whenicouldwatchthyinfantglee,
orkissawayapearlytear.
'twasinmyarmsthylispingtongue
firstspokethehalf-rememberedword,
whileo'erthytotteringstepsihung,
myfondprotectiontoafford.
farewell!ipraytheheavenlypower
tokeeptheetillthydyinghour."andallthebirdssangthesametune,theflowersdancedontheirstems,andtheoldtreesnoddedasifole-luk-oiehadbeentellingthemstoriesasdnesday
wednesday
howtheraindidpourdown!hjalmarcouldhearitinhissleep;.andwhenole-luk-oieopenedthewindow,thewaterflowedquiteuptothewindow-sill.ithadtheappearanceofalargelakeoutside,andabeautifulshiplayclosetothehouse.
"wiltthousailwithmeto-night,littlehjalmar?"saidole-luk-oie;"thenweshallseeforeigncountries,andthoushaltreturnhereinthemorning."
allinamoment,therestoodhjalmar,inhisbestclothes,onthedeckofthenobleship;andimmediatelytheweatherbecameysailedthroughthestreets,roundbythechurch,andoneverysiderolledthewide,greatsea.theysailedtillthelanddisappeared,andthentheysawaflockofstorks,whohadlefttheirowncountry,andweretravellingtowarmerclimates.thestorksflewonebehindtheother,andhadalreadybeenalong,longtimeonthewing.oneofthemseemedsotiredthathiswingscouldscarcelycarryhim.hewasthelastoftherow,andwassoonleftveryfarbehind.atlengthhesunklowerandlower,withoutstretchedwings,flappingtheminvain,tillhisfeettouchedtheriggingoftheship,andheslidedfromthesailstothedeck,andstoodbeforeasailor-boycaughthim,andputhiminthehen-house,withthefowls,theducks,andtheturkeys,whilethepoorstorkstoodquitebewilderedamongstthem.
"justlookatthatfellow,"saidthechickens.