Harper's Young People, November 25, 1879 An Illustrated Weekly

In a secluded Alpine valley, the spirited boy Walter Hirzel recovers from a fierce encounter with a vulture that left his back bruised and his trousers torn. When the kind‑hearted traveler Mr. Seymour arrives, he honors Walter’s bravery with a generous sum of gold, insisting the money is a gift rather than a debt. Walter’s father, Toni, watches the exchange with quiet gratitude, stashing the coins in a hidden drawer as a future nest‑egg for his son.

As autumn fades to winter, the valley’s tranquility is shaken by loss and danger. Toni mourns the death of his prized cow, the family’s main source of milk and cheese, while the first snow drives wolves down from the mountains. The Hirzels must now balance the promise of new wealth against the harsh realities of a frozen, predator‑filled landscape, testing their resilience and the bonds that hold them together.