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Page 7
"I have been far, far away to my own home," said Hansa, "and my brother
Niels has come back with me, bringing something for you."
Then Niels laid down the package, and gravely opening it, displayed to
the wondering eyes real gifts from fairy-land, it seemed.
There were the fur coat and boots, and a cap also, more beautiful than
Erik had ever dreamed of. A roll of soft, fine blue wool, for
grandmother, came next; then a beautifully embroidered dress, and
scarlet apron and jacket, for Olga; and last of all, a fat little
leather bag, which Hansa gave to father Peder, saying:
"There are many silver marks for you, and my father has promised that
it shall never more be empty, if you will give to Niels and me a home."
Then turning quickly to Olaf, she said: "And here is my own pet
reindeer 'Friska' for you."
So the children, in the gladness of their hearts, kissed the little
maid, and Olaf whispered, "Forgive me that slap, dear Hansa!"
Father Peder stood thoughtfully quiet a moment, then, turning to the
children, he said:
"See, little ones! I gave my last mark for Hansa, and knew not where I
should find bread for you all afterward; but the dear child has brought
only good to us since. I am getting old, and my arms grow too weak to
swing the heavy ax, and I thought, often, soon must my little ones go
hungry. But now we are rich, and my cares have all gone. So long as
they wish, therefore, shall Niels and Hansa be to me as my own
children; they shall live here with us, and we will love them well."
[Illustration: ON THE SPRING-BOARD.]
Then he kissed all the happy faces, and said: "Now go and play, little
ones, for grandmother and I must think quietly over these God-sent
gifts."
So the children, first putting Friska, the reindeer, carefully in the
little stable beside the cow (so that he should not run away from the
strange new home, Hansa said), hastened to their favorite
play-place,--a large pine board lying on the slope of the hill, whence
they could look far away across the fields and fjords to the Kilpis,
the great mountain peaks where, even in summer, the pure white snow lay
glistening in the sunlight.
"Ho!" cried Niels, "that is a fine board, but no good so; see what _I_
can do with it!" and lifted one end and put it across a great log that
lay near by.
"Now you little fellows," said he to Olaf and Erik, "I am strong as a
giant, but I cannot quite roll up this other log alone. Come you and
help."
So the boys together rolled the heavy log to its place, and put the
other end of the board upon it.
"Now jump!" cried Niels; and with one joyous "halloo" the children were
on the broad, springy plank, enjoying to the utmost this novel
pleasure.
Their shouts of delight brought the wood-cutter to the door of the
little hut, and grandmother Ingeborg following, caught the excitement,
and, pulling off her cap, she waved it wildly, crying: "Hurrah for the
Lapps! Hurrah!"
Then she and father Peder went back to their chairs in the chimney
corner; and Hansa, sitting on the spring-board, with the children
around her, told them such a wonderful, beautiful story, that they were
quite silent with delight.
At last said Olaf, contentedly, as he lay with his head on Hansa's
knee:
"After all, girls _are_ the nicest things in the world!"
"Except boys," said little Hansa, slyly.
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