Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/366

 "How is your good health, my friend? You weren't at the chapel this morning, I believe. Why, I stood there, talking and talking, and, upon my word, every little while I looked around to see if my good friend had not arrived; but then I happened to think how fond Timmy is of—ahem—fishing."

"My land!" cried Timmy, in great astonishment. "How could Father guess that?"

"Well," replied the minister, blinking at the farmer in a mysterious manner, "I don't know. I suppose the fine weather made me think so; and then, it is mighty nice pastime to sit under those alders waiting for the fish to bite—I know it is."

"How in all the world did Father learn that?" cried the farmer again. "Now, to speak the truth, I was awfully sleepy. I got up very early, and then I thought it would be a shame to fall asleep during the service. So I says to myself, 'Better move about, Timmy,' says I, and so it came that I went down to the brook."

"Oh yes," observed the minister, "yes, of course; you are excused, Timmy. Upon my word, if I were not forced to be punctual, I might not always myself—ahem. I was going to ask whether you caught anything."

"To be sure I did," proudly admitted Timmy. "I caught a mighty big pike. Perhaps Father will be pleased to step out and take a view of it."

Out they went, and the preacher exclaimed: