Strife and Peace
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Fredrika Bremer >> Strife and Peace
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A MAY DAY.
The first time, yes, the first time flings
A glory even on trivial things;
It passes soon, a moment's falling,
Then it is also past recalling.
The grass itself has such a prime;
Man prizes most spring's flowery time,
When first the verdure decks earth's bosom,
And the heart-leaf foretels the blossom.
Thus God lets all, however low,
In "the first time" a triumph know;
Even in the hour when death impendeth,
And life itself to heaven ascendeth.
HENR WERGELAND.
It was in the beginning of May. A heavy shower of rain had just ceased.
The wind sprang up in the south, blew mild and fresh, and chased herds
of white clouds over the brightening heaven.
The court at Semb, which had been desolate during the rain, now began to
be full of life and movement.
Six ducks paddled up and down with great delight in a puddle of water,
bathing and beautifying themselves.
The chanticleer, called the Knight, scratched in the earth, and
thereupon began to crow merrily, in order to make it known that he had
something nice to invite to, and as two neat grey-speckled hens sprang
towards him, he let first one grain of corn and then another fall out of
his beak, of which, agreeably to a clever hen-instinct, they availed
themselves without ceremony or compliments. How easily the creatures
live!
The turkey-cock was in great perplexity, and had a deal of trouble to
keep his countenance. His white lady had accepted the invitation of the
chanticleer (which she probably thought was general), and sprang forward
as fast as she could with her long legs, and stuck her head between the
two hens to have a share of their treat. The knightly young chanticleer
on this, with some surprise and a certain astonished sound in his
throat, drew himself a little proudly back, but for all that was too
much of the "gentleman" to mortify, in the least, the foreign
presumptuous beauty. But the grey-speckled hens turned their backs upon
her. Her neglected spouse gobbled in full desperation, and swelled
himself out, his countenance flaming with anger, by the side of his
black wife, who was silent, and cast deprecating eyes up to heaven.
By the kitchen-wall, the black cat and her kittens romped amid a
thousand twists and turns; whilst above them the mice, in the
waterspout, peeped peeringly and curiously forth, drank of the
rain-water, snuffed in the fresh air, and afterwards crept quietly again
under the house tiles.
The flies stretched their legs, and began to walk about in the sunshine.
In the court stood a tall ash, in whose top waved a magpie nest. A many
magpies, candidates for the airy palace, made their appearance there,
flew screaming round about, wished to get possession of it, and chased
one another away. At length two remained as conquerors of the nest.
There laughed they and kissed under the spring-blue heaven, rocked by
the south wind. Those that were chased away consoled themselves by
fluttering down upon the yard-dog's provision-trough, and plucking out
of it, whilst the proud Alfiero, sitting outside his kennel,
contemplated them in dignified repose.
The starlings struck up their quaver, and sent forth their melodious
whistling, whilst they congregated together on the edge of the roof.
The grapes shook from themselves the rain-drops in the wind, and the
little stellaria, which is so dear to the singing birds, raised again
its head to the sun, and was saluted by the jubilant song of the lark.
The geese waddled, gabbling over the grassy fields, biting the young
green herbage. In this way, a change was revealed, which had taken place
in the company. The bully, the white gander, had by accident become
lame, and had with this lost his power and his respect. The grey gander
had now an opportunity of exhibiting a beautiful character, a noble
disposition; but no! The grey gander showed nothing of that; but as the
white gander had done to him, did he now in return; stretching out his
neck against him, and keeping him at a distance with cries and blows;
and the geese-madams troubled themselves not about it, and the white
gander must now think himself well off to see his rival ruling the
assembly, whilst he himself crept behind, hapless and forsaken. Susanna,
who saw this, lost now all regard for the grey gander, without having
any higher respect for the white one. She found the one no better than
the other.
