Part 39 (1/2)

”But you only saw it with one eye, like the birds, grandmother,” said Kalle, trying to laugh.

”Yes, yes, but that was quite good enough; there was so much that was new since I lost my sight. The wood had grown bigger, and a whole family had grown up without my quite knowing it. Ah! yes, it has been good to live in my old age and have them all about me--Kalle and Maria and the children. And all of my own age have gone before me; it's been nice to see what became of them all.”

”How old are you now, grandmother?” asked La.s.se.

”Kalle has looked it up in the church-book, and from that I ought to be almost eighty; but that can scarcely be right.”

”Yes, it's right enough,” said Kalle, ”for the parson looked it up for me himself.”

”Well, well, then the time's gone quickly, and I shouldn't at all mind living a little longer, if it was G.o.d's will. But the grave's giving warning; I notice it in my eyelids.” The old woman had a little difficulty in breathing, but kept on talking.

”You're talking far too much, mother!” said Maria.

”Yes, you ought to be resting and sleeping,” said La.s.se. ”Hadn't we better say good-bye to you?”

”No, I really must talk, for it'll be the last time I see you and I shall have plenty of time to rest. My eyes are so light thank G.o.d, and I don't feel the least bit sleepy.”

”Grandmother hasn't slept for a whole week, I think,” said Kalle doubtfully.

”And why should I sleep away the last of the time I shall have here, when I shall get plenty of time for that afterward? At night when you others are asleep, I lie and listen to your breathing, and feel glad that you're all so well. Or I look at the heather-broom, and think of Anders and all the fun we had together.”

She lay silent for a little while, getting her breath, while she gazed at a withered bunch of heather hanging from a beam.

”He gathered that for me the first time we lay in the flowering heather.

He was so uncommonly fond of the heather, was Anders, and every year when it flowered, he took me out of my bed and carried me out there--every year until he was called away. I was always as new for him as on the first day, and so happiness and joy took up their abode in my heart.”

”Now, mother, you ought to be quiet and not talk so much!” said Maria, smoothing the old woman's pillow. But she would not be silenced, though her thoughts s.h.i.+fted a little.

”Yes, my teeth were hard to get and hard to lose, and I brought my children into the world with pain, and laid them in the grave with sorrow, one after another. But except for that, I've never been ill, and I've had a good husband. He had an eye for G.o.d's creations, and we got up with the birds every summer morning, and went out onto the heath and saw the sun rise out of the sea before we set about our days work.”

The old woman's slow voice died away, and it was as though a song ceased to sound in their ears. They sat up and sighed. ”Ah, yes,” said La.s.se, ”the voice of memory is pleasant!”

”What about you, La.s.se?” said the old woman suddenly, ”I hear you're looking about for a wife!”

”Am I?” exclaimed La.s.se, in alarm. Pelle saw Kalle wink at Maria, so they knew about it too.

”Aren't you soon coming to show us your sweetheart?” asked Kalle. ”I hear it's a good match.”

”I don't in the least know what you're talking about,” said La.s.se, quite confused.

”Well, well, you might do worse than that!” said the grandmother. ”She's good enough--from what I know. I hope you'll suit one another like Anders and me. It was a happy time--the days when we went about and each did our best, and the nights when the wind blew. It was good then to be two to keep one another warm.”

”You've been very happy in everything, grandmother,” exclaimed La.s.se.

”Yes, and I'm departing in peace and can lie quiet in my grave. I've not been treated unfairly in any way, and I've got nothing to haunt any one for. If only Kalle takes care to have me carried out feet first, I don't expect I shall trouble you.”

”Just you come and visit us now and then if you like! We shan't be afraid to welcome you, for we've been so happy together here,” said Kalle.

”No, you never know what your nature may be in the next life. You must promise to have me carried out feet first! I don't want to disturb your night's rest, so hard as you two have to work all day. And, besides, you've had to put up with me long enough, and it'll be nice for you to be by yourselves for once; and there'll be a bit more for you to eat after this.”

Maria began to cry.