ole-luk-oie, the dream-god-第2章

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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

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　the　window。　〃There　now；　you　can　see

my　brother；　the　other　Ole…Luk…Oie；　he　is　also　called　Death。　You

perceive　he　is　not　so　bad　as　they　represent　him　in　picture　books；

there　he　is　a　skeleton；　but　now　his　coat　is　embroidered　with　silver；

and　he　wears　the　splendid　uniform　of　a　hussar；　and　a　mantle　of　black

velvet　flies　behind　him；　over　the　horse。　Look；　how　he　gallops

along。〃　Hjalmar　saw　that　as　this　Ole…Luk…Oie　rode　on；　he　lifted　up　old

and　young；　and　carried　them　away　on　his　horse。　Some　he　seated　in　front

of　him；　and　some　behind；　but　always　inquired　first；　〃How　stands　the

mark…book？〃

　　　　〃Good；〃　they　all　answered。

　　　　〃Yes；　but　let　me　see　for　myself；〃　he　replied；　and　they　were

obliged　to　give　him　the　books。　Then　all　those　who　had　〃Very　good；〃

or　〃Exceedingly　good；〃　came　in　front　of　the　horse；　and　heard　the

beautiful　story；　while　those　who　had　〃Middling；〃　or　〃Tolerably

good；〃　in　their　books；　were　obliged　to　sit　behind；　and　listen　to　the