 Chapter 1 of Lisbeth-Longfrock This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Lisbeth-Longfrock, translated from the Norwegian of Hans Anward by Laura E. Paulsen Chapter 1 Lisbeth-Longfrock goes to Hull Farm Bear Hunter, the big shaggy old dog at Hull Farm, sat on the stone step in front of the house, looking soberly around the spacious door yard. It was a clear cold winter's day toward the beginning of spring, and the sunshine brightly over the glittering snow. In spite of the bright sunshine, however, Bear Hunter would have liked to be indoors much better than out, if his sense of responsibility had permitted. His paws ached with the cold, and he had to keep holding them up one after another from the stone slab to keep from getting the clawache. Bear Hunter did not wish to risk that, because clawache is very painful as every northern dog knows. But to leave his posts at Watchman was not to be thought of just now, for the pigs and the goats were out today. At this moment they were very busy with their separate affairs and behaving very well. The pigs over at the sunny side of the door yard, scratching themselves against the corner of the cowhouse, and the goats gnawing back from the big heap of pine branches that had been laid near the sheep barn for their special use. They looked as if they thought of nothing but their scratching and gnawing. But Bear Hunter knew well from previous experience that no sooner would he go into the house than both pigs and goats would come rushing over to the doorway and do all the mischief they could. That big goat Corkhorn, the new one who had come to the farm last autumn and whom Bear Hunter had not yet bought under discipline, had already strayed in a roundabout way to the very corner of the farmhouse looking at Bear Hunter in a self-important manner as if she did not fear him in the least. She was really an intolerable creature that goat Corkhorn, but just let her dare. Bear Hunter felt he must sit on the cold doorstep for some time longer at any rate. He glanced up the road occasionally as if to see whether anyone was coming, so that the pigs and goats might not think they had the whole of his attention. He had just turned his head leisurely towards the narrow road that came in down crosswise over the slope from the upper farms when, what in the world was that? Something was coming, a funny little roly-poly something. What a pity thought Bear Hunter that his sight was growing so poor. At any rate he had better give the people at the house warning. So he gave several deep echoing barks. The goats sprang together in a clump and raised their ears. The pigs stopped in the very midst of their scratching to listen. That Bear Hunter was held in great respect could easily be seen. He still remained sitting on the doorstep staring up the road. Never in his life had he seen such a thing as that now approaching. Perhaps after all it was nothing worth giving warning about. He would take a turn up the road and look at it a little nearer. So arching his bushy tail into a handsome curve and putting on his most good human expression, he sauntered off. Yes, it must be a human being, although you would not think so. It began to look very much like Katrina the Finn as they called her who came to the farm every winter. But it could not be Katrina, it was altogether too little. It wore a long wide skirt and from under the skirt protruded the tips of two big shoes covered with grey woolen stocking feet from which the legs had been cut off. Above the skirt there was a round bundle of clothes with a knitted shawl tied round it. And from this protruded two stumps with red mittens on. Perched on top of it all was a smaller shape, muffled in a smaller knitted shawl. That, of course, must be the head. Carried at the back was a huge bundle tied up in a dark cloth and in front hung a pretty wooden pail painted red. Really, Bear Hunter had to stand still and gaze. The strange figure in the meantime had become aware of him and it also came to a standstill as if in a dilemma. At that Bear Hunter walked over to the farther side of the road and took his station there, trying to look indifferent for he did not wish to cause any fright. The strange figure then made its way carefully forward again drawing gradually closer and closer to its own side of the road. As it came nearer to Bear Hunter the figure turned itself round by degrees until, when directly opposite to him, it walked along quite side-wise. Then it was that Bear Hunter got a peep through a little opening in the upper shawl and there he saw the tip of a tiny turned up red nose then a red mouth that was drawn down a little at the corners, as if ready for crying. And then a pair of big blue eyes that were fastened upon him with a look of terror. Poo! it was nothing all but a little girl well bundled up against the comb. Bear Hunter did not know her but wait a bit he thought he had seen that pail before. At any rate it would be absurd to try to frighten this queer little creature. His tail began to wag involuntarily as he walked across the road to take a sniff at the pail. The little girl did not understand his action at once. Stepping back in alarm she caught her heels in her long frock and down she tumbled by the side of the road. Bear Hunter darted off instantly but after running a short distance toward the house he stopped and looked at her again making his eyes as gentle as he could and wagging his tail energetically. With Bear Hunter that wagging of the tail meant hearty good-natured laughter. Then the little girl understood. She got up small and jogged slowly after him. Bear Hunter trotted leisurely ahead looking back at her from time to time. He knew now that she had an errand at Hale Farm and that he was therefore in duty bound to help her. Thus it was that Elizabeth Longfrott of Peerout Castle made her entrance into Hale Farm. Peerout Castle was purged high above the upper farms on a crag that jutted out from a barren ridge just under a mountain peak called the Big Hammer. The real name of the little farm was New Ridge and Peerout Castle was only a nickname given to it by a joker because there was so fine an outlook from it and because it bore no resemblance whatever to a castle. The royal lands belonging to this castle consisted of a little plot of cultivated soil and a bit of meadowland here and there and some heather patches where tiny blueberry bushes and small mountain cranberry plants grew luxuriously. The castle's outbuildings were a shabby cowhouse and a pigsty. The cowhouse was built against the steep hillside with three walls of loosely built stone and its two stalls were dug half their length into the hill. The tiny pigsty was built in the same fashion. As for the castle itself, that was a very, very small turf-roofed cabin lying out on the jutting crag in the middle of the rocky ridge. It had only one small window with tiny panes of glass that looked out over the valley and yet in whatever part of the surrounding country one might be, by looking in that direction and looking high enough, one could always see that little castle with its single window peering out like a watchful eye over the landscape. Since the castle from which Elizabeth Longfock came was no more magnificent than this, it may easily be understood that she was no disguised princess but only a poor little girl. Coming to Hull Farm from the first time was for her light visiting an estate that was in very true thrall and beside she had come on an important grown-up errand. She was taking her mother's place and visiting Hull as a spinning woman. Elizabeth's mother, whose name was Randy, had worked hard for the last four years to get food for herself and her children up at Peerout Castle. Before that the family had been in very comfortable circumstances but the father had died leaving the mother with the castle one cow and the care of the two children. The children were Jacob at that time about six years old and Elizabeth a couple of years younger. Life was often a hard struggle for the mother but they had at any rate a house over their heads and they could get wood without having to go very far for it since the forest lay almost within a stone's throne. In the summer Randy managed to dig up her tiny plot of ground after a fashion so that she could harvest a few potatoes and a little grain. By cutting grass and stripping off birch leaves she had this farm managed each year to give birch off their cow enough to eat and where there is a cow there is always food. In the winter she spun linen and wool for the women on the farms far and near but as she had lived at Hull farm as a servant before she was married it was natural that most of her spinning should be for Kirstie Hull. In such ways had Randy been able to care for her family. Meanwhile Jacob now ten years old had grown big enough to earn his own living. In the spring before the last a message had come from Nordrum farm that a boy was needed to look after the flocks and Jacob had it once applied and been accepted. He and Elizabeth had often knelt on the long wooden bench under the little window at Peerout Castle and gazed upon the different farms choosing which they would work on when they were big enough. Jacob had always chosen Nordrum farm possibly because he had heard Farmer Nordrum spoken of as the big man of the community. While Elizabeth had always thought it would be pleasant to her at Hull farm because it was owned by a woman. When autumn came Farmer Nordrum had concluded that he would have a use for a boy such as Jacob during the winter also and so Jacob had stayed on. This last Christmas however he had gone home for the whole day and had taken with him a Christmas present for his sister from a little girl at Nordrum. The presents was a grey woollen frock a very nice one. Jacob had grown extremely pleasant and full of fun while at Nordrum Elizabeth thought when she tried the frock on to the ground before and behind he called her Lisbeth Longfrog and Lisbeth Longfrog she had remained from that day. After Christmas times had been somewhat harder at Peerout Castle but Eros who generally gave milk the whole year round had become dry and would not give milk for several months. She was to have a calf in the early summer. During the last few weeks there had been not enough for Randy and Lisbeth's coffee. To go to Svihaugam the nearest farm for milk was no short trip and milk was scarce there too as Randy well knew. Beside she could not spare the time to go she had to finish spinning Kirstie Hurle's wool. When she once got that off her hands they could have plenty of milk for their coffee and other good things beside. What a relief it would be when that time came. So Randy worked steadily at her spinning Lisbeth being now big enough to help in carding the wool. For a week she spun almost without ceasing scarcely taking time for meals but drinking a good deal of strong black coffee. Not till very late one evening was Kirstie Hurle's wool all spun and ready. By that time Randy was far from well. Whether or not her illness was caused as she thought by drinking so much black coffee certain it is that when Kirstie Hurle's wool was all spun Randy felt a tightness in her chest and when she got up the next morning and tried to get ready to go to Hurle with the spinning she was seized with such a sudden dizziness that she had to go back to bed again. She was too weak for anything else. Now it was the custom in Norway for the spinning woman to take back to the different farms the wool she had spun and for the farmer's wife to praise her work treat her to something good to eat and drink to pay her and then give her directions about the way the next spinning was to be done. All this Randy would have to give up for the present there was no help for it but she wondered how it would do to send Lisbeth to her farm in her stead. The little