A Happy Boy

e parsonage servant's hall, waiting examination, among them was Oyvind Pladsen and Marit Heidegards. Marit had just come down from the priest, from

the parish, was courting her,-well might she be happy as she sat there. Down by the door stood some girls and boys who had not passed; the

" sobbed he, "I dare

as a universal silence. Anxiety filled their throats and eyes; they could not see d

before he had discovered that he knew everything, now he found out jus

enough to remember until now, and he decided that it would not be

person he heard in the passage proved to be the gard-boy Lars, he would pass; if the great rain-drop, working its way down over the pane, came as far as the moulding of t

ble history and about baptism in the Catechism, or about Saul, or about domestic duties,

e of being questioned on the Sermon on the Mount; he kept repeating the Sermon on the Mount to himself; he had to go o

who had such a kindly face, and of God who was all goodness and mercy, and who had aided so many before both Jacob and Jo

But even to the moment of his coming here he had thought of going to sea and becoming a captain; perhaps a pirate, and acquiring enormous riches; now he gave up first the riches, then the pirate

he was to be confirmed in, wondering what they would be used for if he did not pass. But if he passed he was going to town to get

side, as it were, "Debit:" he must let me pass, and on the other "Credit:" then I will never tell any more

would be more than unjust if he who had always done better at school,

away from the parish and come back again as the denouncing judge of the priest and the whole school commission, but magnanimously allow mercy to take the place of justice. To

spider was crawling over the floor and drew near his foot; he was in the habit of treading on this loathsome insect, but to-day he tenderly raised his foot that it might go in peace whither it would. His voice was as gentle as a collect, his eyes said incessantly that all me

ate, obstinate head stormed in motley confusion the combined thoughts of the other twelve: from the mightiest hope to the most crushing doubt, from the most humble resolves to the

disappointed as well as wounded. There sat Marit, who for far less exertion and knowledge had received both encouragement and reward; it was just in order to stand high in her eyes that he had striven, and now she smilingly won what he had labored with so much self-denial to attain. Her laughter and joking burned

down and report the result; it was, to be sure, not the final decision, merely what the priest and he had for the present agreed upon. The conversation became livelier after a considerable number had been examined and passed; but now the ambitious ones plainly distinguished themselves fro

le played about the mouth. She kept her eyes partially closed when not looking directly at any one, but for that reason her gaze always had unsuspected power when it did come; and, as though she wished herself to add that she meant nothing by this, she half smiled at the same moment. Her hair was rather dark than light, but it was wavy and crept far over the brow on either side, so that, together with the half clos

er. All left their place

am I?"-"And I

"You are number three," he tapped a red-haired, active little fellow who stood tugging at his jacket. "You are number five; you number eight," and so on. Here he caught sight of Marit. "You are number one of the girls,"-she blushed crimson over face and neck

re, had not been mentioned, but he had been standing

Oyvind had to repeat this three times before it w

not remember which," said

n?" inquired Hans, who

the school-master, rapping him o

sked others. "Who is

more questions. "Now go home nicely, children. Give thanks to your God and gladden your parents.

ut to go home to their parents they all felt happy. Only one remained behind, who could not at

master went

re you not going

was no

ou open y

out what I answe

ered noth

ly at the school-master, while one by one trickled down his cheeks, a

t glad that

ering about the

be very glad," said the schoo

power of utterance, finally h

seman's son that I only s

as it," replied

nished. Suddenly he raised his head, lifted his right hand, and bringing it down on the ta

time, but the school-master waited until the weeping grew more childlike. Then ta

as been with you now," said he, draw

before; his tears flowed more calmly, but he nei

You have not studied from love of your religion,

the school-master uttered. Oyvind felt his gaze res

ot have come forward to make a covenant wit

ammered, as well

oy, over being number one, would yo

ispered Oyvind, and

l love me

looked up for

as I who had you put down; for

d several times, and the tears

ispleased with

the school-master's face, a

will stand by you

rst Oyvind was silent and his struggle went on, but gradually he gained his self-control. He was convinced that what had occurred was the best thing that in any

said the school-master, "instead of playing blind-man's buff

like very muc

ng of the agric

es

st; it provides other openings

I earnestly desire it,

od, and I dare say the

inite love that bears us along when we experience some unexpected kindness from a fellow-creature. At such a moment, w

re in quiet expectation, although it was during working hours of a busy t

ymn-book, in which he had just been readi

she was smiling, but her hand was trembling. Evidently she

wered every question put to him; and that the priest said, when

" said the mothe

aid his father, clearin

ll for some time, the

ber will

en," said the sch

father; he first at her,

s son can ex

once more, but he hastily forced himself to think of thing

aid the school-master, a

n the door-step; here the school-master

t is not worth while that he should know

id the fathe

fter which she grasped the school-master's hand

" said the father, and the

od there gazi