AnneLisbeth安妮莉斯貝

AnneLisbeth，scomplexionwaslikepeachesandcream;hereyeswerebright,herteeth

shinywhite;shewasyoung,gay,andbeautifultolookupon;herstepswerelight

andhermindwasevenlighter.Whatwouldcomeofallthis?”Thatawfulbrat,〃people

saidaboutherbaby;andindeedhewasn'tpretty,sohewasleftwiththe

ditchdigger，swife.

AnneLisbethwentintoserviceintheCount,scastle.Thereshesatinamagnificent

room,dressedinsilkandvelvet;notabreathofwindwasallowedtoblowonher

noranyonetospeakaharshwordtoher.ShewasnursetotheCount,schild,who

wasasbelovedasaprince,beautifulasanangel.Howshelovedhim!

Herownchildwasprovidedforintheditchdigger'shouse,wherehiswife'stemper

boiledovermoreoftenthanherpot.Sometimesthechildwasleftalonealldaylong,

andcried;butwhatnobodyhearsdoesn'tbotheranyone!Hecriedhimselftosleep,

andinsleepthereisneitherhungernorthirst;sleepissuchagoodinvention!

“Illweedsgrowfast,“saystheproverb,andAnneLisbeth'sboydidindeedshoot

uprapidly.Itwasasifhehadtakenrootintheditchdigger，shousehold;hismother

hadpaidforhisupbringingandconsideredherselfwellridofhim.Shewasacity

ladynow,waswellprovidedfor,andwhenevershewentoutshewasbeautifullydressed;

butsheneverwenttoseehersonattheditchdigger's;thatwastoofarfromthe

city,andtherewasnoreasonforhertogothere,anyway;theboywastheirs,and

now,theydecided,itwastimeforhimtoearnhiskeep;sohefoundworktending

MadsJensen，sredcow.

ThewatchdogatBlegdamManorsitsproudlyontopofitshouseinthesunshine,

barkingatpassers-by,butinrainyweatheritlies,warmanddry,insideitskennel.

AnneLisbeth'sboysatattheedgeofaditchinthesunshine,whittlingsticksor

watchingthreeblossomingstrawberryplants;hehopedtheywouldsoonturninto

berries-thatwashishappiestthought-buttheberriesneverripened.Through

sunshineorshowershesatthere;hewasoftensoakedtotheskin,butthecoldwind

soondriedhisclothesonhisbody.Wheneverhewenttothefarmyardhereceived

onlykicksandcuffsandwascalled"stupidandugly”;hewasusedtothat-nobody

lovedhim.

HowdidAnneLisbeth，sboygetalong?Howcouldheundersuchcircumstances?Itwas

hisfatenevertobeloved.

Atlasthewasliterallypushedofftheearthandsenttoseainawretchedlittle

sailingvessel.Herehetookthehelmwhiletheskipperdrank-afrostbitten,

shabby-lookinglittleboy,andalwayshungry!Onewouldthinkheneverhadenough

toeat,andthatreallywasthecase.

Itwaslateintheautumn,wet,raw,stormyweather,withawindthatcutthrough

thewarmestclothing,especiallyoutatsea.Amiserablelittlevesselwithonesail

droveonbeforethewind;ithadacrewoftwomen,orratheramanandahalf-

theskipperandhisboy.Alldaythelighthadbeennobrighterthantwilight;now

itgrewstilldarkeranditwasbitterlycold.Theskipperbroughtforthabottle

andaglassandtookaswallowtowarmhimselfup;thetopoftheglasswaswhole,

butitsfoothadbeenbrokenoff,soinsteadithadalittlepieceofwood,painted

blue,tostandon.Adrinkisagreatcomfort,andtwoareevenbetter.Theboywas

atthehelm,holdingitwithrough,tarredhands,awretched,shrinkingformwith

unkempthair;itwastheditchdigger'sboy,registeredintheparishrecordsasthe

sonofAnneLisbeth.

Thewinddrovetheshiphardbeforeit;thesailbelliedoutbeforethepowerof

thewind;itwasroughandweteverywhere,anditmightsoonbeevenworse.Stop!

