Page:Stories by Foreign Authors (Scandinavian).djvu/44

36 But Pekka said never a word more. A little while after that he began to patch up his boots, stretched on tiptoe to reach down a päre from the rafters, lit it, stuck it in a slit fagot, and sat him down on his little stool by the stove. We children saw this before father, who stood with his back to Pekka planing away at his axe-shaft under the lamp. We said nothing, however, but laughed and whispered among ourselves, "If only father sees that, what will he say, I wonder?" And when father did catch sight of him, he planted himself arms akimbo in front of Pekka, and asked him, quite spitefully, what sort of fine work he had there, since he must needs have a separate light all to himself?

"I am only patching up my shoes," said Pekka to father.

"Oh, indeed! Patching your shoes, eh? Then if you can't see to do that by the same light that does for me, you may take yourself off with your päre into the bath-house or behind it if you like."

And Pekka went.

He stuck his boots under his arm, took his stool in one hand and his päre in the other, and off he went. He crept softly through the door into the hall, and out of the hall into the yard. The päre light flamed outside in the blast, and played a little while, glaring red, over outhouses, stalls, and stables. We children saw the light