Publisher's Synopsis
On the snow covered stones of the Stephan of Vienna, Ben and
Steve danced joyously. The boy Ben because it was Christmas Eve.
Because also in the rapid motion his little body forgot how poorly
it was clad. While Steve, the terrier of Scottish
ancestry, danced because anything his small master did was pleasing
in his sight, and to be copied, if possible. Under Ben's chin was
tucked a violin; and as the boy danced he played snatches of melody:
Bits of Hungarian folk songs, and bars of the waltzes the Viennese
love, which set the feet of the passers-by moving more swiftly. But
not one Kreutzer had been slipped into the boy's hand, although it was
Christmas Eve.