Whatwasthat?Whatcrashed?Whatsprangup?Whatgraspedthelittlevessel?The

boatwhirledaround.Wasitawaterspoutoratidalwave?Theboyatthehelmscreamed,

“LordJesus,saveus!〃Thevesselhadstruckonagreatrock,anditsanklikea

waterloggedoldshoeinaduckpond;sankwith"manandmouse,asthesayinggoes;

thereweremiceonboard,butonlyamanandahalf-theskipperandtheditchdigger，s

boy.Noonesawit,savethescreaminggullsaboveandthedartingfishesbeneath,

andthesehardlysawitclearly,fortheyfledinterrorwhenthewaterpouredinto

thedoomedvessel.Thereitlay,scarcelyafathombelowthewater,andthetwowere

drownedandforgotten.Onlytheglasswasleft,forthebluewoodenblockkeptit

afloat,anditdriftedontotheshore.Whereandwhen?Thatisofnoconsequence.

Thatoldbrokenglasshadbeenuseful,andhadbeenloved,too,inaway;whichAnne

Lisbeth，ssonhadneverbeen.However,inthekingdomofheavennosoulshallever

havecausetosigh,“Neverloved!”

AnneLisbethmeanwhilehadbeenlivingforseveralyearsinalargetown;shewas

addressedas〃madam〃andalwaysheldherselfveryproudlywhenshespokeofolden

times,ofthetimeswhensherodeinacarriageandtalkedwithcountessesand

baronesses.Andshetalkedofherfosterchild,thatsweetestoflittleangels,and

howhehadlovedherandshehadlovedhim,howtheyhadkissedandcaressedeach

other,forhewasherprideandjoy.Nowhewastall,fourteenyearsold,abright,

beautifulboy.Shehadn'tseenhimsincethetimeshecarriedhiminherarms;for

manyyearsshehadnotbeenattheCount'scastle,whichwasalongjourneyaway.

“ButImustfindawaytogettheresomeday,〃saidAnneLisbeth.〃Imustseemysweet

youngcountagain.Hemustbemissingme,andlovingmeashedidwhenhisangelic

littlearmsclungaroundmyneckandhesaid,'Ann-Lis,'assweetasaviolin.Ah,

yes,Imustmakeshortworkofitandseehimagain!”

Soshemadethelongtrip,partlyonfootandpartlybywagon.Thecastlewasas

magnificentandthegardensaslovelyasever,buttheservantswereallnewtoher,

andnotoneofthemknewAnneLisbethorwhatshehadoncemeantthere.Butthe

Countesswouldtellthem,shethought,andherownboy;howshelongedforhim!

NowAnneLisbethwasfinallyhere,buttheykeptherwaitingalongtime.Atlast,

justbeforethehouseholdwenttodinner,shewascalledin.TheCountessspoketo

herverycourteouslyandpromisedthatafterdinnersheshouldseeherbelovedboy.

Soshehadtowaitforanothersummons.

Howtall,thin,andlankyhehadgrown,buthestillhadhisbeautifuleyesandangelic

mouth;andhelookedstraightatherwithoutaword.Certainlyhehadnorecollection

ofher.Heturnedtogo,butshecaughthishandandpressedittoherlips."All

right,z/hesaid,"that'senough,〃andthenhelefttheroom.

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Theungratefulyoungnobleman,whomshehadlovedaboveallonearthandhadmade

theprideofherlife!

SoAnneLisbethleftthecastleandmadeherwayhomewardalongthehighway.She

wasverysorrowful;hehadbeensocoldandstrangetoher,withoutawordorthought

forher,hewhomshehadoncecarriedinherarmsnightanddayandalwayshadcarried

inherheart.

Thenahugeblackravenflewdownandalightedontheroadjustinfrontofherand

croakedagainandagain.〃0h,whatbirdofillomenareyou?”shesaid.

Asshepassedtheditchdigger，shouse,hiswifewasstandinginthedoorway,and

theyspoketooneanother.

〃Howrobustyoulook!，zsaidtheditchdigger，swife."Youareplumpandstout!

Everythingmustbegoingwellwithyou.”

“Prettywell,“repliedAnneLisbeth.

〃Theboatwentdownwiththem,〃saidtheditchdigger'swife."SkipperLarsandyour

boywerebothdrowned.Sothatendsthat.ButIhopedthattheboywouldhavelived

tohelpmeoutfromtimetotimewithalittlemoney;hehasn，tcostyouanything

foralongwhile,youknow,AnneLisbeth.”

