小学英语英语故事童话故事A Story From the Sand-Dunes沙丘的故事

AStoryFromtheSand-Dunes沙丘的故事

ThisisastoryofthesanddunesofJutland,butitdoesn'tbeginthere;no,it

beginsfarawaytothesouth,inSpain.Theoceanisthehighwaybetweenthetwo

countries.SonowletyourthoughtsjourneytoSpain!

Itiswarmthere,anditisbeautiful.Thefieryredpomegranateblossomsgrowamong

thedarklaurels;arefreshingwindfromthemountainsbreathesovertheorange

gardensandthegracefulMoorishpalaceswithgoldencupolasandcoloredwalls.

Childrenwalkinprocessionthroughthestreets,carryingtorchesandwavingbanners,

whilehighabovethemstarssparkleinthecleararchingvaultofheaven.Songand

castanetscanbeheard;youngmenandgirlsdanceundertheblossomingacacias,while

thebeggarliesonacarvedmarbleblock,quencheshisthirstwithajuicywatermelon,

anddozeshislifeaway.Itisalllikeabeautifuldream;giveyourselfuptoit.

Yes,asdidtheyoungmarriedcouple,towhomhadbeengrantedallthechoicestof

earthlyblessings-health,beauty,goodnature,riches,andhonor.

“Weareashappyasanyonecouldeverbe!〃theysaid,withfullconvictionintheir

hearts.Yettheyhadonestephighertogotoattaincompletehappiness,andthat

wouldbereachedwhenGodwouldgivethemachild,asonintheirownimage,body

andsoul.Thatblessedchildwouldbewelcomedwithjubilance,caredforwiththe

utmostloveandtenderness,ar.dbesurroundedbyalltheluxuriesthatrichesand

aninfluentialfamilycanprovide.

Meanwhilethedaysglidedpast,eachlikeaholiday.

“Lifeisapreciousgiftoflove,almosttoogreattounderstand,*saidthewife.

“Andjusttothinkthatthisfullnessofblissshallstillincreaseandgrow,in

another1ife,throughouteternity.Icanhardlyconceiveofit!”

“Anditcertainlyalsoshowsthearroganceofpeople,“saidherhusband."Itreally

showsaterribleconceitwhenpeoplepersuadethemselvestothinkthey*111ive

forever-becomeasGod!Werethesenotthewordsoftheserpent,themasteroflies?”

“Yousurelydon'tdoubtthatthereisalifeafterthis,doyou?”askedhisyoung

wife,anditwasasifashadowpassedthroughtheirsunlitthoughtsforthefirst

time.

“Faithpromisesit,Iknow,andtheprieststellusitisso,“saidtheyoungman.

“But,happyasIamnow,Ifeelandknowthatitisonlypride,anarrogantthought

thatdemandsanotherlifeafterthis-anextensionofthishappiness.Haven'twe

beengrantedenoughinthislife,sothatwecouldandshouldbesatisfied?*

“Yes,thathasbeengivenus,"saidtheyoungwife,“buthowmanythousandsfind

thislifeaheavytrail!Howmanyhavebeenthrownintothisworldonlytofindpoverty,

shame,sickness,andmisfortune!No,iftherewerenoafterlife,theblessingson

thisearthwouldbetoounequallydivided-ourGodwouldnotbeaGodofjustice!”

“Thebeggardownonthestreethaspleasuresjustasdeartohimasthekingenjoys

inhissplendidpalace,“saidtheyoungman."Andwhataboutthepoorbeastofburden

thatisbeatenandstarvedandworksitselftodeath?Doesn,titsensethebitterness

ofitsmiserablelife?Whyshouldn,tittoodemandanafterlife,andcallitunfair

thatitwasn'tgrantedtheadvantagesofahighercreation?*

“Christtoldus,'InmyFather,shousearemanymansions,*“answeredtheyoungwife.

