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Page 23
THE RAILROAD AND THE CHURCHYARD
BY
BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON
From "The Flying Mail" Translated by Carl Larsen.
THE RAILROAD AND THE CHURCH-YARD
BY
BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON
I.
Canute Aakre belonged to an ancient family of the parish, where it
had always been distinguished for its intelligence and care for
the public good. His father through self-exertion had attained to
the ministry, but had died early, and his widow being by birth a
peasant, the children were brought up as farmers. Consequently,
Canute's education was only of the kind afforded by the public
school; but his father's library had early inspired him with a
desire for knowledge, which was increased by association with his
friend Henrik Wergeland, who often visited him or sent him books,
seeds for his farm, and much good counsel. Agreeably to his
advice, Canute early got up a club for practice in debating and
study of the constitution, but which finally became a practical
agricultural society, for this and the surrounding parishes. He
also established a parish library, giving his father's books as
its first endowment, and organized in his own house a Sunday-
school for persons wishing to learn penmanship, arithmetic, and
history. In this way the attention of the public was fixed upon
him, and he was chosen a member of the board of parish-
commissioners, of which he soon became chairman. Here he continued
his endeavors to advance the school interests, which he succeeded
in placing in an admirable condition.
Canute Aakre was a short-built, active man, with small sharp eyes
and disorderly hair. He had large lips which seemed constantly
working, and a row of excellent teeth which had the same
appearance, for they shone when he spoke his clear sharp words,
which came out with a snap, as when the sparks are emitted from a
great fire.
Among the many he had helped to an education, his neighbor Lars
Hogstad stood foremost. Lars was not much younger than Canute, but
had developed more slowly. Being in the habit of talking much of
what he read and thought, Canute found in Lars--who bore a quiet,
earnest manner--a good listener, and step by step a sensible
judge. The result was, that he went reluctantly to the meetings of
the board, unless first furnished with Lars Hogstad's advice,
concerning whatever matter of importance was before it, which
matter was thus most likely to result in practical improvement.
Canute's influence, therefore, brought his neighbor in as a member
of the board, and finally into everything with which he himself
was connected. They always rode together to the meetings, where
Lars never spoke, and only on the road to and from, could Canute
learn his opinion. They were looked upon as inseparable.
One fine autumn day, the parish-commissioners were convened, for
the purpose of considering, among other matters, a proposal made
by the Foged, to sell the public grain-magazine, and with the
proceeds establish a savings-bank. Canute Aakre, the chairman,
would certainly have approved this, had he been guided by his
better judgment; but, in the first place, the motion was made by
the Foged, whom Wergeland did not like, consequently, neither did
Canute; secondly, the grain-magazine had been erected by his
powerful paternal grandfather, by whom it was presented to the
parish. To him the proposal was not free from an appearance of
personal offence; therefore, he had not spoken of it to any one,
not even to Lars, who never himself introduced a subject.
As chairman, Canute read the proposal without comment, but,
according to his habit, looked over to Lars, who sat as usual a
little to one side, holding a straw between his teeth; this he
always did when entering upon a subject, using it as he would a
toothpick, letting it hang loosely in one corner of his mouth, or
turning it more quickly or slowly, according to the humor he was
in. Canute now saw with surprise, that the straw moved very fast.
He asked quickly, "Do you think we ought to agree to this?"
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