Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books
Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source:
http://books.google.com/books?id=fuUsAAAAMAAJ
2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].
THE NOVELS OF
BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON
_Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_
VOLUME XI
_THE NOVELS OF_
_BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON_
_Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_
_Fcap. 8vo, cloth_
_Synnoeve Solbakken_
_Arne_
_A Happy Boy_
_A Fisher Lass_
_The Bridal March, & One Day_
_Magnhild, & Dust_
_Captain Mansana, & Mother's Hands_
_Absalom's Hair, & A Painful Memory_
_In God's Way_ (2 _vols._)
_Heritage of the Kurts_ (2 _vols._)
_NEW YORK_
_THE MACMILLAN COMPANY_
THE HERITAGE OF
THE KURTS
BY
BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON
_Translated from the Norwegian by_
_Cecil Fairfax_
VOLUME I
NEW YORK
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
1908
_Printed in England_
_All rights reserved_
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Upon his taking up his residence in Paris, in 1882, Bjoernson resumed an
interest in prose fiction, which he had for so many years abandoned in
favour of the drama. There can be no question that he was influenced in
this by the successes of Alexander Kielland and Kristian Elster, who
had begun to deal with the problems of Norwegian life in the form of
short novels, which attracted immense public curiosity. After writing
_Dust_ (1882), a very brief episode, Bjoernson started the composition
of his earliest long novel, which he finished and published in 1884, as
_Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen_ ("Flags are Flying in Town and
Harbour"), a title for which we have ventured to substitute, as more
directly descriptive, _The Heritage of the Kurts_. It is to be observed
that, with the exception of Jonas Lie's _Livsslaven_ (which was not yet
published when Bjoernson's book was begun), _The Heritage of the Kurts_
was the earliest novel, treating Scandinavian society on a large scale,
which any Norwegian writer had essayed to produce. This may explain a
certain cumbrousness in the unwinding of the plot, which has been noted
as a fault in this very fine and elaborate romance.
The didactic character of much of the novel, especially of the later
parts, was a surprise to contemporary readers, who were accustomed to
much lighter fare from the novelists of the day. No less a personage
than the great Danish writer, J. P. Jacobsen, joined in the outcry
against "all this pedagogy and all these problems." Physiological
instruction in girls' schools,--this seemed a strange and almost
unseemly subject for a romance addressed to idle readers in Copenhagen
and Christiania. But Bjoernson's serious purpose was soon perceived and
justified, and the popularity of The Heritage of the Kurts was assured
among the best appreciators of his genius. It will always, however,
possess the disadvantages inherent on a tentative effort in a class of
literature as yet unfamiliar to the veteran artist.
Translator, editor, and publisher of the English version alike desire
to express their debt to Mr. C. F. Keary, whose knowledge of Norwegian
matters is so widely recognised, for the help he has given in revising
the translation throughout, and in particular for his advice in regard
to the diction of the first section of the novel, which, in the
original, is an extremely clever _pastiche_ of early eighteenth-century
Danish.
E. G.
CONTENTS
I.--_FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT_
CHAP
I. "THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO LIVED THERE
II. WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS
II.--_JOHN KURT_
I. LONELINESS
II. A GENIUS
III. MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN
IV. SAILS IN SIGHT
V. HOME LIFE
VI. FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED
III.--_A LECTURE_
I. DETHRONED
II. ON THE MOUNTAIN
III. THE CHILD
IV. THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN
V. THE LECTURE
IV.--_THE STAFF_
I. A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN
I
FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT
CHAPTER I
"THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO
LIVED THERE
"The Estate" had probably been acquired by the strong hand, as indeed
most domains have been in all countries and at all times; but what
proportion forced marriages and fair bargains bore to actual guile,
fraud, and such base means, we can no longer determine.
Two hundred years ago it was an immense possession, the home farm stood
then as now on the woody mountain slopes overlooking the town, the
whole of which can be seen from there; both the old town on this side
of the harbour, and the new one out by the point. This point shelters
the harbour from the sea, but is not itself absolutely exposed to it,
for islands and skerries lie beyond it, and between them the two
entrances, the North and West Sounds. All this is to be seen from "The
Estate," and far out to sea as well.
Farther away to the right is the river between whose clayey banks the
foaming mass pours down into the harbour. At one time this river and
all the works at its mouth belonged to "The Estate," as well as the
site of the town, the islands, and the coast on either side; and
farther on, the lower lands and woods down to the channel of the river.
Such was "The Estate" two hundred years ago.
Its principal building is a large brick house from which rises a squat
clumsy tower; it has a long wing on the right hand, but curiously
enough none on the left; behind are a number of old stone buildings
serving as stables, cow-houses, and the like, besides servants'
quarters.
The great stairway up to the house, a perfect mountain of stone slabs,
for it is of immense size, is of semicircular form, having steps round
the whole circuit. From it a noble avenue leads down to the town
market-place, and on each side of it runs a stone park-wall which
almost reaches as far as the market; on the other sides of both the
walls lies the garden, which is cut in two by the avenue. Open fields
lie on both sides and likewise between the gardens and the town.
Above the houses, out towards the mountain, is a wood of deciduous
trees; although the fir-trees have again begun their silent advance
against them, for at one time they had the hill to themselves.
Who laid out these pleasure-grounds, who built this enormous mansion?
you say to yourself on first seeing the house and gardens of "The
Estate."
It was more than two hundred years ago, about 1660, that a German
skipper, who called himself Kurt (spelt at that time Curt), first
brought his vessel into the harbour in order to have her re-rigged and
painted, most probably to prevent her from being recognised. We now
know that he had then long been exiled from his native country on
account of some deed of violence which he had committed. He was of a
princely German family which still bears an honoured name which does
not require to be mentioned here--he was known only by his Christian
name of Curt.