“TheKingdomofHeavenisasinfiniteasGod'slove.TheanimalisHiscreationtoo,

andIdon,tbelievethatanysinglelifewillbelost,butthateachwillbegranted

thegreatestshareofhappinessitiscapableofreceiving.*

“Butthisworldisgoodenoughformenow,“saidtheyoungman,asheslippedhis

armaroundhislovely,amiablewifeandsmokedacigaretteontheopenbalcony,where

thecoolairwasheavywiththefragranceoforangeblossomsandcarnations.Songs

andtheclickingofcastanetscamefromthestreet,whilethestarsglitteredhigh

above,andtwoeyesful1oflove-hiswife'seyes-gazedonhimwiththeexpression

ofeternallove."Amomentliksthis,，zhesaid,z，makesbeingbornwellworthwhile

-justtoexperiencesuchamoment-andthenvanish,*hesaidsmiling,whilehis

wifeshookherfingerreprovingly.Andthecloudsoonpassed;theyweremuchtoo

happy.

Everythingthathappenedseemedonlytoaddtotheirhappinessandwell-being.A

changecame,butitwasonlyachangeofplace,notachangethatdiminishedtheir

happinessandenjoymentoflife.TheyoungmanwasappointedbytheKingtobe

ambassadortothecourtofimperialRussia,apostofgreathonor,suchashisbirth

andabi1itywe11fittedhimtooccupy.Hehadagreatfortuneofhisown,andhis

youngwife*swealthwasequaltohis,forshewasthedaughteroftherichestand

mostrespectedmerchant.Andsinceoneofherfather'slargestaridfinestshipswould

sailthisyeartoStockholm,itwasarrangedthatthedearchildren,thedaughter

andtheson-in-law,wouldtravelonittoSt.Petersburg.Everythingwasroyally

fittedoutforthevoyage,withsoftcarpetsunderfootandsilkensplendor

everywhere.

Thereisanoldheroicballadfamiliartoal1Danes,called“TheKingofEngland*s

Son."Healsogoestoseainasplendidship,withitsanchorinlaidwithpuregold

andeveryropewovenofsilk.TheshipoftheSpanishmerchantmighthavereminded

oneofthisvessel,forthemagnificencewassimilar,andthefarewellthoughtswere

verymuchthesame:

Godgrantthatwemeetwithjoyagain!

Thepartingwasbrief,forQfairwindblewbrisklyofftheSpanishcoast.Theyhoped

toreachtheirdestinationinafewweeks.Butassoonastheywerewel1outatsea

thewinddieddowntorest.Theoceangrewsmooth,andthewatersreflectedthe

glitteringlightofthestarsofheaven.Therewerefestiveeveningsintheirrichly

appointedcabin.

Atlasttheywishedthewindwouldriseagain,tospeedthemontheirvoyage.But

everywindthatarosecamefromthewrongdirection.Weekswentby;twowholemonths

passed,infact,beforethewindblewintheirfavor,fromthesouthwest.

TheyweresomewherebetweenScotlandandJutland,whenthewestwindburstforth,

justasintheoldballad,“TheKingofEngland*sSon*:

Whiletheskywasdarkandthewindblew,

Andtherewasneitherportnorlandinview,

Theycasttheiranchor,buttonoavail;

TheywereblowntoDenmarkbyawestwindgale.

2

Thisoccurredalongtimeago.KingChristianVII,stillayoungman,thensaton

thethroneofDenmark.Muchhashappenedsincethen;therehavebeenmanychanges

andinnovations.Lakesandswanpshavebecomegreenmeadows,whileheathshavebeen

plowedintousefulland.AndintheshelteroftheWestJutlander'shousetherenow

growappletreesandroses,butyoumustseektheseout,fortheyhidefromthesharp

westwind.

Still,itiseasytoimagineyourselfbackintimesmoreremotethaneventhereign

ofChristianVII,fornow,as=hen,thebrownheathofJutlandstretchesformiles

withitsbarrows,itsmirages,itswinding,rough,sandyroads.Tothewest,where

broadstreamsofwaterflowintothefiords,therearemarshesandmeadows,encircled

bythehighsandhi1Iswhichriseuptowardthesea1ikeanAlpinechainwithjagged

summits,brokenonlybyhighoanksofclay.Fromthesethewaveseatoffgiant

mouthfulsyearafteryear,sothattheedgesandsummitstoppledownasthoughshaken

byanearthquake.That*showitlookstoday,andthat'showitlookedmanyyears

ago,whenthehappycouplesailedpastitintheirsplendidship.

