按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
our evil deeds sitting on our beds like little imps； and sprinkling us
with hot water。 Will you come and drive them away； that we may have
a good night's rest？' and then they sigh so deeply and say； 'We
would gladly pay you for it。 Good…night； Ole…Luk； the money lies on
the window。' But I never do anything for gold。〃 〃What shall we do
to…night？〃 asked Hjalmar。 〃I do not know whether you would care to
go to another wedding；〃 he replied； 〃although it is quite a
different affair to the one we saw last night。 Your sister's large
doll； that is dressed like a man； and is called Herman； intends to
marry the doll Bertha。 It is also the dolls' birthday； and they will
receive many presents。〃
〃Yes； I know that already；〃 said Hjalmar； 〃my sister always allows
her dolls to keep their birthdays or to have a wedding when they
require new clothes； that has happened already a hundred times； I am
quite sure。〃
〃Yes； so it may； but to…night is the hundred and first wedding；
and when that has taken place it must be the last； therefore this is
to be extremely beautiful。 Only look。〃
Hjalmar looked at the table； and there stood the little card…board
doll's house； with lights in all the windows； and drawn up before it
were the tin soldiers presenting arms。 The bridal pair were seated
on the floor； leaning against the leg of the table； looking very
thoughtful； and with good reason。 Then Ole…Luk…Oie dressed up in
grandmother's black gown married them。
As soon as the ceremony was concluded； all the furniture in the
room joined in singing a beautiful song； which had been composed by
the lead pencil； and which went to the melody of a military tattoo。
〃What merry sounds are on the wind；
As marriage rites together bind
A quiet and a loving pair；
Though formed of kid； yet smooth and fair！
Hurrah！ If they are deaf and blind；
We'll sing； though weather prove unkind。〃
And now came the present； but the bridal pair had nothing to
eat； for love was to be their food。
〃Shall we go to a country house； or travel？〃 asked the bridegroom。
Then they consulted the swallow who had travelled so far； and
the old hen in the yard； who had brought up five broods of chickens。
And the swallow talked to them of warm countries； where the grapes
hang in large clusters on the vines； and the air is soft and mild； and
about the mountains glowing with colors more beautiful than we can
think of。
〃But they have no red cabbage like we have；〃 said the hen； 〃I
was once in the country with my chickens for a whole summer； there was
a large sand…pit； in which we could walk about and scratch as we
liked。 Then we got into a garden in which grew red cabbage； oh； how
nice it was； I cannot think of anything more delicious。〃
〃But one cabbage stalk is exactly like another；〃 said the swallow；
〃and here we have often bad weather。〃
〃Yes； but we are accustomed to it；〃 said the hen。
〃But it is so cold here； and freezes sometimes。〃
〃Cold weather is good for cabbages；〃 said the hen； 〃besides we
do have it warm here sometimes。 Four years ago； we had a summer that
lasted more than five weeks； and it was so hot one could scarcely
breathe。 And then in this country we have no poisonous animals； and we
are free from robbers。 He must be wicked who does not consider our
country the finest of all lands。 He ought not to be allowed to live
here。〃 And then the hen wept very much and said； 〃I have also
travelled。 I once went twelve miles in a coop； and it was not pleasant
travelling at all。〃
〃The hen is a sensible woman；〃 said the doll Bertha。 〃I don't care
for travelling over mountains； just to go up and come down again。
No； let us go to the sand…pit in front of the gate； and then take a
walk in the cabbage garden。〃
And so they settled it。
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
〃Am I to hear any more stories？〃 asked little Hjalmar； as soon
as Ole…Luk…Oie had sent him to sleep。
〃We shall have no time this evening；〃 said he； spreading out his
prettiest umbrella over the child。 〃Look at these Chinese；〃 and then
the whole umbrella appeared like a large china bowl； with blue trees
and pointed bridges； upon which stood little Chinamen nodding their
heads。 〃We must make all the world beautiful for to…morrow morning；〃
said Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃for it will be a holiday； it is Sunday。 I must
now go to the church steeple and see if the little sprites who live
there have polished the bells； so that they may sound sweetly。 Then
I must go into the fields and see if the wind has blown the dust
from the grass and the leaves； and the most difficult task of all
which I have to do； is to take down all the stars and brighten them
up。 I have to number them first before I put them in my apron； and
also to number the places from which I take them； so that they may
go back into the right holes； or else they would not remain； and we
should have a number of falling stars； for they would all tumble
down one after the other。〃
〃Hark ye！ Mr。 Luk…Oie；〃 said an old portrait which hung on the
wall of Hjalmar's bedroom。 〃Do you know me？ I am Hjalmar's
great…grandfather。 I thank you for telling the boy stories； but you
must not confuse his ideas。 The stars cannot be taken down from the
sky and polished； they are spheres like our earth； which is a good
thing for them。〃
〃Thank you； old great…grandfather；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie。 〃I thank
you； you may be the head of the family； as no doubt you are； but I
am older than you。 I am an ancient heathen。 The old Romans and
Greeks named me the Dream…god。 I have visited the noblest houses；
and continue to do so； still I know how to conduct myself both to high
and low； and now you may tell the stories yourself：〃 and so
Ole…Luk…Oie walked off； taking his umbrellas with him。
〃Well； well； one is never to give an opinion； I suppose；〃 grumbled
the portrait。 And it woke Hjalmar。
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
〃Good evening；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie。
Hjalmar nodded； and then sprang out of bed； and turned his
great…grandfather's portrait to the wall； so that it might not
interrupt them as it had done yesterday。 〃Now；〃 said he； 〃you must
tell me some stories about five green peas that lived in one pod； or
of the chickseed that courted the chickweed； or of the darning needle；
who acted so proudly because she fancied herself an embroidery
needle。〃
〃You may have too much of a good thing；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie。 〃You
know that I like best to show you something； so I will show you my
brother。 He is also called Ole…Luk…Oie but he never visits any one but
once； and when he does come； he takes him away on his horse； and tells
him stories as they ride along。 He knows only two stories。 One of
these is so wonderfully beautiful； that no one in the world can
imagine anything at all like it； but the other is just as ugly and
frightful； so that it would be impossible to describe it。〃 Then
Ole…Luk…Oie lifted Hjalmar up to