Just now Susanna returned from a visit to a peasant's cottage, where
some time ago she had helped the wife to set up a piece of weaving, and
now had been assisting her in taking it down, and her countenance beamed
with pleasure at the scene which she had witnessed there. The cow had
calved there that same morning, and the milk ran in foaming and abundant
streams, to the unspeakable joy of four small pale boys, who now were
divided in their joy over this, and their admiration of the little,
lively, black-and-white spotted calf; which admiration, however, in the
mind of the youngest, was mixed with fear. The web, also, had turned out
beyond expectation: Susanna helped the housewife to cut out the piece of
cloth in the most advantageous manner, and her cheerful words and
cordial sympathy were like the cream to the milk breakfast. It was with
this glad impression on her soul, that Susanna entered the court at
Semb, and was saluted by Alfiero and all the poultry with great joy. In
the mean time she heard the cries and lamentations of birds, and this
led her to the orchard. Here she saw a pair of starlings, which with
anxiety and screams were flying about the lowest branches of an oak. In
the grass below, something black was hopping about, and Susanna saw that
it was a young starling, which had ventured itself too early out of the
nest and had fallen down. It now raised its weak cries to its parents,
which, as it appeared, sought by their fluttering to keep at a
respectful distance a grey cat, whose greedy eyes gleamed forth from
under a hawthorn-bush. Susanna drove away the cat, and took up and
warmed the little bird in her breast. But this did not at all pacify the
starling papa and mamma; their uneasiness seemed rather to increase.
Susanna would gladly from her heart have allayed it; but when she looked
up and saw the starling nest high up in the oak trunk, many ells above
her head, she was quite in despair. With that the noon-day bell rang;
Alfiero howled to it in his tragical manner, and Harald, at the head of
his workpeople, returned from the field. Susanna hastened to ask counsel
from him, and showed him the young one. "Give it here," said Harald, "I
will twist its neck, and so we can have a nice little roast for dinner."
"No! can you be so cruel?" replied Susanna.
Harald laughed without answering, looked up to the oak to see where the
starling nest was, and swung himself with great agility up the tree.
Standing now upon the lowest boughs, he bent himself down to Susanna,
and said, "Give it here to me, I will manage it." And Susanna now gave
him the bird, without any further remark. Lightly and nimbly sprang
Harald now from bough to bough, holding the bird in his left hand, and
accompanied by the crying starling-parents, who flew terrified around
his head. It was certainly a surprise to them when the young one was
placed uninjured in the nest, but it was no longer so for Susanna; and
as Harald, glowing and warm, sprang down from the tree, he was received
by Susanna's most friendly glances and cordial thanks.
At this moment came several travelling tradespeople with their packs
into the court, and were observed by Harald, who said that he had some
little purchases to make, and besought Susanna's advice. Susanna was a
woman, and women give advice willingly. Always good, of course!
After some time Harald had made various purchases, and had always asked
counsel of Susanna, who thereby felt herself somewhat flattered, but
could not help thinking the while of Harald "yet he must be a regular
egotist. He always thinks about himself, and always buys for himself,
and never anything for his sister, of whom he, however, talks so much,
and seems to love so well! But--the Norwegian men, they love themselves
most!"
And this time it did not seem without reason that Susanna thought so,
for it was terrible how thoughtful Harald was for himself, and what a
deal he needed for this self.
This piece of damask he would have for his table; this muslin for his
curtains; these pocket-handkerchiefs for his nose; and so on.
Susanna could not avoid saying, on purpose to try him, when they came to
a handsome piece for a dress--
"How pretty that is! Certainly that would become your sister very
nicely!"
"What? my sister!" returned Harald. "No; it is best that she clothe
herself. This is exactly the thing that I want for my sofa. One is
always nearest to oneself. One must care a little for oneself."
"Then care you for yourself! I have no time!" said Susanna, quite
excited, as she turned her back upon him and his wares, and went.
SPRING FEELINGS.
Heaven has strewn thoughts o'er the sweet vernal dale,
These on the hearts of the flowers bestowing,
Therefore, when open the chalices glowing,
Whispers each petal a secret tale.
VELHAVEN.
May strides on, and June approaches. From their nests in the airy,
leaf-garlanded grottoes, which mother nature has prepared for them in
the lofty oaks and ashes, the starlings send their deep, lively
whistlings, their love-breathing trills. Song and fragrances fill the
woods of Norway. Rustic maidens wander with their herds and flocks up to
the Saeter dales, singing joyously:
To draw to the Saeter is good and blessed.
Come, Boeling[6] mine!
Come cow, come calf, come greatest and least;
To the Queen your steps incline.
The labour of the spring was closed; the harvests ripened beneath the
care of heaven. Harald had now more leisure, and much of this he devoted
to Susanna. He taught her to know the flowers of the dale, their names
and properties; and was as much amused at her mangling of the Latin
words, as he was charmed at the quickness with which she comprehended
and applied their economical and medicinal uses.
