Strife and Peace Part 18

Susanna went now again on Harald's arm, Alette on her Alf's.

After we have, towards the end of our relation, presented such cheerful scenes--ah! why must we communicate one of a more tragical nature? But so fate commands, and we are compelled to relate, that----the grey and the white ganders--weep not, sentimental reader!--which already, three weeks before Susanna's marriage, had been put up to fatten, closed a contentious life a few days before the same, and were united in a magnificent _a la daube_, which was served up and eaten, to celebrate the day of Harald's and Susanna's Last Strife and the beginning of an eternal union.

Often afterwards, during her happy married life, stood Susanna by the clear spring, surrounded by the feathered herd, which she fed, whilst she sang to two little, healthy, brown-eyed boys, and to a young blooming girl, this little song, with the conviction of a happy heart:

At times a little brawl Injures not at all, If we only love each other still Cloudy heaven clears Itself, and bright appears, For such is Nature's will.

The heart within its cage Is a bird in rage, Which doth madly strive to fly!

Love and truth can best Flatter it to rest, Flatter it to rest so speedily.[20]

FOOTNOTES:

[19] The divine service in Norway is not, as still in Sweden, mingled with worldly affairs. After the sermon merely some short prayers are read, in which the clergyman blesses the people in the same words which for thousands of years have been uttered over the wanderers of the deserts. They have not here the barbaric custom of reading from the pulpit announcements of all possible things--inquiries after thieves and stolen pieces of clothing, etc., which, to the wors.h.i.+ppers, and especially to the partakers of the sacrament, are so unspeakably painful, and in cold winter days are enough to freeze all devotion.

AN AFTER-WORD.

Friendly reader! Now that thou hast arrived at a happy conclusion of the foregoing contentions, thou perhaps dost not dream that now a contest exists between--thee and--me! But it will infallibly be so, if thou, as often has happened before, wilt call that a Novel which I have called Sketches, and which have no pretension to the severe connexion and development of the novel; although, to be sure, they be connected. If thou wilt, on the contrary, regard them--for example--as blades of gra.s.s, or as flowers upon a meadow molehill, which wave in the wind upon their several stalks, but which have their roots in the same soil, and unfold themselves in the light of one common sun; behold then, we conclude in peace, and I wish only that they may whisper to thy heart some friendly word, respecting the point of light which may be found in every circ.u.mstance, in every portion of existence,--respecting the spring, which, for n.o.ble souls, sooner or later, reveals itself from its wintry concealment. To the Norwegian authors, who in the mountain journey, or in my wandering among the legends of the country, were my guides, I here offer my thanks; and also from the depth of my heart to many benevolent and amiable people, whom I have become acquainted with in that beautiful country, in whose woods one breathes so fresh and free, in whose hospitable bosom I also once found a dear and peaceful home.

THE AUTh.o.r.eSS.

FOOTNOTES:

[20] Geijer.

THE END.

BOHN'S STANDARD LIBRARY.

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