/zDrowned,arethey?”repeatedAnneLisbeth,andthensaidnothingmoreonthat

subject.

AnneLisbethwasheartsickbecausetheyoungcountwouldn，tspeaktoher,shewho

lovedhimsoandhadtakenthatlongtriptoseehim;thejourneyhadalsobeen

expensive.Thepleasureithadbroughtherwaslittleindeed.Butshedidn，tsay

awordaboutit;shewouldn，tlightenhermindbytalkingaboutittothe

ditchdigger'swife,whomightthinkshewasnolongerwelcomeattheCount'scastle.

Whiletheyweretalking,theravenagainflewscreamingoverherhead."Thatugly

blackthing!”saidAnneLisbeth."That'sthesecondtimeit'sfrightenedmetoday!z/

Shehadbroughtsomecoffeebeansandchicorywithher;itwouldbeakindnessto

theditchdigger'swifetogivethesetoherandshareacupwithher.Whiletheold

womanwenttomakethecoffeeAnneLisbethsatdownandsoonfellasleep.

Strangelyenough,shedreamedofonewhomshehadneverseeninherdreamsbefore

-herownchild,whointhatveryhousehadhungeredandwept,whohadbeenkicked

aboutinheatandcold,andwhonowlaydeepbelowthesea,thegoodLordonlyknew

where.Shedreamedthatevenasshesattherewaitingforthecoffeeandsmelling

thefragrancedriftingintoherfromthekitchen,ashininglittleangel,beautiful

astheyoungcount,stoodinthedoorwayandspoketoher.

“Theendoftheworldiscome,〃saidthelittleangel."Holdfasttome,foryou

arestillmymother!Youhaveanangelinparadise.Holdfasttome!〃Thenhetook

holdofher,andatthatverymomenttherecameatremendouscrash,asthoughthe

wholeworldwereburstingintopieces,andastheangelroseintheair,holding

hertightlybyhersleeves,shefeltherselfliftedfromtheground.Butthen

somethingheavyclungtoherfeetanddraggedherdown;itwasasifahundredother

womenwereholdingtightlytoher,screaming,〃Ifyouaretobesaved,wemustbe

saved,too!Holdfast!Holdfast!”Andthentheyallclungtoher.Theweightwas

3

tooheavy;ritsch,ratsch!-hersleevesweresplit,andshefelldowninterror

-andawoke.

Herheadwassodizzyshenearlyfelloffthechairwhereshewassitting.Shecould

notunderstandherdreamclearly,butshefeltitforetoldevilforher.

Theyhadtheircoffeeandtalkedforawhile.ThenAnneLisbethwalkedontothe

nearestvillage,whereshewastomeetthecarrieranddrivehomewithhimthat

evening.Butwhenshegotthere,thecarriertoldherhecouldn'tstartuntilthe

followingevening.Shethoughtitover-whatitwouldcosthertostaythere,the

lengthofthedistancehome,andrealizedthatifshewentalongtheseashoreinstead

ofbyroad,itwouldbenearlytwomilesshorter;itwasclearweatherandthemoon

wasatthefull.AndsoAnneLisbethdecidedtogoatonce;shecouldbehomethe

nextday.

Thesunhadset,thevesperbellswerestillringing-no,itwasnotthebells,

butPeterOxe'sfrogscroakingintheirpond.Soonthey,too,weresilent,andthen

allwasstill;nobirdraiseditsvoice,forallwereatrest;anditseemedthe

owlwasnotathome.Thehushofdeathsettledoverforestandshore.Shecouldhear

herownfootstepsinthesand.Nowavedisturbedthesea,thedeepwaterswereat

peace;everywherewassilence,silenceamongthelivingandthedead.

AnneLisbethwalkedon,notthinkingofanythinginparticular,aswesay.Yet,though

shewasnotconsciousofit,herthoughtswerebusywithinher,astheyalwaysare

withinallofus.Theylieasleepinsideus,thoughtsthathavealreadyshaped

themselvesintoactionandthoughtsthathaveneveryetstirred-therethey1ie

still,andsomedaytheywillcomeforth.Itiswritten:"Thelaborofrighteousness

ispeace”;andagainitiswritten:"Thewagesofsinaredeath!”Muchhasbeensaid

andwrittenthatonedoesnotknow-or,asitwaswithAnneLisbeth,doesnotremember

-butsuchthingscanappearbeforeone'ssubconsciousself,cancometomind,though

oneisunawareofit.

