Poland
The series “Studies in Systems, Decision and Control” (SSDC) covers both new
developments and advances, as well as the state of the art, in the various areas of
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More information about this series at https://link.springer.com/bookseries/13304

Kofi Kissi Dompere

The Theory
of Problem-Solution
Dualities and Polarities
Information-Decision-Choice Foundations
of the Unity of Knowing and the Unity
of Science
Kofi Kissi Dompere
Department of Economics
Howard University
Washington D.C., WA, USA

ISSN 2198-4182 ISSN 2198-4190 (electronic)

Studies in Systems, Decision and Control
ISBN 978-3-030-90278-0 ISBN 978-3-030-90279-7 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90279-7

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
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Preface

This monograph is epistemically special in its orientation as it is concerned with

the relational structures of information, knowledge, decision-choice processes of
problems and solutions in theory and practices relative to investment and capital
accumulation processes by the way of the logic of the economic theory of produc-
tion specified in the spaces of input-output and production-consumption dualities.
It is about explanatory and prescriptive conditions of diversity and unity princi-
ples of knowing and information-knowledge systems under the variety input-output
processes of horizontal and vertical supply-demand chain dynamics. The monograph
is a continuation in the sequence of epistemic works on the theories of info-statics,
info-dynamics, entropy and their relational connectivity to information, language,
knowing, knowledge, cognitive practices relative to variety identification problem-
solution dualities and variety transformation problem-solution dualities in all areas
of knowing. It is about economic-theoretic approach in understanding the diversity
and the unity of knowing and science through decision-choice actions over the space
of problem-solution dualities and polarities in relation to elements in the space of
incentive-disincentive dualities embedded in the space of real cost-benefit dualities.
In this approach, all human endeavors are viewed as variety transformations where all
neuro-decision-choice actions are viewed in terms of neuro-decision-choice balances
of opposites in socioeconomic variety transformations such that the opposites are
mutually constraining with a change in relation, property or both.
The problem-solution dualities are argued to connect all areas of knowing
including science and non-science, social science and non-social science into unity
with diversities under neuro-decision-choice actions, where individual and collective
creativities play important determining roles to set variety solutions against variety
problem over the space of problem-solution dualities. The concept of diversity is
defined and explicated to connect with the tactics and strategies of neuro-decision-
choice actions over the space of problem-solution dualities. The concepts of problems
and solutions are defined and explicated in the space of relativity rather than in the
space of absoluteness. All neuro-decision-choice activities are viewed in terms of
the logic of the economic theory of production over the space of real cost-benefit
dualities with identities of real costs and real benefits broadly defined in terms of

v
vi Preface

characteristic-signal dispositions. In this epistemic process, the variety identities may

be distorted through the decoding of variety signal dispositions to create false inter-
pretations of the characteristic dispositions that may deviate from the true variety
characteristic dispositions leading to misidentifications of varieties.
There are two important structures to pay attention to in the processes of knowing.
One is a movement from the ontological space to the epistemic in identifying onto-
logical varieties. The other is intra-epistemological movements, where propaganda,
misinformation and disinformation may occur in the space of source-destination
dualities with an intent to influence the inputs and the directions of neuro-decision-
choice for a source advantage. In terms of intellectual production, the variety
misidentification may put us on a possible wrong path of knowing and information-
knowledge production to create increasing real costs over the real benefit of knowing
in the space of mistake-correction dualities. In terms of general transformation
dynamics, the misinterpretations may lead to a path of neuro-decision-choice actions
to create increasing costs over real benefit in the space of success-failure dualities
viewed in terms of elements in the space of progress-retrogress dualities within the
space of individual-collective dualities in the same society or within the space of
domestic-international dualities.
All analytical and non-analytical concepts are specified and defined in the space
of relativity to provide an infinite framework and space of variety comparisons,
differences, commonness, similarities and ranking under a preference ordering in
establishing sequences of visions, goals, objectives for selections and missions under
the socioeconomic principles of non-satiation. All definitions follow the conceptual
framework of the theory of definitions in establishing the relevant characteristic-
signal dispositions required for linguistic meanings and identities within the same
language. The concepts of diversity, the unity of knowing and the unity of science
are structured around the nature of variety problem-solution dualities over the space
of static-dynamic dualities. It is argued that the diversity and unity of knowing
and science are explainable through neuro-decision-choice actions over the infinite
space of problem-solution dualities to provide an expanding information-knowledge
system.
The interactions between the system of neuro-decision-choice actions and the
space of variety problem-solution dualities define the meaning of life and are explain-
able through the logic of economic theory of production, where diversities are created
within the general unity of production to meet the diverse cross-sectional preferences
in time and changing time series of preferences of intrageneration and intergenera-
tion dynamics. The way these interactions take place over the space of the problem-
solution dualities defines the essence of life in diversity and unity of knowing for
continual socio-natural interactions. Similarly, the manner in which these interac-
tions take place specifies the individual and social creativities relative to individual
and social visions within the space of imagination-reality dualities that helps to
define the space of possibility-impossibility dualities linked to the space of possible
world-impossible world dualities which may help the understanding of cognitive
illusions, innovations, anticipations, curiosity and other behavioral characteristics
over the space of quality-quantity dualities.
Preface vii

The monograph is used to explore the explanatory and prescriptive pathways

that may contribute to the interdisciplinary education in teaching and learning, and
foster innovatively collaborative research in knowing and information-knowledge
production, especially, for the understanding of the give-and-take sharing modes
of categories of knowing through neuro-decision-choice actions over the space of
problem-solution dualities. It is, then, argued that any problem-solution process is a
variety destruction-replacement process, where every variety problem is simultane-
ously an offspring of a variety solution and a parent to a variety problem in a never-
ending process to an unknown destination that drives the formation of visions with
goals and objectives as sequential missions and actions. From the logic of economic
theory of production, the theory of intellectual production is divided into two of
the theory of intellect investment as flows and the theory of intellectual information-
knowledge accumulation as stocks. The theory of intellectual investment is the theory
of knowing, and the theory of intellectual information-knowledge accumulation is
the theory of intellectual capital in dynamic system. The theories of intellectual
investment and information-knowledge accumulation constitute the general theory
of intellectual stock-flow disequilibrium dynamics over the space of diversity-unity
dualities to establish the conditions of the space of fundamental-applied dualities and
the general input-output dualities relative to the system of consumption-production
processes of cognitive existence.
The theory of knowing is explained and presented as an investment in intellec-
tual flows from problem solving, and the theory of information-knowledge system
is explained and presented as intellectual capital accumulation of success-failure
outcomes of decision-choice actions over the space of the problem-solution duali-
ties and polarities. The conceptual system is developed with the fuzzy paradigm of
thought over the space of relativity that is characterized by the principle of oppo-
sites composed of duality and polarity, where every variety is characterized by a
series of dualistic-polar conditions, where knowledge resides in ignorance and igno-
rance resides in knowledge in the space of variety ignorance-knowledge dualities.
The theory of knowing and the theory of knowledge, just like the theories of basic
economic investment and capital accumulation, are simultaneously developed as the
theory of production, where behind every variety is a characteristic-signal disposition
to reveal its identity. The intellectual production is a variety problem solving which
is about variety destruction-replacement process leading to neuro-decision-choice
outcomes in the space of ignorance-knowledge dualities contained in the space of
imagination-reality dualities where cognitive illusions, innovations, anticipations,
curiosity and other behavioral characteristics instead of belonging to the space of
imagination may creep into the space of realities over the space of quality-quantity
dualities.
The neuro-decision-choice actions over the space of problem-solution duali-
ties and the space of variety destruction-replacement processes are guided by the
assessments of real cost-benefit conditions and rationality of cognitive agents with
information-knowledge of quality control as provided by relationally entropic tests
within the interactive spaces of certainty-uncertainty dualities, doubt-surety duali-
ties and decidability-undecidability dualities as may be abstracted from the space of
viii Preface

possibility-probability dualities connected to the space of necessity-freedom duali-

ties, where possibility houses necessity and initial conditions of categorial conver-
sion, and probability houses the freedom and sufficient conditions from the social
philosophical consciencism to realize variety imaginations in the space of reality.
The information-knowledge development is set to distinguish the initial spaces of
ontological space in which nature operates and the epistemological space in which
cognitive agents operate to know and take advantage of ontological varieties.