girl would find her way safely Randy was sure that Randy had never as yet taken to that farm because it was so far off and the payment for the spinning was to be in eatables as well as money and Lisbeth could bring home part of what was due then though they might lack many things their drop of coffee would have cream in it as coffee ought to have. The remainder of the payment and the directions for next spinning Randy herself could get when she was better if only she could be sure that Lisbeth would behave properly and not act like a changeling little child. Lisbeth eagerly promised that if her mother would allow her to go she would behave exactly as a spinning woman should she would really and she remembered perfectly well just how everything was done the time she had gone with her mother to one of the nearer farms. So Lisbeth put on her long frock which was only used for the very best and her mother wrapped her snugly in the two shawls then the bundle of yarn just lung over her back the pair was hung in front many directions were given to her about the road and off she started and that is the way Lisbeth long frock happened to come toddling out the bear hunter to her farm on that clear cold winter's day toward the beginning of spring. End of chapter one Chapter two of Lisbeth long frock this LibriVox recording is a public domain Lisbeth long frock by Hans Arndwood translated by Laura E. Polson Chapter two Lisbeth long frock as spinning woman when Lisbeth found herself in the farm dooryard with the different buildings all around her she really had to stand still and gaze around oh how large everything was quite on another scale from things at home why the barn door was so broad and high that pier out castle could easily go right through it and each window pane in the big house was as large as their own whole window and such a goat for just then she caught sight of croc horn who had come warily up to the doorway and who only saw fit to draw back as bear hunter approached not that croc horn was afraid of bear hunter no indeed the goat was larger than most goats almost as large as a good sized calf if the cows belonging to her farm was much larger than ordinary cows thought Lisbeth they would be able to eat grass from the roof of pier out castle while standing just as usual on the ground she glanced searchingly at the cowhouse door no it was not larger than such doors usually were the cows were evidently no bigger than other cows bear hunter had followed after croc horn until the latter was well out of the way then he had come back again and now stood wagging his tail and turning toward the house door as if coaxing Lisbeth to go in yes she must attend to her errand and not stay out there staring at everything so she followed after bear hunter and went into the hallway she lifted the latch of the inner door turned herself round carefully as she went in so as to make room for her bundle fastened the door behind her and there she stood inside the big kitchen at hurl there were only two people in the kitchen one a young servant made in the middle of the room spinny and the other the mistress herself Kirstie Hurl over by the white wall of the big open fireplace grinding coffee both looked up when they heard the door open Lisbeth Longfrock stood still for a moment then made a deep curtsy under her Longfrock and seated in a grown up way just as she had heard her mother say good day and God bless your work Kirstie Hurl had to smile when she saw the little roly-poly bundle over by the door talking in such a grown up fashion but she answered us sobly as if she were talking to a grown up person good day is this a young stranger out for a walk yes and what is the stranger's name and where is she from I see that I do not know her no you could not be expected to my mother and Jacob call me Lisbeth Longfrock and I am from Peerout Castle mother sent me here with the woolen yarn she has spun for you she told me to say that she could not come with it before for she did not get the last spool wound until late last night indeed can it be a spinning woman we have here and to think that I wholly forgot to ask you to sit down after your long walk you really must take off your things and stay a while what a pleasant woman Kirsty Hill was she got up from her own chair and set one forward for Lisbeth thank you I shall be glad to sit down says Lisbeth she took off the pile and the bundle of wool and put them down by the door and then began to walk across the floor over to the chair it seemed as if she would never get there so far was it across the big kitchen nearly as far as from their own door to the cowhouse door at Peerout Castle at last however she reached the chair but it was higher than the seat she was accustomed to and she could barely scramble up on one corner of it Kirsty Hill came towards her I really think I must open this rolly-poly bundle and see what is in it then she and she began to take off Lisbeth with her red mittens and to undo the knitted shawls soon Lisbeth sat there stripped of all her outer togery but nevertheless looking almost as plump and rolly-poly as ever for not only did her long fork barely clear the ground at the bottom but its band reached almost up under her arms Kirsty stood and looked at her a moment that is just what I thought that I should find a nice little girl inside all those clothes you look like your mother at this Lisbeth grew so shy that she forgot all about being a spooning woman she cast down her eyes and could not say a word but what is the matter with Randy your mother continued Kirsty why could she not come herself she was a little poorly today indeed Randy not well and her health is generally so good what else oh she thought that very likely drinking strong coffee without milk had not been good for her so you have no milk at your house perhaps that is why you have bought a pal with you yes what do you think Blair has stopped giving us milk this winter has she indeed that is rather inconvenient isn't it how long before she can be milked again not till the very beginning of summer after she has had her calf hmm said Kirsty thoughtfully by and by as if to herself she said I had often thought of going over to see Randy but have never done so before this spring is over I must surely pay her visit Lisbeth Longfrog stayed a long time at her that day although she had come in the important character of spinning woman she had never imagined that that great person like Kirsty Hull would be so pleasant and kind to her Kirsty treated her to coffee and cakes and milk and other good things just as if she had been an invited guest and chatted with her in such a way that Lisbeth forgot all about being shy and oh how many curious things Kirsty said to her the cow house was the finest of them all so many cows that Lisbeth could scarcely count them and then the pigs and the sheep and the goats and hens too inside a big lattice working closure nearly as many of them as there were crows in autumn up at pier out and Kirsty wanted to know about everything whether Lisbeth could read and write she could do both for Jacob and taught her and how they managed about food up at pier out castle and went with the farming Lisbeth could tell her that in the autumn they had gathered three barrels of potatoes and one barrel and three pecks of mixed grain and that they had stripped off so many birch leaves that they had fodder enough to carry Blair us through the winter in fact more than enough when Kirsty had shown Lisbeth the sheep and the goats she declared that she should certainly need a little girl to look after her flocks when spring came and then Lisbeth before she knew what she was saying told Kirsty how she and Jacob used to look at the farms from the windows at home and how she had always chosen her as the place where she would like to work when she was big enough should you really like to go out to work Kirsty inquired yes indeed, as Lisbeth said if it were not for leaving mother well we will not think about that anymore at present said Kirsty but I will go up and talk with your mother about it sometime in the spring we're certainly ought to go into the house now so you can have time to take a little food before leaving it is drawing toward evening and you will have to start for home soon so they went into the house again and Lisbeth had another feast of good things while she was eating she noticed that Kirsty bought from the cellars some butter and cheese and other things and packed them in the dark cloth in which the wool had been tied the milk pale she did not touch at all but Lisbeth saw that she said something about it softly to the servant maid after which the maid left the room when Lisbeth had eaten and said thanks and praise for both food and drink Kirsty remarked now you must lift the bundle over there and see if you can carry it the bundle was rather heavy still Lisbeth thought she could manage it but the pale not a word did Kirsty say even now about the pale she only added kindly come and I'll help you put on your things she drew on Lisbeth's mittens wrapped her up snugly in the two little shawls and in a trice there stood Lisbeth Longfrog looking exactly as she did when she had come to her that morning slowly and reluctantly Lisbeth went to the ward the door where the pale still stood how strange that Kirsty had not even said a single word about it Lisbeth stood for a moment in doubt after receiving so much it would never do to remind Kirsty about the pale but she would much rather have gone without the good things she herself had been treated to than to go home without any milk for her mother's coughing she took up the bundle drew her face with a turned up nose tipped back into its little shawl as far as she could so that Kirsty could not see the tears in her eyes and then bent down and lifted the pale at that Kirsty said oh yes the pale I had quite forgotten it are you willing to exchange pales with me if I give you one that will never get empty Lisbeth dropped her pale plump on the floor she had seen and heard many curious things on this eventful day things she had never seen or thought of before but that Kirsty beside everything else had a pale that would never get empty she stood and stared open mouth yes you must come and see it said Kirsty it stands just outside the door Lisbeth was not so in making her way out Kirsty followed her there stood that servant made holding the big goat Corkorn by a rope the goat is used to being led said Kirsty so you will have no trouble in taking it home give my greetings to your mother and ask her if she is satisfied with the exchange of pales Kirsty was not a bit displeased because Lisbeth Longfork forgot to express her thanks as she started off with Corkorn she had no idea how to follow the little girl and the goat a long distance up the road he did not understand matters at all it is not to be wondered that Randy too was greatly surprised when she saw Corkorn following out the Lisbeth as the little girl approached the castle it was not time for Lisbeth to tell about everything at the very first for a mother than she had to clear up the stall when this was done they felt exactly as if they had two cows the goat took her place in the stall with a self-important superior air quite as if she were a real cow and had never done anything else but stand in a cow stall Blearos became offended at this remarkable newcomer who was putting on such ease in the cowhouse that it always belonged to herself alone and so she made a lunge with her head and tried to hook the goat with her horns but Corkorn merely turned her own horns against those of Blearos in the most indifferent manner as if quite accustomed to being hooked by cows Blearos gazed at her in astonishment such a silly goat she had never seen such a silly goat and with that she turned her head to the wall again and did not give Corkorn