Thegermsofvicesandvirtuesarealivedeepinourhearts-inyoursandmine;

theylurkliketinyinvisibleseeds.Therecomesarayofsunshineorthetouchof

anevilhand;youturntotherightortotheleft,andthe1ittleseedquiversinto

life,putsforthshoots,andpoursitslifethroughoutalltheveins.Walkingin

adaydream,onemaybeunconsciousofmanypainfulthoughts,buttheyhavetheir

beingwithinusallthesame;thusAnneLisbethwalkedasifinadaydream,buther

thoughtslivedwithinher.

FromCandlemastoCandlemasthehearthasmuchwrittenuponit,eventherecordof

thewholeyear.Manysinsareforgotten,sinsinwordorthought,sinsagainstGod

orourneighbororourownconscience;wethinknotofthem,nordidAnneLisbeth.

Shehadbrokennolawsoftheland;sheknewthatshewaspopular,esteemed,even

respected.

Now,asshewalkedalongtheshore,suddenlysomethingmadeherstartandstandstill!

Whatwasit?Onlyanoldman'shat.Wherecouldthathavebeenwashedoverboard?

Shedrewcloserandlookeddownatit.

Oh!Whatwasthatlyingoverthere?Shebecameveryfrightened,andyetitwasnothing

butaheapoftangledseaweed,buttoherfancyithadseemedforamomentthebody

4

ofaman.Asshecontinuedonherwaysherememberedmanystoriesshehadheardas

achildabouttheoldsuperstitiousbeliefinthe〃seaghost"-theghostofadrowned

bodythatlaystillunburied,washedbythetidesonthewildseashore.Thelifeless

bodyitselfcouldharmnoone,butthe〃seaghost"wouldfollowasolitarywanderer,

clingingfasttohimanddemandingtobecarriedtothechurchyardandburiedin

consecratedground."Holdon!Holdon!〃itwouldcry;andasAnneLisbeththought

ofthesewords,allatoncetherecamebacktohermostvividlyherdream-howthe

mothershadclungtoher,screaming,“Holdfast!Holdon!〃howtheworldhadsplit

beneathher,howhersleeveshadbeentornapartandshehadfallenfromthegrasp

ofherchild,whohadtriedtoholdherupinthehourofdoom.Herchild,herown

fleshandblood,whomshehadneverlovedandscarcelyeverthoughtof,wasnowlying

atthebottomofthesea;anydayhisbodymightbewashedashore,andhisghost

mightfollowher,wailing,“Holdon!Holdon!BurymeinChristianearth!”

Panic-strickenbythishorriblethought,sheranfasterandfaster.Terrortouched

herheartwithacold,clammyfinger;shewasreadytofaint.Andasshelookedupon

thesea,theairgrewthickerandthicker,aheavymistfel1overthescene,veiling

treeandbushinstrangedisguises.Sheturnedtoseekforthemoonbehindher-

anditwasonlyapalediskwithoutrays.Thensomethingheavyseemedtodragat

herlimbs;"Holdon!Holdon!〃shethought.Andwhensheagainturnedtowardthe

moonitswhitefaceseemedclosebesideher,andthemisthunglikeashroudover

hershoulders."Holdon!BurymeinChristianearth!”-shecouldalmosthearthose

words.Andthenshedidhearasound,sohollow,sohoarse-notthevoicesofthe

frogsinthepondnorthetonesoftheraven,forneitherwasnearby,butclearly

sheheardthedreadfulwords,“Buryme!Buryme!〃Yes!Itwas,itmustbe,theghost

ofherownchild,whocouldfindnorestforhissouluntilhisbodywascarried

tothechurchyardandlaidinaChristiangrave.

Tothechurchyardshewouldhurry;thatveryhourshewoulddigthegrave;andas

sheturnedtowardthechurchherburdenseemedtogrowlighter,untilitdisappeared

altogether.Assoonasshefeltthat,shestartedbacktofollowtheshortcutto

herhome,butoncemoreher1imbssankbeneathher,andagaintheterriblewords

ranginherears,“Holdon!

