quite still, up to their necks in water; their bells
tinkling with each move of the head. The dogs
drank a little, but kept back on the dry land ;
the herdsmen came after, and seated themselves
on the warm smooth mountain side. Here they
took out their provision, exchanged with each
Early in the morning, when the dewy freshness of the air
gives life and vigour to all around, the milkmaid will arise, and
in dear beautiful tones sing a song of the country, and gather
the cattle around her, giving to each a handful of salt, and
calling them all by name. The mountains rise on all sides, and
her song is re-echoed from cliff to cliff. Far in the distance
amid the towering peaks, peep here and there the deep crevasses
filled with everlasting snow ; the icy surface gives a glacier-like
appearance, and there you may see grand images of the sun
reflected like gigantic stars.
The herdsmen up in the Soeters play skilfully upon a curious
wooden instrument, peculiar to the country. This can be heard
for miles, and should any of the cattle have strayed from the
rest, they are guided back by the sweet sounds of the " Luur."
other ; praised each others' dogs, oxen, and
people ; finally undressed and sprang in the
water. The dogs wouldn't go in, but drawled
lazily about, hanging their heads, with their
tongues out on one side. There was no bird to
be seen, no sound to be heard save the voices
of the lads and the tinkling of the bells ; the
ling was burnt up and withered ; the sun
scorched the whole mountain side, and the heat
was intense.
Ovind sat a long time in the hot sun, close to
the beck that flowed from the lake ; he waited
and waited, but still there was no one to be seen
at Heidegaard, and he began to be a little
anxious, when suddenly a great dog came pant-
ing out from a door, followed by a young girl in
summer attire ; she sprang over the fields up
towards the mountain. Ovind felt a strong
desire to halloo but dare not ; he kept a look
out to see if any one should accidentally come
out from the farm and see her, but she escaped
$at|)ering ferries. 151
unobserved. At last she got near, picking her
way by the side of the brook, and helping her-
self on by the small bushes, the dog a little
before her, snuffing in the air. Ovind ran to
meet her, the dog growled and was hushed
down, and as soon as Marit saw him come, she
seated herself on the Great Stone, looking fiery
red, and quite overpowered by the heat. He sat
down beside her.
" I'm so glad you've come."
" How fearfully hot ! Have you been waiting
long?"
" No. As they watch us so in the evenings,
we must take the mid-day ; but after this, I
think we ought not to keep things so secret, and
it is just about this I wanted to speak to you."
" Not secret ? "
" I know very well that it suits you best to
keep everything secret, but to shew courage suits
you also. I have come to-day to talk a long
time with you, and now you must hear."
152
" Is it true that you mean to try to be District
Agriculturist ?"
" Yes, and I hope to succeed too. I have a
two-fold object in view, first, to gain position ;
and secondly, to do something that your grand-
father can both see and understand. It happens
most fortunately that most of the farmers about
Heidegaard are young people who wish to make
improvements and require assistance ; they have
also means at command. So I shall begin there.
I shall improve everything from the smallest
things to the greatest. I shall give lectures, and
also work ; and so to say, lay siege to the old
man by good deeds."
" Well done, Ovind ! What more ? "
" The next concerns ourselves, you must not
go away."
" When he commands it ? "
" And keep nothing secret respecting us two."
" When he tortures me ? "
" But we gain more, and protect ourselves
(gathering grrms. 153
better by having everything open. We shall
be just so much observed by people, that they
will talk of how much we care for each other,
and they will the sooner wish us well. You
must not leave. There is danger for those who
are separated lest slander should come in between
them ; they believe nothing the first year, but
they begin little by little to be influenced the
second. We two must meet when we can, and
laugh away all the ill report they will set between
us. We shall be able to meet at a dance now
and then, and swing merrily round while they
sit by who calumniate us. We shall meet at
church, and talk to each other in the face of
those who wish us a hundred miles away. 1 f
any one writes a ditty about us, we will see if
we cannot write one in reply. No one can harm
us if we keep together and let people see it. All
the unhappiness in love belongs either to those
who are afraid, or to those who are weak, or to
those who are ill, or to those calculating people
K
154 (Dbinb.
