Grandfather had told him to, saluted again as straight and serious as
could be. This amused the high gentleman still more, and he asked the
people who stood near about the parents of the little boy.
The sheriff, who by this time had crept out of the ditch, came
hurriedly forward to tell that the little boy was an orphan and lived
with his grandfather, an old blind soldier named Hugh.
What was the surprise of all, when the gentleman stepped out of his
carriage, took Bikku by the hand and walked with him straight to the
little cabin. And what excitement in the little hut! Grandmother could
say nothing when the stranger entered, but stood there open-mouthed.
Grandfather, because he saw nothing, had more courage and pointed
politely in the direction where he knew the bench was.
"God's blessings on you my friends," said the stranger and shook hands
with the old people. "It seems to me I recognize you, old comrade," he
continued, while he looked searchingly at Grandfather. "Are you not
Hugh No. 39 of my old regiment?"
"Yes, Captain," answered Grandfather in great surprise, for he
recognized the voice.
"God be praised, that at last I have found you. Do you think I could
forget you, who saved my life? You, who carried me on your back across
the stream while the bullets sang about your ears, and the enemies were
all about? If you have forgotten it, do you think I ever should forget
it? After the war was over, I looked for you and inquired for you
everywhere, but without success, and at last I thought you were dead.
But now I have found you, and now I may repay you a little by looking
after you and yours in your old age. And what a fine boy you have!"
The gentleman caught Bikku Matti in his arms, lifted him high up and
kissed him so heartily that the hat fell off, the sword rattled and the
rest of Grandmother's pins fell out of the coat and the trousers.
"No, no, let me alone," said Bikku. "Now you have made me drop the cap,
and Grandfather will be angry."
"Dear sir," said Grandmother, quite ashamed of Bikku, "be so kind as
not to mind how the boy talks; he is not used to being with people."
"Don't worry about the boy's talk, he is right in guarding the
soldier's cap. Listen, Bikku, do you want to become a soldier like
your Grandfather?" said the gentleman.
"Grandfather says it depends upon whom I am to fight," said Bikku.
"That is right," said the gentleman, "and you certainly are not lacking
in courage."
"That, Captain, is because he wears trousers for the first time to-day,
and that gives courage."
"Rather say it is the old uniform which gives courage," said the
General (for now he was a general). "Much gunpowder and much honor are
hidden in that old uniform and the memories of it pass from generation
to generation. But this is a new age and the boy may live to serve his
country in many ways. Are you strong little man?"
Bikku did not answer but held out his arm and showed his muscles.
"Yes," said the General, "I see you will be as strong as a bear when
you are a little older. Will you go with me and eat soft bread and
drink milk every day, and cakes and candy you may have too, if you are
good?"
"And shall I have a horse to ride on?" asked Bikku.
"Yes, of course," said the General.
Bikku thought it over a while, his little blue eyes flew from the
stranger to Grandfather, from Grandfather to Grandmother, and back to
the stranger again. At last he crept upon the old woman's knee and
said, "I will stay with Grandfather and Grandmother."
"But dear Bikku," said the old soldier, with tears in his eyes,
"Grandfather gives you only hard bread, water and herring. Don't you
hear that gentleman offers you soft bread, milk and other good things,
and a horse to ride?"
"I want to stay with Grandfather, I won't leave Grandfather," cried
Bikku, hardly able to keep the tears away.
"You are right," said the General and stroked Bikku's round cheek,
"stay with your Grandfather, and none of you shall suffer want, and
when you grow to be a man, come to me, if I am still living. You shall
have fields to plow and forests to hew. But whatever work you do, it is
all the same, you will be an honest and loyal son of your country. Will
you not, Bikku?"
"Yes," said the boy standing straight and tall.
"God bless you child," said Grandfather and Grandmother, moved to
tears. "And God bless our beloved country, and may he give it many
loyal sons like you, little Bikku. Honor thy father and thy mother that
thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
"That's written in my primer," said Bikku Matti softly.
"Yes, but it must be written in our hearts also," said the general, and
once more he kissed the boy.
--_From the Swedish by Zacharias Topelius._
[Illustration]
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author's
original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.