He had not been there long before he began to pay his court to the
daughter and heir of Claus Mathiassoen, the owner of "The Estate,"
paying no heed to what the neighbours thought of it.
"It was the noble maid Ingeborg Clausdotter." ... From this point I
follow verbatim a manuscript description pertaining to the town, and
more especially to "The Estate," which was written at the beginning of
the last century by an old parish clerk and choir-master of Saint Mary
in that place....
She would hide herself away up in the Cock Loft, down in the Cellar, in
Byre or stable; she would fly you to wood or field whenever the
swaggering foreigner, skipper Curt, came a Wooing, for then he was
commonly in liquor.
Worshipful Master Claus Mathiassoen might bring him Ale from his cellar,
and set before him such things as he desired; the next moment had Curt
half slain him because Master Claus could not bring his fair daughter
to speak with him; and moreover he drove away every living person from
the homestead. He swore also to cut down any man who should dare to
wish to take her to wife: he would wring his neck, said he, and all his
belongings, and hers as well if she should ever belong to another.
And there was Hans Fuerst in the Market Place hard by the Church of St
Mary. When it was said that he too was a Wooer, went Curt to him on
Good Friday morning as Hans still lay abed, and beat him so sore with a
stout cudgel that for long after he was but broken bones. Hans Fauest
was afraid to bide in the town whenever skipper Curt came in with his
Ships, which from that time happened often enough; and it fell in
likewise with the Bailiff, Master Beinhard von Kluewer, who would fain
have brought him to reason. Curt defied him and hauled his ships before
the Bailiff's house; two ships he had then, and Cannon and his Company,
and the Bailiff dared no more go out alone, and did not dare to
discharge his office, but departed, nor did he return. So that full a
year passed ere his office was again filled; when it was, 'twas a
German who got it who was of a Mind with Curt in all things; and the
old Bailiff, he obtained office in another place.
'Twas commonly spoken of Curt that he had stole his first ship in the
North sea; later he had two ships, and folk held it for certain that
the second was stolen also, but his people were silent concerning it,
and naught was done in the Matter. Now it was in the following way that
he got the maid. There came a Clerk from his Excellence the Stadtholder
Ulrich, Frederick Gueldenloeve, with Commands from the High and Mighty
Prince, King Frederick 3rd, now of blessed memory, to the worshipful
Claus Mathiassoen of "The Estate," and to the good men and true of the
town, Counsellors, and Burgesses, that they must so deal for skipper
Curt who was of a noble German Family, that he should have the
high-born Maid Ingeborg Clausdotter to wife, promising them his royal
favour and especial grace, which skipper Curt without hesitation agreed
to; so the King's Will was done. The Clerk was come in Soeren
Rasmussen's sloop from Oslo; he also was a German, and spoke Danish but
ill; he demanded much service, and that he got, for he was lodged at
the Council House, and was bidden, when the wedding should be over, to
condescend to put up with the same at the houses of sundry of the
burgesses.
The wedding was celebrated with grandeur, but many a tear shed Mistress
Ingeborg as did Claus Mathiassoen, who knew that now his days of
happiness were past.
But it so chanced that at the wedding, Master Curt, being in liquor,
fell upon the clerk with thrust and blow and Drove him from the board,
for he swore he was not fit to sit at meat with the quality and their
women folk, for he was no clerk of the Stadtholder, but a cursed
vagabond Barber who had been a wood cutter to his brother-in-law in
Pommerania. So the barber fled over to the point and thence to the
North Holm, from there he hailed a passing ship and was taken on board
of her.
Therewith ended the wedding feast, but this mattered little to Curt,
for he had won his bride.
Now this is how it fell out; skipper Curt had been to Oslo and there
had met a Holsteiner, Georg von Bregentvedt; the same was a captain and
gave the Stadtholder aid in warlike enterprise, but Georg von
Bregentvedt and Curt had been known to each other in Germany, and this
Georg was a rare knave, full of merry conceits, and he helped Curt with
this trick, but they got the barber to bring it to pass.
Old Claus Mathiassoen went straightway to Copenhagen to make complaint
before the king, and three times had he _audience_, and each time was
the king Mightily enraged, but may well have forgotten it again by
reason of other matters, for Curt had countrymen at Court. In the
meantime was the money spent with which Claus Mathiassoen had provided
himself, and Curt had seized "The Estate," and refused to send him
more, likewise he threatened all those who would have been true to him;
and as Claus Mathiassoen at the same time got a letter from his
daughter, sent secretly by the skipper of a sloop, saying that she was
now with child, but that Curt went after other women on "The Estate,"
and in the town; so thought Claus Mathiassoen that no good could come
from his going home. And no man asked for him from that time. Claus
Mathiassoen was of Danish blood, and a good man was he.
Now "The Estate" at this time was a vast place of much grandeur, and
with great belongings; to wit, the ownership of leagues of land up
both sides of the River, for the forests and all the farms then
belonged to "The Estate." And large tile works had Curt established on
the river Bank, and brought many Hollanders there; also later he had
ship-building, which thing brought great gain to the Town; he made also
a marvellous clever saw pit, the like of which had never been seen
before, also he voyaged to see the king, the most mighty Prince, and
very good Lord, King Christian 5th, now of blessed memory, for by the
help of his powerful and noble countrymen, he had hope to come by royal
Grace and Favour, and he had at divers times _audience_, and pleased
the King with his great strength and by his Comely person. Then, said
he to the King, in all humility, that it was a bygone Custom that when
the King of His grace came to those parts he should take lodging on
"The Estate." Two kings had lain there, and King Christian 4th of
Blessed memory, even twice; and now in all humility he prayed for the
same Favour. And the kind did not deny it him. But Curt's purpose
therein was to again receive all those privileges which he had
forfeited in his Fatherland.