who watch for certain opportunities, or to those
cunning people who at last suffer for their own
devices, or to those matter-of-fact people who
don't care so much for each other, that state and
position can disappear ; they steal quietly away,
and send letters, and tremble at a single word,
and at last take that constant restlessness and
uneasiness for love ; they feel unhappy and
dissolve away like sugar. Pooh, pooh ! if they
really cared for each other they would have no
fear, they would be light hearted, they would
not care who saw them. I have read about it in
books. I have seen it myself also ; that is a
poor love that goes round about. True love
must begin in secrecy because it begins in reserve
and modesty, but it must live in openness because
its existence is joy. It is as in the spring time,
when the leaves begin to shoot, all that is withered
and dry falls off from the tree as soon as the
new life begins. He who falls in love leaves the
useless toys he has held to before, the new life
(fathering $crrits. 155
springs, and then can no one see it? Hey, Marit!
they will be glad through seeing us glad. Two
betrothed, who are true to each other, are a
benefit to the public, for they read them a poem
which the children learn by heart, to the shame
of their calculating parents. I have read of
many instances, and there are rumours of such
even here in the district, and it is just the children
of those who once caused all the misery, that
now speak of it and are moved by it. Well,
now let us join hands, and promise to be
true to each other and we shall succeed."
He was about to embrace her but she turned
her head away, and slipped down from the stone.
As he remained sitting, she came back again,
and with her arms resting on his knees she stood
there, and talked to him as she looked up.
" Listen now, Ovind, when he says I must
leave,~what shall I say ? "
" You must say no, straight out."
" Oh clear ! will that do ?"
156
" He cannot take and carry you out to the
carriage."
" If he doesn't do just that, there are many
other ways in which he can force me."
" I do not think so. Obedience is certainly
your duty so long as it is not sin ; but it is also
your duty to let him know fully how hard it is
to you to obey in this case. I think when he
hears that, he will reconsider the matter ; for at
present, like most others, he believes it to be
only child's play. You must show him it is
something more."
" You may think he is not easy to do with ;
he watches me like a tethered goat."
" But you break the chain again and again in
one day."
" That is not true."
"Yes, every time you secretly think of me,
you break it."
"Yes, that way, but are you certain that I
think of you so often ? "
(Satfjrring ferries. 157
" Were it else, you would not be here now."
" Oh ! but you sent me a message to come."
" But you came because your thoughts drove
you."
" Rather because it was a fine day."
" You said just now it was too hot."
" To go up the hill, yes ; but down again ? "
" Then why did you come up ? "
" To be able to run down."
" Then why are you not going ? "
" Because I wish to rest."
" And talk to me about love ? "
" I couldn't deny you that pleasure."
" While the little birds sang,"
" And all were asleep ; "
" And the bells they rang,"
" O'er the green wood's steep."
Here they both saw Marit's grandfather come
limping out on the farm, and go to the bell
string to ring the people up. The people came
slowly down from the out-houses, drawled sleepily
158
to the horses and rakes, scattered themselves
in various parts of the field, and soon all was
life and work again. The grandfather only
went out of the one house and into the other,
and at last up on to the top of the hay loft and
looked all round. A little lad came bounding
up to him, apparently he had called him. The boy
went down in the direction of Pladsen, and the
grandfather, in the meantime, went round about
the farm, often looking up to the mountain, but
little suspecting that the dark spot on the " great
stone" was Marit and Ovind. But again Marit's
dog brought misfortune, for seeing a strange
horse drive into Heidegaard, he seemed to
think it part of his business to bark at the
top of his voice. They tried to quiet him,
but he had got roused, and would not give
over ; the grandfather stood below and stared
straight up. But matters grew still worse, for
the sheep dogs hearing the voice of a stranger,
ran up, and seeing a great wolf-like champion,
^alluring gtrrits. 159
these straight-haired Finnish dogs all united
against him, and so frightened Marit, that she
ran away without even saying good-bye ; while
Ovind, in the midst of the battle, kicked and
struck, but only succeeded in driving the dogs
further away, for they soon found themselves
another battle field ; he after them again, and
so on, till at last they were close to the edge of
the beck ; here Ovind rushed on them again,
and got them all into the water, just where it
was really deep ; and they crawled out, looking
quite ashamed, and going each his own way ;
so ended the fray.
Ovind went straight over till he reached the
high road, but Marit met her grandfather a little
above the farm, and the dog was to blame for
this.
" Where have you been ? "
" Into the wood."
" What have you been doing there ? "
" Gathering berries."
" That is not true."
" No, it isn't."
" What did you do then ?"
