Nils Holgerssons underbara resa. English

by Selma Lagerlöf

pretended to be asleep.

  "Presently he saw the young maidens trip down to the strand to don theirseal skins. At first all was play and laughter, which was changed toweeping and wailing when one of the mermaids could not find her sealrobe. Her companions ran up and down the strand and helped her searchfor it, but no trace could they find. While they were seeking theynoticed that the sky was growing pale and the day was breaking, so theycould tarry no longer, and they all swam away, leaving behind the onewhose seal skin was missing. She sat on the strand and wept.

  "The fisherman felt sorry for her, of course, but he forced himself tolie still till daybreak. Then he got up, pushed the boat into the water,and stepped into it to make it appear that he saw her by chance after hehad lifted the oars.

  "'Who are you?' he called out. 'Are you shipwrecked?'

  "She ran toward him and asked if he had seen her seal skin. Thefisherman looked as if he did not know what she was talking about. Shesat down again and wept. Then he determined to take her with him in theboat. 'Come with me to my cottage,' he commanded, 'and my mother willtake care of you. You can't stay here on the island, where you haveneither food nor shelter!' He talked so convincingly that she waspersuaded to step into his boat.

  "Both the fisherman and his mother were very kind to the poor mermaid,and she seemed to be happy with them. She grew more contented every dayand helped the older woman with her work, and was exactly like any otherisland lass--only she was much prettier. One day the fisherman asked herif she would be his wife, and she did not object, but at once said yes.

  "Preparations were made for the wedding. The mermaid dressed as a bridein her green, trailing robe with the shimmering pearl crown she had wornwhen the fisherman first saw her. There was neither church nor parson onthe island at that time, so the bridal party seated themselves in theboats to row up to the first church they should find.

  "The fisherman had the mermaid and his mother in his boat, and he rowedso well that he was far ahead of all the others. When he had come so farthat he could see the islet in the river, where he won his bride, hecould not help smiling.

  "'What are you smiling at?' she asked.

  "'Oh, I'm thinking of that night when I hid your seal skin,' answeredthe fisherman; for he felt so sure of her that he thought there was nolonger any need for him to conceal anything.

  "'What are you saying?' asked the bride, astonished. 'Surely I havenever possessed a seal skin!' It appeared she had forgotten everything.

  "'Don't you recollect how you danced with the mermaids?' he asked.

  "'I don't know what you mean,' said the bride. 'I think that you musthave dreamed a strange dream last night.'

  "If I show you your seal skin, you'll probably believe me!' laughed thefisherman, promptly turning the boat toward the islet. They steppedashore and he brought the seal skin out from under the stone where hehad hidden it.

  "But the instant the bride set eyes on the seal skin she grasped it anddrew it over her head. It snuggled close to her--as if there was life init--and immediately she threw herself into the stream.

  "The bridegroom saw her swim away and plunged into the water after her;but he could not catch up to her. When he saw that he couldn't stop herin any other way, in his grief he seized his spear and hurled it. Heaimed better than he had intended, for the poor mermaid gave a piercingshriek and disappeared in the depths.

  "The fisherman stood on the strand waiting for her to appear again. Heobserved that the water around him began to take on a soft sheen, abeauty that he had never seen before. It shimmered in pink and white,like the colour-play on the inside of sea shells.

  "As the glittering water lapped the shores, the fisherman thought thatthey too were transformed. They began to blossom and waft theirperfumes. A soft sheen spread over them and they also took on a beautywhich they had never possessed before.

  "He understood how all this had come to pass. For it is thus withmermaids: one who beholds them must needs find them more beautiful thanany one else, and the mermaid's blood being mixed with the water thatbathed the shores, her beauty was transferred to both. All who saw themmust love them and yearn for them. This was their legacy from themermaid."

  When the stately old gentleman had got thus far in his narrative heturned to Clement and looked at him. Clement nodded reverently but madeno comment, as he did not wish to cause a break in the story.