The Monograph

Given the interactive conditions among the space of decision-choice activities, the
action space and the space of problem-solution dualities as explaining diversity and
unity of categorial knowing and science, the monograph is set to provide answers to
several questions. These questions come to us as a set of primary questions and a set of
derived questions. They center around the role of how neuro-decision-choice actions
over the space of problem-solution dualities bring about variety knowing and how the
variety knowing processes generate information-knowledge accumulation irrespec-
tive of the category of knowing. The process of knowing and information-knowledge
accumulation proceed from the space of acquaintance to the space of descriptions in
the epistemological space as a derivative from the ontological space as sub-spaces of
the ontological-epistemological dualities. The outcomes from the space of acquain-
tance are the results of observations and encounters, while the outcomes from the
space of descriptions are the results of logical operations with a paradigm of thought.
The outcomes of the processes of knowing and information-knowledge accumula-
tion are the results of neuro-decision-choice actions, where information-knowledge
processes are also input-output processes to generate an organic self-correction
system based on subjectivity of individual and collective creativities irrespective
of the areas of knowing.
The space of information-knowledge input-output processes is continually
expanding under socio-natural decision-choice activities creating increasing possi-
bilities with necessity and anticipations, and expanding the space of probability with
freedom and expectations making easier for the discovery of other varieties in the
space of actual-potential dualities through the neuro-decision-choice activities over
the space of imagination-reality dualities. In other worlds, the knowing processes
and information-knowledge processes are not only interdependent but the results
of neuro-decision-choice actions irrespective of the category of knowing in give-
and-take sharing modes. Every area of knowing is a category of problem-solution
dualities under decision-choice actions passing through the spaces of uncertainty-
certainty dualities, doubt-surety dualities and decidability-undesirability dualities,
where the outcomes are nothing more than experiences, and information-knowledge
accumulation is either justified or unjustified experiences. The input-output processes
Preface ix

are composed of intellectual investment processes through knowing and the intellec-
tual capital stock processes through information-knowledge accumulation under the
general entropy for quality control.
The neuro-decision-choice processes are established by variety preference ranking
based on variety real cost-benefit dispositions, and variety selections based on the real
cost-benefit rationality in relation to a goal-objective element or a set of goal-objective
elements in visionary or non-visionary conditions in the space of imagination-reality
dualities. The definition of real cost as a real opportunity cost is to link the decision-
choice actions of economic production and neuro-decision-choice processes over the
space of production-consumption dualities and the principle of resource scarcity to
the conditions of physical processes of organic matter-energy equilibrium in accor-
dance with the first law of thermodynamics, where neither matter nor energy can
be created or destroyed but can have inter-categorial and intra-categorial transforms
with the same matter such that socioeconomic variety production and socio-natural
variety transformations are in continual disequilibrium dynamics which is different
from the conditions of market equilibrium analysis.
The real opportunity cost relates to the first and fifth laws of info-dynamics, where
the previous variety cost information is always indestructible to expand the space
of the potential varieties while a new variety information-knowledge item is created
to expand the space of reality as a sub-space of the space of actual varieties, and
hence the amount of information-knowledge accumulation is continually in dise-
quilibrium dynamics to satisfy the second and fourth laws of info-dynamics [4]. In
its simplest form, the first law of info-dynamics states that neither information nor
knowledge as established by characteristic-signal dispositions can be destroyed even
though the variety can be destroyed by transformation in support of the principle of
continual creation within the matter-energy equilibrium. The amount of information-
knowledge accumulations in the observable and non-observable universe is contin-
ually expanding through variety destructions, transformations, dividedness and
differentiations within the space of matter-energy stock-flow equilibrium.
Information is continually being created through categorial conversions from one
variety to another and from one form to multiple forms by variety differentiations,
or from one process to another or multiple processes, or from one state to another or
multiple processes with continual changes, moves, controls and accumulation relative
to relation and properties. The epistemic reflection projection conditions that the
information-knowledge accumulation is always created from some varieties induced
by categorial conversions based on socio-natural technologies to create appropriate
transformational processes to bring about new information and possible knowing
while retaining the old information in the space of ignorance-knowledge dualities
[1–4]. Comparative analytics of info-statics and thermodynamic are undertaken to
show the information property of matter-energy configuration.
The comparative analytics presents the differences and similarities between info-
dynamics and thermodynamics:
(1a) Commonness: Information is a property of mater-energy configuration
without which matter is indistinguishable from energy and energy is indistinguishable
from energy; (1b) information is non-existence without matter-energy configuration;
x Preface

(1c) the awareness of matter-energy configuration and the identities of matter and
energy are made possible by information as seen in terms of variety characteristics.
(2a) Differences: Matter-energy configuration is always in equilibrium state in the
sense that matter-energy is in flow equilibrium as well as in stock equilibrium.
(2b) Information-knowledge configuration is always in disequilibrium state in
the sense that the ontological information-knowledge configuration is continually in
flow and stock disequilibrium and this ontological information-knowledge disequi-
librium is transformed to the epistemological information-knowledge process from
the potential space to the space of the actuals through the neuro-decision-choice activ-
ities over the space of imagination-reality dualities transforming variety imaginations
to variety realities under fuzzy-stochastic conditionality satisfying the defined cogni-
tive transversality conditions from the journey from ignorance space to the space of
knowledge.
In a simple reflection, we may say that thermodynamics is about energy transfor-
mations within matter-energy equilibrium configuration, while variety energy trans-
formation destroys one variety energy and replaces it with another variety energy
by categorial conversion or transformation, where the previous variety energy enters
into the potential space with the possibility of retransformation to the space of the
actuals, where it is not available. The info-dynamics are about variety transforma-
tions of characteristic dispositions of states, processes, relations and properties within
the matter-energy equilibrium, while the information about the transformed variety
remains in the space of actual and the information about the new varieties becomes
additions to the existing information-knowledge stocks. In this sense, the transformed
varieties no longer belong to the space of the actuals, their characteristic dispositions,
however, are available while the characteristic dispositions of the new variety energies
become part of the space of the actuals and addition to the information-knowledge
accumulation. In other words, the variety energy or the variety matter disappears by
transformational process in the space of actuals and then enters the space of potential
through cognitive transforming activities in the space of imagination-reality dualities.
The conditions of characteristic dispositions of all transformed varieties remain
in the space of the actuals as part of telescopic past and present, while their potential
for reentry into the space of the actual remains in the telescopic future. The thermo-
statics is about the studies of heat energy equilibrium within the thermodynamics,
while the info-statics is about the studies of variety identification within the info-
dynamics of the information-knowledge stock-flow disequilibrium dynamics. It must
be understood in passing that the formations of new galaxies in the observable and
non-observable universe are ongoing and support the theory of info-dynamics while
their observations through the space of acquaintance-description dualities support
the theory of info-statics. The discoveries of new galaxies in the existence and in the
making cannot be used to justify the idea of expanding universe under matter-energy
stock-flow equilibrium.
The quality control of information-knowledge items obtained from neuro-
decision-choice actions over the space of problem-solution dualities is dealt with
under entropic conditions over the space of ignorance-knowledge dualities with
acceptance conditions defined over the space of variety doubt-surety dualities
Preface xi

