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Page 15
"But dear father, is it not wrong to strive to make ourselves beautiful
when we are only poor people?"
"Beautiful!" exclaimed the old man, "what put that into your little
head?"
"Magde told me that all poor women ought to be born ugly, that their
reputation might not be suspected."
"Magde was a little out of humor, when she said that, and she who wishes
to please her husband so much, could not have really intended what she
said."
"Yes, but when a woman is married, it alters the case entirely."
"But why should not an unmarried girl wish herself handsome for the sake
of her father, her brother, and above all for her own sake? That is a
good wish so long as it continues innocent."
"When then, is it not innocent?" inquired Nanna.
"It is no longer innocent when the love of fine apparel, and the desire
to be beautiful, changes the heart, and the girl neglects her duties,
and gives her sole attention to that which should only serve as a
simple recreation; but that I am sure will never be the case with you."
Nanna was silent. She drooped her head. "There is no danger of that,"
thought she, "for who will care to witness the change?"
"On next St. John's day," continued her father, "you must wear that
elegant silk shawl which belonged to your poor mother."
As Nanna heard these words, a smile of peculiar meaning passed over her
lips. It was the smile of a woman who anticipates a future triumph.
"Thank God," said the old man, turning the conversation in another
channel, "for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us. Although we may
now be in trouble, when Ragnar's packages arrive, we shall be in better
circumstances. Poverty has many blessings of which the rich man cannot
even dream. The poor man's gratitude and joy for even the slightest
piece of fortune is too great to describe. The rich man has not that
relish for the good things of life that the poor man has."
While honest Lonner was thus losing himself in his meditations, Nanna
moved in her seat uneasily, and dropped stitch after stitch of her
knitting-work. The former topic of conversation was endurable, but
this--
Meanwhile, however, she did not dare to express her desire to be
liberated from her irksome position. Why was she afraid to do so? She
asked herself the question; the only reply she could make was, that
yesterday it would have been easy for her to say, "Father, I want to
take a little walk in the meadow;" but to-day, oh! that was different!
"I see you have your bonnet on!" said her father, "were you about taking
a walk?"
"I have not been out of the house before, to-day," replied Nanna.
"Well, then run away, my child; take all the enjoyment you can. You have
but little here."
Perhaps it was by expressions of this description from her father, that
mournful thoughts were engendered within the mind of the young girl,
causing her to fancy that something was wanting to complete her
happiness, and that she stood beyond the pale of those who should have
been her companions.
It is certainly plausible to suppose that these moments which the old
man had set apart for familiar conversation with his daughter, whom he
loved above all earthly things, for she reminded him of past days, might
have proved highly detrimental to Nanna's sensitive and susceptible
mind.
As matters now stood, it was plainly evident that, however economical,
industrious and thrifty she might be, Nanna would be compelled to be
content with her lot, should she wed an honest mechanic or a sloop
captain, which were the highest prizes which she, or any of the
neighboring maidens, might expect to win.
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