" I was talking to some one."
" Was it the peasant lad ? "
" Yes."
" Listen now, Marit, you are going away to-
morrow."
" No."
" Well, Marit, I will only say one single thing,
you SHALL go."
" You can't lift me into the carriage."
" No ? Can't I ? "
" No, because you won't do it."
" Won't I ? Listen, Marit, only for pleasure
you see, only for pleasure, I will give that rag-
gamuffin a real good thrashing."
" No, you daren't do that."
" Don't dare ? Do you say I dare not ? Who
could do anything to me, who ? "
" The schoolmaster."
(Paiberhtg $crrits. 161
" The schoo school schoolmaster ? Do you
think he cares for him ? "
" Yes, it was he who sent him to the Agri-
cultural School."
" The schoolmaster ?"
" The schoolmaster ! "
" Listen now Marit, I will not have any more
of this nonsense, you must leave, you give me
only sorrow and trouble, it was just the same
with your mother, only sorrow and trouble. I
am an old man, and I wish to see you well pro-
vided for, and I will not be talked about as a
fool in this matter ; it is your own good that I
have at heart, you may be sure of that, Marit.
I may soon be gone, and then you would stand
there alone ; what would have become of your
mother if it had not been for me ? Come now,
Marit, be a good girl, and listen to what I say,
I seek only your own good."
" No, you don't."
" How ? What do I seek then ? "
162
" To have your own way without any regard
to mine."
" You have a will of your own, have you, you
young sea-bird ? You think you know your own
good, do you, little fool ? I shall let you taste
the birch rod, so tall and big you are. Now
listen Marit, let me speak a little kindly with
you. You are not so bad at the bottom, but
you are deluded. You must attend to what I
say, I am old and experienced. I am not so
well off as people think, a poor cageless bird
could soon fly away with the little I have ; your
father dived hard into it. No, let us take care
of ourselves in this world, it is not better worth.
It is all very well for the schoolmaster to talk,
for he has money himself, and the priest too, they
can afford to preach ; but with us, who must
work for our living, it is quite a different thing.
I am old, and have gone through much ; I can
tell you, love is nice enough to talk about, and
may do very well for the clergy and such, but it
fathering gtrries. 163
won't do for the peasantry, they must look at it
in another light. First subsistence you see,
then religion, then a little schooling, then a little
love if it so falls in ; but I tell you it is no use
to begin with love and end with victuals. What
have you to say now Marit ? "
" I don't know."
" You don't know ? "
" Yes, but I do."
" What then ? "
" Must I say ? "
" Yes, of course you must."
" I am bound up in this love."
He stood a moment amazed, then, remember-
ing the many similar conversations leading only
to the same end, he shook his head, turned his
back and went.
He vented his wrath on the men, abused the
girls, beat the great dog, and nearly frightened
the life out of a little hen that had strayed in
the field, but to Marit he said nothing.
164 (Dbtnfc.
That evening Marit was so happy when she
went up stairs to bed, that she opened her window,
looked out, and sang. She had got a fine little
book from Ovind, and in it was a fine little love
song, this she sang :
Do you love me true,
E'en as I love you,
All the livelong happy day ;
The summer quickly flies,
The leaf and blossom dies,
But to come again we say.
What you said before,
Comes to me o'er and o'er,
Like a small bird in a tree,
Flutters his tiny wings,
Nestles himself and sings,
Merrily chirping, happy and free.
Litli, litli, lu,
Do you hear me, you,
Laddie from the birch hedge under ?
Darkness falleth fast,
Daylight soon is past,
Who's to guide me home I wonder !
Garry, garry, giss,
Sang I of a kiss ?
Nay, my love, that ne'er can be,
Do you say you doubt it ?
mies. 165
Think no more about it,
I shall slip away you see.
Oh, goodnight, goodnight,
Dreamland seems so bright,
Whispering of your blue eyes true,
Of the little silent word,
Once, you know, I overheard,
Oh, it was so rash of you !
See, I shut the door,
Do you want me more ?
Echoes falling on mine ear,
Ticing and laughing free,
Do you want more with me ?
The night is so mild and clear.
CHAP. XII.
THE OLD MAN GETS HIS OWN WAY.
FEW years have passed since the
last scene.
It is in the Autumn ; the school-
master is coming towards Heidegaard ; he opens
the outside door, finds nobody at home, goes
further in, still nobody there, till he comes to the
innermost room ; there sits Ole Nordistuen in
front of his bed, gazing at his hands.