through the conditions from the space of certainty-uncertainty dualities under

the journey from possibility to probability as we traverse through the space of
ignorance-knowledge dualities.
The theory of problem-solution duality and polarity is used to deal with (1) the
understanding of problem-solution dynamics as the unifying force of knowing in all
areas of human endeavor, (2) the understanding of infinite problem-solution process,
(3) the understanding of preferences as shaping knowing and information-knowledge
development, (4) the understanding of cost-benefit conditions as defining the incen-
tive space for problem-solving dynamics, neuro-decision-choice actions and trans-
formations relative to change in variety relation, change in variety properties and
simultaneity of both, (5) the understanding of relations among the neuro-decision-
choice actions, vision, goals, objectives, knowing, knowledge and ignorance, (6)
the understanding of an epistemic relation between the spaces of actual-potential
dualities and the imagination-reality dualities and (7) the multiplicity of relation
among a number of sub-spaces of dualities and polarities contained in the space of
imagination-reality dualities.
The monograph is, thus, devoted to the development of a general frame-
work to deal with categorial diversities, interdependency of knowing, information-
knowledge systems through the dynamics of the space of problem-solution dualities
to understand the human decision-choice behavior over and the space of ignorance-
knowledge dualities. The neuro-decision-choice activities are linked to the meaning
and essence of human life, creation of new institutions due to the rise of new prob-
lems and transformation of social organizations through dualistic-polar conflicts.
In this respect, the relational condition among possibility, anticipations, possible
world, impossible world, necessity and imagination are examined as we move from
the potential space to the space of actuals. Similarly, the relational conditions among
probability, expectations, freedom, risk and failure are examined as we finally enter
the space of reality as a sub-space of the space of actuals, where the epistemic journey
through the space of imagination-reality dualities that contains hope, creativity,
beliefs and other qualitative characteristic that are driven by the principle of non-
satiation generating sub-spaces of peace-war dualities, kindness-wickedness duali-
ties, good-evil dualities and many of such human dualistic-polar behaviors to abstract
advantage from conditions of the space of real cost-benefit dualities.
The monograph is an attempt to find answers to the following broad general ques-
tions in the space of ignorance-knowledge dualities in relation to epistemic conditions
over the space of doubt-surety dualities under cognitive limitations, limitationality
and limitativeness as seen from the space of certainty-uncertainty dualities as cogni-
tive agents travel from the imagination space as a sub-space of potential space to
the possibility space, from the possibility space to probability space and from the
probability space with cognitive capacity limitations to the space of the realities as
a sub-space of the space of the actuals and then to the potential space in complex
processes of decision-choice actions to create variety transformation processes over
the epistemological space within the space of ontological-epistemological dualities.
xii Preface

The ontological transformation processes are substantially different from the episte-
mological transformation processes. The natural processes are such that variety trans-
formations are directly defined in the space of actual-potential dualities. The episte-
mological transformations pass through the sub-space of imagination-reality dualities
which contains three important sub-spaces of dualities to effect the epistemological
transformation within the space of actual-potential dualities.
The spaces are (a) the space of imagination-possibility dualities, (b) the space
of possibility-probability dualities and (c) the space of probability-reality duali-
ties, where the space of realities is a sub-space of the space of the actuals and
the space of imaginations is a sub-space of the space of potentials. All these sub-
spaces are contained in the space of imagination-reality dualities as a sub-space of
the space of actual-potential dualities which is improper sub-space of ontological-
epistemological dualities. This rectangular process in knowing and information-
knowledge system is explainable by cognitive capacity limitations that generate
the space of necessity-freedom dualities over the space of cost-benefit dualities
which is supported by an imperfect information structure. The cognitive neuro-
decision-choice processes are such that cognitive agents cannot epistemologically
travel directly on the pathways from the space of potential to the space of the actuals
in terms of operating directly within the space of actual-potential dualities. That
direct pathways from the potential space to the space of actuals are defined by
variety neuro-decision-choice processes that are supported by perfect information
structures which are also perfect knowledge structures which require no quality
control process because the outcomes are the identities. These questions are provided
for the examinations in the process of understanding of the diversity and unity
in knowing, information-knowledge processes and neuro-decision-choice processes
over the variety spaces of varieties and the problem-solution dualities as:
(1) In what space can one find the activities of knowing and decision-choice
actions?
(2) Similarly, in what space can one find the activities of information-knowledge
production and decision-choice actions?
(3) What are the similarities and differences between knowing and knowledge,
and between the theory of knowing and the theory of knowledge?
(4) Who are the subjects of the activities of knowing and information-knowledge
production?
(5) Who and what are the objects under search, research, knowing and information-
knowledge production and what roles do problems and solutions play in the
diversity and unity of knowing and information-knowledge production?
(6) In what space can one find problems and solutions and what are the relation-
ships between problems, solutions and states within the space of static-dynamic
dualities?
(7) What are the relational structures among neuro-decision-choice actions,
information-knowledge states, problem-solution elements and socio-natural
varieties?
Preface xiii

(8) How are these questions related to diversity and unity of knowing, diversity
and unity of science diversity and unity of non-science and the fundamental-
applied dualities in general, knowing, science and knowledge system as viewed
in the input-output space with input-output supply chain?
These are some fundamental questions in cognitive search for answers to problems
of meaning, variety existence and variety changes as they relate to environmental
sustainability, human survivability, human capacity to produce and reproduce forms
of new ideas in relation to dualistic-polar conditions of nature and society, construc-
tion and destruction, war and peace, conflict and resolution, tension and change,
stagnation and progress, stability and chaos, energy and power, ignorance and knowl-
edge and many others with dualistic-polar relations. The monograph attempts to deal
with these questions where neuro-decision-choice actions are the center of these
input-output processes over the space of problem-solution dualities.

The Organization of the Monograph and the Chapter

Summaries

The monograph is organized with a preamble, prologue, preface, acknowledgment

and seven chapters which are concluded with an epilogue. Each chapter deals with
a specific set of analytical difficulties within the development of the theory of the
problem-solution duality and polarity in support of our general understanding of the
principles of diversity and unity of knowing, science and general cognition.
There is a preamble to the monograph. The preamble is composed of series
of quotations from important works of different authors in philosophy, science,
mathematics, economics, decision-choice theories and other relevant areas to the
information-knowledge questions about the general science and the art of knowing
under cognitive capacity limitations that generate questions over the spaces of
certainty-uncertainty dualities and projected to the space of doubt-surety dualities.
The preamble is used to initialize the idea that all information-knowledge systems
are generated by knowing actions irrespective of the area of human endeavor through
neuro-information-decision-choice processes over the space of problem-solution
dualities within the space of ontological-epistemological dualities. Again, the objec-
tive of the preamble is to introduce the reader to the conflict zones of knowing and to
point out the epistemic zones of irreducible disagreements in knowing as intellectual
investment flows and information-knowledge system as intellectual capital accumu-
lation enterprise in the general space of production-consumption dualities. Here, the
conflict zone of knowing will reveal the conditions of paradoxes, ill-posed problems
and many other inconsistencies of information-knowledge accumulation.
The prologue is tightly structured to follow the preamble. The prologue introduces
a set of essential epistemic propositions in the theoretical system on problem-solution
duality and polarities and its relationships with investments and capital accumulation
in intellectual and variety spaces. Based on these essential propositions, the concepts
xiv Preface