And he returned home, and found with his courtly fashions that the old
House on "The Estate," albeit that it was a fine house in every way,
large and costly, must be pulled down, and a Castle built to honour the
king when he should come withal; so forthwith he fell to work. But then
he took a liking to Hans Fuerst's house for a dwelling Place, the one,
namely, hard by St Mary's in the Market Place, while the new castle was
building; so he drove the aforesaid Hans from it till such time as the
Castle should be Roofed.
It was brought about in this manner: Curt forbade the sailors,
craftsmen, and fishers to buy so much as a measure of Ale, a dram of
Spirits, or an Ell of cloth. For the lewd mariners and their kinsfolk
are not like landsfolk, they worship those who rule over them, for they
and their forebears have let themselves be treated like dogs on sea and
land; they are ill at ease if they are not ordered hither and thither,
sworn at and beaten, and they join in their skipper's dissolute life.
But as well Curt allowed them free land on the mountain on all sides,
as many as there was room for, and besides gave them wood at small cost
for their buildings, so that now there is almost a town on the mountain
which can be seen from afar, as is known to every ship which comes in.
Atop of all, the Pilots have built themselves a Look Out.
It can be safely said that without the support of these men Curt and
his descendants could never have ruled and roystered as they have done
to this day; nay, the more masterful their ways, the more they rose in
the eyes of these Men, for that is the manner of them.
For his lawless ways then Curt in all his life never made any
reparation. People still repeat the words he was wont to use when any
man asked such of him. "Thou shall get thy pay from----, thou cursed
Peasant," he would say in his German fashion, for he never spoke our
tongue right, and "Peasant" he would call any man he was wroth with;
for in his Country the peasant is held in contempt, nay, almost as a
brute beast; he may own neither house nor land, but must work for his
lord, both he and his. Death alone can release him. Nay, 'tis even so
likewise in Denmark.
But as respecting the aforesaid Hans Fuerst, as he had naught else but
his trade he must needs go over to the other side of the Market Place
to Siegfried Brandenburg's old House on the left; for he had two, and
there he abode till Curt returned to his Castle.
Curt did not build it all as it now stands; neither the long wing on
the right, nor the great outbuildings; neither did he build the garden
wall which is on both sides, for that was done by his son. But the
great House with the steps and the Tower, that was built by him; and
the road between the two walls, that was done by Master Curt, for
before there was only a path and that did not go the same way, but
outside the garden to the right, as may be seen to this day; also the
trees on both sides of the road were planted by Curt himself, every one
of them, for he had a lucky hand in that way which he well knew, for
the larger part of the garden which is now on both sides was planted by
him; and he brought hither many new and costly Trees, Plants, and
flowers from Holland which greatly joyed his half crazy wife whenever
she was allowed a little liberty, for she loved flowers well.
The inside of the Castle for the most part is not as Curt left it, for
what he did was undone of his Son Master Adler, for thus he was called
after the great Sea Hero, Cort Adler. For that was a jest of Curt to
call his son Adler, since he had called himself Curt, for thus the
Admiral's name was turned end for end.
The Royal Bed and other furniture in the king's Chamber which are now
to be seen are not Curt's either. Those which he had bought now stand
in another Chamber out of the passage to the left. In that bed slept
Master Adler himself. That remains, and the furniture. But for the
king's Chamber Master Adler brought all new from Holland what time he
himself went there from Copenhagen with his ships. It was at that time
also that he bought the hangings which are now in the King's Chamber by
the side of his sleeping-room, and also he bought the great _Carosse_,
whereof more anon. But, on the other hand, the pictures in gilded
frames all belong to Curt's time. Those in the Knights' Hall are copied
from pictures in his father's Castle, and represent his ancestors.
I had almost forgot to relate about the tower which never was finished
and the reason thereof. The Man who first directed the Building was a
master builder from Luebeck. But he wearied there, not getting his pay,
and so went home. Master Curt went after him in a swift sailing ship
belonging to a Dane, which just then lay in harbour, but he did not
come nigh him. The second builder was from Holstein, or the parts
adjacent thereto. Curt had at that time with him a wench of rare
beauty. She was the wife of a Flemish skipper whom Curt had enticed to
come to him, and as he would not give her up, the skipper was fain to
depart. Now the master builder fell in love with her, and she with him,
and Master Curt sorely maltreated them, and had them stript and driven
down the Market Place. They got away at last in a boat; the builder was
brought to a sorry pass; I know not what further became of them.
After that Curt gave up the Tower, which indeed was very hard to build;
and as it was bruited about that the king was like to come that summer,
he had a wide roof set over it and covered it with tiles as is commonly
done, and so it stands, for no one has touched it since then. Now Curt
had put himself to great cost for the honour of seeing the king under
his Roof. At this time "The Estate" was still all one, and the high
banks on each side of the river and all round the valley as far as
might be seen were covered with fir-woods, and the same on the Islands.
That is all different since the merchants took the fir-woods in pledge,
but this giving in pledge had begun in Curt's time.
And now I must relate to you the Rest of Curt's life, firstly that his
wife had been for a long time half silly. She was a fair woman to look
on, but she could never abide him, so she remained shut up. The marks
are still to be seen in the chamber along to the left, which her feet
have left by the door, where she vainly sought to get out, and likewise
can be seen the marks of the iron bars before the window, which Curt
put there after the time when she sprang out into the garden, sorely
wounding herself thereby. At the time when the Castle stood open, after
Curt was dead, and his sons were abroad, we could see what she had
written all round the walls. This writing had never been known of by
Curt, or by those who minded the estate while his sons were still
young, or during their absence, but the sons had it washed off. 'Twas
thus I saw it when first I came as a student to the Town. For the most
part it was verses from the Psalter, but plaints as well, and other
quaint conceits which touched me by their simplicity. Thus of a
cloudberry which had been frozen. That is the tenderest sight in
Nature, she wrote, and verily since then how often I have thought of
it, for especially by the Road side in frost and thaw how true it is.