The schoolmaster salutes him, and is welcomed;
takes a stool, and seats himself in front of Ole.
" You have sent for me."
" Yes, I have."
gets bis fon SGHujr. 167
The schoolmaster looks round, takes a book
that is lying on the sofa and opens it.
" What was it you wanted with me ? "
" I am just thinking it over."
The schoolmaster takes his time, brings out
his spectacles to read the title of the book, dries
them, and puts them on.
" You are getting old now, Ole."
" Yes, it was just about that I wanted to see
you ; things go wrong, and I shall soon be
gone."
" Then you should see that you are ready to
go, Ole ; " he shuts the book, and sits looking at
the binding.
" It's a good book you have in your hand,
there."
" Yes, that's true ; have you often got beyond
the fly leaf, Ole ? "
" Lately, yes
The schoolmaster lays the book aside, and
puts his spectacles by.
168 Obittb.
" Things are not just as you would wish them
now, Ole."
" Nor have they been as far back as I can
remember."
"Well it was the same with me for a long
time. I was not on good terms with a friend of
mine, I wanted him to come to me, and I was
miserable ; at last I bethought me I would go
to him, and since then I have been happy."
Ole looks up, but is silent.
The schoolmaster : ' How do you think the
farm is doing, Ole ? "
" It is going backwards like myself."
" Who will take it when you are gone ? "
" It is just this I don't know, and it troubles
me."
" Your neighbours are doing well, Ole."
" Yes, they have the Agriculturist to help
them."
The schoolmaster turns towards the window,
saying somewhat carelessly, " You should have
(L he <DU ^lan gets bis <)ton tag. 169
help too Ole, you can't walk much, and you
know very little of the new method."
" Oh, there's no one who would help me !"
" Have you asked anyone ? "
But Ole makes no reply.
The schoolmaster: " It was long thus between
myself and God. ' Thou art not good to me,' I
said to Him. ' Hast thou asked me to be so ? '
He replied. No, I had not, then I prayed, and
all things went on well. "
Ole is still silent, and now the schoolmaster is
silent too.
At last Ole says, " I have a grandchild
>
she knows what it would please me to see
before I am borne away, but she does not do
it."
The schoolmaster smiles : " Perhaps it would
not please her ? There are many things that
trouble you, but so far as I can see, all the
difficulties centre at last on the farm."
Ole replies feelingly : " Yes, it has passed from
L
170 (Dbhrb.
one generation to another, and the soil is good.
All that father after father has got together, has
been laid out there, and now things don't grow.
Neither do I know, when I am taken away, who
shall come in my stead. He cannot be of our
kindred."
" But there is your granddaughter. "
" But he who takes her, how will he manage
the farm ? This I long to know before I die.
There is haste Baard, both for me and the farm."
After a pause, the schoolmaster said, " Shall
we go out a little and look at the farm, this fine
day?"
" Yes, let us go, I have labourers up there ; they
gather the leaves, but they don't work except
they see me."
He hobbled for his great cap and stick, saying
as he went, " They don't like working for me,
I don't know how it is."
" On coming out and turning the corner,
he exclaimed, " Here you see, no order ; the
^t 0Ib glau gets bis <0foit Stag. 171
wood scattered all over, the axe not stuck in
the log." He bent over with difficulty, took it
up and slashed it in.
"There, do you see that sheep skin fallen
down, but has any one hung it up ? " He did
it himself.
" And there is the ladder out of place." He
put it right, and turning to the schoolmaster,
said, " The same thing day after day ! "
As they went further they heard a lively song
from the fields.
" Hark ! they are singing at work," said the
schoolmaster.
" No, it is little Knut Ostistuen who is singing;
he is gathering leaves for his father. It is over
there my people are working, they are not
singing."
" It is not one of the country songs, that ? "
" No, I hear it is not."
" Ovind Pladsen has been a great deal in
Ostistuen ; it must be one of those he has
172 (Dfainfc.
introduced ; where he is, there is sure to be song."
No reply.
The field they went over was not in good
condition, it wanted attention. The schoolmaster
remarked it, whereupon Ole stopped.
" I cannot do any more," -he said, almost in
tears ; " but it is hard to go over such a field,
you may be sure."
