Božena Němcová

“ TO-DAY Grandmother's room is like a garden; wherever a person turns everything is full of roses, mignonette, cherry blossoms, and other flowers; among the rest is a whole armful of oak leaves. Barunka and Manchinka are making bouquets, and Celia is weaving a large garland. On the bench by the stove sit Adelka and the boys, reciting the congratulation.
It is the eve of St. John's, and to-morrow will be father's name's day, [1] a great day for the family. Mr. Proshek had invited several of his dearest friends to dinner; that always was his custom. ”

“ Christina folded the letter, and turned her questioning eyes to Grandmother's face.
"You can be comforted; he is a good boy; give him my greeting and tell him to trust in God; tell him the darkest days pass away and the sun shines again, and his sun, too, will shine. I cannot tell you positively, it is thus or so, as long as I am not certain. When it is necessary, go with the reapers; I want you to present the garland to the Princess at the harvest festival, for since you work in her fields, it will be becoming for you to do it?" ”

“ She laid aside her spindle, clasped her hands, and began to pray. Vorsa entered the room, and said as she brushed the dust from the bench by the window: "The water roars till one is filled with terror; all living creatures have hid themselves as if they knew something was going to happen; not a sparrow is to be seen."
The sound of a horse's hoofs is heard on the main road leading from the dam, and a rider gallops along at full speed; he stops at the house and shouts: "Save yourselves, people; the flood is upon us!" Then he gallops on to the mill and from the mill to the village. ”

“ May God grant you happiness and bless you both; may you live to the honor and glory of God, and be useful to the world. Why should I object, when George is a worthy man and you love him; it is not I but you that will live with him. I had hoped, indeed, that you would choose a Bohemian,—those of the same nationality are best adapted to each other,—but it was not your fate; I do not blame you. We are all the children of one father, one mother [3] nourishes and sustains us, and therefore we should love each other, though we be not from the same country. ”

“ One can see groves of cypress and laurel, beautiful flowers, and a blue, unclouded sky."
"Oh, I know!" exclaimed Barunka, "that is the city you have painted in your room, is it not, Miss Hortense? In the middle is a wide river, and above the river, on a high hill, is built the city. O Grandma, such beautiful houses and churches! On one side are so many small houses and gardens; by one of those houses a little girl is playing; by her side sits an old lady,--they are Miss Hortense and her nurse; isn't it so? You told us that while we were at the castle," asked Barunka turning to the Countess. ”

“ The old herb woman that comes to us from the mountains always says when she brings us fragrant moss: 'I must search long before I find it, but it pays.' That moss has the odor of violets, and its fragrance reminds one of spring. But pardon me, your Grace, I always wander away from the subject. I was going to say that perhaps the Countess was happy because she had hope; and now, when she has lost that, she realizes her grief. How often is it that we do not value our blessings until we have lost them."
"I thank you, Grandmother, for your suggestion," said the Princess. ”

“ They said this at our house.
"He is a real ghoul," said the blacksmith's wife with great assurance; "but don't you be afraid, Victorka, I shall help you; all is not lost yet. To-morrow I shall bring you something which you must carry with you everywhere. In the morning, when you leave your room, you must never omit to bless yourself with holy water and say: 'God be with us, and the evil one away!' When you go through the fields, you must not turn to the right or to the left, and should that soldier address you, never mind, though he speak as an angel. He can charm even with the voice. ”

“ The children looked like newly opened blossoms, and Grandmother, too, had on her best: a clove colored linsey-woolsey petticoat, an apron white as snow, a damask sky-blue jacket, a cap with the dove-knot, and the garnet necklace with the dollar. Across her arm she carried her shawl. "Why do you take that shawl, it will not rain?" said her daughter.
"It seems as if I have no hands when I have nothing to carry," replied Grandmother.
They made a turn around the orchard and found themselves in the narrow path. ”

“ If she hasn't given her heart to any one else, she could learn to like him; he is a handsome man," replied Mr. Proshek.
"That is, if she doesn't like any one else," said the miller, passing his open snuff box to Mr. Proshek; "there is no disputing of tastes." This was his favorite saying. "Now, our bar-maid from the tavern could be married, and not go about as if she had been put under the water, if those deuced fellows had not taken away what she liked," continued the miller taking a pinch of snuff, and casting a side glance upon Christina who was there also. ”

“ Who of us can help this misfortune that has befallen George? But the service there is not long, and when that task is over he can return home, Mother, cease your lamentations, George is a sensible young man. He will not be homesick, he has himself provided against that. Madeline, my child, dry your tears. May God bless you and grant that he with whom you have gone to the altar may also go with you to the grave?' With these words he gave me his blessing, while the tears filled his eyes. ”

“ Proshek went back and the company entered the elegant parlor. The children held their breath, while their feet slipped upon the floor, smooth as glass. Grandmother was as in a vision; she was afraid to step upon the beautiful rugs. "It is a thousand pities!" she said to herself. But what could be done? They lay everywhere and the chamberlain walked upon them. He led them through the concert hall and library to the cabinet; then he returned to his post grumbling: "Their Lordships have odd whims that one should be at the service of a common old woman and children!" ”

“ If we but have hearts that feel for others, we shall find that others love us, too. My children urged me to go to Vienna. I knew I should find good people there and that I would be well provided for; but it is a great distance, and travel is hard for one so old. Then suppose God should think of me; after all, I want my bones to rest among my old friends and relatives. But, your Grace, pardon my simplicity; I am talking as if I were at a spinning bee," said Grandmother rising from her seat. ”