But now I must tell of what once happened while she was well and sat at
meat with Sieur van Geelmuyden, the especial friend of Master Curt, and
a merry man. Suddenly her madness came upon her again as she sat at
board, and flinging her knife at Curt, she cried that that very day had
she been told that Curt had a hundred Children about in the town. Then
remarked Van Geelmuyden pithily, "Noble Ingeborg Curt, no one should
believe more than half of what malicious folk say." Now Curt and all
his guests laughed beyond measure at this, and, for the sake of the
saying, Master Curt gave Van Geelmuyden, to whom, moreover, he ever
after set great _fiduce_, the house at Bommen; the same may still be
seen there, it is that one where the second Story stands well-nigh two
ells out beyond the first, and which is hard by that which was gotten
by the Bailiff.
The House still bears witness to the _piquante_ saying called a
_bon-mot_, which word the people have turned into Bommen, which name
the whole street bears at this day.
Never was there dung moved up at "The Estate" in the Spring time, nor
the Midden emptied, but that the bodies of children were found therein,
for Master Curt led a lusty life, both with his maid-servants and
others whom he caused to come up there. When the now departed Bishop of
Christiansand, the worshipful Magister Jersin, was to make a visitation
in the Town, some short space before Curt's death, and Curt heard
thereof, he begged that he might have the honour of housing and
feasting him while he abode here, which thing the Bishop in no wise
refused. So Curt went forth to meet him with one of his ships which
chanced to be in port, and took with him the Parson, the town Council,
and the king's trusty servants, and a goodly company of burgesses, and
prepared a noble feast on board of the ship for the Bishop, whom they
fetched from the house of a Parson of those parts, and he also, and the
others remained of the company. And they all came on shore in such
condition as was a sight to behold; Curt took the Bishop for his share,
and when they were come to the steps up to the house and were about to
mount them, the Bishop turned round and said, so that all might hear,
that those were the finest steps he had ever seen in the whole Country
Side. Then answered Curt, "These Steps, your Grace, are singular in
another manner, for more maids have gone up them than have ever gone
down." He said this in his German tongue, but that was the meaning of
it. I had it from one who was a lad at the time and was standing there
on the steps with the Welcome Cup for Master Curt, of which the Bishop
drank and handed it to him, but he who stood on the steps was in after
days Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsoen, who at that time was clerk to
Curt. It was he who related this.
And now I must to Curt's death, for it was in this manner that it fell
out. There came a peasant with wife and daughter to the town, and
although there was great gathering of peasants at that time, no man had
seen any of such fine presence as these, and this thing was spoken of
at a banquet which was held at the Castle, and specially was praise
given to the daughter, and so it fell next day that the peasant with
wife and daughter were commanded by Curt to come up to the Castle.
There they were treated like the grandest folk and were shown all the
rooms in the House, but the end of all this was that several of Curt's
people came in to them and the maid was separated from her father and
carried away by force; full of wrath was she and implored her father to
ask for a large recompense. He did so, but Curt would have nothing to
do with it. So then came the father with his complaint to the King's
Bailiff, who counselled him to take things as he found them, for no man
had ever yet got recompense of Curt, for all those in authority were on
his side, both of church, and army, and worthies, and Patrons at Court,
unto all which might be added that Curt could safely depend on the
people of the lower sort here in the Town. But the peasant went up by
himself to Curt, and in the court-yard behind the stable between it and
the Byre he found him and there again he asked for compensation. "Get
thy compensation from----, thou cursed Peasant," answered Curt, for
that was ever what he answered. Then the peasant seized Master Curt and
held him where desired. But he took his compensation with a thrust of
his knife. There was no one there in the Court Yard but a few women,
and an old groom who stood by and saw it. Curt was flung down upon the
dung heap and there his life passed from him, where the bodies of his
children had lain before him.
Hardly could folk credit the news of it, but came up to see. Never
before had Curt given back before any man, and now he had been slain
like a helpless child. At last it was noised about that the Evil One
had been there, and had taken Curt's punishment on himself, and, what
indeed somewhat confirmed this was, that from that day the peasant
could never be found, and not even his name was known, and he himself
seemed unknown to the other peasants who were in the town, but these
clowns know how to be silent, so that there is nothing certain in the
matter.
But whoever it was, this thing is certain, that it was from the hand of
Almighty God, for without his Will there falls not a sparrow to the
ground. His ways have been brought to pass by other hands, in order
that this great sinner should end his days upon a dung heap. May God's
name be praised eternally. Amen.
CHAPTER II
WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS
Curt's sons were at this time at Copenhagen, under the charge of
Magister Owe Gude, with him they also travelled at a later time and
made an especial long sojourn with Curt's noble kinsmen. Adler came
home at length to take possession of his lands, but Max remained abroad
and studied for the priesthood, for he had a marvellous gift of speech.
Master Adler was but rarely seen in the Town, and he never went there
in any other fashion than borne in a _porte chaise_ by servants in fine
liveries. And it was the same at the Castle, there one serving man
stood in the way of the other, and all were dressed as though for a
feast in some prince's Hall. Master Adler lived alone and held no
intercourse with the worthy burgesses in the Town, as had never been
the way before his time. Now by degrees Master Adler waxed mighty fat
and had many peevish ways and tricks; thus he spoke with no man, but
listened to everything.
When he had been here a few years and all his affairs were well ordered
by the hand of Torbioern Christoffersen, Master Adler journeyed to
Copenhagen, for now was Christian V. of blessed memory no more; but our
good Lord and Prince, the most mighty and gracious King Frederick IV.