another look That evening Lisbeth Longfrock had so many things to tell her mother that she talked herself fast asleep End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of Lisbeth Longskirt Lisbeth Longskirt Lisbeth Longskirt by Hans Arndt translated by Laura E. Poulsen Chapter 3 Leaving Pier-out Castle The next time Lisbeth Longfrock came to her farm she did not come alone and she came to stay All that had happened between that first visit and her second coming had been far, far different from anything Lisbeth had ever imagined It seemed as if there had been no time for her to think about the strange events while lower taking place She did not realise what their result would be until after she had lived through them and gone out of the gate of Pier-out Castle when everything was over So much had been going on in those last sad solemn days so much that was new to see and to hear that although she had felt a lump in her throat the whole time she had not had a real cry until at the very end But when she had passed through the gate that last day and stopped and looked back the picture that she then saw had brought the whole clearly before her with all its sorrow Something was gone that would never come again She would never again go to Pier-out Castle except as a stranger She had no home, no home anyway and that she had begun to weep so bitterly that those who had been thinking how wisely and quietly she was taking her trouble could but stand and look at her in wonder The last two months of the winter had passed so quickly up at Pier-out Castle that Lisbeth really could not tell what had become of them and this was only not a little to the fact that beside all her other work she had so much to do in the cowhouse Cookhorn had become as it were Lisbeth's cow and consequently had to be taken care of by her Lerosh showed very plainly that she would not like at all to have Randy's attentions bestowed upon a rascally goat That would make it seem as if the goat was fully as important a person in the cowhouse as Lerosh herself whereas the whole cowhouse in reality belonged to her and that other creature was only allowed there as a favour So Lisbeth took care of Cookhorn exactly as she saw her mother take care of Lerosh In fact before long she had more to do in the cowhouse than her mother had for she soon learnt to milk Cookhorn while Lerosh her mother's cow could not then be milked and Cookhorn gave so much milk three times a day Lisbeth had to milk her There was no longer any scarcity of cream for coffee or milk for porridge Indeed there was even cream enough to make waffles with now and then Springtime came It always came early up at Peerout Castle The slopes of heaven directly facing the sun were the first in the whole valley to peep out of the snow As soon as the heathery spots began to show themselves Lisbeth was out on them stepping here and there with a cautious foot It seemed so wonderful to step on bare earth again instead of snow Day by day she kept track of the different green patches watching them grow larger and larger and seeing how the snow glided slowly farther and farther down exactly as her own frock did when she loosened the band and let it slip down and lie in a ring about her feet When the snow had slipped as far down as the big stone where she and Jacob used to have their cowhouse using pine cones for cows and sheep the outermost buds on the tree would swell and be ready to burst She knew that from the year before and when the buds had really opened she kept watch of them every day now then then would come the great day when cook horn could be let out Lisbeth's mother had said so That great day was what she was waiting for not only because it would be so pleasant for cook horn to be out but because no food was equal to the first buds of spring for making goats yields rich milk Lisbeth's mother had been far from well ever since the day that Lisbeth went over to her farm for the first time but Lisbeth thought that as soon as cook horn had fresh buds to eat and gave richer milk her mother would of course get entirely well It is very possible that a little streak of snow was still lying by the upper side of the big stone in spite of Lisbeth having scattered sandy to make the snow milk faster On the bright spring morning when Lisbeth went into the cowhouse and fastened cook horn and let her out of the stall As for cook horn she followed her little mistress very sedately until they reached the cowhouse door There she stopped short looking around and blinking at the sun Lisbeth pulled at the rope trying to drag her over to the part of the ridge where the birch tree with the fullest leaf bud stood but cook horn would not budge She merely stood stock still as if nothing were being done to her for she was so strong that however hard Lisbeth pulled it did not even make her stretch her neck Lisbeth then went nearer thinking that she could pull better without such a link the rope between her and the goat but at that quick as a wink cook horn lowered her head and buttered Lisbeth causing the little girl to fall backward against the hillside with a whack upon which cook horn stalked in an indifferent manner across the road Lisbeth picked herself up and started to go after her charge but if you please as soon as she came near enough and tried to seize cook horn away with that naughty goat dart not galloping as a goat usually does but trotting like a cow or an elk she trotted by the house and turned off on the road leading to Svenhagen farm Lisbeth pursued swiftly but run as she might she could not gain upon cook horn at last stumbling over a stone the little girl fell at full length having barely time while falling cook up and catch a glimpse of cook horn's back as the goat trotting swiftly disappeared over the brow of a hill there was no other way out of it Lisbeth would have to run home and get her mother to help her as she did and they both set out in full chase it was a long run for they did not overtake cook horn till they had reached Svenhagen Gate there stood the goat gazing unconcernedly through the pylons she evidently felt herself superior to jumping over fences she who imagined herself to be a cow Randy had become much overheated from running and at night when she went to bed she said she felt cold and shivery it seemed very strange indeed to Lisbeth but when she laid her face against her mother's neck it was as hot as a burning coal in the morning Lisbeth's mother woke her and told her to get up and go over the carious fringhagens and ask her to come to a pier outcastle Randy felt so poorly that there was no use in her even trying to get up she was not able not able to get up that also seemed very strange to Lisbeth for never before had she seen her mother with cheeks so red and eyes so shining the child did not say anything however but got up dressed herself quickly and quietly and ran off to Svenhagen after that came several wonderful days at pier outcastle when Lisbeth Longfock thought about them afterward they seemed like a single long day in which a great many things had happened that she could not separate from one another and set in order in her remembrance it was as if shadows had glided to and fro in an ugly yellow night while the sound of a heavy painful breathing was constantly heard penetrating all other sounds she seemed dimly to see carious fringhagen gliding about and taking care of things in the home and out in the car house she herself had climbed the birch trees several times and picked leaf buds for the animals to eat one day Lars Verhagen had footed along the road in front of the house swiftly as if he had not a moment to spare soon after this someone dressed in furs and with big boots on came driving to the house and all the neighbours flocked around him listening to what he said and he bought such a curious smell with him it filled the whole house so that even after he had gone away he seemed to be still there she thought too that once she had seen Kirstie Hurl sitting on a chair taking many good things out of her big basket and Jacob standing by Kirstie's side with a great slice of raisin cake in his hand and Jacob had kept chewing and chewing on his raisin cake as if it was hard work to get it down what she remembered chiefly though was Jacob's eyes they looked so big and strange then one morning she had awakened in a clear grey light and from that time she remembered everything very distinctly she was lying in the little trundle bed that Jacob had slept in when he lived at home she must of course have slept in at all these nights and Carrie's fair hug and was standing up beside it looking down upon her the house was oh so still she did not hear the heavy painful breathing any longer the only sound was a slight crackling in the fireplace out of which a stream of warm tissue Carrie said very quietly your mother is comfortable and happy now little Lisbeth better off than she has ever been before so you must not cry and Lisbeth did not cry she merely got up and went about the house very very quietly all that first day afterwards there were so many preparations being made for some solemn festival that she did not seem to get the time to think about the great change that had taken place last fair hug and came from the storekeepers with ever so much fine white shining cloth she had never seen the like then a woman came to help Carrie cut out and sew and they made pillows in a fine white garment that mother was to have on and she lay upon the pillows and last fair hug and began to make a new wooden bed for mother to live in and Blair us had her car and the car was slaughtered and this fair hug and bought some small pine trees and nailed them at the gate posts and outside the house door one at each side and he strewed pine branches all the way from the door to the gate and there came presence of food oh so many good things from Kersti hurl and others Lisbeth had never tasted such delicious food before then came the day when mother was to be taken to the church and buried many people came to the house that day among them Jake had been a bright new suit of grey wool and hand spun and there was a feast to them all and everything was very still and solemn even the school master came I know how beautifully he sang when last fair hug and three other men carried mother out through the door and set her couch upon a sledge then they all went very slowly away from the house down the hill the sledge first and the people walking slowly behind but down at the bottom of the hill in the road there stood two horses and wagons waiting and just think Lisbeth and Jacob were invited to sit up in Kersti hurl's broad wagon and drive with her then they came to the big white church and as they carried mother in through the big gate way the church bells up in the towering oh so beautifully after that Lisbeth did not see things quite so clearly but they lowered mother down into the earth in the church yard and strode wreaths of green heather over her and then the school master sang again and all the men took off their hats and held them a long time before their faces after that the people went out of the church yard and Lisbeth and Jacob climbed into Kersti hurl's broad wagon again and drove away only this time they drove much faster it looks as if the boards and the fences ran after each other in an opposite direction from the one in which she and Jacob were going they both tried to count them but could not all the people came back with them to peer out castle Kersti hurl too Karrie's fair wagon who had not gone to the church had covered the table with a white tablecloth and sat up with plates and good things to eat and all the people ate and talked but they did not talk very loudly when the meal was over Lisbeth got Jacob to go out into the cowhouse to look at cook hall Jacob conceded that the goat was an extremely fine animal