Holdon!”Itsoundedlikethecroakingofafrogandlikeawailingbird.

“Buryme!Buryme!〃

Coldandclammywasthemist,butstillcolderandclammierwereherhandsandface

underthetouchoffear!Aheavyweightagainclungtoherandseemedtodragher

down;herheartquakedwiththoughtsandfeelingsthathadneverstirredwithinher

beforethismoment.

InourNortherncountriesasinglespringnightisoftenenoughtodressthebeech

wood,andinthemorningsunlightitappearsinitsyoung,brightfoliage.

Inonesecondtheseedofsinwithinusmaybeliftedtothelightandunfoldedinto

thoughts,words,anddeeds;andthusitiswhenconscienceisawakened.AndourLord

awakensitwhenwelestexpectit;whenthereisnowaytoexcuseourselves,the

deedstandsopentoview,bearingwitnessagainstus;thoughtsspringintowords,

andwordsringclearlythroughouttheworld.Thenwearehorrifiedtofindwhatwe

5

havecarriedwithinus,thatwehavenotovercometheevilwehavesownin

thoughtlessnessandpride.Thehearthideswithinitselfallvicesandvirtues,and

theygrowevenintheshallowestground.

AnneLisbeth,overwhelmedwiththerealizationofhersin,sanktothegroundand

creptalongforsomedistance."Buryme!”Buryme!〃stillranginherears,andgladly

wouldshehaveburiedherself,ifthegravecouldhavebroughteternalforgetfulness.

Itwasherhourofawakening,andshewasfullofanguishandhorror;superstition

madeherbloodrunhotandcold.Manythingsofwhichshehadfearedtospeakcame

intohermind.Therepassedbeforeher,silentlyasashadowycloudintheclear

moonlight,avisionshehadheardofbefore.Itwasaglowingchariotoffire,drawn

byfoursnortinghorses,withfireblazingfromtheireyesandnostrils;andnostrils;

andinsidesatawickednoblemanwhomorethanacenturyagohadruledhere.Every

midnight,herodeintohiscourtyardandrightoutagain.Hewasnotpale,likeother

ghosts;no,hisfacewasasblackasburntcoal.AshepassedAnneLisbethhenodded

andbeckonedtoher,“Holdon!Holdon!Youmayrideinacount，scarriageoncemore

andforgetyourchild.”

Shepulledherselftogetherandhastenedtothechurchyard,buttheblackcrosses

andtheblackravensmingledbeforehereyes;theravensscreamedastheyhaddone

thatmorning,butnowshecouldunderstandwhattheyweresaying.〃IamMotherRaven!

IamMotherRaven!，zsaideachofthem,andAnneLisbethknewthenamefittedherself

well;maybeshewouldbechangedintoahugeblackbirdlikethese,andhavetocry

astheycried,ifshedidnotdigthegrave.

Thensheflungherselfonthegroundandbeganfranticallydiggingwithherhands

inthehardearth;shedugtil1thebloodranfromherfingers.

“Buryme!Buryme!，zStillsheheardthosewords,andeverymomentshedreadedto

hearthecockcrowandseethefirststreakofdawnintheeast.Forifhertask

werenotcompletedbeforedaylightsheknewshewouldbelost.

Andthecockdidcrow,andthelightappearedintheeast-andthegravewasonly

halfdug,andbehold!anicyhandslidoverherheadandface,downtoherheart.

Avoiceseemedtosigh,“Onlyhalfthegrave!”andashadowyformdriftedpasther

anddowntothebottomoftheocean.Yes,itwasindeedthe〃s6aghost,〃andAnne

Lisbethfellfaintingtotheearth,exhaustedandoverpowered,andhersensesleft

her.

Whenshecameto,itwasbrightdaylight,andtwomenwereliftingherup.Shewas

lying,notinthechurchyard,butdownontheseashore,whereshehadbeendigging

adeepholeinthesand,andhadcutherfingersonabrokenglass,thestemofwhich

wasstuckinawoodenblockpaintedblue.

AnneLisbethwasill;herconsciencehadspokenloudlytoherthatnight,and

superstitiousterrorhadmingleditsvoicewiththevoiceofconscience.S