(whom may God sustain and adorn with all virtues) had now become our
King. And Master Adler went on his knees before him, with great
difficulty, and prayed the King to fulful the gracious pledge given by
his Father, of blessed Memory, to the Elder Curt now departed, and that
he would condescend to come to the Town, and be under his humble roof,
such time as he first came to Norway, where all men hoped for his
coming. Now the King wot well the design hid under this request,
namely, that Master Adler should obtain those titles of nobility which
his father had lost in his youth. This the King was graciously pleased
to listen to.
Thereupon Master Adler went to Holland, for he deemed not one of the
preparations good enough for him, which his father had made. From there
he came back with the great _Carosse_, which was then seen here for the
first time. The War Commissary, Master Synnestwedt, thought it not
fitting for Master Adler to drive in a _Carosse_, for he was no Person
of high rank, and complaint was made of the matter. Now in this fashion
did it first become known from Copenhagen that Curt had been of noble
birth; from that time forward he was never seen without Out-riders and
Attendants, besides the coachman, and two Servants behind. Wherefore he
must have also five horses on account of the Hills. But the townsfolk
held it an honour to them that their lord had such great privileges.
But while he was at Copenhagen it had come to Master Adler's knowledge
that in the Palace where the King then abode, neither the king's
servants nor attendants lay under the same roof with Him, as might have
been expected, but only the king and his Family. On the contrary, the
King's attendants, and the serving men and women lived in a wing by
themselves, and it was for this reason that Master Adler had the long
right wing added to the New house, as may still be seen, and this
should be used by the King's attendants and servants as well as by
Master Adler himself, and by his servants, when the King should come.
But Torbioern Christoffersen, his trusty steward, refused downright to
add a wing on the left hand, and threatened to go, and for this reason
it is that the right wing stands alone; neither did Master Adler
attempt to finish the Tower, for already many mortgages had been given
on "The Estate," by reason of all his display, and Torbioern
Christoffersen could in no wise bring both ends to meet; so some of the
heaviest mortgages had to go at a great loss, and, in the same way, the
portion of ground, let to certain men in the town, were sold to any who
could free themselves. It was in this manner that the parcelling of
"The Estate" began.
Master Adler's younger brother, Parson Max, was a knowing man in all
matters of business, and he supported Torbioern Christoffersen. And now
that I take on me to draw a picture of Parson Max, God forbid that I
should bear malice against a dead man who has done me harm in many
ways, for it was in this self-same year that I became the unworthy
Parish Clerk and Choir Master of the Church of St. Mary in this Town. I
will not fill this costly paper by telling of the strife which was
between us, concerning the vessel which was bought at the Public sale,
after Master Curt's death, and which came to me by inheritance; or
again with the dispute which arose when I was to read the sermon from
Dr. Martin's Book, in Parson Max's stead, he being that day unfit
through liquor. Up comes Master Max into the Pulpit and flings me down.
All this I will keep concealed now that he is under ground; so it is
not for that that I have noted down the Truth about him; but in order
that those who come after may see how wonderful have been the ways of
the Lord in dealing with this Family, and also that it shall remain
plain to be seen how this Town, more than others, must be under God's
Protection, who has so singularly cared for it, even to the
overthrowing of its Tormentors.
From the moment that Parson Max came, he played the Master and bully,
first towards his brother and "The Estate," and then over the whole
place. He was worse than his father Curt, inasmuch as he was learned,
and could with great prudence, and skill, twist and turn both people,
and things. He was also a mighty lunged man in the Pulpit. The time
when the terrible mishap befell, namely, that St. Mary's church was
burnt down, being struck by lightning from Heaven, an admonition to us
all, as is related in another place in my _Manu Scriptum_--that time I
say, Parson Max preached every Sunday through the summer, from a
hillock, and from thence was heard all over the Town; many people lying
off in their boats in the harbour heard him, likewise from the windows
away on the Point, but not the words; nay, a skipper told me himself
how, as his ship was being towed up the North Channel, they could all
hear a screaming like that of a Woman in Labour, nor could they tell
what it might be. For at a great distance a man's voice sounds like
that of a woman. So truly this may be said in praise of Parson Max,
that he wrought a very moving Fear on all who went to Church in his
day, and he would in no wise allow that any should stay away, for he
asked for them from the Pulpit, or sought them at their homes.
Wherefore the Church has never been so well frequented as then. The
lower people held wonderfully to him as before to his father; for he
often condescended to come to their weddings and Buryings, and tasted
their ale, and further gave them useful counsel in regard to all these,
for he was of great understanding, and beside knew them all by name,
men and women. By degrees he got the whole Town under his hand, so that
nothing was done in those days, in house or out, but the Parson must
have an account of it, neither might any bake or brew unless the Parson
gained by it. If the poor had nothing else to give there was always
Fish. No one, high or low, dare give his daughter in Marriage, or in
any other manner alter his Position, without Master Max's counsel in
the matter being heard. And if rich gifts, and other private
contributions, were there to help, men could get from Parson Max, what
were otherwise impossible. I know this well, for I relate what I know,
and in no wise that which I do not know. If any went against his will,
him he would persecute and harm by day and night, both he and his. This
he did by means of those in authority, both dignitaries and those of
the army, by his friends and his friends' friends, and his hand could
even reach to Copenhagen.[1] But at times good befell the Town by all
this, for no one at that time went to law, but each man must bring his
case to the Parson, who settled it for him. In the same way when the
new Church of St. Mary was to be built, that one which men commonly
called the Cross Church, everything abode in his hands, so that in
truth he was the Master Builder thereof; whereby that noble work is an
honour to the town, and an everlasting Memorial to him. It was terrible
what money it cost, and it all went to his brother, for "The Estate"
furnished both stone and wood, and all the rest by way of trade. But
Parson Max collected the money, and this he did in such a way as had
the place been _occuperit_ by an Enemy and been burnt to the ground.