As they began to talk again about the size of
the farm, and what most required attention,
they concluded to go up the hill side, where
they could overlook the whole. When they had
reached the place, and could see the farm laid
out before them, the old man was quite moved.
" I should not like to leave it as it is. We
have worked hard there both I and my parents
before me ; but now nothing is to be seen of our
labour."
Just then, right above their heads, there burst
out a song, with that peculiar sharpness that a
lad's voice has when it is changing. They were
gets bis <Dfon SKajr. 173
not far from the tree where little Knut Ostistuen
was sitting, pulling leaves for his father, and
they listened to the song :
All along by copse and glade
Up the rocky mountain,
Thro' the pleasant birch wood's shade,
By the silver fountain.
Chase away each thought of care,
Gaily, gladly singing,
Through the pure and bracing air
Joyful echoes ringing.
The birds salute from every tree,
They form a charming choir,
The air grows pure, and light, and free,
Higher up and higher.
So the thought of childhood's hours
To the memory rushes,
Recollections from the flowers
Peep with rosy blushes.
Stay and listen ; it is good,
To thy heart appealing
The grand deep song of solitude,
Speaks to every feeling.
But a streamlet gurgling on,
But a small stone rolling,
Calls up forgotten duties gone,
Like a death knell tolling.
174
Tremble, yes, but pray, poor soul
'Midst thy saddest thinking ;
Forward to the blessed goal,
Keep thy heart from sinking.
There is Christ as once of old,
Elias too, and Moses ;
When their glory ye behold,
Faith in joy reposes.
Ole had seated himself, and hid his head in
his hands.
" Let us talk together here," said the school-
master, and sat down by his side.
Down at the little farm, Ovind had just
returned from a long journey, the chaise was
still at the door, while the horses were resting.
Although Ovind had now a good salary as
District Agriculturist, he still kept his little
room, down at Pladsen, and assisted them in
his spare time. Pladsen was now under good
cultivation from one end to the other, but it was
i
so small that Ovind called it " Mother's doll's
play ; " for it was chiefly she who managed the
farm.
(ibt (DIb 3$an gets bis <Dfon lag. 175
He had just dressed after his journey, and so
had the father who had come home white from
the mill, and they were speaking of going
out a little before supper, when the mother came
in looking quite pale :
" Do look out, pray see the strangers coming
to the house ! "
They both went to the window, and Ovind
was the first to exclaim,
" It is the schoolmaster, and, yes, I do
believe it is, yes, it is him ! "
" Yes, it is old Ole Nordistuen," said Thorc,
as he turned from the window to avoid being
seen, for they were close at hand.
Ovind got a glance from the schoolmaster, as
he retreated from the window ; Baard smiled
and looked back at old Ole, who was labouring
along with his stick, and the small short steps,
the one leg always lifted higher than the other.
From inside they could hear the schoolmaster
176 (Dbittb.
saying, " He has only just come home ;" and
Ole to repeat twice, " Hm-hm."
They waited a long time in the passage, the
mother had gone to the pantry where the milk
stood, Ovind had his old place, his back leaning
against the great table, his face to the door,
and the father sat by his side. At last there
came a knock, and in walked the schoolmaster,
and took his hat off, then old Ole, and took
his cap off, but back he turned to shut the door,
and stood a long time, manifestly at a loss.
Thore rose, and bade them be seated ; they sat
side by side on the window sill. Thore sat
down again.
Now thus was the matter settled.
The schoolmaster : " We have had beautiful
weather this Autumn."
Thore : "Yes, it has taken up of late."
" It will be sure to last so long as the wind
remains in the same quarter."
" Are you ready with the harvest up there ? "
an gets bis 0fon $Ug. 177
" No, indeed, Ole Nordistuen here, as perhaps
you know, would like to have your help, Ovind,
if there's nothing in the way ? "
Ovind : " When I am requested, I shall be
glad to do what I can."
"Yes, but it wasn't only just for the present,
he meant. He sees the farm is not doing well,
and he thinks it is the right method and over-
sight that are wanting."
Ovind : " I am so little at home."
The schoolmaster looks at Ole, who feels that
it is his turn to speak now, he moves uneasily a
few times, and then begins quickly and abruptly :
" It was, it is, yes, I thought you might
stay, that is, you might live with us up there,
be there, when you were not away on your
journeys."
" I thank you very much for the offer, but I
should prefer to stay where I am."
Ole looks at the schoolm aster, who explains :