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When I could watch thy infant glee；
Or kiss away a pearly tear。
'Twas in my arms thy lisping tongue
First spoke the half…remembered word；
While o'er thy tottering steps I hung；
My fond protection to afford。
Farewell！ I pray the Heavenly Power
To keep thee till thy dying hour。〃
And all the birds sang the same tune； the flowers danced on their
stems； and the old trees nodded as if Ole…Luk…Oie had been telling
them stories as well。
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY
How the rain did pour down！ Hjalmar could hear it in his sleep；。
and when Ole…Luk…Oie opened the window； the water flowed quite up to
the window…sill。 It had the appearance of a large lake outside； and
a beautiful ship lay close to the house。
〃Wilt thou sail with me to…night； little Hjalmar？〃 said
Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃then we shall see foreign countries； and thou shalt
return here in the morning。〃
All in a moment； there stood Hjalmar； in his best clothes； on
the deck of the noble ship； and immediately the weather became fine。
They sailed through the streets； round by the church； and on every
side rolled the wide； great sea。 They sailed till the land
disappeared； and then they saw a flock of storks； who had left their
own country； and were travelling to warmer climates。 The storks flew
one behind the other； and had already been a long； long time on the
wing。 One of them seemed so tired that his wings could scarcely
carry him。 He was the last of the row； and was soon left very far
behind。 At length he sunk lower and lower； with outstretched wings；
flapping them in vain； till his feet touched the rigging of the
ship； and he slided from the sails to the deck； and stood before them。
Then a sailor…boy caught him； and put him in the hen…house； with the
fowls； the ducks； and the turkeys； while the poor stork stood quite
bewildered amongst them。
〃Just look at that fellow；〃 said the chickens。
Then the turkey…cock puffed himself out as large as he could；
and inquired who he was； and the ducks waddled backwards； crying；
〃Quack； quack。〃
Then the stork told them all about warm Africa； of the pyramids；
and of the ostrich； which； like a wild horse； runs across the
desert。 But the ducks did not understand what he said； and quacked
amongst themselves； 〃We are all of the same opinion； namely； that he
is stupid。〃
〃Yes； to be sure； he is stupid；〃 said the turkey…cock； and
gobbled。
Then the stork remained quite silent； and thought of his home in
Africa。
〃Those are handsome thin legs of yours；〃 said the turkey…cock。
〃What do they cost a yard？〃
〃Quack； quack； quack；〃 grinned the ducks； but； the stork pretended
not to hear。
〃You may as well laugh；〃 said the turkey； 〃for that remark was
rather witty； or perhaps it was above you。 Ah； ah； is he not clever？
He will be a great amusement to us while he remains here。〃 And then he
gobbled； and the ducks quacked； 〃Gobble； gobble； Quack； quack。〃
What a terrible uproar they made； while they were having such
fun among themselves！
Then Hjalmar went to the hen…house； and； opening the door；
called to the stork。 Then he hopped out on the deck。 He had rested
himself now； and he looked happy； and seemed as if he nodded to
Hjalmar； as if to thank him。 Then he spread his wings； and flew away
to warmer countries； while the hens clucked； the ducks quacked； and
the turkey…cock turned quite scarlet in the head。
〃To…morrow you shall be made into soup；〃 said Hjalmar to the
fowls； and then he awoke； and found himself lying in his little bed。
It was a wonderful journey which Ole…Luk…Oie had made him take
this night。
THURSDAY
THURSDAY
〃What do you think I have got here？〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃Do not
be frightened； and you shall see a little mouse。〃 And then he held out
his hand to him； in which lay a lovely little creature。 〃It has come
to invite you to a wedding。 Two little mice are going to enter into
the marriage state tonight。 They reside under the floor of your
mother's store…room； and that must be a fine dwelling…place。〃
〃But how can I get through the little mouse…hole in the floor？〃
asked Hjalmar。
〃Leave me to manage that；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie。 〃I will soon make you
small enough。〃 And then he touched Hjalmar with his magic wand；
whereupon he became less and less； until at last he was not longer
than a little finger。 〃Now you can borrow the dress of the tin
soldier。 I think it will just fit you。 It looks well to wear a uniform
when you go into company。〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 said Hjalmar； and in a moment he was dressed
as neatly as the neatest of all tin soldiers。
〃Will you be so good as to seat yourself in your mamma's thimble；〃
said the little mouse； 〃that I may have the pleasure of drawing you to
the wedding。〃
〃Will you really take so much trouble； young lady？〃 said
Hjalmar。 And so in this way he rode to the mouse's wedding。
First they went under the floor； and then passed through a long
passage； which was scarcely high enough to allow the thimble to
drive under； and the whole passage was lit up with the
phosphorescent light of rotten wood。
〃Does it not smell delicious？〃 asked the mouse； as she drew him
along。 〃The wall and the floor have been smeared with bacon…rind；
nothing can be nicer。〃
Very soon they arrived at the bridal hall。 On the right stood
all the little lady…mice； whispering and giggling； as if they were
making game of each other。 To the left were the gentlemen…mice；
stroking their whiskers with their fore…paws； and in the centre of the
hall could be seen the bridal pair； standing side by side； in a hollow
cheese…rind； and kissing each other； while all eyes were upon them；
for they had already been betrothed； and were soon to be married。 More
and more friends kept arriving； till the mice were nearly treading
each other to death； for the bridal pair now stood in the doorway； and
none could pass in or out。
The room had been rubbed over with bacon…rind； like the passage；
which was all the refreshment offered to the guests。 But for dessert
they produced a pea； on which a mouse belonging to the bridal pair had
bitten the first letters of their names。 This was something quite
uncommon。 All the mice said it was a very beautiful wedding； and
that they had been very agreeably entertained。
After this； Hjalmar returned home。 He had certainly been in
grand society； but he had been obliged to creep under a room； and to
make himself small enough to wear the uniform of a tin soldier。
FRIDAY
FRIDAY
〃It is incredible how many old people there are who would be
glad to have me at night；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃especially those who
have done something wrong。 'Good little Ole；' say they to me； 'we
cannot close our eyes； and we lie awake the whole night and see all
our evil deeds sitting on our beds like little imps； and sprinkling us
w