Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > British minstrel, and musical and literary miscellany

MUSICAL AND LITERARY MISCELLANY.
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work in the persons of this couple. This evening
we will drink together a skal to their well-being. So
now you can dance, my children! Oloi', come here
and play thy very best."
While a murmur of exultation and good wishes
ran through the assembly, Ma chere mere took me
by the hand and led me, together with my husband,
into another room, into which she ordered punch
and glasses to be brought; then placing both her
elbows firmly upon the table and supporting her
chin on her closed fists, she looked at me with a
gaze which was rather dark than friendly. Lavs
Anders, who saw that this review was rather em-
barassing to me began to speak of the harvest, and
other country afl'airs; Ma chere mere, however,
sighed several times so deeply, that her sighs rather
resembled groans, and then, as it were constraining
herself, answered to his observations.
The punch came, and then filling the glass, she
said, with earnestness in tone and countenance,
" S(m and son's wife, your health !"
After this she became more friendly, and said in
a jesting tone, which by the bye suited her very
well, " Lars Anders, I suppose we must not say
'you have bought the calf in the sack.' Your wife
does not look amiss, and she ' has a pair of eyes fit
to buy fish with.' She is little, very little, one must
confess ; but ' little and bold often push the great
ones aside.' "
I laughed, Ma chere mei'e did the same, and I
began to talk and act quite at my ease.
" Now fill your glasses, and come and drink with
the people. Trouble man may keep to himself, but
pleasure he must enjoy in company." We followed
Ma chere mere, who had gone as herald into the
dancing-roora; they were all standing as we enter-
ed with filled glasses, and she spoke something
after this manner: " One must never triumph before
one is over the brook; but if people sail in the ship
of matrimony with prudence and in the fear of God,
there is a proverb which says ' well begun is half
won,' and therefore, my friends, we will drink a
skal to the new married couple whom you see before
you, and wish, not only for them, but for those who
come after them, that they may for ever have place
in the garden of the Lord!"
" Skal I skal !" resounded on all sides. Lars
Anders and I drank, and then went round and
shook hands with so many people that my head was
quite dizzy.
All this over, we prepared for our departure, and
then came Ma chere mere to me on the steps with
a packet, or rather a bundle in her hand, saying, in
the most friendly manner, " Take these veal cutlets
with you, children, for breakfast to-morrow morning.
In a while you will fatten and eat your own veal ;
but daughter-in-law, don't forget one thing — let me
have my napkin back again! Nay, you shall not
carry it, dear child, you have quite enough to do
with your bag (pirat) and your cloak. Lars Anders
must carry the veal cutlets;" and then, as if he were
a little boy still, she gave him the bundle and showed
him how he must carry it, all which he did as she
bade him, and still her last words were " Don't for-
get now, that I have my napkin back !"
I glanced full of amazement at my husband, but
he only smiled and helped me into the carriage.
As to the veal cutlets, I could not but rejoice over
them, for I could not tell in what state I might find
the provision-room at Rosenvik. Right glad also
was I to arrive " at home," and to see a maid-ser-
»ant and a ready prepared bed, for we had travelled
that day ten miles, (Swedish,) and I was greatly
fatigued. I had slept a little on the quartcr-of-a-
mile way between Carlsfors and Rosenvik, and the
twilight had come on so rapidly that, as about eleven
o'clock at night we arrived at home, I was unable
to see what my Eden resembled. The house seem-
ed, however, to me, somewhat grey and small in
comparison of the one we had just left; but that was
of no consequence, Lars Anders was so cordially
kind, and I was so cordially sleepy. But all at once
I was wide awake, for as I entered it seemed to me
like a fairy tale. I stepped into a handsome well-
lighted room, in the middle of which stood a nicely
arranged tea table glittering with silver and china,
whilst beside the tea-table stood the very neatest
of maidservants, in that pretty holiday dress which
is peculiar to the peasant girls of this country.
I uttered an exclamation of delight, and all sleep
at once was gone. In a quarter of an hour I was
quite ready, and sat down as hostess at the tea-table,
admiring the beautiful tablecloth, the teacups, the
teapot, the teaspoons, upon which were engraved
our joint initials, and served tea to my husband, who
seemed happy to his heart's core.
And thus the morning and the evening were the
first day.
The next morning when I opened my eyes, I saw
that my Adam was directing his eyes with an ex-
pression of great devotion towards the window,
where a ray of sunshine streamed in through a hole
in the blue striped window curtains, whilst at the
same time the mewing of a cat n)ight be heard.
"My beloved husband!" began I solemnly, "I
thank you for the beautiful music which you have
prepai'ed fen" my welcome. I conjecture you have a
troop of country girls all dressed in white to scatter
twigs of fir before my feet. 1 will soon be ready to
receive them."
"I have arranged something much better than
this old-fashioned pageantry," said he merrily. " In
association with a great artist, I have prepared a
panorama which will show you how it looks in
Arabia Deserta. You need only to lift up these
curtains.''
You may imagine, Maria, that I was soon at the
window, — with a sort of sacred awe drew aside the
curtains. Ah, Blaria! there lay before me, in the
full glory of the morning, a crystal lake; green
meadows, and groves lay around, and in the middle
of the lake a small island, upon which grew a mag--
nificent oak; over all the sun shone brightly, and all
was so peaceful, so paradisiacal in its beauty, that I
was enchanted, and for the first moment could not
speak, I could only fold my hands whilst tears filled
my eyes.
" May you be happy here !" whispered Lars An-
ders, and clasped me to his heart. — " I am happy,
too happy!'' said I, deeply moved, " and grateful."
— "Do you see the island, that little Svano?" asked
he, " I will row you often there on a summer's even-
ing; we will take our evening meal with us, and eat
it there." — " Why not breakfast?" inquired I, sud-
denly fired with the idea, " why not to day, in this
beautiful morning, go and drink our coffee? I will
immediately." — " No, not this morning," interrupted
he, laughing at my earnestness, " I must go into the
city and visit my patients." — "Ah!" exclaimed I, in
a tone of vexation, " what a thing it is that people
cannot remain in health !" — " What then should t
do ?" asked he, in a sort of comic terror. " Row mo
over to the Svano," was my reply. — " I shall be
back," said he, "for dinner about three o'chick, and