but she was a vixen he was sure Karrie was held back by her eyelids then they went over the hill to look at the meal well that Jacob used to have there but it had fallen into complete decay because he had been away from home so long such things need a boy's personal attention after that they were called into the house again and everybody drank coffee when they had finished the coffee drinking Karrie began packing in the baskets the food that was left when that was done Kersti hurl said well now we have done everything that we can do here you may bring cook hall with you Lisbeth and come to live with me that was the last thing I promised your mother thus it had come about that Lisbeth longfrog holding cook hall by a rope stood outside the gate at peer out castle with Kersti hurl and bear hunter and then it was that she looked behind her and began to cry on one road she saw Karrie's fair-haven with a big basket on her arm and bear us following her and on the other she saw the back of Jacob with whom she had just shaken hands saying may you fare well he looked singularly small and forlorn last of all she saw Lars fair-haven put a bindweed in the door latches the sign that peer out castle was now closed, locked and forsaken end of chapter 3 chapter 4 of Lisbeth longfrog this Libyrox recording is in the public domain Lisbeth longfrog by Hans Unwood translated by Laura Paulson chapter 4 spring letting the animals out to pasture one morning a few weeks after the sad departure from peer out castle Lisbeth longfrog awoke early in the small sleeping room built under the great staircase at hurl she opened her eyes wide at the moment of waking and tried to gather her thoughts together she was conscious of a delightful quivering expectancy and felt that she had awakened to something great and new something that she had waited for and been exceedingly glad over but she could not at once remember just what it was the little room whose only furniture consisted of a bed, a chair, a stove and a small wooden shelf with a mirror over it was filled with daylight in spite of the early hour the sunlight fell slanting through a window set high up in the wall directly over Lisbeth's bed and the window panes were pictured in bright yellow squares on the floor near the tiny stove the corner of one square spread itself against the stove and Lisbeth traced it with her eyes as she lay in bed at the tip of the corner glimmered something like green and shiny was it from there that a wonderful fragrance came floating toward her? she sniffed a little yes indeed, now she remembered the fragrance came from the fresh birch twigs she had decorated the room with yesterday out of doors it was spring, the sprouting bursting springtime today the cattle were to be let out and the calves named today she would begin work in earnest and be a responsible individual in short she would be the herd girl at Hall Farm it was now a month since Lisbeth had come to Hall Farm but up to this time she had been treated merely as company she had walked about the place, sauntered after Kersti here and there in the house ground the coffee and brought out from a bowl in the pound tree the small cakes that they ate with their coffee every afternoon frequently too she had had pleasant talks with Kersti as for helping with the animals the sheep and the goats had been let out to be sure but nevertheless they did not need her care because they were allowed so early in the season to run about everywhere except in the garden and that bear hunter stood guard over in the cowhouse there was nothing for her to do for a milkmaid and an under milkmaid did the work there of course the girl who tended the flocks ought really have to be able to help in milking the cows but it was thought that Lisbeth had better wait a year before she tried to do that her hands being rather too small as yet Lisbeth had kept measuring her hands every now and then and pulling her fingers to make them grow and after a while she had asked the milkmaid if she did not think they had grown large enough but the milkmaid did not see that they were any larger she could not have had very good eyes Lisbeth had of course expected to take care of Crockhorn Kersti and she had both thought that she ought to do that but had proved to be impossible Crockhorn had become so freakish that sometimes they almost thought her out of her wits in the building shared by the sheep and goats she ranged back and forth from wall to wall knocking against the sheep and the other goats so hard that she went that their ribs rattled at last she had to be tied to one of the walls and with the shortest rope possible like that nor would she allow herself to be milked peaceably in that building the first time Lisbeth tried it Crockhorn with a trough of the head gave a kick that sent Lisbeth and the pale rolling off in different directions afterward the milkmaid herself took Crockhorn in hand at milking time but even for her it was always a feat of strength and she had to have someone to help her by holding the goats horns when Crockhorn was let out with the other goats would she ramble with them over the fields and meadows seeking food? no indeed she would station herself partingly by the cowhouse door and stand there to live long day bellowing like a cow, the farm boy said and then in the evening when the other goats came home plump and well fed their Crockhorn would stand as thin and hungry as a wolf Lisbeth thought that Crockhorn if provided with a stall in the cowhouse would act like a reasonable creature again but neither Kirstie or the milkmaid would consent to the removal they thought a goat ought not to be humid in such unreasonable fantasies as it was that Lisbeth had not much to do during her first month at her farm the only thing that Kirstie had required of her was to keep her own little room under the hall staircase in nice order and that she had done every day she had made the bed herself and every Saturday she had washed the floor and the shelf and spread juniper twigs about last Saturday Kirstie had come out to take a look at it and had said to her that she kept her room in better order than the grown up girls in the south chamber kept theirs and Lisbeth knew that this was true for she had noticed it herself but now everything was going to be different Kirstie Hall had come to Lisbeth's room the night before and said that the cows were to be let out early in the morning and that Lisbeth, like all the rest of the whole farm people must be up early to help later in the day the calves that had been born in the cows during the winter were to be let out for the first time and Lisbeth would have to look after them for that afternoon at any rate Kirstie had said also that Lisbeth was to be allowed to give the calves their names names that they would keep all their lives even after they had grown to be full-sized cows the next day after the letting out of the animals Lisbeth was to take a lunch bag and begin her spring work of going into the forest all day to watch the sheep and goats he would not do to have them running about the fields at home any longer Kirstie said suddenly Lisbeth recollected what it was that she had pondered over so long as she lay awake the evening before it was the name of the calves in spite of all her pondering she had got no further than to wonder whether the cow with the red sides and white hair and a gentle but bright-looking face should not be called Blyros that idea however she had given up it seemed to her that only one cow in the world could be called Blyros then she had determined to think no longer about Blyros or the names of the calves and so had fallen asleep what if she had overslept herself now she hoped not with all her heart for she had heard Kirstie Hurls say that she did not like girls to lie a bed late and dally in the morning how mortifying it would be for her not to be on the spot as early as the others today her very first working day wide awake now Lisbeth hopped quickly out of bed and popped into a long frock then having made her bed with all haste she opened the door went out through the hallway and stood on the outside steps the sun had just risen above the highest spruce tops over the edge of the eastern hills and the light was flooding the sides of the valley like a waterfall in the meadows and on the sloping fields the sunbeams quivered in the dew they sifted in gold they glittered in green they silvered the clear brooks that babbled down the hills from every bush came a twittering and chirping and clapping of wings from everything everywhere came a message of joy and activity and sprouting life mingled in one great morning effervescence single sights and sounds were lost only the call of the cuckoo far up on the birch clad slope was heard above the other sounds and from every shining window glanced a big serene eye of reflected sun rays and just as there were thousands of different sounds so there were also thousands of different odours from the steaming earth from the growing grass from buds and blossoms and above them all like the cuckoo's call that was heard above the thousands of blended sounds rose the fine penetrating fragrance of newly sprouted birch trees this best stood awhile drawing deep breaths and letting the sweet air and the effervescence of spring stream in upon her then she looked around at the different farm buildings quiet brooded within them and every door was shut of all the living creatures belonging to the farm not one was to be seen except bear hunter who got up slowly from the flat stone where he had been lying comfortably sunning himself and came over to her looking up into her face and wagging his tail truly she believed she was the first one up on the whole farm today well of course she would have to wait so she sat herself down on the steps oh no it was just as she might have known it would be Kirstie Hurl was up Lisbeth Hurler come out of her own room into the kitchen take a big stick and knock three times on the ceiling to awaken the girls in the south chamber in a moment Lisbeth Hurler thump thump as the girls hopped out of bed and then a clattering noise as they put on their shoes soon Kirstie came out of the house she was going over to the building where the men stepped to awaken them catching sight of Lisbeth she explained no this cannot be Lisbeth already up what a wide awake little girl I think I shall have to make you head milkmaid at this Lisbeth became so shy that she could not raise her eyes to look at Kirstie but it must be acknowledged that when the head milkmaid and the other girls came downstairs a certain small nose was tilted a little higher than usual soon there was life and motion over the whole farm the activity was very different from that of ordinary days for everything was done with extra haste and all that was done seemed to have some connection with the cowhouse the doors at both ends of this building stood wide open and everyone seemed to have an errand which obliged him to pass through the spring air streaming in made the cows turn round in their stalls stretch their nostrils and look out when Kirstie herself appeared on the scene after the girls had begun milking and talked to the cows and patted the neck of the bell cow the creatures at once realised what day it was the bell cow threw up her head and bellowed to the cowhouse echoed that was a signal for all the other cows they pulled at their chains, swung their tails and one after another along the whole row joined in a manifold bellow of joyful expectancy that shook the entire cowhouse and seemed as if it would never end above the many voiced chorus could be heard the bellowing of the big bull deep and even and good nature as if he did not need to exert himself in the least in order to be heard although everything went so much more speedily today than usual the time seemed long to Lisbeth