of methodology, techniques and methods for discussing the propositions are defined,
explicated and analyzed to provide conditions of their differences and commonness
in theoretical and applied analytics. The techniques and methods are toolbox collec-
tions in any methodology of interest for knowing, thinking and reasoning over the
space of the problem-solution dualities. The prologue is also used to introduce the
concepts of exact and inexact information structures and how they relate to the space
of absoluteness and the space of relativity to affect the methodology of thinking
and reasoning over the space of decidability-undecidability dualities. The prologue
points to the path of the theoretical journey and the parameters of containments and
deviations regarding the applicable areas over the space of question-answer dualities
and polarities to establish diversity and unity principles in knowing, science and
general information-knowledge accumulation.
The preface: The prologue is followed by a preface which introduces the motiva-
tion and conditions for writing the monograph, what it is about and how the concep-
tual framework of the monograph is connected to other previous monographs by the
same author on information-knowledge processes and general conditions of cate-
gories of knowing. The general conceptual frame makes explicit the structure of the
theory of problem-solution duality and polarity and how the structure constitutes
the complex foundation of knowing and information-knowledge accumulation in
all areas of cognitive activities over the space of fundamental-applied dualities in
knowing. The analytical connectedness of these monographs is found in the consis-
tent use of the principle of opposites with relational continuum and unity, inexact
information with vagueness and incompleteness, and fuzzy paradigm of thought
with its mathematics, logic and corresponding toolbox of techniques and methods of
analysis, where knowing is seen as an intellectual investment flow in a discovery of
knowledge and information-knowledge accumulation is seen as an intellectual capital
stocks of discoveries, providing cognitive agents with intellectual factories of produc-
tion and consumption in the general input-output space and neuro-decision-choice
actions over the space of problem-solution dualities. Together, these monographs
present the meaning and essence of my works, research agenda and possible contri-
bution to the organization of knowing, research and teaching, where the system
of information-knowledge stock-flow disequilibrium dynamics is seen as part of
the system of economic productions and related to continual neuro-decision-choice
dynamics over the space of problem-solution dualities that resides in temporary equi-
librium states and permanent disequilibrium dynamics. In a sense, the interrelated
works provide foundations for explaining the continual process of transformation
of varieties in terms of parent-offspring replacement processes at the levels of both
the fundamental and the applied knowledge on the dynamics of emergence of the
new and the disappearance of the old, where the end is in the beginning and the
beginning is in the end in a continual past-present-future telescopic connectivity as
well as taking a critical look at the logic of economic theory of production in the
understanding of intellectual stock-flow disequilibrium dynamics.
Other documents randomly have
different content
ruined. And I, who know this, am I to start him on it? No,
sir, you cannot ask it!"

Only after considerable reflection did Mr. Delrick speak,

for he had not expected such a reply. Then he said with
rising emotion, "It seems you cling to the idea that Vinzi
can be nothing more than a wandering musician. But let me
make a proposition. You surely have faith in me, Mr. Lesa?"

"I certainly have," rejoined the latter.

"Good! Then I propose that you let me have your boy

for a year or a little longer. I'll do with him just what I would
with my own son. When he comes back, if you think just
the same as today, a year abroad will not have done Vinzi
any harm. If he is to spend his life as a farmer, it cannot be
very bad to have learned something. That does everybody
good, whatever his occupation."

Mr. Lesa seemed to be weighing the matter, but

suddenly and firmly said, "That cannot be, sir," and when
asked his reason continued, "I do not care to send my son
to your house for a whole year as a visitor when you have
paid more than what was necessary for just a few weeks in
mine."

Mr. Delrick smiled as he explained, "I live all alone in my

big old house, which is quiet and often empty, so you can
understand your son would be a blessing and put life into
the old house. However, if this does not satisfy you, I will
promise to come back to your house as your guest so often
that it will balance any difference. Now shake hands on this,
Mr. Lesa; I hope you will never regret it."

Though many objections crowded into Mr. Lesa's mind,

he could not conquer the thought that a year abroad could
really do no harm to a boy like Vinzi; he had seen so little of
other people. Seeing how many boys of his age had to
struggle for a living might teach him to be grateful for his
pleasant home. Taking him from his free life in the country
to the paved streets of the city might make him homesick
and he would be glad to return even before the year was
out.

"I'll shake hands on that!" and Vinzenz Lesa pressed the

offered hand to seal the compact. "I will only add, sir, that
should Vinzi want to come home sooner than the time set,
you are to let him do so."

Mr. Delrick gave the promise unconditionally, and then

rose to take the news to Mrs. Lesa, while the farmer went
about his evening tasks in barn and stable. She could
scarce find words to express her joy and gratitude over the
turn of events. How wonderful it was for Vinzi to escape
living with his morose uncle! And although she did not know
just what Mr. Delrick had in view for Vinzi, she was
overjoyed at the prospect of her son spending a whole year
with such a man.

Vinzi knew no more about the plans than his mother,

but Mr. Delrick had told him he would follow the wishes of
Father Silvanus so he was sure all would be well with him.

Three days later was a time of farewell, but now no one

was sad. Stefeli alone was upset, for she thought no one in
the world had so lonesome a life as she. As a matter of fact,
she was much alone during the winter that followed, for she
had no companion on her way to and from school, and
sociable Stefeli sighed many times because of this
misfortune.

Now and again a letter came from Mr. Delrick bringing

news of Vinzi. Each one had to be read aloud by the mother.
The reports were always very favorable: the boy was in
good health and busy with his work; he sent hearty
greetings to all of them, and Mr. Delrick added a few
friendly words, reiterating what a pleasure it was to have
the boy with him and to watch his gratifying development.

The father always listened breathlessly to these reports

about his son, but they often seemed to disappoint him in
some way, and he would ask, "Is there no more?" as if he
hoped the letter would contain some other message. When
his wife assured him she had read it all, he would walk
silently away. She well knew he was expecting something
that did not come, and she guessed that he would have
been better pleased if Vinzi were not doing so well, if he
wanted to come home.

She began to worry once more. How would things go

when he did return? Would he do as his father wished? If
so, he would never be really happy. And if his father allowed
him to do the thing he loved most, that would make
dissension between the two, for the father would never
become reconciled to the thought that his son would be a
wandering musician. She remembered how intensely happy
her husband had been when a son was born, how he had
worked untiringly, how nothing had been too good for him.
When he looked on the baby, he would say, "He shall have
everything he wants." Such sympathy for her husband filled
her heart, that she felt she must call the boy home at once,
but the next moment she said to herself: "Oh, but if I do,
poor Vinzi will never be happy!"

In her anxiety, she was glad to remember she had

nothing to decide in the matter, and consoled herself with
the fact that, after all, the One who decides all things saw
further than any of them and He alone knew what was best
for one and all.
 CHAPTER X
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW LIFE

IT was spring again, and the trees and hedges were in

bloom. The grass was so fresh and so green that Stefeli
feasted her eyes on it as she walked through the meadows
with her schoolbag on her back.

Stefeli was coming home on the last day of school. No

more study until winter. How lovely that day had been the
year before when she had walked home with Vinzi, talking
over the days ahead. Then there lay before them the whole
beautiful summer with its long days on the sunny pasture.
But what would happen this summer? Stefeli foresaw many
long hot days in the house with the tiresome knitting, and
not a single day on the pasture. When she thought about it
she sat down in the meadow and sobbed aloud.

But Stefeli never cried very long, and when she

remembered that two days before she had seen half-ripe
strawberries behind the barn, she jumped up quickly; she
would toss her schoolbag in the hall and then gather the
berries. But when she flung open the door, she stood
riveted to the spot in surprise. Her mother sat talking quite
confidentially with a stranger, and beside him sat a boy the
size of Vinzi, who was taking a lively part in the
conversation.
 "Of course that is the little daughter," the man said,
glancing toward the door. "Come here, Stefeli; we are not
strangers. I am Cousin Lorenz and this is Jos, Vinzi's good
friend."

The delighted Stefeli went forward to greet them both;

anyone whom Vinzi loved was particularly welcome when
she was feeling so forlorn. She shook hands with Cousin
Lorenz for he looked at her with such kindly eyes, and then
stepped up to Jos, who smiled at her as though to say,
"We'll get along nicely together."

Stefeli turned to face her Cousin Lorenz and asked, "Jos

is going to stay with us the whole summer; isn't that so?
Just as long as Vinzi stayed with you."

Her cousin laughed heartily, and said, "That is surely a

fine welcome! We will see what your father thinks. I wish
you would take Jos outdoors for a while."

Stefeli did not wait for him to ask twice, but took Jos by
the hand and drew him happily along. He must see
everything in stable and barn, in garden and hen-house.

While they were gone, Vinzenz Lesa came in from his

work and greeted his guest with evident pleasure; it was
good to see his happy, contented cousin just when he was
so depressed.
 After the first greetings, Lorenz said, "We were worried
because we did not hear anything more from you, and my
wife gave me no rest. She feared we might not see your
Vinzi until late in the summer, and we want him with us all
summer. It occurred to me that I would bring our Jos to you
for a while, as we had arranged, and then later the two
boys could come to us until winter. But your wife now tells
me Vinzi is away, that I cannot even see him, and as to his
coming up to us, that is out of the question. My wife will be
bitterly disappointed; you cannot conceive how she loves
the boy, but he deserves it."

