01-a tale of the tontlawld-第1节

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A　TALE　OF　THE　TONTLAWALD

Long；　long　ago　there　stood　in　the　midst　of　a　country　covered　with
lakes　a　vast　stretch　of　moorland　called　the　Tontlawald；　on　which
no　man　ever　dared　set　foot。　　From　time　to　time　a　few　bold　spirits
had　been　drawn　by　curiosity　to　its　borders；　and　on　their　return
had　reported　that　they　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　ruined　house　in
a　grove　of　thick　trees；　and　round　about　it　were　a　crowd　of　beings
resembling　men；　swarming　over　the　grass　like　bees。　　The　men　were
as　dirty　and　ragged　as　gipsies；　and　there　were　besides　a　quantity
of　old　women　and　half…naked　children。

One　night　a　peasant　who　was　returning　home　from　a　feast　wandered
a　little　farther　into　the　Tontlawald；　and　came　back　with　the　same
story。　　A　countless　number　of　women　and　children　were　gathered
round　a　huge　fire；　and　some　were　seated　on　the　ground；　while
others　danced　strange　dances　on　the　smooth　grass。　　One　old　crone
had　a　broad　iron　ladle　in　her　hand；　with　which　every　now　and　then
she　stirred　the　fire；　but　the　moment　she　touched　the　glowing
ashes　the　children　rushed　away；　shrieking　like　night　owls；　and　it
was　a　long　while　before　they　ventured　to　steal　back。　　And　besides
all　this　there　had　once　or　twice　been　seen　a　little　old　man　with
a　long　beard　creeping　out　of　the　forest；　carrying　a　sack　bigger
than　himself。　　The　women　and　children　ran　by　his　side；　weeping
and　trying　to　drag　the　sack　from　off　his　back；　but　he　shook　them
off；　and　went　on　his　way。　　There　was　also　a　tale　of　a　magnificent
black　cat　as　large　as　a　foal；　but　men　could　not　believe　all　the
wonders　told　by　the　peasant；　and　it　was　difficult　to　make　out
what　was　true　and　what　was　false　in　his　story。　　However；　the　fact
remained　that　strange　things　did　happen　there；　and　the　King　of
Sweden；　to　whom　this　part　of　the　country　belonged；　more　than　once
gave　orders　to　cut　down　the　haunted　wood；　but　there　was　no　one
with　courage　enough　to　obey　his　commands。　　At　length　one　man；
bolder　than　the　rest；　struck　his　axe　into　a　tree；　but　his　blow
was　followed　by　a　stream　of　blood　and　shrieks　as　of　a　human
creature　in　pain。　　The　terrified　woodcutter　fled　as　fast　as　his
legs　would　carry　him；　and　after　that　neither　orders　nor　threats
would　drive　anybody　to　the　enchanted　moor。

A　few　miles　from　the　Tontlawald　was　a　large　village；　where　dwelt
a　peasant　who　had　recently　married　a　young　wife。　　As　not
uncommonly　happens　in　such　cases；　she　turned　the　whole　house
upside　down；　and　the　two　quarrelled　and　fought　all　day　long。

By　his　first　wife　the　peasant　had　a　daughter　called　Elsa；　a　good
quiet　girl；　who　only　wanted　to　live　in　peace；　but　this　her
stepmother　would　not　allow。　　She　beat　and　cuffed　the　poor　child
from　morning　till　night；　but　as　the　stepmother　had　the　whip…hand
of　her　husband　there　was　no　remedy。

For　two　years　Elsa　suffered　all　this　ill…treatment；　when　one　day
she　went　out　with　the　other　village　children　to　pluck
strawberries。　　Carelessly　they　wandered　on；　till　at　last　they
reached　the　edge　of　the　Tontlawald；　where　the　finest　strawberries
grew；　making　the　grass　red　with　their　colour。　　The　children　flung
themselves　down　on　the　ground；　and；　after　eating　as　many　as　they
wanted；　began　to　pile　up　their　baskets；　when　suddenly　a　cry　arose
from　one　of　the　older　boys：