Itwasabright,sunshinySundayinlateSeptember;thepealsofthechurchbells

extendedtooneanotherallalongtheNissumFiord.Thechurchestherearelike

immensestones,eachlikeapieceofrockmountain;theNorthSeaitselfmightwash

overthem,andtheywouldstillstandfirm.Mostofthemhavenotowers,theirbells

hangingoutintheopenairbetweentwowoodenbeams.

Theserviceshadended,andthecongregationemergedfromtheHouseofGodintothe

churchyardwherethen,asnow,"heregrewneithertreenorshrub.Noplants,flowers,

orwreathsadornedthegraves;onlyroughhillocksshowedwherethedeadhadbeen

buried,whilesharpgrass,beatenflatbythewind,coveredthewholecemetery.Here

andthereasinglegravestillhasatombstone,perhapsamolderinglog,cutinthe

shapeofacoffin.ThesearepiecesofdriftwoodfromtheforestsofWestJutland.

Thewildseaprovidestheshoredwellerswithmanyhewnplanks,castuponthecoast.

Butthewindandsaltseaspraysoonwearawaythesemonuments.

Oneoftheseblockshadbeenplacedonthegraveofchild,towhichayoungwoman

camefromthechurch.Shestoppedandgazeddownattherottedwood;shortlyher

husbandjoinedher.Theyspokenoword;presentlyhetookherhand,andtogether

theywa1kedawayfromthegrave,onoverthebrownheathandoverthemoortoward

thesanddunes.Foralongtimetheywalkedinsilence.

“Thatwasagoodsermontoday,“saidtheman."Ifwedicin'thaveourLordwewould

havenothing./z

“Yes,"repliedhiswife,“Hesendsushappinessandsorrow.Hehasarightto.Our

littleboywouldhavebeenfiveyearsoldtomorrowifwehadbeenallowedtokeep

him.”

“Itdoesnogoodtogrieve,，zsaidtheman."Heismuchbetterofftherethanhere;

heiswherewepraytogo.”

Theysaidnomore,butpassedonsilentlytowardtheirhomeamongthesanddunes.

Suddenly,fromoneofthese,wheretherewasnograsstoholdthesanddown,itlooked

asifacolumnofheavysmokewererising;itwasreallyagustofwindboringinto

thebankandwhirlingthefineparticlesofsandintotheair.Asecondgustfollowed,

3

sostrongthatthestringsoffishhungonthelinerattledagainstthewallsof

thehouse;butitlastedforonlyamoment;thenallwasquietagain,andthesun

shonewarmly.

Themanandhiswifewentintotheirhouse,quicklychangedfromtheirSundayclothes,

andthenhurriedacrossthedunes,whichlookedlikeenormouswavesofsandsuddenly

frozeninmotion.Theseareedandthebluishgreenofthesharpdunegrassalone

relievedthemonotonyofthewhitesand.Acoupleofneighborsappeared,andall

helpedinpullingtheboatshigheruponthesandyshore,whilethewindsteadily

strengthenedandblewbitinglycold.Whentheyreturnedacrossthedunesthewaves

wereliftingtheirwhitecaps;sandandsharppebbleswerebeatingintotheirfaces,

andthewindcutoffthetopridgesofsomeofthedunes,breakingthemintosand

showers.

Eveningcame,andaswellingsoundfilledtheair;therewasahowlingandwailing

likeahostofdespairingspirits,andeventhoughthefisherman'shutlaynearthe

shore,thenoiseofthewinddrownedtheroarofthesea.Thesanddriftedagainst

thewindowpanes,andeverynowandthentherecameaviolentgustofwindthatseemed

toshakethehousetoitsveryfoundation.Itwasadarkevening;themoonwould

notriseuntilnearlymidnight.