The dale and its beauties became to her continually more known and
beloved. She went now again in the morning to the spring, where the
ladies-mantle and the silver-weed grew so luxuriantly, and let the
feathery creatures bathe and rejoice themselves. On Sunday afternoon,
too, she sometimes took a ramble to a grove of oaks and wild
rose-bushes, at the foot of the mountain called Krystalberg, which in
the glow of the evening sun glittered with a wonderful radiance. She was
sometimes followed thither by Harald, who related many a strange legend
of Huldran, who lived in the mountain; of the dwarfs who shaped the
six-sided crystals, called thence dwarf-jewels; of the subterranean
world and doings, as these were fashioned in the rich imagination of
ancient times, and as they still darkly lived on, in the silent belief
of the northern people. Susanna's active mind seized on all this with
the intensest interest. She visioned herself in the mountain's beautiful
crystal halls; seemed to hear the song of the Neck in the rushing of the
river; and tree and blossom grew more beautiful in her eyes, as she
imagined elves and spirits speaking out of them.
Out of the prosaic soil of her life and action sprang a flower of
poetry, half reality, half legend, which diffused a delightful radiance
over her soul.
Susanna was not the only one at Semb on whom this spring operated
beneficially. The pale Mrs. Astrid seemed to raise herself out of her
gloomy trance, and to imbibe new vigour of life from the fresh vernal
air. She went out sometimes when the sun shone warmly, and she was seen
sitting long hours on a mossy stone in the wood, at the foot of the
Krystalberg. When Susanna observed that she seemed to love this spot,
she carried thither silently out of the wood, turfs with the flowering
Linnea and the fragrant single-flowered Pyrola, and planted them so that
the south wind should bear their delicious aroma to the spot where Mrs.
Astrid sate; and Susanna felt a sad pleasure in the thought that these
balsamic airs would give to her mistress an evidence of a devotion that
did not venture otherwise to show itself. Susanna would have been richly
rewarded, could she at this time have seen into her mistress's soul, and
also have read a letter which she wrote, and from which we present a
fragment.
"TO BISHOP S----.
"Love does not grow weary. Thus was I constrained to say to myself
to-day as your letter reached me, and penetrated me with the feeling of
your goodness, of your heavenly patience! And you do not grow weary of
those who almost grow weary of themselves! And always the same spring in
your hopes--the same mountain-fast, beautiful faith. Ah! that I better
deserved your friendship! But to-day I have a glad word to say to you,
and I will not withhold it from you.
"You wish to know how it is with me? Better! For some time I have
breathed more lightly. Quiet days have passed over me; mild stars have
glanced down upon my head; the waterfall has sung its cradle-song to me
by night, till it has lulled me to sleep, and it has become calmer and
better with me. The spring exerts its beneficent influence upon me. All
rises round me so great, so rich in its life and beauty, I forget myself
sometimes in admiration. It is more than thirty years since I lived in
the country.
"At times, feelings arise in me like vernal gales. I have then
experienced a certain consolation in the thought, that throughout my
long conflict I have yet striven to do right, to endure to the utmost;
that in a world where I have shed so many tears, I have also forborne to
shed many. Sometimes, out of the vernally blue heaven, something falls
on me like a tender glance, an anticipation. But, perhaps, these
brightenings are merely spring flowers, which perish with the spring.
"I go sometimes out. I enjoy sitting in the beautiful grove of oaks down
in the dale, and there, mild and beneficial feelings pass over me. The
breeze bears to me odours ineffably delicious. These odours remind me of
the world of beneficent, healing, invigorating powers which shoot forth
around me, and manifest themselves so silently, so unpretendingly,
merely through their fragrance and their still beauty. I sate there this
evening, at the foot of the mountain. The sun was hastening towards his
setting, but gleamed warmly into the grove. Near me grazed some sheep
with their tender lambs. They gazed at me with a wondering but unalarmed
air; a little bell tinkled clear and softly, as they wandered to and fro
on the green sward; it was so calm and still that I heard the small
insects which hummed in the grass at my feet, and there passed over me I
know not what feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. I enjoyed existence
in this hour like the lambs, like the insects--I can then still enjoy!
Mild, affluent Nature! on thy heart might yet mine--but there stands the
pale, bloody boy,--there stands the murderer, everlastingly between me
and peace of mind! If I could sometimes hear your voice, if I could see
frequently your clear, solace-inspiring glance, I might perhaps yet
teach myself to--look up! But I ask you not to come. Ah! I desire no one
to approach me. But be no longer so uneasy concerning me, my friend, I
am better. I have about me good people, who make my outward life safe
and agreeable. Let your affectionate thoughts, as hitherto, rest upon
me; perhaps they will some time force light into my heart!"
