| PAGE | |
| When Vinzi Sat on His Threshold He Had a Great Many Things to Think Over | Frontispiece |
| The Shiny Black Cow Was Going in Big Leaps Toward the Rushing Stream | 34 |
| Vinzi Stared at Her Fingers as if Her Playing Were a Miracle | 48 |
| “What Will It Be When It’s Finished?” Asked Russli | 121 |
| Vinzi, Taking Up His Pipe, Had Begun to Play a Melody | 157 |
| “What Is It, Vinzi?” She Asked, Terribly Frightened on Hearing His Sobs and Groans | 209 |
| Stefeli Always Spread Out Their Lunch Under the Ash Tree | 255 |
| Rich, Powerful Tones Floated Through the Quiet Church | 285 |
About This Book
A young boy in an Alpine farming community must reconcile a passionate love of music with his father's insistence that he follow the practical work of the farm. The narrative traces his everyday joys, friendships, episodes of separation and hardship, and moments when music softens stubborn hearts and restores harmony. Rich pastoral detail and affectionate village scenes underscore themes of trust, the consoling power of song, and how communal kindness and steady courage help a child find his place.