'Run；　run　as　fast　as　you　can！　　We　are　in　the　Tontlawald！'

Quicker　than　lightning　they　sprang　to　their　feet；　and　rushed
madly　away；　all　except　Elsa；　who　had　strayed　farther　than　the
rest；　and　had　found　a　bed　of　the　finest　strawberries　right　under
the　trees。　　Like　the　others；　she　heard　the　boy's　cry；　but　could
not　make　up　her　mind　to　leave　the　strawberries。

'After　all；　what　does　it　matter？'　thought　she。　　'The　dwellers　in
the　Tontlawald　cannot　be　worse　than　my　stepmother'；　and　looking
up　she　saw　a　little　black　dog　with　a　silver　bell　on　its　neck　come
barking　towards　her；　followed　by　a　maiden　clad　all　in　silk。

'Be　quiet；'　said　she；　then　turning　to　Elsa　she　added：　'I　am　so
glad　you　did　not　run　away　with　the　other　children。　　Stay　here
with　me　and　be　my　friend；　and　we　will　play　delightful　games
together；　and　every　day　we　will　go　and　gather　strawberries。　
Nobody　will　dare　to　beat　you　if　I　tell　them　not。　　Come；　let　us　go
to　my　mother'；　and　taking　Elsa's　hand　she　led　her　deeper　into　the
wood；　the　little　black　dog　jumping　up　beside　them　and　barking
with　pleasure。

Oh！　　what　wonders　and　splendours　unfolded　themselves　before
Elsa's　astonished　eyes！　　She　thought　she　really　must　be　in
Heaven。　　Fruit　trees　and　bushes　loaded　with　fruit　stood　before
them；　while　birds　gayer　than　the　brightest　butterfly　sat　in　their
branches　and　filled　the　air　with　their　song。　　And　the　birds　were
not　shy；　but　let　the　girls　take　them　in　their　hands；　and　stroke
their　gold　and　silver　feathers。　　In　the　centre　of　the　garden　was
the　dwelling…house；　shining　with　glass　and　precious　stones；　and
in　the　doorway　sat　a　woman　in　rich　garments；　who　turned　to　Elsa's
companion　and　asked：

'What　sort　of　a　guest　are　you　bringing　to　me？'

'I　found　her　alone　in　the　wood；'　replied　her　daughter；　'and
brought　her　back　with　me　for　a　companion。　　You　will　let　her
stay？'

The　mother　laughed；　but　said　nothing；　only　she　looked　Elsa　up　and
down　sharply。　　Then　she　told　the　girl　to　come　near；　and　stroked
her　cheeks　and　spoke　kindly　to　her；　asking　if　her　parents　were
alive；　and　if　she　really　would　like　to　stay　with　them。　　Elsa
stooped　and　kissed　her　hand；　then；　kneeling　down；　buried　her　face
in　the　woman's　lap；　and　sobbed　out：

'My　mother　has　lain　for　many　years　under　the　ground。　　My　father
is　still　alive；　but　I　am　nothing　to　him；　and　my　stepmother　beats
me　all　the　day　long。　　I　can　do　nothing　right；　so　let　me；　I　pray
you；　stay　with　you。　　I　will　look　after　the　flocks　or　do　any　work
you　tell　me；　I　will　obey　your　lightest　word；　only　do　not；　I
entreat　you；　send　me　back　to　her。　　She　will　half　kill　me　for　not
having　come　back　with　the　other　children。'

And　the　woman　smiled　and　answered；　'Well；　we　will　see　what　we　can
do　with　you；'　and；　rising；　went　into　the　house。

