"Good evening," said Ole-Luk-Oie.
Hjalmar nodded, and then sprang out of bed and turned his
great-grandfather's portrait to the wall so that it might not interrupt
them as it had done yesterday. "Now," said he, "you must tell me some
stories about five green peas that lived in one pod, or of the chickseed
that courted the chickweed, or of the Darning-needle who acted so
proudly because she fancied herself an embroidery needle."
"You may have too much of a good thing," said Ole-Luk-Oie. "You know
that I like best to show you something, so I will show you my brother.
He is also called Ole-Luk-Oie, but he never visits any one but once, and
when he does come he takes him away on his horse and tells him stories
as they ride along.
"He knows only two stories. One of these is so wonderfully beautiful
that no one in the world can imagine anything at all like it, but the
other it would be impossible to describe."
Then Ole-Luk-Oie lifted Hjalmar up to the window. "There, now you can
see my brother, the other Ole-Luk-Oie; he is also called Death. You see
he is not so bad as they represent him in picture books. There he is a
skeleton, but here his coat is embroidered with silver, and he wears the
splendid uniform of a hussar, and a mantle of black velvet flies behind
him over the horse. Look, how he gallops along."
Hjalmar saw that as this Ole-Luk-Oie rode on he lifted up old and young
and carried them away on his horse. Some he seated in front of him and
some behind, but always inquired first, "How stands the record book?"
"Good," they all answered.
"Yes, but let me see for myself," he replied, and they were obliged to
give him the books. Then all those who had "Very good" or "Exceedingly
good" came in front of the horse and heard the beautiful story, while
those who had "Middling" or "Fairly good" in their books were obliged to
sit behind. They cried and wanted to jump down from the horse, but they
could not get free, for they seemed fastened to the seat.
"Why, Death is a most splendid Luk-Oie," said Hjalmar. "I am not in the
least afraid of him."
"You need have no fear of him," said Ole-Luk-Oie; "but take care and
keep a good conduct book."
"Now I call that very instructive," murmured the great-grandfather's
portrait. "It is useful sometimes to express an opinion." So he was
quite satisfied.
These are some of the doings and sayings of Ole-Luk-Oie. I hope he may
visit you himself this evening and relate some more.
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