Hospitable Stefeli soon thought Jos ought certainly to

have something to eat, and came leading him into the room
like an old friend.

As Jos went up to greet him, Vinzenz Lesa looked into

the lad's open countenance with both pain and pleasure.

"He will be as big as you are, Lorenz," he declared after

looking Jos over critically again. "He must be a great help to
you already."

Mrs. Lesa had withdrawn some time before, and now

came to the door to signal to Stefeli, who immediately
began to lay the table.

"Your wife has a good helper, too," said Cousin Lorenz,

who approved the way the little girl went about her work.

The mother now came in to spread her table with the

best larder and cellar provided, for to feast those who had
shown such kindness to her Vinzi was a keen delight.

"You must stay with us a few days, cousin," said she as

she sat opposite him at table and saw to it that their plates
were replenished with second servings of the ham which
looked tempting indeed against the green leaves of the
tender lettuce her garden had supplied. "You must leave Jos
with us for several weeks at least."

"You make it easy for one to wish to stay, cousin," said

Lorenz. "I chose to come on Saturday in order to spend
Sunday with you, so I will gladly remain if you say so, but I
must return home on Monday. As to the boy, Cousin Vinzenz
shall settle that; I leave it to him."

"There's plenty of time for that," said the latter

deliberately. "We will take a walk through the fields
tomorrow morning. You would like to look over the farm,
wouldn't you. We can talk over things then."

"Look at the cow stable, father, above everything else,"

cried Jos with enthusiasm, who had remained silent out of
respect for his Cousin Vinzenz. But the impression he had
received in the stable was so powerful, he must speak now.
"There certainly are no finer cows than those in his stable,
and they are as clean as though they had just been
washed."

"I thought the cattle would please you," remarked his

father.

Early the next afternoon the two men wandered off

through the verdant fields that belonged to the Lesa farm,
and Mrs. Lesa took the children up the sunny slope where
the first strawberries were ripening. She knew that walk
would please them, and besides, the men wished to be
alone to talk. Looking at the blossoming trees, the lush
grass, the fields promising bountiful harvests, Vinzenz and
Lorenz reached the high ground where the woods began.
Before they stepped into the woodland path, Lorenz paused
to gaze down on the dwelling that looked so inviting among
the tall walnut trees.

"Vinzenz, you are a lucky man!" he exclaimed. "Peace

and happiness at home, and surrounded by acres that could
not be more beautiful, all of them your own."

"Yes, and over in Freiburg another place with twice as

many cattle as here, and a grass crop to fill the haymow to
the roof," but the furrows on Vinzenz's forehead grew
deeper and deeper as though each thing he mentioned was
worse than the last. "Twelve cheeses a year are made from
that milk."

"Vinzenz, you have no reason to be downhearted," said

his cousin with laughter in his eyes. "I never knew the
paternal estate belonged to you. Two such farms for your
own! Certainly God has showered you with blessings. Yet
you look as though you had nothing but bad weather for
your share."
 "It's easy for you to talk," said Vinzenz savagely. "You
have three strong sons who are happy in their work. Joy
and success are ahead of you. But after all my effort, I
must look on while a beautiful estate goes to ruin. I cannot
be in two places at one time, and my only son won't open
his eyes to see the fine career awaiting him. Hundreds
would envy him. When I inherited this farm, I left my
father's homestead, where every tree was a comrade and
every head of cattle had grown up under my eyes. I was not
happy to leave it, but everything here had gone to ruin. No
stranger would have undertaken to restore it, but I said to
myself, 'You will do it for the sake of your son. In a few
years he will be old enough to manage it and you can go
home again.' Well, the farm has been put into shape quicker
than I expected. You yourself say it looks like a blossoming
garden from one end to the other. Must I see it go to ruin,
or shall I let my homestead run down? Now tell me, what
do you think? Do you think singing and piping can take the
place of caring for an estate? You see how everything
stands with me!"

"Matters are not half as bad as you think," rejoined

Lorenz cheerfully. "You have a boy who will amount to
something some day, rest assured of that, cousin. And you
have a girl besides, of whom any father could be proud. Let
six or seven years pass. You are such a robust man you can
keep the two farms in condition until then, with some help.
By that time you can settle your daughter here; she will
know how to manage it, and you can return to your
homestead. I wouldn't wonder if someone would pop up
who would be willing to share the work and the
management with your daughter. Then your farm will have
the right care."

Lorenz had started to walk on, but now he suddenly

paused to say, "But I have forgotten to ask the principal
question. Do you want to keep Jos or shall I take him
home? He is fairly quick to learn."

"I can see that," remarked Vinzenz. "You will miss him,
and I am already in your debt for Vinzi was of no assistance
to you in any way."

But Lorenz remonstrated. Vinzenz ought to hear what

his wife would have to say about that; she would tell him
quite a different story, and with reason. It was she who had
urged him to bring Jos to them. She had never allowed any
of her boys to stay away even over night, but she was sure
Jos could learn only good things with the parents of such a
boy as Vinzi.

"Now tell me frankly," concluded Lorenz, "is there any

other reason you hesitate to keep Jos?"

"That is my only reason," was the decided answer.

"Then he will stay with you and you can send him home
whenever it suits you best."

Lorenz now quickened his pace for he wished to have

time to have a pleasant chat with Stefeli and her mother,
with both of whom he had established a close friendship.

When he bade Stefeli farewell, as he was leaving before

she would be up in the morning, he gave her his hand, but
she refused to say good-bye, and in the morning she was
standing at the door long before sunrise to meet him as he
came downstairs. She had grown so fond of him it was no
task to get up early to see him off. Then, too, she had
something on her mind and when he came down stairs, she
asked eagerly, "Can Jos stay? Can he stay all summer?"
 "Yes, yes," answered Lorenz with a smile. "Until your
father sends him home."

Mrs. Lesa had made a pot of fragrant coffee and cooked

a hearty breakfast to fortify him on his homeward journey,
and now Vinzenz came in with Jos. The boy had been up
before Stefeli and when he had found the stable open had
gone in to inspect the cows, first one, then another. His
exclamations of admiration greatly pleased Vinzenz, who
looked on as he went from stall to stall.

After many hearty handshakes, Lorenz started on his

way. Vinzenz wished to accompany him to the border of his
estate, and the others went as far as the corner of the
garden.

When the men were out of sight, Stefeli asked quickly,

"Will you go to the pasture, so that I can go too?"

"Yes, I will. But it does not matter what I wish to do,"

answered Jos, "for I am not master here."

"Oh, if only I could be master!" sighed Stefeli.

Her father soon returned and as her mother was

working among her vegetables, he met all three in the
garden. He approached Jos, behind whom Stefeli stood for
she was eager to see and to hear what would happen.

"It seems to me you find real pleasure in the cows. Will

you take over their pasturing, Jos?" he asked. "On the
pasture you shall be your own master. I will give you entire
charge of them, for you know what is necessary. The child
will go with you. She knows the work pretty well and is
acquainted with all the roads and paths. How does that suit
you?"
 "Oh, there is nothing I would love better than that!"
exclaimed Jos while Stefeli leaped with joy and dashed off
to make hurried preparations for the day.

Stefeli had never imagined matters could come around

so happily. How fine to be outdoors again, to follow her
good friends the cows out to the pasture and to sit once
more in the shade of the ash tree! But even if she had not
been filled with happiness on her own account, Stefeli would
have been glad because Jos was so delighted with
everything he saw. All her old friends were there, and four
splendid red-and-white cows had been added to the herd;
her father had brought them from Freiburg himself. A new
Schwarzeli was also there, and even if it was not the same
one as last year, it galloped from one end of the pasture to
the other with the same friskiness, and over bridges and
fences too, if they did not catch her in time.

Jos must learn to know them all as well as she did, so

she enumerated the characteristics of each; and they would
learn about the four new cows together.

