It is not good that my future father-in-law should have this Niels Bruus in his service.  He is a defiant fellow, a worthy brother of him of Ingvorstrup.  If it were I, he should have his wages and be turned off, the sooner the better.  But the good rector is stubborn and insists that Niels shall serve out his time.  The other day he gave the fellow a box on the ear, at which Niels cried out that he would make him pay for it.  The rector told me of this himself, for no one else had been present.  I talked to Niels, but he would scarcely answer me.  I fear he has a stubborn and evil nature.  My sweet betrothed also entreats her father to send the fellow away, but the rector will not listen to reason.  I do not know what the old man will do when his daughter leaves his home for mine.  She saves him much worry and knows how to make all things smooth and easy.  She will be a sweet wife for me.

As I thought, it turned out badly.  But there is one good thing about it, Niels has now run off of himself.  The rector is greatly angered, but I rejoice in secret that he is rid of that dangerous man.  Bruus will probably seek retaliation, but we have law and justice in the land to order such matters.

This was the way of it:  The rector had ordered Niels to dig up a bit of soil in the garden.  After a time when he went out himself to look at the work, he found Niels leaning on his spade eating nuts.  He had not even begun to dig.  The rector scolded him, but the fellow answered that he had not taken service as a gardener.  He received a good box on the ear for that.  At this he threw away his spade and swore valiantly at his master.  The old rector lost his temper entirely, seized the spade and struck at the man several times.  He should not have done this, for a spade is a dangerous weapon, especially in the hands of a man as strong as is the pastor in spite of his years.  Niels fell to the ground as if dead.  But when the pastor bent over him in alarm, he sprang up suddenly, jumped the hedge and ran away to the woods.

This is the story of the unfortunate affair as my father-in-law tells it to me.  My beloved Mette is much worried about it.  She fears the man may do harm to the cattle, or set fire to the house, or in some such way take his revenge.  But I tell her there is little fear of that.

Three weeks more and my beloved leaves her father’s house for mine.  She has been here and has gone over the house and the farm.  She is much pleased with everything and praises our orderliness.  She is an angel, and all who know her say that I am indeed a fortunate man.  To God be the praise!

Strange, where that fellow Niels went to!  Could he have left the country altogether?  It is an unpleasant affair in any case, and there are murmurings and secret gossip among the peasants.  The talk has doubtless started in Ingvorstrup.  It would not be well to have the rector hear it.  He had better have taken my advice, but it is not my province to school a servant of God, and a man so much older than I. The idle gossip may blow over ere long.  I will go to Veilbye to-morrow and find out if he has heard anything.