For myself alone, when I begin to reckon what I had to pay, I cannot
understand how I got quit of it. He was a terrible man. He lay in wait
for every ship; thus his first walk each morning was to Fetaljen, on
the look out, and he was there again many times in the day, and each
one must do his duty. Every traveller, man or woman, whom he asked must
give to the Church. Once on Fetaljen at Widow Sarah Andersen's, she who
gives lodging to the seafaring folk, he nearly came to great mishap,
for she warned her guests when she saw him coming, so they would creep
up into the cock-loft, or down into the cellar, in order to hide
themselves, for none could withstand his persuasions or threats. Thus
it fell about with rich Heinrich Arendt from Luebeck. He was here on
account of the ship which the Pirates had taken from him, and had sold
here, though with loss. Very well he knew Master Max of old, and he
crept up into the cock-loft. Master Max was well used to this
_trafique_ and crept after him. However, as he was exceeding heavy,
down breaks the stair with him, and he slipped and stuck fast. A heavy
reckoning came to Sarah for this, she had to pay a vast _summa_ for the
new Church, in place of Heinrich Arendt, and he would never make good
the money to her, but put her off with talk, so she never got a stiver,
a thing she has often told me even with tears.
The aforesaid Sarah Andersen, widow, died on the same day, nay, even
the same hour, as Master Max. I have much considered the matter, in
order to find what deep meaning God may have had in it, and many have
done the same. But in truth it would not be well if everything were
known of us poor weak mortals.
It was in this manner that Parson Max's death came to pass. When first
he came hither he could carry all that he drank, but not so at last,
and when he was well in liquor he was a sore terror to the Women, who
were fain to take heed for themselves with him; and so it chanced one
day at the Castle that he had forced his brother into giving of a great
feast, as he mostly did force him to do twice yearly, at New Year and
St. John's day. Now this befell on St. John's day; but before I relate
what chanced there, I must say that the passage which leads from the
steps is parlous dark when the double doors are shut to, and that day
they were shut, by reason of a heavy rain such as is frequent here on
the coast. Master Max mistook Ane Trulsdotter, Trul Carsten's daughter
of Bommen, for Nille, Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter, because they both
wore the same sort of red cotton skirt. This befell in the passage in
the dusk, and of those who know both, it can be easily understood. But
Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter would not be jested with, nay, she even
had courage to make a great outcry against him, and there arose much
noise and commotion. The counsellor fetched the Master of the house,
who spoke with great wrath to his brother, and said there was too much
of this in the Castle, and that Max would never rest till he had
brought them all to disgrace. Never had Master Adler been heard to say
so much before, but his words were well considered and seemly; but
Master Max would not allow himself to be taxed with it, for he was in
his Cassock, it being just after dinner, and so he rushed at his
brother, and, as Master Adler was mighty heavy, he could not keep
_Ballansen_, but he first fell against the wall, and at last on to the
floor, and both times he struck his head with much violence. From that
time Master Adler lost his Wits and no long time after, he died.
So Master Max took "The Estate" in possession for himself, and his
heirs, but from the same hour that he went there, he fell into furious
madness, for he believed himself to be possessed of Spirits; they were
the Spirits, he said, of his Brother, and Father, and Mother, and
others to boot. No sleep could he have because of them, but went from
Room to Room, round all the House, and cried out, and preached against
them, with mighty power; nor would he allow the windows to be shut, for
by them he hoped the Spirits might depart. But watch had to be kept
lest he should fling himself out therefrom. Down in the Town, folk
heard him preaching in such manner as though he were verily in strife
with them. So it went about that the Devil would carry off Master Max,
and that all the Spirits had been sent by him, nay, it was even said
that Master Max had had the Devil to serve him in all his lucky
undertakings, and now the Devil would have him back, for that his Time
was come, but that Master Max hoped to cheat him by his power in the
use of the Word, and by his Ghostly Knowledge. And so they fought
together for dear life, both by day and night, for Master Max could
hold on if he were not outwitted. The whole Town crowded into the
Market Place, and up into the avenue, to listen. There was a terror
upon all, but none spoke of it, and further no Parson could be found,
albeit day after day messengers were sent all about; but every one was
abroad. So there was no one to help Master Max, by the Power of the
Word, against the Devil.
Now one evening there shone a marvellous great light upon all the
windows up at the Castle, and over the whole House, as though it were
in flames. Now Anders from the Council House, also known as Anders
Red-nose, was walking from the Town, whence he had come to deliver a
summons. In the Avenue, hard by the House, he heard the poor man
screaming with his hoarse voice, for so it now ever was, and Anders saw
the flaming light over the whole building, and in the midst of it the
Evil One, lying athwart the house, hard by Master Max's window, and
saying, "Now must thou come, Max." Anders went no further, but turned
back to the Town. As he came to the Market Place, screaming, he told us
all that he had seen and heard. And he became as frantic as Master Max
himself, and he also must be shut up and bound. And now it was seen of
all men, who had won in the struggle, and all awaited the end, and
accordingly Master Max died the day after, but quietly, and in a
peaceful frame of mind, which thing was much wondered at. Nay, he made
it understood by signs, that he would be taken to his Mother's Chamber,
there to die, and hardly was he there, when all unexpected comes Parson
Thomasius, and he prayed for Master Max, and gave to Him the Dear
_Sacramente_ of the Altar, there in that very room, and he sang to him,
and prayed heartily, and Master Max could now pray, though not with his
voice, and there he died in the same Bed as his mother before him.
Those that were there remarked, that at that very moment the Bells
chimed from the church which he himself had built. So it is after all
doubtful who won, he or the Devil.
I would I had the gift of a great writer, so that I might be able to
describe in every way what this Man was; for what he was during his
life, no one can know who has not been under him, as it was with me for
many years. Even now I often dream of him at night, so that my wife is
awakened by my great Fear and out-cries, and she wakes me assuring me
that he is dead. But I am commonly bathed in sweat from head to foot.