Longfrog when the farm people went into the house to eat their early breakfast she could not understand how they could sit at the table so long she finished her meal very quickly and asked if she might not go and let out the smaller animals the sheep and the goats so that would be done yes Kirstie said she might in a trice therefore she had them all out and as usual they scattered in every direction leaping and capering all except Cookhorn who seized her chance to sink into the cowhouse through the open door but Lisbeth was so busy that she did not notice this all at once there came an instant stillness as if everything listened then from the farmhouse the tuneful clanging of a deep-toned bell was heard and in a moment this was answered by such a joyful lowing and bellowing such a sniffling and rattling of chains that it seemed as if a thunderstorm were passing over the farm for when the animals recognized the sound of that deep-toned bell which they had not heard since they were shut up in the cowhouse the autumn before they knew that the time for being let out into the open air was close at hand a formal procession now issued from the farmhouse Kirstie marched at the front carrying the big iron-bound cow collar to which the deep-toned bell was fastened next came the head milkmaid followed by the under milkmaid then the girls who worked in the farmhouse and then the two farmhands with thick sticks which they afterwards dealt out to the company giving one to Elizabeth as well as to the rest last of all came bear hunter who also wanted to have a part in what was going on when the procession reached the cowhouse there was again a sudden silence the cows one and all turned their head toward the people as they came in and looked at them with large expectant eyes the procession then divided into groups and definite work was assigned to each person the head milkmaid was to one fasten the cows Elizabeth and the under milkmaid and the housemaids each with a house stout stick was to steer the cows out through the door the farmhands were to stand in the cow lane to meet the creatures and guide them into the right road they were to be pasted up in the north meadow and to separate those who fought with each other and Kirstie and bear hunter were to watch everything from the gateway all was ready, the moment for the start had come Kirstie went into the stall of the cow who was to wear the bell the cow straightened herself up, lifted her head as high as she could and then stood stock still she knew very well that she was the principal cow of the herd and that the first place when they went out and in through the cowhouse door belonged to her but she knew also that even she had to be on her best behaviour when Kirstie the mistress of the whole farm did her the honour of clasping round her neck the cow collar with its bell emerald of dignity and power and of unfarcing the chain that held her in the stall Kirstie clasped on the bell and unloosed the chain which fell rattling to the floor and then the bell cow swung slowly and deliberately out of the stall like a big heavy ship out of its dock and wended her way with solemn dignity toward the door she carried her head so high and so stiffly that you could not see the least swaying of her horns and her bell gave only a single decided stroke at each step the next to be let out was the big bull the head milkmaid unloosed him and he sailed out just as stiffly and heavily as the bell cow had done with horns so high that they nearly touched the cowhouse roof and so wide apart that they seemed to stretch across the whole passageway Lisbeth had never realised before how large the bull was and then one by one in regular turn the rest of the cows marched out they were Brindle, Moorlick, which means like its mother Goldy, speckle, blacky, pusher, summerleaf, darky, wee, bonny, trot about, Reethy and Molly Reethy was so named because the white marks on her hind looked something like a wreath beyond the cow stalls now empty were the stalls of the heifers whose names no one quite remembered as yet and if the half grown bulls who did not have any name at all when it came to the unloosening of the heifers and young bulls the scene grew livelier and livelier they stretched their necks and run against their chains they fell on their knees as soon as the unlooped chains slipped from their neck and as they sprang up again you could hear their legs creak so stiff were they from standing in the stall all winter they rang plump against the sidewall or up into the wrong passageway they dashed noisily against the door to reaching it at the same time and trying to rush through together but getting wedged by their fat sides while those who had been set free after them came close on their heels pushing, clashing their horns, bellowing and butting till suddenly the blockade being broken out rushed the whole throng directly in the wake of the heifers and young bulls to Elizabeth's extreme surprise followed cookhorn who kicking up her heels made a swift dash out through the doorway outside the cowhouse two hall was life and stir as the animals came into the lane they lifted their heads sniffed the air from the mountainside and became eager and excited stiff-legged old cows as well as young calves kicked up their hind legs and made frox and leaps this way and that they rushed playfully or angrily at each other clashing their horns and giving a short bellow if worsted in a tussle then they dashed off to assail other members of the crowd everything combined to form a hubbub of lowing and bellowing horn-clashing and fence creaking, whacking of sticks and shouting of people while back and forth through all the confusion with his horns high above all the other horns went the big bull like a great heavy snow plow clearing the way for the whole herd only one cow stood undisturbed amid the wild uproar calmly waiting and looking around that was the bell cow whom of course none of the other cows dared to disturb at last the head milkmaid came to the front and gave a call the bell cow threw up her head and with a loud echoing bellow started to follow her next came Brindle still sniffing with anger after her many encounters she had got the best of all who were worth getting the best of and if she could not be the bell cow she would at least stand next to her directly after Brindle came crochorn with a self-important air and making herself as tall as possible but Brindle was in no mood for seeing the funny side of things today so she lunged out with one of her long hind legs and gave crochorn a blow on the head that made the prideful goats who stares the crochorn merely tossed her head and went on as if nothing had happened such actions she thought were probably customary among cows the head milkmaid kept on calling and the cows one after another hearing her voice started toward her soon the whole noisy herd led by the deep tone bell and urged by shouts and flourishing of sticks was going in full swing toward the north meadow up in the meadow which they reached after a while the ground was level and there was plenty of room so that the danger of collisions and other accidents was lessened the young creatures danced around in wild play and those of the cows who had not settled the question of mastery fought now a battle that was to be decisive for the whole summer soon however everything became quiet again and in a couple of hours all of the animals even the worst combatants were grazing placidly side by side after this the farm people began to go home all except the headmaid and Lisbeth who were to remain a little while longer so as to be on hand in case anything happened and something did happen Brindle whose quiet behaviour had been only temporary soon began to row un-easily back and forth sniffing hard she was really the one who ought to be wearing the bell she sniffed to herself and then suddenly with a violent rush she hurled herself at the bell cower such a fight as they had then the turf flew in all directions soon a sharp crack was heard and a short wild bellow and one of Brindle's horns lay dangling Brindle shook her head till the blood splashed then giving another bellow she turned and ran the shortest way home as fast as her legs could carry her never stopping until she had reached the cowhouse door there she gave vent with terrible bellowing as if she wanted to bring down all the farm buildings over the people's ears after dinner the cows were let out Lesbeth had finally named the three cow-carves yellow speckle, red-size and young moorly but as yet she had found no name to suit her for the bull-carve Lesbeth saw plainly that Kersti wondered why she had not called any of the calves after Bleros gentle cow but she gave no sign of having noticed Kersti's thought this is the way the cows were induced to leave their pen and to cross the cowhouse floor to begin with her good-sized pail with a little milk in it was held out to each calf in their eagerness to get the milk the calves thrust their head clear into the pails and when the person holding these began to run the calves ran through with the cows over their heads like hats outside the cowhouse door the pails were snatched off and there stood the calves who had never before been beyond their pen in the very midst of the great wonderful new world the startled creatures gave an amazed look and then began to back just as if they felt themselves suddenly standing at the head of a steep stairway but soon they ventured to put one foot carefully forward then another and another it was slow work one step at a time but at length they found there was firm ground in this new region they concluded that the world was only a larger calf pen after all but it was a wonderfully light calf pen and its walls were certainly a long way off Swish up went their tails into the air and away they scampered like the wildest of forest animals then began a great race in the big field from fence to fence this way and that crosswise and round and round every time the cows jumped over a hillock Kirstie and Lisbeth saw their tails stand straight up against the skylight tillers Lisbeth thought she had never seen anything so funny but they could not keep together long they soon ran off in various directions and in the evening Lisbeth had to go to the farthest corners of the field with a pail and coax them home one by one for of course they did not have the sense enough to know when to go home they who were out in the world for the first time Lisbeth was lying again in her little room it was the evening of her first working day she had set her simple evening prayer as usual and then stretched herself out on the bed feeling how good it was to rest for her body was tired through and through what a day it had been a long day too she knew nevertheless she could not imagine where it had gone she felt that she must think over all what had happened the drowsiness came stealing upon her and through the scenes of the day into confusion she saw a pair of big horns that plowed like a snow plow through a swarming crowd and then she saw a brindle standing in her stall with her head on one side and a big bandage over one of her horns looking exactly like an old peasant woman with a kerchief tied around her head for a headache and then she thought she saw written in the air a couplet that she had once heard rearing its tail against the sky danced the calf on the hilltop high and then Lisbeth Longfrog fell asleep the next day with a lunch bag upon her back Lisbeth Longfrog set off for a forest that lay not far off taking the sheep and goats with her she had not succeeded in getting cookhorn to go along however the self-willed goat had taken the shortest cat up to the north meadow where the cows were again pastured Lisbeth's second working day, like her first, seemed a very long one for the forest was wonderfully lonesome and still the