Jos showed the greatest zeal to learn everything and

remembered it all after one telling. Stefeli was amazed at
the way he anticipated what a cow would do. He would go
over to an animal before it started off on a run and would
stroke and pacify it. He would catch Schwarzeli by the tail
just as she was going to make a first bound to rush down
the pasture like the wind. It was as though he could always
tell just when they had it in mind to tear off. So it was not
necessary to do much running after them and Jos kept
saying, "Sit down under the tree, Stefeli; I can easily
manage them."

And that was the truth. He learned the ways of them all
so quickly, even of the newcomers, that they opened their
great eyes in astonishment when their attempts to gallop
off were frustrated. But with all his sharp watching, Jos
found time to leap for sheer joy and to yodel so that the
song reechoed from the hills. His voice was so strong and
melodious that Stefeli was charmed with it and kept
pleading, "Sing again, Jos; sing once more!"

The mornings always passed so quickly that the two

looked at one another in doubt when they heard the bell
sound from the distance. Could it be midday? Then Stefeli
spread out their lunch in the good old way under the ash
tree and after a searching look at the herd which had
settled down peacefully to rest in the sunshine, Jos seated
himself by Stefeli, quite willing to eat.

"I am sure no one can arrange a table out in the

pasture like you do, Stefeli," said he with admiration, and
ate with keen relish.

The afternoons passed as rapidly as the mornings and

as they strolled homeward in the bright evening, Stefeli
said, "It was so lovely today! I wish every day could be just
like it."

"I too," agreed Jos.

Vinzenz Lesa stood at the corner of his barn watching as

the herd approached. First Jos ran along one side, then
along the other, to keep the cows in file instead of letting
them scatter here and there.

"A smart, orderly boy," he thought as he went forward

to take charge of the homecomers.

Now came a series of days which passed so happily that

Stefeli's wish seemed to be fulfilled.
 "It's just as if Vinzi were here again, isn't it, mother,
since Jos came?" asked Stefeli one evening as she came in
flushed with joy while Jos as usual stayed out with Vinzenz.

"Yes," replied the mother. "As long as we cannot have

Vinzi with us, I am glad that Jos takes his place. I love him
as much as if he belonged to us."

Jos was always the first one up in the morning, and if

the stable was locked, he would find something to do in the
barn, and Vinzenz always found him busy about some
sensible task.

Stefeli grew impatient mornings when the two did not

come into the house until the very last moment when the
coffee was already on the table, and on their return, Jos
could not be induced to leave his cows until the last one had
been watered and was comfortably bedded on the straw.

Everything that grew, that was planted and harvested

was a pleasure to Jos, and he wanted to help with it.

At first Vinzenz Lesa had said to his wife bitterly, "Look

at him! He enjoys everything and goes to his work with a
zeal as if the farm were his own. Just see his pleasure in the
life! And the other boy, for whom all the work is done, has
no eyes to see it!"

And then matters came about so that Mrs. Lesa could

find happiness in it all, for her husband talked to her about
Jos every day, though in a different way. He could now say
quite cheerfully, "That lad has four eyes in his head. He
sees everything, even the things he might easily overlook
and that would never be noticed by the farmhand. I can
depend on him as on no one else."
 Mrs. Lesa watched her husband's increasing pleasure in
the boy with gratitude, for he was in much better humor
than for a long time. During the quiet afternoons which
were hers since Stefeli was on the pasture again, she sat in
her room and let her thoughts stray in the same direction
day after day. She pondered about her Vinzi. Would he
return at the end of the year to take up the life his father
wished, and so perhaps be unhappy? Or had he chosen a
new path which would forever estrange him from his father?
She would hold imaginary conversations with him, and be
startled by the slightest noise, thinking her boy might have
returned suddenly.

She was thus occupied one afternoon when the front

door opened and she heard the trample of feet in the hall.
She hurried to the door and when she opened it, a strong,
manly voice said, "Old acquaintances, Mrs. Lesa, seeking
shelter in your house."

At the same moment, one little hand grasped hers, and

then another. By that time she saw who it was and
exclaimed with heartfelt pleasure, "Welcome, Alida and
Hugo! Welcome, Mr. Thornau! So you are back in our part of
the country again?"

"Not exactly," said Mr. Thornau, returning her vigorous

handshake, "unless you take us in. If you say no, we must
wander again. I have to tell you first of all that I am
bringing you two children who no longer have a mother.
Both of them wanted to come here and nowhere else."

Mrs. Lesa was won over already. "Poor children!" said

she to herself, and as she turned to him she added, "and
poor father!" Then aloud, "Mr. Thornau, will you stay till
evening? My husband will be home then, and you can talk it
over with him."
 "And what does his wife say?" he asked.

"She would be glad to take the place of mother for a

time, if she could."

"Then all is well!"

Vinzenz Lesa was surprised to find the three guests

sitting under his walnut trees, but there was not much time
for astonishment as Mr. Thornau stepped up to him and
eloquently accounted for his visit. He said he was convinced
Mr. Lesa would not close his door on him, still less on his
children, both of whom desired to spend the whole summer
at his house. He had come with the firm conviction he
would not be turned away. Mr. Lesa must not propose
another place known to both of them, for the children would
not go there, and he would not force them to do so. It was
a case of the Lesa house or back home again, for it was
impossible for him to remain with them just then and
equally impossible to leave them alone anywhere else.

Vinzenz Lesa was not displeased to hear that it was his

house or none. However, one could not tell what these
children would bring into his house; one knew so little about
them. But after a little deliberation, he said, "Talk it over
with my wife, sir; taking care of the children would be her
affair."

"I will be glad to do so," replied Mr. Thornau and turned

quickly to her to ask, "Then everything is settled, is it not?
For you have already said yes in your heart," and he
heartily shook hands with her, for this was the case as she
had decided long ago to keep the children and bestow on
them all her love and care.

Mr. Thornau now wished to depart, but Mrs. Lesa

suggested that it would be well for him to tell her what he
wished the children to do and what their amusements were
to be. Her own children led a very simple life, she said.

He replied that he wished nothing better for his two

than to be out on the pasture from morning to night; the
rest he would leave to her. He regretted that Alida's study of
music had been given up, for he had delighted in it. But
now his chief desire was that they should grow strong and
ruddy and return to him looking as rugged as Mrs. Lesa's
children. Then he drew her aside and pointing to the sad,
pale Hugo, added:

"I give him into your special care. He was never very
strong or merry, but since his mother has died, he has no
life, no joy, no interest in anything, and the doctor ordered
him away." Then with a hasty farewell till fall, when they,
would all meet again, he left them.

Just then Jos and Stefeli came up to the stable with the
herd. They were chatting merrily until Jos went on and
Stefeli came slowly to the house. She was in no hurry, for
her mother would be busy in the kitchen and Jos would not
come in for another hour or so. But suddenly she sighted
two figures there by the strawberry bed! With a shout of joy
Stefeli dashed up to Alida and Hugo, and the girls greeted
one another with exclamations of delight.

"But where is Vinzi?" asked Alida, and Stefeli informed

her how long he had been gone, and no one knew when he
would return.

Alida looked her disappointment but Stefeli, always

ready with some consolation, said, "I am sure he will come
home while you are here. Then there is Jos—you are sure to
like him. You are going to stay with us the whole summer?"
 Alida nodded and replied, "And we are to be out on the
pasture every day; that was papa's order. But it will be a
little tedious without Vinzi."

Stefeli assured her it was never tedious on the pasture,

and so it proved. Day after day the merry company
marched out to the sunny pasture, and Mrs. Lesa saw that
they enjoyed a nourishing midday meal under the shade of
the ash tree. Alida was in ecstasy over this free life. What
joy to march off in the early morning! What bliss to breathe
the exhilarating air and to hear the birds warbling in the
trees until it sounded like a great song of joy lifted to
Heaven.