He was three times married and would have taken a wife a fourth time,
an he had not died. I have spoken with them all three. For I had often
need to go to the house on account of my business. Then they told all
their troubles to me, the one after the other. For he would have
everything done, and that all at once. I do not use my own words, but
those of Aadel Knutsdotter his second wife. She died at Candlemas, but
a little before as she sat in the green Parlour, she called me in, for
she had heard me in the kitchen. She was very weak, and her Hands
trembled. I asked what ailed her? "This is what ails me," she answered,
"that my husband has worn me out with bearing of children, and with
toil, like the garment he wears next him, so now it is over with me.
God knows who will be the next, though mayhap he knows himself." That
was what she said, and, but a short while after, she died. But the next
one was Birgitte Mogensdotter, the Apothecary's daughter, and the
wedding was just three months to the day, after Aadel was buried.
Albeit Birgitte was a big strong woman, she became so fearful when she
heard that he was to have her to wife, that she filled herself with
strong drink whenever she could come by any of that which her father
the Apothecary dealt in. She has often told me herself wherefor she had
taken to drink, and this was the reason of it. But she fought with him
when she was in liquor, and in the end she poisoned herself. The
Doctor, Mogens Mauritius, has since said this; she did not die of
drink, as was commonly said. She was married three years, and had two
sons by him. He had in all thirteen children, albeit he was not an old
man when he died. By a blow he had made the eldest son, Adler, deaf of
both ears, so that he became an idiot.
Even if, with my slender gifts, I could describe him as he was wont to
behave when he was wroth with wives, servants, children and others, yet
would I not do it. For we saw at his departing that God himself, in his
unsearchable favour (for verily that is great), had forgiven him. Why
then should not we, poor creatures towards whom he has sinned far less,
do the like. Which thing indeed The Bishop said in the rare oration he
made over him. For his burying was Mighty grand and magnificent. Never
have I seen the like; I might fill several pages if I were to count the
noble Persons who were there, and say what in three days was eaten, and
drunk, and said. In his lifetime Parson Max was more powerful than any
who had ever been in this place, Except the King, no one had any word
to say, as long as he was in his Prime. He was skilled also in the
Arts, namely thus, that he helped the people in all difficulties, more
especially with accounts, and in Building. I have told about the
Church, but I have forgotten to say that he was also a great
ship-builder. As a little lad he had gained skill down by the dock, and
later at "Holmen" in Copenhagen, where he was wont to go, and also
abroad, he carefully studied this. I have heard that from himself. The
ships built here in his brother's dock, under the river banks, were all
built by him, and several thereof were sold abroad, bringing great fame
and gain to us. But now we will leave speaking of him.
From this history we can clearly see how all has been directed of God,
namely, that the Father Curt brought their Mother and himself to ruin,
and Master Max, both his Brother and _himself_, and to a great degree
his Eldest son, so that but little of Blessing had come with what they
had stolen from Claus Mathiassoen, and from many others. Likewise their
strength alone was a cause of stumbling to them. In the next place we
must be mindful that the King's High and Sacred name was taken in vain,
in order to deceive, but for punishment it was, that in the same mighty
name "The Estate" was squandered.
There are more than I unworthy, who have noted this. For, as the
before-named Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsen was at Copenhagen, in order
to try to gain the office of Collector of Tolls, he said the same to
the King's Confessor, who was known to him. And as Niels sought
_Audience_ of the King, the Confessor followed him, and, in the King's
Presence, he prayed Master Niels frankly to relate all which he had
told to him. And when the King rightly understood how it had befallen,
that "The Estate" had come into Curt's possession, and what had been
the cause of its ruin, namely, that the King's most noble name had, in
all innocence, stood father to both these things, the King graciously
vouchsafed to lend his ear, and after much thought to say, "The Lord is
more cunning than all the rogues put together." And these words of the
King, do I in all humility make mine own, as I leave behind me this
history, and repair to other Lands.
About the year 1830 the following was all that remained of "The
Estate." The Mountain with the woods, in which the fir-trees were again
beginning to predominate, the great ruinous house, the curious gardens,
with their stone walls, on each side of the avenue, several bare fields
between the gardens and the town, and a few more on either hand. Beside
this some clearings round about, still belonged to "The Estate."
The then owner, a tall, dark, dirty fellow, in a green apron which
reached to his feet, worked in his own garden; this, with the addition
of a few cows, was his only means of subsistence.
He was the only survivor of the whole family in that part of the
country, and he was unmarried.
II
JOHN KURT
CHAPTER I
LONELINESS
At fifteen Konrad Kurt had left his home; he could no longer bear to
witness the cruelty with which his mother was treated; for domestic
tyranny was an heirloom in the Kurt family. He crossed over to Hull,
and made his home for some time with an uncle, but was eventually sent,
at his expense, to live in the country. The boy's nervous system had
been pronounced by a doctor to be far from strong, and if he were to be
made any thing of, he must live as much as possible in the open air; it
was therefore suggested that he might be brought up as a gardener. Now
gardening chanced to be a perfect _gourmandise_ in the Kurt family, so
that the lad eventually adopted it as his profession.
When, on his father's death, he returned home to see after his own
interests, and to take care of his poor mother, he found but little
else to take care of, his worthy father having sold all the clearing
rights of his last woods, his remaining shares in some ships, and
finally the tile works, sinking the whole of the proceeds in an
annuity. In a word, he had the houses, the gardens, and a field or two;
all the rest Kurt had, as they say, "eaten bare" all round him. His
son, he considered, must follow his example. He might easily begin by
selling the field nearest to the town; with the lower garden, it
presented a splendid site for building. Konrad Kurt, on the other hand,
was quite of opinion that enough of "The Estate" had been sold already.
