A Happy Boy

The mother had hired women several days beforehand, and everything was scoured and clean. The bedroom had been put in order some time before, a stove had been set up, and there Oyvind w

came. The mother leaned against the window and looked across the waters; then she heard a step near at hand on the road, and turned her head. It was the school- master

come

ct them eve

r for haymak

old folks to

ter looked at

ng folks been

t are go

e will most likely be a mee

they shall not meet in his house un

quite

the moth

hink they a

er looked long

deed! it

darted toward them, making rapid headway, for both father and son were rowing. The oarsmen had thrown off their jackets, the waters whitened beneath their strokes;

her! Good-day,

other, her face sparkling. "O dear, O d

ht remain there for the present, and joined the others. And so they walked up toward the house, Oyvind laughing and talking, the mother laughing, too, for she was utterly at a loss to know what to say. The school-master moved slowly along at Oyvind's side, watching his old pupil closely; the father walked at a respectful distance. And thus they reached home. Oyvind was delighted with everything he saw: first because the house was painted, then because the mill was enlarged, then because the leaden windows had been taken out in the family-room a

observed in what respect he had altered, in what he remained unchanged; looked at what was entirely new about him, even to the blue broadcloth suit

word that you say, boy;

e words here and there, and repeating them again and again from sheer haste. He seemed to be stumbling over himself. Sometimes this appeared absurd, but then he laughed and it was forgotten. The school-master and the father sat watching to see if any of the old thoughtfulness was gone; but it did not seem so. Oyvind remembered everything, and was even the one to remind the others that the boat should be unloaded. He unpacked his clothes at once and hung them up, displayed his books, his watch, everything new, and all

him," said he, beaming with

g on him, as usual, to the door-step

ing for you at nine o'

he

he cl

eeze. Oyvind gazed across the water which had borne him away and home again. There it stretched before him, calm and smooth; some sea-birds flew over it, but made no noise, for it was late. His father came walking up from the mill, paused on the door-step, took a survey of all about him, as his son had done, then went down to the water to take the boat in for the night. The mother appeared at the side of the house, for she had been in the kitchen. She raised her eyes toward the cliff as she crossed the farm-yard with something for the hens, looked up again and began to hum. Oyvind sat down to wait. The underbrush was so dense that he could not

out the neck except a turned-down linen collar. She had just stolen away from work in the fields, and had not ventured on any change of dress. Now she looked up askance and smiled; her white teeth shone, her eyes sparkled beneath the half-closed

ooked up a little and laughed, he felt that she was the most roguish troll he

n," said she, meaning s

dog had seated himself on the slope, and was surveying the gard. Thore observed the dog's head from the

ng to talk a little. And when Oyvind was once under way he burst

y, you see; and as soon as it was settled between us two, it se

. Presently

heart all the le

you always wrote

ways wanted the

uld write more about something,

antage when you see my t

nd thriving stock. They are without horns. She was once at a merry-making, where every one was desirous of dancing with the handsome, strange damsel; but in the midst of the mirth a young man, who had just begun a dance with her, happened to cast his eye on her tail. Immediately guessing whom he had gotten for a partner, he was not

have never told me

tl

augh

ow

t you know what

I can

me

thing! Surely, I must hav

ed that when

happy now

m I laug

ou are,

and he fell to barking at something below, growing more and more savage, and finally quite furious. Marit sprang back in alarm; but Oyvind went forward

wo? What mad dog is t

eidegards," answered Oyvi

ce did it ge

door, for she had heard the dreadful noise, and a

there every day, so there i

t say it is

if I stroke it," though

er walked away as though he knew nothing, and

e," said Marit, as they dr

t it to be wo

l keep a close watc

grandf

, in

hall do u

the l

u promi

romise it

iful you a

to the raven an

he cheese, too, I

ll not h

will ta

head, but he

Oyvind, though." She look

el

ly you ha

to give me the chee

" and she turn

ust go,

go wit

e woods; grandfath

he woods. Dear me

ot walk side

s not going

h me,

oon she was fast in the bush

orever, Merit?" His

and laughed; but she was

t to kiss her; but she bent her head down under his arm, l

we meet again?

morrow!" he whi

to-m

," and s

, was it not strange that

as." She r

g; Marit followed, quieting him. Oyvind turned, took off his c

nning to be happy," said the