Chapter 23 a small estate

The geese flew along the Kra River to the great factory of Monkford, and then headed west toward Felix Dallen.It was getting dark before they reached Fregan, and they found a hollow on a wooded plateau and set down.The depression was undoubtedly a good place for the geese to spend the night, but the boy found it cold and damp, and wished to find a better place to sleep.When he was in the air just now, he saw several manors down the mountain, and he hurried to look for them after landing. The road to the manor was actually farther than he had imagined, and several times he thought about returning to the hollow.But at last the surrounding woods thinned out, and he came to a road that led out to the edge of the forest.A beautiful birch-lined avenue diverged from the road, leading to a manor house, and he set off immediately in that direction.

The first thing the boy entered was a backyard, as big as a city square, surrounded by rows of red houses.He walked through the back yard and saw another yard.That's where the house was, with a gravel path and a large courtyard in front of the house, wing rooms on both sides, and a lush garden behind the house.The main mansion itself is small and unremarkable.But the courtyard was surrounded by a row of very tall rowan trees, so close together that they formed a veritable enclosure.The boy felt as if he had stepped into a tall ornate vaulted hall.The high sky was pale blue, the rowan trees with clusters of big red fruits had turned yellow, and the lawn was probably still green, but the moonlight was particularly bright and dazzling that night, and it sprinkled on the lawn, Makes the lawn a silvery white.

There was no one in the yard, and the boys were free to move about as they pleased.When he came into the garden he found something which almost made him ecstatic.He climbed up a rowan tree to pick its fruit, but before he had picked a bunch he found that a thick plum tree was also full of fruit.So he slipped down from the rowan tree and climbed up the plum tree, but just as he climbed the tree, he found a red currant tree also with huge bunches of red berries hanging down from it.At this time, he found that the whole garden was full of tea cane seeds, raspberries and dog roses.Kohlrabi and turnips grew on the vegetable field in the distance, berries grew on every small tree, wild vegetables had seeds, and full-grained spikelets grew on the grass stalks.And on a path over there, ah, he must have read it right, there was a beautiful big apple shining in the moonlight!

The boy sat down on the edge of the lawn with the big apple in his arms, and began to cut off small pieces with a knife to eat. "If good food is available in other places as well as here, then it wouldn't be so bad to be an elf all your life," he thought. He sat there, thinking while eating, and finally he thought, if he stayed where he is now, it would be good for the wild geese to go back to the south by themselves. "I just don't know how to explain to Morton the gander why I can't go back," he thought, "and I'd better part with him once and for all. I can store food for the winter like a squirrel. Live in a stable or a cowshed in winter." In a dark corner of the world, I won't freeze to death."

Just when he was dreaming, he suddenly heard a slight noise above his head.In an instant, something like a short birch branch fell beside him.The branch dangled, and there were two points of light at the top, which shone like burning coals.The thing did look like a monster, but the boy saw soon enough that the branch had a curved mouth, and a great ring of feathers around the flaming eyes, and he was relieved. "It's very interesting to meet a living thing at this time," he said. "Perhaps you, Lady Owl, would like to tell me what the name of this place is, and who lives here?"

The owl was perched that night, as on all autumn nights, on the planks of the great ladder that stood against the wall, watching the gravel path and lawn below, and scouting for the mice.But, to her surprise, not a single mouse came out.Instead, she saw something that looked like a man, but was much, much smaller, moving in the garden. "I think this fellow must have frightened the rats away," thought the Owl. "What the hell is this?" "It's not a squirrel, it's not a kitten, it's not a weasel," she thought again, "I thought a bird like me who lived so many years on an old estate would I know everything about it. But this one baffles me."

She stared intently at the little thing moving on the gravel path until her eyes dazzled.At last, curiosity got the better of her, and she flew down to the ground, thinking of taking a closer look at this strange thing. When the boy began to speak, the owl stretched its neck and watched him. "He has neither claws nor spines," she thought, "but who knows if he has fangs, or some other more dangerous weapon? I must find out what he is before I attack him." "This manor is called Morbacka," said the owl, "and it used to be home to good families. But who are you?"

"I'm thinking about moving here," said the boy, without answering the owl's question. "Do you think that's all right?" "Well, this place isn't what it used to be," said the Owl, "but you can live on, depending on what you live on. Are you going to live by catching mice and eating them?" "No, absolutely not," said the boy. "It's the rats that will eat me, instead of me hurting the rats." "He can't be as harmless as he says he is," thought the owl, "but I think I'll try him." She flew into the air, and right after Niels Hauger Sen came, his claws got into his shoulder, and he pecked at his eyes with his mouth.The boy covered his eyes with one hand and struggled to free himself with the other.At the same time, he shouted for help with all his strength.He realized that his life was really in danger, and he said to himself that this time it must be over.