He therefore instead raised a loan, drained the gardens and fields, put
the houses so far into repair, that they would not actually fall to
ruin, and enlarged the forcing-house, adding another to it at a later
time. In short, he showed that it was possible to live on his
inheritance, and manage a garden, in such a way as to make it pay, an
idea which was then new in that part of the world.
At first he expended almost all he earned, but by-and-by things
improved. A single room served him for sleeping, eating, and writing;
the first room on the left side of the hall, which had been occupied by
the first Kurt, and by all the different possessors of "The Estate."
The room within it, which had been formerly used as a bedroom, was
given by Kurt to his mother, who, poor woman, was now happier than she
had ever been her in life before. All household work was done in the
kitchen, on the other side of the wide hall, which, running through the
whole house, divided it in two. The rest of the main building remained
empty. In the autumn Kurt covered the floors of the different rooms
with such portions of his produce as needed drying.
He was an impetuous man, taciturn at times, and stormy at others, but a
good man at the bottom. His servants and workmen stood by him, and he
stood by them. The sailors and fisher men living up on the mountain
also received a great deal of kindness from him; he gave them seeds,
and taught them how to cultivate their gardens, and utilise the
produce. In the course of many years, the refuse from their houses had
caused so great an accumulation round them, that enough soil had been
formed to enable any one to have a strip of garden who chose to give
the labour to it, besides which, they could carry away as much mould as
they wished for from "The Estate" to mix with it. Never had the folk on
the hill imagined that they would come to carrying earth from down
below, that they would ever get time for, or find any fun in, such an
occupation. Every Sunday throughout the spring and summer, Kurt went up
to the mountain and helped them, a custom which he kept up through his
whole life, but these were almost the only occasions on which he was
ever seen beyond his gardens, house, and cellars.
He was up and out every morning in spring and summer by four o'clock,
and as soon as it was light during the autumn and winter months. His
summer costume consisted of a pair of fustian trousers, a whitey-grey
linen coat, a green apron reaching down to his feet, and a cap with a
wide peak. The same trousers and long apron were worn during the
winter, with the addition of a tightly buttoned seaman's pea-jacket,
and a fur cap with a wide brim always turned down in such a way that
the loose flaps were constantly brushing against his face. He had never
been seen dressed in any other way, excepting on Sundays, when he
shaved, wore a starched shirt, and laid aside his apron. He had not
inherited the broad defiant forehead of the Kurts. His was a fairly
high one, and noticeable for its excessive whiteness; all the more so,
perhaps, from the rest of his face being very weather-beaten. He had
the eager, wild eyes of his ancestors; his face was somewhat longer,
thin, and with rather a wide nose.
Housewives and children soon learned that it was better to go up to
"The Estate" and deal with Kurt himself, stern and even passionate
though he was, than to go to the shop on the market-place, for he was
in reality very easy to manage, and excessively fond of children; they
had to be careful, however, not to be too long in making a choice, and
never to attempt to bargain.
He often seemed, when he was standing there, to be pondering some
serious matter in an absent-minded way, and would then collect himself
with a hasty "Ta, ta, ta, ta," ending with a long, deep "Ta-a-a!"
Everything prospered with him, his cows and garden paying him better
and better. But after a few years a rumour began to spread that, since
his mother's death, he spent every evening by himself getting drunk on
whisky toddy. As he went regularly to bed at half-past nine, any one
who wished to ascertain if this were the case, must go up there before
that time. One or two people did so, and found that it was but too
true; by half-past eight he was thoroughly drunk, crying, and unable to
speak distinctly.
At last this came to the ears of "old" Pastor Green. He was always, as
a young man, called "old," a frightful accident having completely
bleached his hair.
Pastor Green was one of the first men in Norway who came forward to
combat intemperance, and who gave up their lives to the work. It was
his axiom that it is useless to preach against drunkenness otherwise
than by facts and actions, and that it is quite hopeless to expect to
convert the individual drunkard, without knowing what cause has driven
him to drink. There always is one, and if drinking is not hereditary,
or become a long-established habit, it is to the removal of the cause
that you must look for its cure.
Green paid a visit to Konrad Kurt, and chatted with him, until he drew
from him, that while he was living in England, he had had an intrigue
with the wife of the gardener, to whom he had been apprenticed, and
that she had had a child by him. She had died just at the same time as
his mother.
He had been madly in love with her, he said; yes, it had been a
terrible thing to deceive her husband. "But--there really was no help
for it"--and he began to cry. Then their boy, "Ah! there never was such
a merry child born before." And, in his yearning for him, the tipsy man
cried, and upbraided himself with wild oaths.
Green endeavoured to induce him to ask pardon from the gardener, and
bring the boy home, but Kurt had not the courage for the effort, so
that there was nothing for it but for Green to use what other means he
could.
Accordingly, one summer evening, he walked up to "The Estate,"
accompanied by a tall, dark haired boy of twelve, and asked for Kurt,
who was still at work in the garden. It was a sight to see how Kurt, as
he got up out of the hot-bed where he had been digging, rubbing the
earth from his hands, suddenly stopped short, and stared at Green from
under the wide peak of his cap; then turned his gaze to the dark-haired
boy, and back again to Green.
At last he recognised the eager, wild eyes, larger than his by-the-way,
the long, rather wide nose, and the thin face, so like his own.
Unconsciously he exclaimed in English: "I beg pardon--but this lad----"
He could go no further, and Green was obliged to finish for him: "Yes,
this was indeed his son."
That evening Kurt forgot to get out the whisky bottle, and when he did
next produce it, the boy seized hold of it and flung it out of the
window against a stone--a really capital shot. Glass, sugar-basin, and
spoon went the same way; capitally thrown they certainly were. Pastor
Green had begged the boy to watch when his father took out the bottle,
and try to get it away from him, and it was in this fashion that the
youngster carried out his instructions. His father stood for a few
minutes staring at him, till at last he broke out into an irresistible
peal of laughter.