little girl had time to think of many many things of her mother and Jacob and pure-out castle and it must be acknowledged that she cried a wee bit too End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of Lisbeth Longfrog Lisbeth Longfrog by Hans Unwood Translated by Laura E. Poulson Chapter 5 Summer Taking the Animals Up to the Sator Upward over the open slope across the valley from Hull Farm a lengthy procession was taking its way Kiestie Hull stood at the window of her room following the procession with her eyes as long as she could for soon it would vanish from the open slope into the wooded part of the mountain The herds belonging to Hull Farm were that day being taken up to the Sator to spend the summer grazing on the rich grass which grows in sunny places here and there on the mountain heights At the head of the procession rode the milkmaid on the military horse which for this occasion had a woman saddle upon its back The saddle had a high frame so that it looked almost like an easy chair and the milkmaid sitting aloft on it, dressed in her best and with a white linen kerchief on her head was rosy plump and also somewhat self-conscious for was she not the most important person in the company the one who was to give all the commands After her came two farmhands each leading a horse whose back fairly curved in under its heavy load Then followed the herds in order of rank First came the bell-cow, then Rindle with her wounded horn that had grown on her eye then Crookhorn, then Darkie and behind Darkie the whole long train of cows All except two, Old Moly and the pet, Wee Bonnie who were to stay at home to furnish milk for the people there and to teach the new calves to follow After the cow stalked the big bull as if acting as rearguard for his herd Next came the goats, hurrying along and trying to get ahead then the sheep in a tight clump and behind these four great pigs and a few calves While at the very end of the train came the under milkmaid and Lisbeth Longfrock with her lunch bag on her back In the beginning all had gone as gaily as a dance for almost everyone had pleasant memories of the summer before and it seemed impossible to reach the mountain top quickly enough But as they mounted the way became steeper and steeper and the sun rose higher and higher, burning their backs The pigs began to lag behind trying to branch off at every side path so as to get a little nap in the shade or cool off in a mud hole The sheep and goats, feeling the need of something in their stomachs slipped aside whenever they spied a young birch tree whose leaves they could nibble or a fence to peep through or a plot of green grass The last year's calves, who had not been to the Sata before saw no reason at all for hurrying and made no attempt at it except when the stick was used upon them So Lisbeth Longfrock had to keep rushing off the roads into side paths behind bushes into forest thickets and boggy marshes to drag the various creatures back into line And scarcely did she get them safely onto the road from one side before they slipped out again on the other She had to take off one of her long-knitted garters and tie it round her waist so that she could tuck her Longfrock up out of the way for she was constantly on the run coaxing, shouting and circumventing It was a hard struggle Her light hair became dripping wet and her face was as red as a half-wrapped mountain cranberry But Lisbeth did not notice her discomfort so absurd was she in what she had to do The under-milkmaid would return to the farm with the men when the Sata was rich It was Lisbeth who was to have the responsibility for the smaller animals during the whole summer and who was to bring them home in the autumn fat and glossy She and the head-milkmaid had their special responsibilities each at her own end of the line as it were And even if Lisbeth was only the tail end she did not wish to have the disgrace of being unable to keep it in order The procession continued mounting higher and higher and soon the whole valley lay below deep and wide and delicately green The fir trees became smaller and more scattered the slender birches grew closer together Before long the first specimens of black cranberries and old woman's switches, dwarf birch trees, were seen and with that the procession was up over the crest of the mountain sign Then all at once it seemed as if a heavy weight slipped off as if all the weariness was smoothed away from man and beast The whole mountain sent its freshness and peace streaming over them though in a new world Before them, with its boundless surface broken into level spaces and undulating slopes, lay the mountaintop stretching itself far, far away until lost in the deepening blue of a snow-streaked summit If they looked back the valley seemed to have sunk out of sight but on the mountaintop across the valley they could see wide expanses of open land dotted with shining water and grassy sated districts Drawing a long breath all gazed silently around what a tranquility lay over everything Of their own accord the animals fell into order along the stony road, curving endlessly beyond them They made no more attempts to branch off into side paths but walked slowly along at an even pace That gave Lisbeth a little time to view her surroundings She had never seen a place so broad and open and up here she was to spend the whole bright summer All at once in the midst of all this vastness and space Lisbeth felt herself so wonderfully little but she was not at all terrified she only felt very solemn and peaceful She began to think of the future of the rest of the day, the coming of summer and the many summers that would follow Sometimes she herself would be big and grown up like the head milkmaid whom she could now see sitting on the high saddle far ahead Sometimes she herself would sit up there and ride at the front The packhorses refused to go slowly now even under their heavy loads They forged a head past the mounted milkmaid and soon disappeared over a distant ridge The procession followed slowly Hour after hour it wound its curving way over ridges and books past satyrs and shining mountain lakes Lisbeth had the honour of sitting up in the saddle and riding a while The milkmaid feeling she would gladly walk a little Evening began to draw nigh They took their way high up through a gap in the mountain which they had seen in the distance early in the morning After that the road began to descend They met with birch trees again and one single warped third tree and from below they heard the rushing sound of a large river They reached at last the edge of the satyr valley to which they were bound and stood still to look down Below them lay a comparatively level space peaceful and green with its three satyr huts belonging to Herkset, Lunde and Hurl farms From the chimneys of two of the huts was ascending in the still afternoon air The gazes were filled with delight This then was the spot where they were to spend the summer The cows began to bellow The smaller animals one and all started on a run past the cows and down the hill Early next morning Lisbeth was on her way across the mountain pasture with the small animals in her charge She did not have the lunch bag on her back now While she was up at the satyr she was to take dinner at the hut every noon The sunshine was brilliant The cows had been turned loose and were walking away on the nearest cow path going in single file as if strung on a line The leaders bell rang deeply and regularly its tone mingling with others quite as deep from the neighbouring satyrs and in upon this solemn ringing the delicate, brisk, dingled angle of the smaller creatures bells The time had come now when Lisbeth Longfrog was to make her first entrance into the vast unknown The milkmaid had told her that while tending her animals this first day she should not wander too far lest she might not be able to find her way back She was to listen to the other herders and keep near them The milkmaid did not know whether the other herders were boys or girls this year Lisbeth kept looking back every now and then to keep track of the way she had come and was apparently loath to lose sight of the hut but the animals drifted rapidly off in the distance and she had to follow so as not to lose sight of them all together and after a while when she looked back the hut could not be seen Around her were only the unending wastes of hill and marsh and the far away mountain peaks How spacious and silent it was not a sound was to be heard except that of the bells not even the river's rushing harmonies reached up to where she stood She suddenly felt herself so utterly alone and remote and had such a longing to caress some living creature that she went abound the flock and petted now this one and now that The bell goat became so envious she started the others out of the way and stood rubbing itself against her All at once there came a call Oh hi ho, oh hi ho so loud and clear that the mountains echoed with her The goats picked up their ears and Lisbeth too disembreathlessly The call was so unexpected that she had not distinguished from what corner it came It sounded near and yet because of all the echoes there were no more directions Oh hi ho, oh hi ho This time the call was still louder Presently she heard bells, several bells and then she saw a large flock of sheep and goat come straggling over the crest of a hill Very likely it was the other herders who were calling Lisbeth saw two straw hats rise above the hill and by degrees two tall boys seemed to go out of the hilltop boys about as big as Jacob At the sight of them Lisbeth felt so shy she knelt down and hid herself behind a bushy man The boys shaded their eyes with their hands and looked down from the hilltop Oh hi ho, they called and then listened Oh hi ho, no answer or was still Then one of the boys cried out Oh ho, you boy from home, don't you hear If you have pluck, we call you to appear They stood awhile watching Then they darted forward turned two or three somersaults and ran down the hill toward her repeating their call and shouting Again they stopped and listened as if uncertain Oh hi ho If you lie here besides a bush or stone come out and show there's marrow in your bone Then the two boys came to the bottom of the hill where Lisbeth's flock was and looked around No, they did not see anyone The new herder from Hurl who did to lose track of his flock the first day must be a reckless young scam I feel it might be fun to get acquainted with Very likely he had heard of their bathing place in the sloping marsh Probably that was where he had gone now Well, they would take his animals with them and go there themselves But first they would give another call Perhaps he was not so far away that he might hear if they gave a good loud one Oh hi ho From far away echo repeated the sounds in dwarf language as the Norwegian boys call it Oh hi When it was still again it sounded close as hand and thin as clear as the peep of a bird Oh hi ho That was from Lisbeth who when she heard that they were going to take her flock away felt that she ought to call out but it was extremely embarrassing The boys stopped short greatly astonished From behind the bushy little mound there rose something small just like a tiny hill woman in a played neck chief and a long flock who stood stock still and looked at them with large shy eyes At the sight of her the boys were somewhat abashed It was a little embarrassing for them to find that their boastful taunting rhymes had been directed against the poor timorous young one and a girl at that But it was exasperating too for they had expected to see a comrade of their own size Hmm, anyone could see that Herlfarm had woman folk at the head of it The mistress was not willing that even the herder should be a boy If the young one had only been bigger bigger than themself they could have shown their