Theairclearedalittle,butthestormwasnowragingwithallitsfuryoverthe

deep,blackocean.Thefishermanandhiswifehadlongsincegonetobed,butin

suchweatheritwasimpossibletocloseaneye.

Suddenlytherewasatapatthewindow;thedoorwaspushedopen,andsomeonesaid,

〃Alargeshipisstrandedontheouterreef!”Inamomentthemanandhiswifewere

outofbedanddressingthemsslveshurriedly.

Themoonwasupnow,anditwouldhavebeenlightenoughtoseehaditnotbeenfor

theflyingsandwhichforcedeyestosquint.Onlywithgreatdifficulty,waiting

foreachlullandcreepingalittlefartherbetweengusts,cculdtheymaketheir

wayacrossthesanddunes.Andnow,likeswan's-downintheair,saltywhitefoam

flewinfromthesea,asithjrleditswavesagainstthecoastinboilingfury.

Onlyalong-experiencedeyecouldhavedistinguishedtheshipwayoutthere;itwas

asplendidtwo-master.Atthatveryinstantitwasliftedoverthereef,threeor

fourcable*slengthsofftheusualchannel;itdroveontowardland,struckagainst

thesecondreef,andtherestuckfast.

Itwasimpossibletosendanyhelp,fortheseawasfartootumultuous;wavesbroke

overtheentirevessel.Theyinaginedhearingscreamsofterror,thecriesofdeath

agony;theycouldseetheaimlessrushingtoandfroonboard;itwasallhopeless,

helpless.Nowawavelikeathunderingavalanchecrasheddownonthebowsprit,and

thenitdisappeared.Thesternrosehighabovethewater,andtwopeoplecouldbe

seenleapingfromitintothesea;theydisappeared-amomentmore-andatremendous

wavethunderingtowardthedunesflungabodyontheshore.Itwasawoman,andsurely

shewasdead!Acoupleofwomenwhoquicklygatheredaroundherbelievedsheshowed

signsoflife,andcarriedheroverthedunestothefisherman1scottage.How

beautifulanddaintyshewas!-nodoubtaladyofrank.

4

Theylaidherinthefisherman,shumblebed;therewasnolinentowrapherin,only

awoolenblanket;butatleastthiswaswarmandcomfortable.Snebreathed,butshe

wasinahighfever.Shehadnoideawhereshewasorwhathadhappened;perhaps

thiswasjustaswell,forallthatwasdeartohernowlayatthebottomofthe

ocean;theyhadmetthesamefateasthosesungofintheballadabout“TheKing

ofEngland,sSon”:

Asorrowfulsightitwastoall;

Theshipwasbrokenintopiecessmall!

Manybitsofthewreckweredrivenashore,buttheladyalonesurvivedofallthe

voyagers.Stillthewindhowl2dandwailedalongthecoast.

Forafewminutessheseemedtorest,butthencamescreamsofpainandfear.Her

beautifuleyesopened,andshespokeafewwords,butnoonecouldunderstandher.

Atlast,afterhoursofsufferingandstruggles,therenestledinherarmsatiny,

newbornchild.

Thatchildwastohaverestedundersilkencurtainsinabeautifulhome,wastohave

beenwelcomedtoalifefullofthisworld'sriches;butourLordhadwilledthat

heshouldbeborninthishumblehut;andnotsomuchasonekisswashetoreceive

fromthe1ipsofhismother!

Thefisherman1swifeplacedthebabyagainstitsmother*sheart,aheartthatbeat

nolonger-shewasdead.Andthechildwhowastohavebeenbroughtupinluxury

andpleasurehadbeenhurledheadlongintolife,tossedbytheseaamongthesand

dunes,theretoexperiencethelotofapoorman,andwearyanddarkdays.

Andalwaystheoldsongcomestoourmind:

OntheKing*sson'schsektherewasatear

“Pray,Christ,IreachBovbjerg;thenIshan'tfear!

IfonlyIhadcometoHerrBugge'sStrand;

Thennoknightnorsquireofanyband

Wouldhavedaredagainstmeliftahand.”