Now let me tell you a very coincidental thing, in the year when Nils Hogelsson traveled around Sweden with the geese, there was a person who was also traveling around, and she wanted to write a book about Sweden, suitable for children book to read.She thought about it from Christmas to autumn, but never wrote a single line, and at last she said to herself in despair: "You are not capable of writing this book, or sit down, as usual, and write Write myths and short stories, and let someone else write a book so instructive, so serious, and without a lie!" She had almost decided to give up the work, but she thought it would be interesting to write about beautiful things about Sweden, so she couldn't bear to give it up.Finally, it occurred to her that it might be because she lived in the city for a long time, surrounded by nothing but streets and walls, which made her unable to write for a long time.It might be better if you go to the country and look at the woods and fields.

She was born in Varmland, and it was obvious to her that her book would start there.She first wanted to write about the place where she grew up, a small manor in a remote location, where many ancient traditions and habits still remained.She thought it would be interesting for the children to hear about the various labors that the people there did all year round.She would tell them how Christmas, New Year's, Easter, and Midsummer were celebrated in her homeland, what furniture and household items they used, their kitchens and storerooms, cowsheds and stables, barns and steam What is the bathroom like.However, when she wanted to write these things, her pen couldn't control it, and she really didn't understand why.

She has vivid memories of the past, that's for sure, and she still seems to be living in that environment.But she said to herself that since she was going to the country, she should go there again and see the old manor before writing about her hometown.She has been away from her hometown for many years, and it is not a bad thing to find an excuse to go back and have a look.In fact, for so many years, no matter where she goes, she always misses her hometown.It was true that she saw other places more beautiful and better than there, but she could find nowhere the peace and joy that she had felt in her childhood home. However, for her, returning to her hometown is not as easy as people imagine, because her family's small estate has been sold to someone she does not know.She thought, of course, that they would receive her well, but she did not come back to sit and talk with strangers, but to be able to actually relive her old life there.So she decided to go at night, when the day's labor was over and people would be indoors. It never occurred to her that going back to her hometown would be such a wonderful thing.When she was driving towards the old manor in the carriage, she felt that she was getting younger every moment. After a while, she was no longer an old man with gray hair, but a woman in a short skirt, A little girl with long pale yellow braids.Sitting in the car, she recognized one manor after another along the way. In her mind, it seemed that everything in the former residence was still the same.Father, mother, and sisters would stand on the steps to meet her, and the old maid would run to the kitchen window to see who had returned, and Neru, Freya, and the other dogs would hop around ran towards her. The closer she got to the manor, the happier she was.It's autumn now, and the busy season is approaching, but just because there is so much work to do, life at home will not be monotonous and boring.Along the way, she saw people busy peeling potatoes, and her family must be peeling potatoes too.The first thing they have to do now is to crush the potatoes to make the starch.It was a warm and comfortable autumn, and she thought that not all the vegetables in the vegetable garden had been harvested, at least the cabbages were still growing in the ground.I don't know if the hops have been picked, have the apples been picked? It's best not to catch up with the house cleaning, because the autumn festival is coming soon.The Autumn Festival is regarded as a major festival by the local people, especially in the eyes of the servants. Therefore, before the arrival of the Autumn Festival, everything must be cleaned and tidy up.If you go to the kitchen on the night of the autumn festival, you will find it very interesting.The polished floors were strewn with fragrant juniper boughs, the walls were whitewashed and hung with polished copper pots and kettles. Such leisurely days will not last long, because as soon as the Autumn Festival is over, people will start combing hemp.The flax is laid out on the damp grass and has been softened in the dog days.Now put the hemp in that old steam room and light that fire to bake.After the hemp is dried to a certain extent, people call the neighboring women together on a certain day, and they sit in front of the steam room, smash the hemp stalks, and then beat the hemp with a hemp machine to remove the dried hemp stalks , Pull out the thin and white hemp.When the women worked, they were covered with dust and became gray people.Their hair and clothes were also full of stalks, but they still worked happily.The sneezers worked all day long, and people talked and laughed all day long, and if anyone approached the old steam room, they would think it was blowing a strong wind. After combing the hemp, it was followed by the baking of plentiful shortbread, the shearing of the sheep, and the removal of the servants.November is a busy butcher's season, with people salting bacon, stuffing sausages, baking blood bread, and making candles.The tailor, who used to make clothes out of earthen cloth, also came here at this time, and it was a wonderfully happy few weeks, and the servants sat together and sewed and busied themselves with making clothes.The shoemaker who made shoes for all the servants was also sitting in the long-man's house at this time, and people never got tired of watching him how he cut the leather, made the soles, nailed the heels, and smashed the eyelets. However, the busiest time is just before Christmas.On Lucia's Day, maids dressed in white and with lighted candles go to the rooms at five o'clock in the morning to invite people to drink coffee.This seems to imply that one should not expect to get enough sleep for the next two weeks.Because people have to brew beer for Christmas, pickle fish, bake various breads and pastries for Christmas, and clean up. When the coachman pulled up at the crossing as she had asked, she was still dreaming of baking bread, surrounded by Christmas bread and