A Happy Boy

psed before the confirmation, he was with the boy every day. It is one thing for a young, tender soul to yield to an impression; what through faith it shall a

he gain by it?-and then presently he would remember the school-master, his words and his kindness; and

in the kitchen, the father working at a chest. There was a great deal said about what Oyvind would cost his parents in the next two years; about his not being able to come home the first Christmas, perhaps not the second either, and how hard it would be to be parted so lo

ever Marit's image would present itself, he cautiously thrust it aside, although he felt a pang in so doing. He tried to gain practice in this, but never made any progress in strength; on

ning before going to communion, or morning service. The mother was agitated, the father silent; parting was to follow the morrow's ceremony, and it was uncertain when they could all s

id himself down, that he had never gone to bed so happy before; he gave this an interpretation of his own,-he understood it to mean: I have never before gone to bed feeling so resigned to God's will and so happy in it. Marit's

on his jacket. At sight of his own contented face, with the unusually light hair surrounding it, reflected and smiling in the glass, it occurred to him that this must certainly be vanity again. "Yes, but people must be well-dressed and tidy," he reasoned, drawing his face away from the glass, as if it were a sin to look in it. "To be sure, but not quite so delighted with themselves, for the sake of the matter." "No, certainly not, but the Lord must also like to have one

silently, and ate. The mother cleared the table, and carried in the lunch-box for the journey to church. The father put on his jacket, the mother fastened her kerchief; they took their hymn-books, locked up the house, and started. As soon as the

on among the peasantry of Norw

ple carried their outer wraps with them but did not use them. An unusually large multitude had assembled round the church, which stood in an open space; but the confirmation children immediately went into the church in order to be arranged in their places before service began. Then it was that the school-master, in a blue broadcloth suit, frock coat, and knee-bre

hed to speak to him. "Listen. I believe everything good of you. I have been talking with th

steps, stopped, a few steps more, stopped again: "Yes, it surely is so; he

one, after all," som

voice, but did not feel quite s

e both so awed by the sacredness of the place that they dared not greet each other. He only noticed that she was dazzlingly beautiful and that her hair was uncovered; more he did not see. Oyvind, who

ed on the hill-sides and whom he had assisted at school, and who now could not help whimpering a little at parting. Last came the school-master, silently took Oyvind and his parents by the hands, and made a sign to start for home; he wanted to accompa

two long years of separation, for up to this time they had never been parted a single day; but none of them would ackno

d. From the brow of the cliff he then heard his own name called, quite softly; it was no delusion, for it was re

it?" a

voice, "so I had to come to you and sa

you, Marit? I shal

f you come I should have to wait still longer;

of you to c

ave so, Oyvind; we have known ea

we h

t spoken to each ot

e have

strangely, t

ink I must co

! But tell me: you a

how could y

my thanks for all the happy

t, M

st go; they

t! Ma

ay away any longer

od-

er took leave of him in the evening and put something into his hand, which he afterwards found to be a five-dollar bill. But later, when he went to bed, he thought not of the journey, but of the words which had come dow