TheshiphadbeenwreckedalittletothesouthoftheNissuiriFiord,onthevery

shorethatHerrBuggehadoncecalledhisown.Thehard,crueltimesoftheballad,

whenthedwellersonthewestorncoasttreatedcastawayssoinhumanly,hadlong

passed.Theshipwreckedwerenowtreatedwithloveandkindness,astheyareinour

owntime.Thedyingmotherandtheunfortunatechildwouldhavebeentreatedwith

theutmostcareandtenderness,whereverthestormhaddriventhem;butnowherecould

theyhavereceivedmoresincerekindnessthaninthehutofthatpoorfisherwoman

who,onlyyesterday,hadstoodwithasorrowfulheartbesidethegraveofherchild

who,ifGodhadallowedhimtolive,wouldtodayhavecompletedhisfifthyear.

Nooneknewtheidentityofthedeadwomanorfromwhereshehadcome.Thebroken

fragmentsofthewreckedshipbroughtnoexplanation.

Noletterornewsofthedaughterandson-in-lawwaseverreceivedattherich

merchant,shouseinSpain.Theycouldnothavereachedtheirdestination,

consideringtheviolentstormsthathadragedforthelastfewweeks.Formonths

theywaited,beforeadmittingtothemselvesthesadtruth:"Alllost!Allperished!”

5

ButinthehutofthefishermannearthesanddunesofHunsbytherewasnowatiny

infant.

WhereGodprovidesfoodfortwothereissuretobeenoughforathird;andnear

theseathereisalwaysatleastaplateoffishforhungrymouths.Theychristened

thelittleoneJorgen.

“SurelyhemustbeaJewishchild,“peoplesaid;"hisskinisscdark.”"Hemayjust

aseasilybeItalianorSpanish,*saidtheclergyman.Tothefisherman*swifeall

threeracesseemedverymuchthesame,butitwasagreatcomforttohertoknow

thatatleastthechildwasreallyabaptizedChristian.

Theboythrived,hisnoblebloodsustainingwarmthandgainingstrengthfromthe

poorfare,ashegrewinthathumblehut;theDanishlanguage,asspokeninWest

Jutland,becamehisownlanguage.ThepomegranateseedfromSpainhadbecomea

sea-grassplantonJutland*swesterncoast,andinthishome,soforeigntohis

inheritance,hetookrootfortherestofhislife.Hewastoexperiencehungerand

cold,apoorman'swantsandtroubles,butalsohewastoknowapoorman,spleasures.

Foreveryonechildhoodhasitshighlights,andthememoriesofthesesparkle

throughoutone,swholelife.afullshareofplayandpleasurehehad!Allthe

milesofshorewerestrewnwithplaythingsforhim;itwasamosaicofpebbles,red

ascoral,yellowasamber,orwhiteandroundasbirds1eggs,allbrightwithcolors,

andsmoothandpolishedbythesea.Eventhedried-outskeletonofafish,thewater

plants,driedbythewind,ortheshiny,whiteseaweed,longandnarrowlikestrings

flutteringamongtherocks,wereadelighttoeyeandheart.Theboywasawide-awake

child,fullofability.Howhecouldrememberalltheoldstoriesorsongshehad

everheard!Andhowcleverhewaswithhisfingers!Hecouldmakesailingshipsout

ofstonesandshellsordrawpicturesthatwerequiteanornamenttotheroom.He

could"carvehisthoughtsoutofastick,“ashisfostermothersaid,whenhewas

stillonlyalittleboy,andhisvoicewassosweetandcaughtthestrainofamelody

soquickly!Thatlittleheartwasattunedtomanyfineharmonieswhichmighthave

rungthroughouttheworldifhehadbeenplacedinalessnarrowhomethanthe

fisherman,shutneartheNorthSea.

