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.
thentheturkey-cockpuffedhimselfoutaslargeashecould,andinquiredwhohewas;andtheduckswaddledbackwards,crying,"quack,quack."
thenthestorktoldthemallaboutwarmafrica,ofthepyramids,andoftheostrich,which,likeawildhorse,runsacrossthedesert.buttheducksdidnotunderstandwhathesaid,andquackedamongstthemselves,"weareallofthesameopinion;namely,thatheisstupid."
"yes,tobesure,heisstupid,"saidtheturkey-cock;andgobbled.
thenthestorkremainedquitesilent,andthoughtofhishomeinafrica.
"thosearehandsomethinlegsofyours,"saidtheturkey-cock."whatdotheycostayard?"
"quack,quack,quack,"grinnedtheducks;but,thestorkpretendednottohear.
"youmayaswelllaugh,"saidtheturkey;"forthatremarkwasratherwitty,orperhapsitwasaboveyou.ah,ah,ishenotclever?hewillbeagreatamusementtouswhileheremainshere."andthenhegobbled,andtheducksquacked,"gobble,gobble;quack,quack."
whataterribleuproartheymade,whiletheywerehavingsuchfunamongthemselves!
thenhjalmarwenttothehen-house;and,openingthedoor,calledtothestork.thenhehoppedoutonthedeck.hehadrestedhimselfnow,andhelookedhappy,andseemedasifhenoddedtohjalmar,asiftothankhim.thenhespreadhiswings,andflewawaytowarmercountries,whilethehensclucked,theducksquacked,andtheturkey-cockturnedquitescarletinthehead.
"to-morrowyoushallbemadeintosoup,"saidhjalmartothefowls;andthenheawoke,andfoundhimselflyinginhislittlebed.
itwasawonderfuljourneywhichole-luk-oiehadmadehimtakethisursday
thursday
"whatdoyouthinkihavegothere?"