contempt for her and chased her But that little midget no indeed grown-up fellows like them did not waste either words or blows on such small fry It would be a good plan, however to talk with her a bit and see whether another herder After that, they would have nothing more to do with her They could get along by themselves for one summer All that was necessary was to frighten her a little so she would keep out of their way They came over to Elizabeth and stood before her big boy light with their pans in their pockets Then one of them said Are you going to be the herlherder this summer? Yes, answered Elizabeth Then as if to excuse herself she added She wanted me to What is your name? Elizabeth and Jacob called me long from Where were you from? From Peerout Are you Jacob Peerout sister? We went to school with him last winter Yes I am What a nuisance that Jacob himself did not come We haven't any use at all for young ones like you up here The speaker who was the larger of the two boys stood a while waiting for a reply But Elizabeth did not know what answer to make to his remark and therefore said nothing So he continued Well, we only wanted to say to you I am Molle Huxett and that fellow over there is Peter Lunde that you must keep out of our way You must not dare to come a step beyond the line running from Pancake Stone around the sloping marsh pointing stump near the Huxeth cow park If you let your animals graze beyond that line your brother Jacob next winter shall get all the thrashings you ought to have had this summer Elizabeth was dreadfully frightened and her mouth began to tremble Then the second boy said to the larger one Yes, but Jacob is so strong he will get the best of you Not when I have bought myself into good training I need to earn the handspring Now you know what Jacob may expect So take care what you do We boys are going up to the sloping marsh to bathe Hi-ho With a shout and call I took their way up over the hill again At the top they looked back and then glanced a little dubiously at each other Elizabeth Longfrog was still standing where they had left her and she was crying Elizabeth felt very small and forlorn as she stood there She certainly did not want to do anything that Jacob would get her thrashing for If only she knew where it was that she was not allowed to go But she had not the least idea where either the pointing stump or the sloping marsh lay All that she could do would be to keep with her animals and find out about these places later Some time afterwards Elizabeth had mounted a small round hill She heard the bells of the boys' flocks again It gave her a fright and she began to chase her animals off in another direction But as she turned round to do so she saw far, far down the marsh two white figures running, jumping and playing leapfrog in the sunshine beside a gleaming pond The boys had let their flocks stray away from them Elizabeth dreaded incurring all displeasure, but surely something ought to be done There was no help for it She would really have to take care of the stray animals for a while The boys could not be angry at that, she knew, because the greatest disgrace that can befall a herder is the losing of his flock And for boys so big as these to go back to the sata without any animals would be especially humiliating So Elizabeth went to work gathering the flocks together and ran around every now and then to see if the boys were not ready to come But they appeared to have forgotten everything except their play At length she saw that the boys suddenly stood still and listened peering about in all directions Then they started into activity again, snatched up their clothes put them on in great haste and started off in a run toward the opposite end of the marsh Every little while I would stop and listen They were so far off that there was no use in listening to the shouting to them or trying to give the call When the boys reached the round hill that lay on the other side of the marsh they ran to the top and again peered in all directions for a long time Then, fast as their leg would carry them they made their way back across the marsh straight toward the small round hill where Elizabeth was As they neared it, Elizabeth thought that now was the time to give the hurtest call for the flocks were on the other side of the hill and their bells could not be heard by the boys Her first call was too weak She gave another sum much stronger The boys stopped and answered The girl called again Hi, hall! And then the boys came up the hill They found it a little difficult to break the silence It was annoying to be obliged to question that young one about their flocks but there was no other way Have you seen our animals? Elizabeth looked at them pleadingly They were here at the foot of the hill I have been taking care of them but you must not thrash Jacob for it The boys looked as they felt rather crestfallen but they had to say something so early he marked as they turned and left her Oh well, we'll let him off for this one time When Elizabeth went to fasten the gate of the fold that evening Peter Loonday came bobbing along outside the fence You haven't seen a strange sheep here have you? No, I've counted mine Well, perhaps I counted mine wrong Very likely they are all there The two stood looking at each other for a while They both grew shy and had to turn their eyes away At last Peter said Elizabeth, if you want to you may tend your flock wherever we tend ours and you may come to our pond I understood all though to say that he is willing too but if he makes any fuss about it I can thrash him if I really want to Yes, I will gladly come you may be sure Well then I will come after you tomorrow morning back at the hill here Elizabeth did not get a chance to say anything more for Peter was off like a flash round the corner He had seen all the coming All the came lounging along in his usual fashion with his hands in his pocket He haven't seen a strange sheep have you? No It's one of yours missing I don't know exactly I thought I would tell you that you need not bother yourself That's what I said today I did not mean anything by it it was Peter that made me say it and if you want me to I can thrash him for it tomorrow End of chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Lisbeth Longfrog Lisbeth Longfrog is in the public domain Lisbeth Longfrog by Hans Arndrand translated by Laura E. Polson Chapter 6 It was early morning in the latter part of summer and the sun was shining brightly over herl's setter Lisbeth was alone inside the cold milking goats all was quiet and peaceful not a bell was heard the only sounds were the gentle rush of the river far below and an occasional soft thud from the cowhouse when a cow bumped her horns against the wall and getting up Maid was inside the cowhouse milking the cows Lisbeth's hands were still too small for that work so had been arranged that she should have entire charge of the goats instead of helping with the larger animals Suddenly from the hill above the setter rose oh oh oh and in a few minutes the call was answered a little farther off with a touch of irritation in the tone oh oh oh Lisbeth looked up and listened then with a smile of happy satisfaction she went over to the fence and called oh oh oh now she could send out the tones with vigor so that they rang back from all the hills round her voice no longer trembled when she answered the big boy's call Today she knew that they were calling especially to summon her and that they dared to come close to the setter with their animals because they had an errand something they had planned with the milkmaid and Lisbeth by the sound of the bell she could tell that the boys were driving the animals as fast as they could the boy that was behind Peter of course was provoked at not being first but if you please they would have to wait till she had finished her work they were out extremely early today how strange it may seem Lisbeth longfrog soon after her arrival setter had become a prime favourite with the other herders the day after her first painful experience the boys as proposed had met her beside the hill Peter first and then Allay no reference was made to the previous day it was merely taken for granted that in future she would be with them Allay said that she could look after the animals together with her own while they went off to bathe she thought she could too so she agreed with the arrangement but the boys did not play very long on the bank of the pond that day when they had finished bathing it was not much fun after all to be down there by themselves so it had come to pass that Lisbeth and her animals never came strolling over the hill in the morning without meeting the boys they generally came at nearly the same time each from the direction of his own setter apparently trying to see who could be the first to give the call but when they met each did his best to make out to the other that he had come there by the nearest chance both cheaply realising that the very evening before they had put on big boy ears about that young one whom they could never get rid of and it said they would go off in an entirely different direction the next day to avoid her if possible often the boys would have athletic contests turning hand springs and resting from one meal time to another because neither boy was willing to give up beaten more than once in a single morning or afternoon would Lisbeth have to remind them to look after their animals because completely forgotten by the boys the flocks had strayed nearly out of sight occasionally it happened that one boy would reach her setter 10 or 15 minutes before the other and would find Lisbeth ready to set out in that case the first comer would insist that he and Lisbeth would start out by himself urging that the other boy had probably gone somewhere else that day such times were almost the pleasantest Lisbeth thought for then the one boy had always so much to show her that the other boy did not know about a marshy ledge white as snow with clavary blossoms where there would be many many berries in the autumn that ledge they could keep for themselves it was not worthwhile to let the other boy know about everything they found or a tamagann nest with 13 big eggs in it or a ridge where scouring rushes grew unusually long and thick each boy talks more with her too when by himself and was less boastful and rough and the one boy would climb trees and get spruce gum for her while she would seek scouring rush for him scouring rush is something that requires a special neck in the one who was discovered and the boys had never seen Lisbeth equal in spying it out Peter said that if there was a single spear going anywhere you might be sure that she would find it in which all they responded that for his part he believed he could find one even when there wasn't any and how many many things both boys thought of that they could make one day when it rained all they made Lisbeth a hat out of birch bark and the next day Peter came with a pair of birch bark shoes for her the milk maid must have last when she saw Lisbeth coming home that second day wearing the birch bark hat and shoes and carrying her ordinary shoes and her hand another day all her gave her a pocket knife she ought to have something to whittle with he thought and he did not need that knife because he had one with a sheath that he always wore in his belt the next day Peter bought her a musical horn that he had made in the evening from a goat's horn it had an unusually fine tone you could manage to play that funny tune old woman with a stick on it after a fashion all a speculated a while as to what he could do to beat that and then he hit upon an idea he would tame crocorn they had often seen crocorn going with the cows as if she were one of them and they knew that though she was Lisbeth's own goat there was no use in trying to make her go with