No sooner did this name reach Mr.Bickel's ear, than he was struck with its appropriateness to his son.

Was not the boy destined to be the fortunate heir to his father's wealth and position?
He went home full of satisfaction and announced to his wife that the long-sought name was found, and the child might be taken to church for baptism.

So Fortunatus he was christened; and Mr.Bickel felt sure now that the hated nickname would be dropped and soon forgotten.
Not so; for as soon as the boy went to school, his playmates decided that Fortunatus was far too long and pretentious a name for common use; so they peremptorily shortened it to "Tus"; then, adding it to the father's appellation, it became "Tailorkin-Fekli-Tus." The first word of this lengthy and awkward combination was soon dropped off, and the other two were combined into one word and became Feklitus.

With this the critics were satisfied, and long usage fixed the name so completely on the boy that at last very few recalled the fine name Fortunatus, and almost every one supposed that he had been christened Feklitus.
Oscar Stein and Feklitus Bickel both sat at the head of the sixth class in the village school.

This odd arrangement came about in this way.
When, six years before, both entered the school together, Oscar seated himself at once at the head of the bench; for he was a boy born to lead, and never thought of being second anywhere.