FOOTNOTES:
[6] Boeling is the collected flock. Queen is the fold for the night.
MAN AND WIFE.
A FRESH STRIFE.
And I will show what a fellow I am!
My master--I am incensed!
SIFUL SIFADDA.
We have said that Harald, just as little as Griselda's blessed husband,
appeared to like a life which flowed like oil. Perhaps it seemed to him
that his intercourse with Susanna was now assuming this character, and
therefore was it perhaps that, as he could no longer excite her
abhorrence as a misanthropist, one fine day he undertook to irritate her
as a woman-tyrant.
"I am expecting my sister here one of these days," said he one evening
in a disrespectful tone to Susanna; "I have occasion for her, to sew a
little for me, and to put my things in order. Alette is a good, clever
girl, and I think of keeping her with me till I marry, and can be waited
on by my wife."
"Waited on by your wife!" exclaimed Susanna--one may easily conceive in
what a tone.
"Yes, certainly. The woman is made to be subject to the man; and I do
not mean to teach my wife otherwise. I mean to be master in my house,
I."
"The Norwegian men must be despots, tyrants, actual Heathens and Turks!"
said Susanna.
"Every morning," said Harald, "precisely at six o'clock, my wife shall
get up and prepare my coffee."
"But if she will not?"
"Will not? I will teach her to will, I. And if she will not by fair
means, then she shall by foul. I tolerate no disobedience, not I; and
this I mean to teach in the most serious manner; and if she does not
wish to experience this, why then I advise her to rise at six o'clock,
boil my coffee, and bring it me up to bed."
"Nay, never did I hear anything like this! You are the sole--God have
mercy on the wives of this abominable country!"
"And a good dinner," continued Harald, "shall she set before me every
day at noon, or--I shall not be in the best temper! And she must not
come with her 'Fattig Leilighed'[7] more than once a fortnight; and then
I demand that it shall be made right savoury."
"If you will have good eating, then you must make good provision for the
housekeeping," said Susanna.
"That I shall not trouble myself about; that my wife must care for. She
shall provide stores for housekeeping how she can."
"I hope, then," said Susanna, "you will never have a wife, except she be
a regular Xantippe."
"For that we know a remedy; and therefore, to begin with, every evening
she shall pull off my boots. All that is necessary is, for a man to
begin in time to maintain his authority; for the women are by nature
excessively fond of ruling."
"And that because the men are tyrants," said Susanna.
"And besides," continued Harald, "so horribly petty-minded."
"Because," retorted Susanna, "the men have engrossed to themselves all
matters of importance."
"And are so full of caprice," said Harald.
"Because the men," said Susanna, "are so brimful of conceit."
"And so fickle," added Harald.
"Because the men," retorted Susanna, "are not deserving of constancy."
"And so obstinate and violent," continued Harald.
"When the men," said Susanna, "are absurd."
"But I," proceeded Harald, very sharply, "do not like an obstinate,
passionate, imperious woman. It is in general the men themselves who
spoil them; they are too patient, too conceding, too obliging. But in my
house it shall be different. I do not intend to spoil my wife. On the
contrary, she shall learn to show herself patient, devoted, and
attentive to me; and for this purpose I intend to send for my dear
sister. She must not expect that I shall move from the spot for her
sake; she must not----"
At this moment a carriage was heard to drive into the court, and stop
before the door. Harald looked through the window, made an exclamation
of surprise and joy, and darted like an arrow out of the room. Susanna
in her turn looked with anxiety through the window, and saw Harald lift
a lady from the carriage, whom he then warmly and long folded in his
arms, and quitted only to take from her the boxes and packages which she
would bring out, and loaded himself with them.
"Oh, indeed!" thought Susanna, "it is thus then that it stands with his
tyranny:" and satisfied that it was Harald's sister whom she thus
received, she went into the kitchen to make some preparations for
supper.
When she returned to the sitting-room, she found the brother and sister
there. With beaming eyes Harald presented to Susanna--"My sister
Alette!" And then he began to dance about with her, laughing and
singing. Never had Susanna seen him so thoroughly glad at heart.