  "Now you must bear this in mind, Clement," the old gentleman continued,with a roguish glint in his eyes. "From that time on people emigrated tothe islands. At first only fishermen and peasants settled there, butothers, too, were attracted to them. One day the king and his earlsailed up the stream. They started at once to talk of these islands,having observed they were so situated that every vessel that sailedtoward Lake Maelar had to pass them. The earl suggested that there oughtto be a lock put on the channel which could be opened or closed at will,to let in merchant vessels and shut out pirates.

  "This idea was carried out," said the old gentleman, as he rose andbegan to trace in the sand again with his cane. "On the largest of theseislands the earl erected a fortress with a strong tower, which wascalled 'Kaernan.' And around the island a wall was built. Here, at thenorth and south ends of the wall, they made gates and placed strongtowers over them. Across the other islands they built bridges; thesewere likewise equipped with high towers. Out in the water, round about,they put a wreath of piles with bars that could open and close, so thatno vessel could sail past without permission.

  "Therefore you see, Clement, the four islands which had lain so longunnoticed were soon strongly fortified. But this was not all, for theshores and the sound tempted people, and before long they came from allquarters to settle there. They built a church, which has since beencalled 'Storkyrkan.' Here it stands, near the castle. And here, withinthe walls, were the little huts the pioneers built for themselves. Theywere primitive, but they served their purpose. More was not needed atthat time to make the place pass for a city. And the city was namedStockholm.

  "There came a day, Clement, when the earl who had begun the work went tohis final rest, and Stockholm was without a master builder. Monks calledthe Gray Friars came to the country. Stockholm attracted them. Theyasked permission to erect a monastery there, so the king gave them anisland--one of the smaller ones--this one facing Lake Maelar. There theybuilt, and the place was called Gray Friars' Island. Other monks came,called the Black Friars. They, too, asked for right to build inStockholm, near the south gate. On this, the larger of the islands northof the city, a 'Holy Ghost House,' or hospital, was built; while on thesmaller one thrifty men put up a mill, and along the little islandsclose by the monks fished. As you know, there is only one island now,for the canal between the two has filled up; but it is still called HolyGhost Island.

  "And now, Clement, all the little wooded islands were dotted withhouses, but still people kept streaming in; for these shores and watershave the power to draw people to them. Hither came pious women of theOrder of Saint Clara and asked for ground to build upon. For them therewas no choice but to settle on the north shore, at Norrmalm, as it iscalled. You may be sure that they were not over pleased with thislocation, for across Norrmalm ran a high ridge, and on that the city hadits gallows hill, so that it was a detested spot. Nevertheless the PoorClares erected their church and their convent on the strand below theridge. After they were established there they soon found plenty offollowers. Upon the ridge itself were built a hospital and a church,consecrated to Saint Goran, and just below the ridge a church waserected to Saint Jacob.

  "And even at Soedermalm, where the mountain rises perpendicularly fromthe strand, they began to build. There they raised a church to SaintMary.

  "But you must not think that only cloister folk moved to Stockholm!There were also many others--principally German tradesmen and artisans.These were more skilled than the Swedes, and were well received. Theysettled within the walls of the city where they pulled down the wretchedlittle cabins that stood there and built high, magnificent stone hous
es.But space was not plentiful within the walls, therefore they had tobuild the houses close together, with gables facing the narrow by-lanes.So you see, Clement, that Stockholm could attract people!"

  At this point in the narrative another gentleman appeared and walkedrapidly down the path toward the man who was talking to Clement, but hewaved his hand, and the other remained at a distance. The dignified oldgentleman still sat on the bench beside the fiddler.

  "Now, Clement, you must render me a service," he said. "I have no timeto talk more with you, but I will send you a book about Stockholm andyou must read it from cover to cover. I have, so to speak, laid thefoundations of Stockholm for you. Study the rest out for yourself andlearn how the city has thrived and