the trays on which the buns were kept.She was suddenly awakened like a sleepy person.Just now, she dreamed that her family was surrounded by her, but at this moment, she was sitting alone in the car at such a late hour, and she felt really desolate.When she got off the car and walked silently along the boulevard to the former residence, she felt how different her current mood was from the past, and she really wanted to turn around and return to the city. "What's the point of being here? It has nothing in common with the past," she thought. But she thought, since she came from afar, she should take a look at this place.So she walked on, although with each step she felt a little heavier. She had heard it said that the manor was in a dilapidated state beyond recognition, and that might have been the case.But she couldn't see it at night, and instead felt that everything was the same.There is a pond over there. When she was young, it was full of carp, but no one dared to fish it, because her father was willing to let the carp live freely.Over there is the long house, the barn and the stables.On the roof of the stables was a brass bell at one end and a weathervane at the other.The courtyard in front of the main house is the same as when my father was alive. It is still like an airtight room, and I can't see the scenery in the distance, because my father can't bear to cut down even a small tree. She stopped in the shadow of the big maple tree at the entrance to the manor, and stood there looking around.At this moment, a strange thing happened, a group of pigeons flew over and landed beside her. She could hardly believe it was a real bird, because usually pigeons don't come out after sunset.The bright moonlight must have awakened them.Thinking it was broad daylight, they flew out of the dovecot, but then they got confused and lost their minds.Therefore, when they saw someone, they flew towards her, as if she would show them the way. When her parents were alive, there were many pigeons in the manor, because pigeons are also an animal carefully protected by her father.Whenever someone mentions the idea of ​​slaughtering a pigeon, he is in a bad mood.The group of beautiful pigeons flew to greet her when she came to the former residence, and she was very happy in her heart.Who knew if the pigeons had come out so late to show her that they hadn't forgotten that they had had a good home in the past? Or maybe it was her father who sent out his pigeons to greet her, so that she would not feel unduly worried and lonely when she returned to her old home? When she thought of this, a strong longing for the past rose in her heart, and she couldn't help crying.They lived a good life here, with busy days and happy festivals; during the day they worked intensely and hard, and at night they gathered under the lamp to read the poems of Tagnet and Runeberg, read The works of Mrs. Langlen and the spinster Bremer; they grew corn, but also roses and jasmine; they spun twine, but sang folk songs as they spun; they studied history and grammar, but also acted They played and wrote poetry; they cooked standing by the fire, but they also learned to play the organ, the flute, the guitar, the violin, and the piano; they grew cabbages, turnips, peas, and beans in their vegetable gardens, but There was also an orchard full of apples, pears, and berries of all kinds; they had lived alone, but because of this they had so many stories and legends in their heads.They wear clothes made at home, but because of that, they live a carefree, self-sufficient life. "There is nowhere in the world where people know how to live as well as they did when I was young on this little estate," she thought, "where there is just enough work, not too much entertainment, and every day is a good day. I really I want to go home. But once I get back to this place, I can't bear to leave here again." So she turned to the pigeon and said to the pigeon, "Won't you go to your father and tell him that I miss home? I've been wandering far enough. Ask him if he can make some arrangements." , so that I can return to my childhood hometown as soon as possible!" She couldn't help laughing to herself when she said this. As soon as she finished speaking, the whole flock of pigeons rose into the air and flew away.She watched them, but they were gone in no time, and it seemed that the flock of white doves had all dissolved into the shimmering sky. No sooner had the pigeons left than she heard screams coming from the garden, and as she hurried there she saw an unusual sight.A very small figure, not as tall as a hand's hand, was standing there, wrestling with an owl.At first she was just too surprised to move, but when the little man screamed more and more, she ran up quickly and separated the fighting parties.The owl flapped its wings and climbed up a tree, but the little man stood on the gravel path, neither hiding nor running away. "Thank you for your help!" he said, "but it was not right for you to let the owl go away. She is standing in a tree, with her eyes fixed on me, and I still cannot go." "Yes, I was ill-advised in letting her go. But can't I take you home?" she said.Although she often creates legends and stories, she is still quite surprised to talk to a little person unexpectedly.Yet it was no surprise to her.She strolled in the moonlight outside her former home, as if she had been waiting to experience something very strange. "As a matter of fact, I want to stay at the farm tonight," said the little man. "If you will find me a safe place to sleep, I will not go back to the forest until after daylight." "You want me to find you a place to sleep? Isn't this your home?" "I know you think I am an elf too," said the little man now, "but I am a man, a man like you, though I have been enchanted by an elf to make me smaller." "I've never heard of such a thing! Won't you tell me how you got here?" The boy was not shy about telling his adventures, but she, who was listening to his narration, felt more surprised, strange and even excited the more she listened. "How could such a thing happen! What a fortune to have met a man who traveled all over Sweden on the back of a goose," she thought. I don't have to worry about my books anymore. My return home was well worth it. I've gained as soon as I got back to this old estate!" At the same time, she had another idea, but she didn't dare to think about it any further.She entrusted the pigeons with her father about her longing to return to her former residence, and in a blink of an eye she got help with a problem that she had been thinking about for a long time but could not be solved.Could this be her father's answer to her request?