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and smoothed and prepared by the sea。 Even the bleached fishes'
skeletons； the water plants dried by the wind； and seaweed； white
and shining long linen…like bands waving between the stones… all these
seemed made to give pleasure and occupation for the boy's thoughts；
and he had an intelligent mind； many great talents lay dormant in him。
How readily he remembered stories and songs that he heard； and how
dexterous he was with his fingers！ With stones and mussel…shells he
could put together pictures and ships with which one could decorate
the room； and he could make wonderful things from a stick； his
foster…mother said； although he was still so young and little。 He
had a sweet voice； and every melody seemed to flow naturally from
his lips。 And in his heart were hidden chords； which might have
sounded far out into the world if he had been placed anywhere else
than in the fisherman's hut by the North Sea。
One day another ship was wrecked on the coast； and among other
things a chest filled with valuable flower bulbs was washed ashore。
Some were put into saucepans and cooked； for they were thought to be
fit to eat； and others lay and shrivelled in the sand… they did not
accomplish their purpose； or unfold their magnificent colours。 Would
Jurgen fare better？ The flower bulbs had soon played their part； but
he had years of apprenticeship before him。 Neither he nor his
friends noticed in what a monotonous； uniform way one day followed
another； for there was always plenty to do and see。 The ocean itself
was a great lesson…book； and it unfolded a new leaf each day of calm
or storm… the crested wave or the smooth surface。
The visits to the church were festive occasions； but among the
fisherman's house one was especially looked forward to； this was； in
fact； the visit of the brother of Jurgen's foster…mother； the
eel…breeder from Fjaltring； near Bovbjerg。 He came twice a year in a
cart； painted red with blue and white tulips upon it； and full of
eels； it was covered and locked like a box； two dun oxen drew it；
and Jurgen was allowed to guide them。
The eel…breeder was a witty fellow； a merry guest； and brought a
measure of brandy with him。 They all received a small glassful or a
cupful if there were not enough glasses； even Jurgen had about a
thimbleful； that he might digest the fat eel； as the eel…breeder said；
he always told one story over and over again； and if his hearers
laughed he would immediately repeat it to them。 Jurgen while still a
boy； and also when he was older； used phrases from the eel…breeder's
story on various occasions； so it will be as well for us to listen
to it。 It runs thus：
〃The eels went into the bay； and the young ones begged leave to go
a little farther out。 'Don't go too far；' said their mother； 'the ugly
eel…spearer might come and snap you all up。' But they went too far；
and of eight daughters only three came back to the mother； and these
wept and said； 'We only went a little way out； and the ugly
eel…spearer came immediately and stabbed five of our sisters to
death。' 'They'll come back again；' said the mother eel。 'Oh； no；'
exclaimed the daughters； 'for he skinned them； cut them in two； and
fried them。' 'Oh； they'll come back again；' the mother eel
persisted。 'No；' replied the daughters； 'for he ate them up。' 'They'll
come back again；' repeated the mother eel。 'But he drank brandy
after them；' said the daughters。 'Ah； then they'll never come back；'
said the mother； and she burst out crying； 'it's the brandy that
buries the eels。'〃
〃And therefore；〃 said the eel…breeder in conclusion； 〃it is always
the proper thing to drink brandy after eating eels。〃
This story was the tinsel thread； the most humorous recollection
of Jurgen's life。 He also wanted to go a little way farther out and up
the bay… that is to say； out into the world in a ship… but his
mother said； like the eel…breeder； 〃There are so many bad people…
eel spearers！〃 He wished to go a little way past the sand…hills； out
into the dunes； and at last he did： four happy days； the brightest
of his childhood； fell to his lot； and the whole beauty and
splendour of Jutland； all the happiness and sunshine of his home； were
concentrated in these。 He went to a festival； but it was a burial
feast。
A rich relation of the fisherman's family had died； the farm was
situated far eastward in the country and a little towards the north。
Jurgen's foster parents went there； and he also went with them from
