按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the forest of West Jutland； but the forest is the sea itself； and
the inhabitants find beams； and planks； and fragments which the
waves have cast upon the beach。 One of these blocks had been placed by
loving hands on a child's grave； and one of the women who had come out
of the church walked up to it； she stood there； her eyes resting on
the weather…beaten memorial； and a few moments afterwards her
husband joined her。 They were both silent； but he took her hand； and
they walked together across the purple heath； over moor and meadow
towards the sandhills。 For a long time they went on without speaking。
〃It was a good sermon to…day；〃 the man said at last。 〃If we had
not God to trust in； we should have nothing。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman； 〃He sends joy and sorrow； and He has a
right to send them。 To…morrow our little son would have been five
years old if we had been permitted to keep him。〃
〃It is no use fretting； wife；〃 said the man。 〃The boy is well
provided for。 He is where we hope and pray to go to。〃
They said nothing more； but went out towards their houses among
the sand…hills。 All at once； in front of one of the houses where the
sea grass did not keep the sand down with its twining roots； what
seemed to be a column of smoke rose up。 A gust of wind rushed
between the hills； hurling the particles of sand high into the air；
another gust； and the strings of fish hung up to dry flapped and
beat violently against the walls of the cottage； then everything was
quiet once more； and the sun shone with renewed heat。
The man and his wife went into the cottage。 They had soon taken
off their Sunday clothes and come out again； hurrying over the dunes
which stood there like great waves of sand suddenly arrested in
their course； while the sandweeds and dune grass with its bluish
stalks spread a changing colour over them。 A few neighbours also
came out； and helped each other to draw the boats higher up on the
beach。 The wind now blew more keenly； it was chilly and cold； and when
they went back over the sand…hills； sand and little sharp stones
blew into their faces。 The waves rose high； crested with white foam；
and the wind cut off their crests； scattering the foam far and wide。
Evening came； there was a swelling roar in the air； a wailing or
moaning like the voices of despairing spirits； that sounded above
the thunder of the waves。 The fisherman's little cottage was on the
very margin； and the sand rattled against the window panes； every
now and then a violent gust of wind shook the house to its foundation。
It was dark； but about midnight the moon would rise。 Later on the
air became clearer； but the storm swept over the perturbed sea with
undiminished fury； the fisher folks had long since gone to bed； but in
such weather there was no chance of closing an eye。 Presently there
was a tapping at the window； the door was opened； and a voice said：
〃There's a large ship stranded on the farthest reef。〃
In a moment the fisher people sprung from their beds and hastily
dressed themselves。 The moon had risen； and it was light enough to
make the surrounding objects visible to those who could open their
eyes in the blinding clouds of sand； the violence of the wind was
terrible； and it was only possible to pass among the sand…hills if one
crept forward between the gusts； the salt spray flew up from the sea
like down； and the ocean foamed like a roaring cataract towards the
beach。 Only a practised eye could discern the vessel out in the
offing； she was a fine brig； and the waves now lifted her over the
reef； three or four cables' length out of the usual channel。 She drove
towards the shore； struck on the second reef； and remained fixed。
It was impossible to render assistance； the sea rushed in upon the
vessel； making a clean breach over her。 Those on shore thought they
heard cries for help from those on board； and could plainly
distinguish the busy but useless efforts made by the stranded sailors。
Now a wave came rolling onward。 It fell with enormous force on the
bowsprit； tearing it from the vessel； and the stern was lifted high
above the water。 Two people were seen to embrace and plunge together
into the sea； and the next moment one of the largest waves that rolled
towards the sand…hills threw a body on the beach。 It was a woman；
the sailors said that she was quite dead； but the women thought they
saw signs of life in her； so the stranger was carried across the
sand…hills to the fisherman's cottage。 How beautiful and fair she was！
She must be a great lady； they said。
They laid her upon the humble bed； there was not a yard of linen
on it； only a woollen coverlet to keep the occupant warm。
Life returned to her； but she was delirious； and knew nothing of
what had happened or where she was； and it was better so； for
everything she loved and valued lay buried in the sea。 The same
thing happened to her ship as to the one spoken of in the song about
〃The King of England's Son。〃
〃Alas！ how terrible to see
The gallant bark sink rapidly。〃
Fragments of the wreck and pieces of wood were washed ashore； they
were all that remained of the vessel。 The wind still blew violently on
the coast。
For a few moments the strange lady seemed to rest； but she awoke
in pain； and uttered cries of anguish and fear。 She opened her
wonderfully beautiful eyes； and spoke a few words； but nobody
understood her。… And lo！ as a reward for the sorrow and suffering
she had undergone； she held in her arms a new…born babe。 The child
that was to have rested upon a magnificent couch； draped with silken
curtains； in a luxurious home； it was to have been welcomed with joy
to a life rich in all the good things of this world； and now Heaven
had ordained that it should be born in this humble retreat； that it
should not even receive a kiss from its mother； for when the
fisherman's wife laid the child upon the mother's bosom； it rested
on a heart that beat no more… she was dead。
The child that was to have been reared amid wealth and luxury
was cast into the world； washed by the sea among the sand…hills to
share the fate and hardships of the poor。
Here we are reminded again of the song about 〃The King of
England's Son；〃 for in it mention is made of the custom prevalent at
the time； when knights and squires plundered those who had been
saved from shipwreck。 The ship had stranded some distance south of
Nissum Bay； and the cruel； inhuman days； when； as we have just said；
the inhabitants of Jutland treated the shipwrecked people so crudely
were past； long ago。 Affectionate sympathy and self…sacrifice for
the unfortunate existed then； just as it does in our own time in
many a bright example。 The dying mother and the unfortunate child
would have found kindness and help wherever they had been cast by
the winds； but nowhere would it have been more sincere than in the
cottage of the poor fisherman's wife； who had stood； only the day
before； beside her child's grave； who would have been five years old
that day if God had spared it to her。
No one knew who the dead stranger was； they could not even form
a conjecture； the fragments of wreckage gave no clue to the matter。
No tidings reached Spain of the fate of the daughter and
son…in…law。 They did not arrive at their destination； and violent
storms had raged during the past weeks。 At last the verdict was given：
〃Foundered at sea… all lost。〃 But in the fisherman's cottage among the
sand…hills near Hunsby； there lived a little scion of the rich Spanish
family。
Where Heaven sends food for two； a third can manage to find a
meal； and in the depth of the sea there is many a dish of fish for the
hungry。
They called the boy Jurgen。
〃It must certainly be a Jewish child； its skin is so dark；〃 the
people said。
〃It might be an Italian or a Spaniard；〃 remarked the clergyman。
But to the fisherman's wife these nations seemed all the same； and
she consoled herself with the thought that the child was baptized as a
Christian。
The boy throve； the noble blood in his veins was warm； and he
became strong on his homely fare。 He grew apace in the humble cottage；
and the Danish dialect spoken by the West Jutes became his language。
The pomegranate seed from Spain became a hardy plant on the coast of
West Jutland。 Thus may circumstances alter the course of a man's life！
To this home he clung with deep…rooted affection； he was to experience
cold and hunger； and the misfortunes and hardships that surround the
poor； but he also tasted of their joys。
Childhood has bright days for every one； and the memory of them
shines through the whole after…life。 The boy had many sources of
pleasure and enjoyment； the coast for miles and miles was full of
playthings； for it was a mosaic of pebbles； some red as coral or
yellow as amber； and others again white and rounded like birds' eggs
and smoothed and prepared by the sea。 Even the bleached fishes'
skeletons； the water plants dried by the wind； and seaweed； whit