OnedayaboxofrareflowerbulbsdriftedashoreafterQshipwreck.Someweretaken

outandmadeintosoup,withtheideathattheymightbegoodtoeat;otherswere

justlefttorotinthesandandneverfulfilledtheirdestiny,neverunfoldedthe

gloriousbeautyofformandcolorthatlayhiddenwithinthem.Wouldsuchbethe

casewithJorgen?Lifewassoonoverfortheflowerbulbs,buthestillhadmany

yearstoliveandstruggle.

Itneveroccurredeithertohimorhisfosterparentsthattheirliveswerelonely

andmonotonous;dayswentby,Endtherewasplentytodoandhearandsee.Theocean

itselfwasagreatbookoflessons;everydayitseemedtoturnoveranewpage,

stormorcalm.Ashipwreckwasanexcitingevent.Thevisittothechurchwasafestive

event.Twiceayearthefisherman'shuthadavisitor,andaverywe1comeone.This

wastheeelsellerfromFjaltring,upnearBovbjerg,whowasthebrotherofJorgen,s

fostermother.Hecamewitharedwagonfullofeels;itwasshutuplikeabox,

6

andhadblueandwhitetulipspaintedonit.Itwasdrawnbytwoblackoxen,and

Jorgenwaspermittedtodrivethem.

Theeelmanhadagoodheadonhim.Hewasajollyguest;healwaysbroughtalittle

kegofschnapps,andeveryonehadadrinkofit,sometimesfromacoffeecup,if

therewerenotenoughglasses.EvenJorgen,littleashewas,hadathimbleful;that

wassohecoulddigestthefateels,saidtheeelman.Thenhewouldtellthemhis

oldstory,andwheneverheheardpeoplelaughatit,healwaysrepeateditatonce,

totheverysamepeople,asalltalkativefolksdo.AndasJorgenusedphrasesfrom

thisstorythroughouthisyouthandlaterinlife,wehadbetterlistentoit.

“Theeelsplayedoutintheriver,andMotherEelsaidtoherdaughters,whenthey

hadbeggedforpermissiontoexplorealittlewayupthestream,'Don'tgotoofar!

Thewickedmanwithhisspearwillcomeandcatchyouall!,Buttheydidgotoofar,

andoftheeightofthemonlythreereturnedtotheirmotherandwailedouttheir

story,'Wehadonlygonealittledistancebeyondthedoorwhentheuglymanwith

thespearcameandstabbedourfivesisterstodeath!,

“'They'llcomeback,'saidtheeelmother.

“'No,‘saidthedaughters.,Forheskinnedthemandcutthemintobitsandfried

them.'

“'They'llsurelycomeback,'saidtheeelmother.

“'Yes,butheatethem!'

〃'Stillthey*11comeback,'saidtheeelmother.

“'Buthedrankschnappsafterwards!?saidthedaughters.

“'Oh,my!Ohmy!’howledtheeelmother.,Thenthey,11neverreturn!Forschnapps

drownseels!,

“Andforthatveryreasonpeopleshouldalwaystakealittleschnappsaftereating

them,“finishedtheeelspearsr.

Andthisstoryranlikeathreadofgoldtinsel-hismosthumorousrecollection

-throughthewebofJorgen,slife.Hetoowantedtogopastthethreshold,〃alittle

wayuptheriver,〃orratheroutintothewideworldinaship;buthisfostermother

objected,justasMotherEelhadobjected,“Therearesomanywickedmenwithspears.”

Helongedtogoalittlepostthesanddunesintotheheath.Andatlasthedidfor

fourpleasantdays,thebrightestofhiswho1echiIdhood;andhesawal1ofJutland,s

happy,homelikebeautyandsunshine.Hewenttoaparty;itwasafuneralparty.