At supper Harald had eyes only for his sister, whom he did nothing but
wait upon with jest and merriment, now and then playing her, indeed,
some joke, for which she scolded him; and this only seemed to enliven
him still more. Mrs. Astrid had this evening never quitted her room, and
Harald could therefore all the more enjoy himself with Alette. After
supper, he took his seat beside her on the sofa, and with her hand in
his, he reminded her of the days of childhood, and how little they were
then able to endure each other.
"You were then so intolerably provoking," said Alette.
"And you so unbearably genteel and high," said Harald. "Do you remember
how we used to wrangle at breakfast? That is, how I did, for you never
made much answer, but carried yourself so excessively knowingly and
loftily, because you were then a little taller than I."
"And I remember, too, how you sometimes quitted the field, left the
breakfast, and complained to our mother you could not support my genteel
airs."
"Yes, if that had but in the end availed me anything. But I was
compelled to hear, 'Alette is much more sensible than you. Alette is
much more steady than you.' That had a bitter taste with it; but as some
amends, I ate up your confectionary."
"Yes, you rogue you, that you did; and then persuaded me into the
bargain that a rat had done it."
"Ay, I was a graceless lad, good for nothing, conceited, intolerable!"
"And I a tiresome girl, a little old woman, peevish and sanctified. For
every trick you played me I gave you a moral lecture."
"Nay, not one, my sister, but seven, and more than that. That was too
strong for anything!" exclaimed Harald, laughing, and kissing Alette's
hand. "But," continued he, "they were necessary, and well merited. But
I, unworthy one, was rather glad when I escaped from them, and went to
the University."
"Nor was I either at all sorry to have my pincushion and things left in
peace. But when you came home three years later, then the leaf had
turned itself over; then it was otherwise. Then became I truly proud of
my brother."
"And I of my sister. Do you know, Alette, I think you must actually
break off with Lexow. I really cannot do without you. Remain with me,
instead of going with him up into the shivering, cold North, which you
really never can like."
"You must ask Lexow about that, my brother."
Thus continued the conversation long, and became by degrees more serious
and still. The brother and sister seemed to talk of their future, and
that is always a solemn matter, but ever and anon burst forth a hearty
laughter from the midst of their consultations. It went on to midnight,
but neither of them appeared to mark this.
Susanna, during the conversation of the relatives, had retired to the
next room, so as to leave them the more freedom. Her bosom was oppressed
by unwonted and melancholy feelings. With her brow leaned against the
cool window panes, she gazed out into the lovely summer evening, while
she listened to the soft and familiar voices within. The twilight cast
its soft dusky veil over the dale; and tree and field, hill and plain,
heaven and earth, seemed to mingle in confidential silence. In the grass
slumbered the flowers, leaning on each other; and from amongst the
leaves, which gently waved themselves side by side, Susanna seemed to
hear whispered the words, "Brother! Sister!" With an ineffable yearning
opened she her arms as if she would embrace some one--but when they
returned again empty to her bosom, tears of anguish rolled over her
cheeks, while her lips whispered, "Little Hulda!"
Little Hulda, all honour to thy affections, to thy radiant locks; but I
do not believe that Susanna's tears now flowed alone for thee.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] "Fattig Leilighed"--"_poor opportunity_"--is the name given in
merriment to the cooking-up the remains of the week's provisions, which
generally is brought out on a Saturday.
ALETTE.
I see thine eyes in beauty fling
Back the tall taper's splendour;
Yet can still, and clear, and tender,
Dwell on an angel's wing.
VELHAVEN.
When Susanna the next morning went in to Alette, to inquire how she
had slept and so on, she found Harald already with his sister, and
around her were outspread the linen, the neckerchiefs, the
pocket-handkerchiefs, the tablecloths, etc., which he told Susanna he
had purchased for himself, but which in reality were presents for his
sister, on the occasion of her approaching marriage. Scarcely had
Susanna entered the room, when to her great amazement the brother and
sister both united in begging her to accept the very handsome dress
which she had once proposed that Harald should buy for his sister. She
blushed and hesitated, but could not resist the cordiality of Harald,
and received the gift with thanks, though glad was she not. Tears were
ready to start into her eyes, and she felt herself poor in more than one
respect. When Harald immediately after this went out, Alette broke forth
into a hearty panegyric upon him, and concluded with these words: "Yes,
one may probably three times a day get angry with him before we can
rightly get to know him; but this is certain, that if he wishes it, you
cannot get clear of him without first loving him." Susanna sate silent;
listened to Alette's words; and her heart beat at once with painful and
affectionate feelings. The call to breakfast broke off the conversation.
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