On the first morning, Stefeli awoke Alida early, as had

been agreed, and both girls, fresh and full of enterprise,
stood waiting by the barn for Jos, who was loosening the
cows from their chains. Hugo had come down from his room
to go out to the pasture with them as his father had
ordered, but looked so wan and pale that Mrs. Lesa led him
back to his room, straightened the pillows on his bed and
told him to rest a little longer; there was no hurry about
going to the pasture; she would take him out later, to show
him the way. He need not get up so early hereafter.

For the first time since he had lost his mother, Hugo felt
a motherly hand was caring for him and a great love for
Mrs. Lesa filled his heart from that day. In these first days
the silent, grieving boy passed many hours with her and
found much comfort in the sympathetic way she listened
when he talked about his mother, which he always did when
they were alone together.

The good her warm interest did him was soon plain to
be seen, and one day he came downstairs as early as on
that first morning. He looked much stronger now, and to
Mrs. Lesa's joy, begged to go right out to the pasture. Until
then he had always preferred staying in the house until she
had sent him off, and she always accompanied him part of
the way.

Hugo found Jos alone, singing and yodeling as he

strolled about with his herd. It was as though Hugo saw the
fine animals for the first time and he began to ask all sorts
of questions, for he observed them closely and found a
great difference in their behavior as well as in their
appearance. This discovery caused him considerable
surprise for he had thought that cows were just cows, one
the same as the other.

Jos was in his element and launched into an eloquent

description of the habits of his cattle. With the insight into
the characteristics of each member of the herd that Jos
gave him, Hugo wanted to hear more and more. And all he
had to do was to ask for Jos knew all he wished to learn,
and could describe everything so vividly that their
enjoyment was mutual. Hugo soon learned what fodder
produces the best milk, and how milk is handled to make
the best butter and cheese. He was also told that the
creameries preferred Vinzenz Lesa's milk because his cows
were of the finest breed and kept so clean.

The two boys were engaged in lively conversation when

Stefeli ran up and much to their surprise began to lay out
the midday meal under the ash tree. Stefeli was well
pleased that neither of them had noticed how late it was,
for she had tarried over-long with Alida. The four of them
soon sat down to their lunch in a particularly merry mood,
for they were happy because Hugo was so bright.

"Let us be a family from now on," suggested Alida, "for

then we will keep together like this all the time. Hugo is the
landlord and I am his sister, the young spinster of the
estate. Jos is our manager."

"Then Stefeli can be the mistress," Hugo added.

"What are you thinking of, Hugo?" demanded Jos.

"Stefeli cooks for us and lays the table. She couldn't be the
wife of the landlord: she must be the manager's wife."

"Jos is right," decided Alida.

"Then the landlord will have a mother, and that's much

better than a wife," declared Hugo. "When Mrs. Lesa visits
us some day, you will have to receive her as the landlord's
mother and make a great banquet for her."

This idea was highly approved, and they immediately

began to discuss how the festival should be celebrated.
Alida invented the most astonishing plans, including the use
of torches and rockets, until Jos declared:

"Our cows will jump over the fences in fright, and the
people at the feast will have to run after them in their
holiday clothes."

This idea brought bursts of laughter from all four, but

they soon dropped the discussion and lay down to rest in
the deep shade. Fanned by the leafy boughs overhead, they
slept as well as if they had been lying on a prince's bed, and
the fresh air and warm sunshine brought a ruddy glow to
Hugo's pale cheeks.

That evening when the quartet wandered home, Hugo

turned aside with Jos, and both boys disappeared in the
stable.
 "Now he's begun it too," mourned Stefeli. "I wonder
what they have to do in there!"

"Just let him go," remarked Alida. "He's much happier

when he's with Jos, like today; I've noticed that."

CHAPTER XI
ONCE AGAIN THE OLD SONG

AUTUMN came that year altogether too soon for the

Lesa household. The children did not like to think their days
on the pasture were coming to an end, that two of them
would soon be living far away in a great city, another go up
into the mountains, while Stefeli would stay behind, a sad
and lonely little girl.

"No, I don't want to live alone," said Stefeli with

determination when they were discussing the sad outlook
on one of their last days together. "I shall write a letter and
send it to Cousin Lorenz. He promised me something."

"Vinzi will come home," suggested Alida, "and then you

will have good company."

That same day Vinzenz Lesa said to his wife: "I only
hope Lorenz will not take his boy away from me. It has
been such a bountiful years there is much to do. I can't get
along without the boy, for I cannot see everything that must
be done. He has a good memory, and displays as much
thought and care as three. He shows as much interest and
pleasure in the farm as though he owned it. Ah, if he were
mine! I would give half my wealth for such a son!"

"Let us be happy that he is still with us," rejoined his

wife. "Perhaps we can keep him for quite a while; good
Cousin Lorenz has sent us no warning yet."

Mr. Delrick wrote regularly, and a letter had recently

come containing the usual good news: Vinzi was well and
everything was going along all right. Mr. Delrick seemed in
no hurry to write about Vinzi's return, though the year of
his absence was near its end.

A few days later as the children entered the room one

evening a thick envelope lay on the table.

"That is a letter from father to Mr. Lesa!" exclaimed

Alida as she glanced at the handwriting.

"Now it's all over!" said Hugo. "You'll find we have to go,
Alida."

The children were all alarmed, but even though they

talked about their departure none of them thought it was
actually near at hand. Even Jos, to whom the news was told
the moment he came in, made great eyes. He had not quite
conceived that their happiness must end, for he and Hugo
had drawn close in a warm friendship.

When Mr. Lesa came in, he took up the letter only to lay
it aside, for he read letters only when there was nothing
else to do and now supper was ready.

When Mrs. Lesa had brought the food to the table and
had attended to everything, she said she would like to open
the letter; she knew the children were eager to know what
their father had written, and they had recognized his
handwriting. He consented, and she read the letter to
herself, then said she would tell them all about it next day.
There was all sorts of information in it but the main news
was that Mr. Thornau would arrive in a few days to take his
children home.

Absolute silence followed this announcement. Then, one

after the other, the children left the table and gathered
under the great walnut tree in front of the house. With the
old tree as their witness, they solemnly promised to do all
within their power to spend the next summer together.

When they were all fast asleep in their beds and

Vinzenz Lesa had lit his evening pipe, his wife sat down
beside him, saying she wanted to read the letter aloud. Mr.
Thornau wrote from Dresden, where he had gone to visit
Mr. Delrick who had asked him to accompany him on a trip
to Switzerland. He thought information by word of mouth
concerning Vinzi would be more than welcome to the
parents, and he would bring it. However, his time in Leuk
would be very short. He could not arrive before Sunday
evening and must be on his way early Monday morning.
Now it would be ever so much pleasanter if they could
spend Sunday together in Freiburg. That was Mr. Lesa's old
home and surely he would be glad to visit it. Wouldn't they
bring his children to meet him there, and of course Stefeli
would come too. They could reach Freiburg early Sunday
afternoon and he and Mr. Delrick would meet them at the
train, for they expected to arrive earlier.

Vinzenz Lesa pondered awhile in silence, then asked,

"What does he say about our boy?"

Mrs. Lesa assured him he had written nothing but what

she had read; but Mr. Delrick would give them a report in
person.

"Do you know why he doesn't care to bring him along?"

asked her husband further.

"We can't know that," she replied.

"But we can guess. I can tell you why. Mr. Delrick now
sees he cannot make him a traveling musician. He is in no
hurry to bring him home and tell me frankly he does not
know what to do with him, because he had turned his
thoughts further away from being a farmer. Mr. Delrick is a
good man, but he miscalculated. Everybody likes to put off
as long as possible owning to have made a mistake."

Vinzenz Lesa now blew such dense clouds of smoke that

his wife knew it was wise to wait a bit.

Then she said cautiously: "Let us wait until we hear

what Mr. Delrick has to say. It will be a blessing to talk with
him. What do you think of going to Freiburg?"

"It has not entered my head," he replied curtly. "You

surely do not think I'd make a trip like that without any
reason, like a fellow who does not know what to do with his
time."