Awealthyrelativeofthefishermanhaddied;hisfarmwasfarinland,“totheeast,

abitnortherly,“asthesayinggoes.Jdrgen，sfosterparentshadtogo,andthey

tookhimwiththem.Theypassedfromthedunesoverheathancswamptothegreen

pastureswheretheSkjaerumRiverhollowsoutitsbed-thatbrookfullofeels,

wherelivedMotherEelandherdaughterswhomthewickedpeoplespearedandcutin

pieces.Andhadn*tmenoftenactedjustascruellytowardtheirfellowmen?Thegood

knight,SirBugge,whosenamelivesintheoldsong,wasmurderedbywickedmen;

and,thoughhehimselfwascalled"good,“heissaidtohavecomeveryclosetoslaying

thearchitectwhobuilthiscastle,withitstowerandthickwalls,ontheslope

wherethebrookSkjaerumfallsintotheNissumFiord,justwhereJorgennowstood

7

withhisfosterparents.Therampartsandtheredcrumblingfragmentsofthewalls

couldstillbeseen.

ItwasherethatSirBugge,afterthearchitecthadleft,orderedoneofhismen

tofollowhim."Saytohim,JMaster,thetowerleanstooneside.'Andifheturns

andlookstofindout,youmustslayhimandtakefromhimthemoneyIhavepaid

him;butifheturnsnot,lethimdepartinpeace.z，Themanobeyed,butthearchitect

didnotturn;ratherdidheanswerclearlyandboldly."Thetowerdoesnotlean,

forIhavebuiltitwell;butonedayamanshallcomefromtheWestinabluecloak,

andheshallmakeitlean."Andahundredyearslaterthiscametopass,forthe

NorthSeabrokeinandthetowercollapsed;butPredbjornGyldenstjerne,whoowned

thecastleatthattime,buiItanewmansionontheslopehigherup;thisissti11

standing,andiscalledNorreVosborg.

Jorgenandhisfosterparentshadtopassthisplace,sonowhesawthisandother

spotsthathehadheardstoriesaboutinthelongwinterevenings.Hesawthecastle,

withitsdoublemoatschokedwithtreesandbushes,anditsranpartoverhungwith

bracken.Buttheloveliestsighttohimwerethetall1imetreesthatreachedright

uptotheroofandfilledtheairwithfragrance.Inthenorthwestcornerofthe

gardenstoodalargebushbearingflowersaswhiteassnow-theyseemedstrange

tohimamongthegreenleavesofsummer.Itwasanelderbush,thefirsthehadseen

blooming;thatbushandthelinetreeswerestoredsafelyawaythroughouttheyears

inacornerofhismind,abitofthefragranceandbeautyofDenmark,“kepttodelight

theoldman.”

Thejourneycontinuedandbecamestillmorepleasant;foroutsideNorreVosborg,

wheretheyhadfoundthefloweringelderbush,theymetotherpeoplewhowerealso

goingtothefuneral,anddroveonwiththem.Ofcourse,allthreeofthemhadto

sitonalittlewoodenchestwithirontrimmingsattherearofthecarriage,but

theydecidedeventhatwasbetterthanwalking.Thecarriagerolledawayoverthe

roughhillocksoftheheath,andtheoxenthatdrewitstoppedtograzewhenever

apatchoffreshgrassappearedamongtheheather.Thesunshonewarmly,andthey

sawthestrangesightofrisingsmokeinthedistance,astransparentasthoughbeams

oflightwererollinganddancingovertheheath."ThatisLokidrivinghisflock,“

peop1esaid,andthatwasenoughexplanationforJorgen.Hefeltasthoughhewere

drivingrightintofairyland-andyeteverythingwasreal!Andhowstillitall

wasaboutthem!

Theheathspreadoutbeforethem,awide,richcarpet,withtheheatherinblossom.

Mingledwiththedarkgreenjuniperandfreshoakshoots,its;uddedthegroundas

ifwithbouquets.Thiswasaninvitingplacetothrowoneselfdown,ifitwerenot

forthemanypoisonoussnakespeoplesaidwerethere.Andpeoplespoketooofthe

wolvesthatusedtobefoundtheresooftenthatthedistrictvasknownasUlvborg

Herred.Theoldmanwhowasdrivingthewagontoldthemhow,inhisfather*sday,

thehorsesoftenhadfiercebattleswithwiIdbeastssinceexterminated,andhow

onemorninghefoundahorsetramplingonawolfhehadslain,whilehisownlegs

werequitebareoffleshwhichhadbeengnawedoffinthestruggle.