Then　the　daughter　said　to　Elsa；　'Fear　nothing；　my　mother　will　be
your　friend。　　I　saw　by　the　way　she　looked　that　she　would　grant
your　request　when　she　had　thought　over　it；'　and；　telling　Elsa　to
wait；　she　entered　the　house　to　seek　her　mother。　　Elsa　meanwhile
was　tossed　about　between　hope　and　fear；　and　felt　as　if　the　girl
would　never　come。

At　last　Elsa　saw　her　crossing　the　grass　with　a　box　in　her　hand。

'My　mother　says　we　may　play　together　to…day；　as　she　wants　to　make
up　her　mind　what　to　do　about　you。　　But　I　hope　you　will　stay　here
always；　as　I　can't　bear　you　to　go　away。　　Have　you　ever　been　on
the　sea？'

'The　sea？'　asked　Elsa；　staring；　'what　is　that？　　I've　never　heard
of　such　a　thing！'

'Oh；　I'll　soon　show　you；'　answered　the　girl；　taking　the　lid　from
the　box；　and　at　the　very　bottom　lay　a　scrap　of　a　cloak；　a　mussel
shell；　and　two　fish　scales。　　Two　drops　of　water　were　glistening
on　the　cloak；　and　these　the　girl　shook　on　the　ground。　　In　an
instant　the　garden　and　lawn　and　everything　else　had　vanished
utterly；　as　if　the　earth　had　opened　and　swallowed　them　up；　and　as
far　as　the　eye　could　reach　you　could　see　nothing　but　water；　which
seemed　at　last　to　touch　heaven　itself。　　Only　under　their　feet　was
a　tiny　dry　spot。　　Then　the　girl　placed　the　mussel　shell　on　the
water　and　took　the　fish　scales　in　her　hand。　　The　mussel　shell
grew　bigger　and　bigger；　and　turned　into　a　pretty　little　boat；
which　would　have　held　a　dozen　children。　　The　girls　stepped　in；
Elsa　very　cautiously；　for　which　she　was　much　laughed　at　by　her
friend；　who　used　the　fish　scales　for　a　rudder。　　The　waves　rocked
the　girls　softly；　as　if　they　were　lying　in　a　cradle；　and　they
floated　on　till　they　met　other　boats　filled　with　men；　singing　and
making　merry。

'We　must　sing　you　a　song　in　return；'　said　the　girl；　but　as　Elsa
did　not　know　any　songs；　she　had　to　sing　by　herself。　　Elsa　could
not　understand　any　of　the　men's　songs；　but　one　word；　she　noticed；
came　over　and　over　again；　and　that　was　'Kisika。'　　Elsa　asked　what
it　meant；　and　the　girl　replied　that　it　was　her　name。

It　was　all　so　pleasant　that　they　might　have　stayed　there　for　ever
had　not　a　voice　cried　out　to　them；　'Children；　it　is　time　for　you
to　come　home！'

So　Kisika　took　the　little　box　out　of　her　pocket；　with　the　piece
of　cloth　lying　in　it；　and　dipped　the　cloth　in　the　water；　and　lo！　
they　were　standing　close　to　a　splendid　house　in　the　middle　of　the
garden。　　Everything　round　them　was　dry　and　firm；　and　there　was　no
water　anywhere。　　The　mussel　shell　and　the　fish　scales　were　put
back　in　the　box；　and　the　girls　went　in。

They　entered　a　large　hall；　where　four　and　twenty　richly　dressed
women　were　sitting　round　a　table；　looking　as　if　they　were　about
to　attend　a　wedding。　　At　the　head　of　the　table　sat　the　lady　of
the　house　in　a　golden　chair。

Elsa　did　not　know　which　way　to　look；　for　everything　that　met　her
eyes　was　more　beautiful　than　she　could　have　dreamed　possible。　
But　she　sat　down　with　the　rest；　and　ate　some　delicious　fruit；　and
thought　she　must　be　in　heaven。　　The　guests　talked　softly；　but
their　speech　was　strange　to　Elsa；　and　she　understood　nothing　of
what　was　said。　　Then　the　hostess　turned　round　and　whi