Title:  Stories by Foreign Authors

Author:  Various

Release Date:  March, 2004 [EBook #5336] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on July 2, 2002] [Date last updated:  August 14, 2005]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK, stories by foreign authors ***

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Proofreading Team.

STORIES BY FOREIGN AUTHORS

SCANDINAVIAN

THE FATHER . . . .  BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON

WHEN FATHER BROUGHT HOME THE LAMP . . . .  BY JUHANI AHO

THE FLYING MAIL . . . .  BY M. GOLDSCHMIDT

THE RAILROAD AND THE CHURCHYARD . . . .  BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON

TWO FRIENDS . . . .  BY ALEXANDER KIELLAND

HOPES . . . .  BY FREDERIKA BREMER

THE FATHER

BY

BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON

From “The Bridal March.”  Translated by Prof.  R. B. Anderson.

THE FATHER

BY

BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON

The man whose story is here to be told was the wealthiest and most influential person in his parish; his name was Thord Overaas.  He appeared in the priest’s study one day, tall and earnest.

“I have gotten a son,” said he, “and I wish to present him for baptism.”

“What shall his name be?”

“Finn,—­after my father.”

“And the sponsors?”

They were mentioned, and proved to be the best men and women of Thord’s relations in the parish.

“Is there anything else?” inquired the priest, and looked up.

The peasant hesitated a little.

“I should like very much to have him baptized by himself,” said he, finally.

“That is to say on a week-day?”

“Next Saturday, at twelve o’clock noon.”

“Is there anything else?” inquired the priest.

“There is nothing else;” and the peasant twirled his cap, as though he were about to go.

Then the priest rose.  “There is yet this, however,” said he, and walking toward Thord, he took him by the hand and looked gravely into his eyes:  “God grant that the child may become a blessing to you!”

One day sixteen years later, Thord stood once more in the priest’s study.

“Really, you carry your age astonishingly well, Thord,” said the priest; for he saw no change whatever in the man.