the dunes； over heath and moor； where the Skjaerumaa takes its
course through green meadows and contains many eels； mother eels
live there with their daughters； who are caught and eaten up by wicked
people。 But do not men sometimes act quite as cruelly towards their
own fellow…men？ Was not the knight Sir Bugge murdered by wicked
people？ And though he was well spoken of； did he not also wish to kill
the architect who built the castle for him； with its thick walls and
tower； at the point where the Skjaerumaa falls into the bay？ Jurgen
and his parents now stood there； the wall and the ramparts still
remained； and red crumbling fragments lay scattered around。 Here it
was that Sir Bugge； after the architect had left him； said to one of
his men； 〃Go after him and say； 'Master； the tower shakes。' If he
turns round； kill him and take away the money I paid him； but if he
does not turn round let him go in peace。〃 The man did as he was
told； the architect did not turn round； but called back 〃The tower
does not shake in the least； but one day a man will come from the west
in a blue cloak… he will cause it to shake！〃 And so indeed it happened
a hundred years later； for the North Sea broke in and cast down the
tower； but Predbjorn Gyldenstjerne； the man who then possessed the
castle； built a new castle higher up at the end of the meadow； and
that one is standing to this day； and is called Norre…Vosborg。
Jurgen and his foster parents went past this castle。 They had told
him its story during the long winter evenings； and now he saw the
stately edifice； with its double moat； and trees and bushes； the wall；
covered with ferns； rose within the moat； but the lofty lime…trees
were the most beautiful of all； they grew up to the highest windows；
and the air was full of their sweet fragrance。 In a north…west
corner of the garden stood a great bush full of blossom； like winter
snow amid the summer's green； it was a juniper bush； the first that
Jurgen had ever seen in bloom。 He never forgot it； nor the lime…trees；
the child's soul treasured up these memories of beauty and fragrance
to gladden the old man。
From Norre…Vosborg； where the juniper blossomed； the journey
became more pleasant； for they met some other people who were also
going to the funeral and were riding in waggons。 Our travellers had to
sit all together on a little box at the back of the waggon； but even
this； they thought； was better than walking。 So they continued their
journey across the rugged heath。 The oxen which drew the waggon
stopped every now and then； where a patch of fresh grass appeared amid
the heather。 The sun shone with considerable heat； and it was
wonderful to behold how in the far distance something like smoke
seemed to be rising； yet this smoke was clearer than the air； it was
transparent； and looked like rays of light rolling and dancing afar
over the heath。
〃That is Lokeman driving his sheep；〃 said some one。
And this was enough to excite Jurgen's imagination。 He felt as
if they were now about to enter fairyland； though everything was still
real。 How quiet it was！ The heath stretched far and wide around them
like a beautiful carpet。 The heather was in blossom； and the
juniper…bushes and fresh oak saplings rose like bouquets from the
earth。 An inviting place for a frolic； if it had not been for the
number of poisonous adders of which the travellers spoke； they also
mentioned that the place had formerly been infested with wolves； and
that the district was still called Wolfsborg for this reason。 The
old man who was driving the oxen told them that in the lifetime of his
father the horses had many a hard battle with the wild beasts that
were now exterminated。 One morning； when he himself had gone out to
bring in the horses； he found one of them standing with its forefeet
on a wolf it had killed； but the savage animal had torn and
lacerated the brave horse's legs。
The journey over the heath and the deep sand was only too
quickly at an end。 They stopped before the house of mourning； where
they found plenty of guests within and without。 Waggon after waggon
stood side by side； while the horses and oxen had been turned out to
graze on the scanty pasture。 Great sand…hills like those at home by
the North Sea rose behind the house and extended far and wide。 How had
they come here； so many miles inland？ They were as large and high as
those on the coast； and the wind had carried them there； there was
also a legend attached to them。
Psalms were sung； and a few of the old people shed tears； with
this exception； the gues