"No one who knows you could believe that," said his
wife. "But Mr. Thornau would not have settled upon a
Sunday without a purpose. He knows you would not come
on a week day. It was nice of him to invite us; he could
have asked anyone to bring the children. He says it would
be a favor if we went with them, and I must say, Vinzenz,
I've grown to love them dearly, and they are sorry to leave
us. They have told me so and have shown me their hearts. I
would like to see them safely in their father's hands."
 "You can go with them; why not?" he retorted in a
perverse tone. "Go with them to Freiburg; you are sufficient
escort for them."

"No, Vinzenz, I will not do that," was his wife's decided

reply. "You can see by the letter that Mr. Thornau wants you
to come. You know very well that I could not decide about
the boy's future. We will go together or not at all."

The silence which followed was too prolonged for Mrs.

Lesa's patience, and she began again: "When we are invited
in such a friendly manner, I do not know why we should not
make the trip to Freiburg. Don't you remember how
delighted we were as children when father and mother
drove us there on a Sunday and how we thought ourselves
the luckiest of mortals as we sat in the high carriage
between them, traveling off to meet all kinds of adventures?
We should make the trip just for memory's sake. First of all
we went into the church and heard the great organ. You
must recollect how your mother delighted in this above
everything else."

"Wouldn't you take pleasure in going there again?

Besides, it strikes me it would be a good plan for you to use
this chance to visit the estate. You have been wanting to
see how matters stood there for quite a while, and you are
sure to find lots of things to attend to. Now that Jos is with
us, you are better able to leave than later on. It is certainly
time you looked into things there. If nothing special takes
you, you will not go until something is wrong and then you
will regret the delay."

Vinzenz Lesa began thinking the journey might have its

good side. With much hesitation and some resentment, he
said, "How did you work that all out? I don't see how we
could be away so long. It would take three days."
 "Not for all of us," replied Mrs. Lesa quickly, for she had
thought it all out. "We can attend to everything here early
Sunday morning and be in Freiburg that afternoon. I will
start back that evening with the children so we can be
home Monday morning."

"How many children are you expecting to bring back?

The stranger children will have gone, and you have only
your one left."

"Only our two, Jos and Stefeli; I'll bring home no

strangers," said his wife appeasingly.

"What? You want to take Jos too?" he said excitedly.

"Then my going is out of the question. If Jos isn't home to
keep things in order, I'll not take a step away from here;
you can reckon on that."

Mrs. Lesa patiently explained that for one day, and that
Sunday, the farmhand could attend to the stable work, and
Jos would be back again Monday morning. Nothing would be
neglected.

"And then think, Vinzenz," she concluded, "Jos has done

much for us, and we have never given him the slightest
pleasure. He would certainly enjoy this trip. It is because of
him that you have the time to go to your other farm and to
put things in order there. You can afford to be away eight
days for when Jos is with me, I can promise you everything
will be done at home."

Vinzenz Lesa was a just man and always ready to do

what justice called for. After weighing the pros and cons, he
was glad of this opportunity to give Jos a well-earned
holiday, and said decisively, "Well, we'll make the trip. Tell
Jos at once; he will plan everything out that needs to be
done while he is away."
 "Tomorrow morning," promised Mrs. Lesa, rejoicing that
she could give the good news to all the children, especially
to Jos.

When she made the happy announcement the next

morning, Alida and Stefeli jumped for joy, and Hugo said,
"Then everything isn't quite over! It will be much easier to
go away when everybody goes with us."

Jos could hardly conceive that such pleasure was for

him. He would see the city, and much beautiful country on
the way. It would be his first journey, for he had never been
away from his mountain home until the time he came to
Leuk.

Sunday arrived, and the merry party journeyed off

through the green country. The trip was much finer than
they had imagined. Alida and Stefeli talked incessantly and
when Hugo was not taking part in the conversation, he was
pointing out the interesting things along the way which
might otherwise have been unobserved. Jos, on the other
hand, was so engrossed with all that was new to him that
he gazed about in silence.

Thus the hours flew by and the children jumped up in

astonishment when Mr. Lesa said, "Watch out now, we will
soon be in Freiburg."

A few minutes later there was a call of "Freiburg!" and

the train stopped. Mrs. Lesa peered out of the window, and
yes, there stood the gentlemen waiting to receive them.
She could not help giving a sigh for she had hoped till this
moment that Mr. Delrick might bring Vinzi along. But he was
not there.

Alida and Hugo rushed up to their father, and Mr.

Thornau took them both in his arms while he responded to
their boisterous greetings with happy exclamations. Then he
held his son off from him, the better to gaze at him.

"Is this really my son Hugo, the little fellow without life
and strength? Nut-brown as a woodsman! Fat cheeks! Eyes
like a deer's! Mrs. Lesa, what have you done with this lad?
And is this gipsy girl my Alida? The red blood flushes her
brown cheeks—what health! Mrs. Lesa, Mrs. Lesa, how did
you bring all this about?"

"Oh, we know, we know mighty well," the children

chorused, and began to relate how they had spent the
summer days.

After Mr. Delrick had greeted Mr. Lesa, he shook the

wife's hand and as though he read what was in her heart,
he said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Lesa, everything goes well with
the boy. That he is not here is due to no bad reason, believe
me. Ah, there is my little friend Stefeli, and another old
acquaintance. It's fine to have Jos here, for by now he
belongs to your household."

"As one of our own," said Mrs. Lesa, putting her hand
on the boy's shoulder. "Thank God we have him!"

"I wish to lay a proposition before you, and want Mr.

Lesa's approval above that of all others," began Mr. Delrick.
"Our friend, Mr. Thornau, has invited us all to dinner, and as
the hotel is close by the old St. Nikolas Church, we thought
it would be pleasant to go there first!"

Mrs. Lesa looked at her husband, hoping he would

consent, for to go to church would suit her best of all.

Old memories crowded Vinzenz Lesa's mind as soon as

he trod the streets of Freiburg. Like the child of his
neighbor, he had known nothing grander than to drive into
Freiburg on Sundays, and, holding his mother's hand, step
into the church and listen to the wonderful organ.

"If I had anything to say about it, I would like to go to

the church first. It is Sunday and it is proper for us to go
there," he said.

So the party wandered into the city, and to the great old
church, where it was so silent, so solemn in the semi-
darkness that the children stepped very lightly down the
aisle and seated themselves beside the grown-ups without a
word. Suddenly the organ began to play, and through the
stillness there floated music of such power and beauty that
it seemed as if the heavenly choir were singing to call all
the world to praise and prayer.

Stefeli uttered a suppressed cry of joy, and pulled

violently at her mother's sleeve.

"Mother, it is Vinzi!" she exclaimed, greatly excited.

The mother had recognized her Vinzi at her first glance

toward the organ and the sight of his curly black head had
so surprised and agitated her that it took all her power to
keep from sobbing aloud. Her husband must know too. She
nudged him gently and whispered, "Vinzenz, it is Vinzi!"

He made no reply, nor did he look up, unwilling to show

how the music had moved him.

And now the music suddenly changed. From low

mourning it grew to loud lamentation, as if a great choir of
despairing mortals gave voice to their suffering and
penitence. Bitter pain, then supplication and fervent,
humble prayer for succor and mercy. Suddenly it was as
though the heavens opened and angels on high sang of
merciful love and everlasting joy. Then above the heavenly
choir there arose a voice, clear and powerful, filling the
great church with the words:

"Yes, the holy hymn of grace

Sounds through all eternity."

It was Jos. Hearing those well-known notes sounding

afresh so powerfully and inspiringly had overcome him and
he could but add his voice to the angelic choir. When the
last note died away, perfect silence reigned in the church.
Then the two gentlemen rose, and Vinzenz Lesa also got up,
wiping his eyes.

"You surely don't believe that," he said in a hoarse

voice, as his wife followed him, in answer to the words she
had whispered to him some time before. "No one can tell
me that was our Vinzi!"

Mr. Delrick was standing just behind him and said,

clapping him on the shoulder, "We will not take anything on
faith. Let us climb up to the organ loft and see for ourselves
who plays like this."