the other goats the little girl had told them how impossible it had been to manage the creature at the farm and that Kersti said that the men would have to make an end of her when winter came so Ole offered to tame crocorn he was sure he could teach her to go with the others there had never been a goat yet that had not been forced to yield when he attempted to master it yes indeed Lisbeth was more than willing for him to try if he succeeded she would gladly give him all she owned no Ole did not want any payment for doing it but if she insisted on giving him something he would like the goat's horn after the goat was slaughtered as it would have to be some day they would make matchless horns to blow upon but Peter too wanted to have a share in the undertaking if the goat proved to be very cross and obstinate two persons would surely be needed to tame her they would have one horn apiece Ole did not know whether he would agree to that or not what was he who had thought of the plan yes but how could he carry it out Peter did not believe that crocorn could be made to go with the other goats unless there was a stronger goat for her to be fastened to Ole did not have one it was Peter who had the big billy goat the only one strong enough for the task yes that was true so Peter might help in taming crocorn if he would lend his billy goat Lisbeth for her part thought that they ought all to help that was the only proper way and her suggestion was finally followed Ole taming of crocorn was the errand that bought the boys the hurls stated on the morning that Lisbeth and the milkmaid were doing their milking so early the two flocks came pushing and crowding over the hill but as soon as the animals realised they were to be allowed to go close to the satyr they began to run at full speed it was always such fun to go to a strange place they would be sure to find something new to see and to stick their noses into perhaps a little milk stew about in the pig trough a little salt on the salting stone or a hole in the fence where one could get through without being seen the bells clanged the boys ran about shouting and hallowing and giving their musical calls trying to keep the worst goats in order but perhaps making a little more noise than was necessary we all had been so still before there was now the liliest commotion the milkmaid could not resist going to the cowhouse door to look out and Lisbeth would sorely have forgotten to milk the last of her goats it had not come over to her of its own accord and stood directly in her way as she was going out of the fold when Olayd saw the milkmaid at the cowhouse door he called out shall you not let out your cattle soon yes I am ready to answer the milkmaid are you ready Lisbeth I am milking my last goat soon everything was done and the animals stood waiting to be let out Olay had with him a strong band woven of willy wives with an ingeniously fastened loop at each end one loop was for Peter's billy goat the other for Cookhorn Olayd thought it was a very fine apparatus indeed where is Cookhorn in the cowhouse then I had better go in and get her myself bring your goat Peter and hold him ready Peter called his big billy goat it knew its name and came at once let me see how strong you are said Peter he took hold of its horns held its head down and pushed against it the billy goat Bunted took a fresh diet Bunted again they often played in this way and sent Peter against the fence there exclaimed Peter picking himself up I rather think that billy goat is strong enough to drag any goat along no matter how big a one Peter fairly glowed with pride Olayd too wanted to try the strength of the goat yes it was an amazingly strong goat then Olayd went to the cowhouse and in a few moments came back leading Cookhorn by the band of willy wives the next step was to fasten the other loop around the billy goat's neck and behold there stood the two goats harness together but neither of them seemed to notice that anything had been done Lisbeth and the milkmaid and the boys waited a while expectantly but the billy goat rather enjoyed being looked at and would not budge so long as they and the flocks were near by he merely stood still and wanted to be petted Olayd said let your animals out Lisbeth and start ours on the path Peter then we shall see a double team grazing contest Lisbeth opened the gate and her animals crowded out taking their customary way up over the hill Peter drove his own flock and Olayd's after them seeing this the billy goat thought it was high time for him to be jogging along so he took a step forward but something was the matter he looked back who was playing tricks and hindering him he saw Cookhorn with all four legs planted fast on the ground and her neck stretched out pooo nothing but that thought the billy goat taking a couple of steps forward Cookhorn found herself obliged to follow but she laid her head back and struggled then the billy goat gathered all his force set his horns high in the air and tugged at the band he would show her that he was not to be kept back by any such foolery Cookhorn against found herself obliged to follow but she resisted and resisted with all her might at length her four legs doubled up under her and she sank upon her knees but the billy goat went on as if nothing had happened and Cookhorn had to follow on her knees across the whole flat path of the setter field Lisbeth and the boys shrieked with laughter and even the milkmaid found it impossible to join him when Cookhorn reached the beginning of the hill where the ground was more uneven she thought it wiser to get up and trot along on her four feet but though she yielded thus far for the sake of her own comfort she still continued to struggle against being forced to go at all the animals took the customary path leading farther over the mountain little by little Cookhorn seemed to conclude that she must submit to the inevitable during the first part of the morning she was sullen and contrary kneeling allowing herself to be dragged along but as the day wore on and her stomach felt empty and slack she grew more subdued and began to walk quietly forward eating as she went like any other goat only looking up once in a while when she heard the heavy cow well in the distance the fun was gone when Cookhorn took to behaving well so the boys began as usual to wrestle and turn somersaults unless they kept up until it was nearly time to go home for their nooning then all they said let us slip her loose on trial I think she must be cured by this time yes the others agreed to that so they called to the billy goat coaxing me he came jogging along with his big horn straight up and Cookhorn culling after him Olaid first set the billy goat free and then kneeling down before Cookhorn he took hold of her beard Cookhorn poured with her feet as goats do when they want to get rid of this old but Olaid would not let her go he wished to give her a few admonitions first now that she had found her master he told her she no longer imagined she was a cow hereafter she was to behave like other goats or she would have him to deal with and at this he gave her beard a wag as if to wed force to his words that hurt Cookhorn and she made a bow and straight at him and sent him rolling backward then passing directly over him with the willow-bane trailing behind her she set out at a trot across the marsh in the direction from which the sound of the cowbell had come and then she came in the direction from which the sound of the cowbell had come Olaid strung him up again stamped the ground with rage and started after this was when Peter were already on the way they shouted and screamed as they ran and threatened Cookhorn with all sorts of punishments if she did not stop Cookhorn acted as if she did not understand she ran and they ran after her the boys became more and more angry as it had never happened before that they had been unable to capture a goat and beside each boy was eager to get ahead of the other so they ran faster and faster although Lisbeth longfrog was light-footed especially with her birchback shoes on she lagged behind it was like wading in deep water to try and run in that longfrog of hers which in the hasty start of the morning was forgotten to tuck up in her belt as usual soon she caught a last glimpse of the boys as they disappeared over a hill on the other side of the marsh Peter was ahead she believed he really was the faster runner of the two but she herself was only in the middle of the marsh so she stopped certainly the best thing that she could do was to go back and get the animals together otherwise all three flocks were likely to stray away she turned back re-crossed the marsh and had climbed the hill a little way when she heard a rumbling and thudding noise which grew constantly louder and louder while the ground seemed to roll in waves under her feet what could it be around the foot of the hill came a big herd of horses oh what a big herd there were horses old and young and foals running beside their mothers horses brown done coloured black and white and all of them were so bright and shiny and fat and skittish they trotted and ran with heads tossing those ahead being passed by others then those behind getting ahead again making a noise almost like the booming of thunder Desbeth stood still and watched them half afraid she had never seen so big a herd before they noticed her too but they did not run at her at all only two or three stopped fricked up their ears and gazed at her trying to make out what kind of little creatures she could be then they ran on again and in an instant the whole herd had gone past Desbeth could only hear the thunder of their hooves as they galloped into the path leading to the cedar but her animals and the boys flocks naturally the horses had frightened them Desbeth could see no trace of them anyway she ran from hill to hill stopping to listen and then running again it was all of no use she could not find them the only wise course for her was to go back to the cedar this was the first and only time that Desbeth Longfrog went home without taking her animals with her but when she reached the cedar there lay the whole flock peacefully within the fold chewing the cad they had gone home of their own accord the horses that had given Desbeth such a fright with their also walking about and licking up the salt which the milkmaids had strewn for them in the afternoon the milkmaids from the other cedars came to inquire after the boys for their goats had also come hungry for the usual time it was not until much later that Olo and Peter arrived dragging cook horn between them when the milkmaids laughed at them the boys could not help feeling a little chagrined that they had let their flock stray away could not be denied but no one could say they had come home without any animal at all though two big boys did seem rather a liberal number to be in charge of a single goat however large that goat might be things had gone wrong for that day although I noticed but cook horn was not the thing she had seen at the end of the struggle they would take her with them again the next day she should get her deserts but it turned out otherwise cook horn knew better than to let such a thing happen when they took off the willow band she stood still a while with her neck stretched up looking at the horses at that moment going out of the enclosure suddenly she kicked up her hind legs in real horse fashion and then away she went after the herd as fast as she could go the milkmaids as well as the boys could do nothing but stand and gape when they saw her join the horses probably she imagines now that she was a horse thought though for a while they stood in silence watching the receding herd then Olo said in his dry fashion if there had been any elephants here it would have been just like cook horn to imagine herself an elephant End of chapter 6