“ The bride was fastening long pieces of ribbon upon beautiful sprays of rosemary for the bridesman and the spokesman. The younger bridesmaid was to weave the wreath for the bride, the older the one for the groom; the others, one apiece for their partners. The rosemary that was left was made into wedding favors for all the guests. Even the horses that were to take the bride to church had their harness trimmed with ribbons and rosemary. The eyes of the bride beamed with joy and love, whenever she glanced at the stalwart form of the groom. ”

“ The aged are like children, and children you know are always ready for a story."
"I am not old, and yet I love to listen, too; only begin, Father, begin; our time will pass away so much more pleasantly," said his wife.
"Mamma, please give us some more bread, we haven't a bit,” said Bertie at the door.
"That is not possible! where could they have put all that bread?” wondered Grandmother.
"Half they ate, the other half they divided among the dogs, the fawn, and the squirrels; that is always the way. How they try my patience!" sighed the mother as she cut more bread. ”

“ My mother never loved me, my brother drove me away, my sister was ashamed of me, and she, who I thought loved me, for whom I would have risked my life, for whose smile I would have brought down the stars, for whom I regretted that I did not have ten lives that I might offer them for her love, she only mocked me, and when I wanted to hear from her own lips what all others told me, she drove me out of her door with her dog.' Then this savage man wept like a child. ”

“ This time Adelka got a wooden block on which was the alphabet, "To-morrow, when the schoolmaster comes, you can begin to learn; you don't know what to do with yourself while the others are studying; and since you remember the Lord's prayer and various songs, you can learn the a, b, c, too," said her mother.
The child skipped for joy, and immediately began to examine the letters with great attention; the clever Willie offered to teach her a, e, i, o, u, but she hid the block behind her back, saying: " I don't want to learn from you, you don't know it as well as the schoolmaster." ”

“ Therefore, you, too, must love your country as you love your mother; work for her as dutiful children, and the prophecy you fear will never be fulfilled. I cannot hope to see you grown up, but I believe you will remember my words," she added, with a voice trembling with emotion.
"I shall never forget them," said Barunka, hiding her face in Grandmother's lap.
The boys stood silent; they did not understand their grandmother's words as Barunka did. Adelka, clinging close to her asked with a voice broken by sobs: "You are not going to die, are you!" ”

“ The opposite hillside was still in a dim light, behind the dam the mists fell lower and lower, and above them upon the opposite hill, the women of the mill were seen kneeling in prayer.
"Look, Grandma! how beautiful the sun rises," said Barunka, all wrapped in wonder at the glorious sight. "O that we were now on the top of Snow Cap!"
"All places are sacred to worship, for the earth is the Lord's,” replied Grandmother, making the sign of the cross and rising from her prayers. When they turned, they saw a woman's figure standing on the top of the hill leaning against a tree. It was Victorka. ”

“ VICTORKA is the daughter of a peasant from Zernov. Her parents were buried long ago, but her brother and sister still live. Fifteen years ago she was a maiden, handsome as a strawberry, spry as a fawn, industrious as a bee; far and wide there was none equal to her, and no one could have wished for a better wife. Such a girl, with a dowry in prospect, doesn't remain under a cover. Her fame spread far and wide, and wooers passed each other at the door. ”

“ Adelka, however, did not understand it, and so looked up and smiled until Barunka pulled her dress, whispering: "keep your eyes upon the altar."
The benediction was over. The priest took the holy eucharist into his hands, and the people began to sing: "Lamb of God, Christ, have mercy upon us!" their voices mingling in a grand chorus with the chimes of the bells. The children headed the procession, the little peasants with burning candles, and the girls with garlands and bouquets of flowers, which they scattered about as they went. ”

“ Is Milo a conscript?" Instead of replying, Christina began to sob aloud. At this moment Grandmother came back. "Have they returned?" she quickly asked.
"Not yet," replied Christina, shaking her head; "but all hope is vain, Lucie has sworn that if she doesn't get Milo, I shan't get him either. What she wants the squire will do, for he is very proud of her; and the steward will do a great deal to please the squire. The steward's daughter cannot forget that her lover was disgraced by Milo; she too, adds some gall, and there are various other things, dear Grandma, that undermine my hopes." ”

“ Sometimes Grandmother took the children out for long walks, either to the gamekeeper's or the miller's, or wandered about with them in the woods. There the birds sang sweetly, the ground was covered with leaves, making a soft bed, the air was fragrant from the lilies of the valley and the violets, and there they could gather primroses, wild pinks, thyme, and those beautiful Turk's cap-lilies. The last was the favorite flower of the pale Victorka, who brought it to the children whenever she saw them gathering flowers. ”

“ Father fears him, and mother, poor soul! seems scarcely to belong any longer to this world. I cannot harass her with my troubles. If I were married all would be changed. Even now, when Milo is with us, if any one molests me, I have only to tell him and he watches the fellow so that he either leaves or no longer dares look at me. O Grandma, if you only knew how we love each other! but that cannot be expressed." And Christina rested her face in her hands and remained buried in deep thought.
At that moment, quietly and unobserved, Milo entered the garden. ”

“ A little way from the peacocks was seen a flock of speckled, blear-eyed guinea hens; white rabbits, pricking up their ears, ready to flee from the smallest danger; a handsome fawn, with a red band around its neck, lying at the door; and several dogs lounging about. Hardly had the children spoken to the dogs, when they gave a joyous bark and bounded out to meet them. The fawn, called by Adelka, also came and with her blue eyes looked up lovingly at the child as if she would say "Ah, it is you, who bring me those good morsels. ”

“ After you are married, we will go together to Olesnic, and your parents will not refuse you their blessing. We will send a letter by the pilgrims. To-morrow you will be married in the soldier's chapel; I shall take the place of your parents, and assume the whole responsibility. Madeline, dear, look at me; my head is white as snow; think you I could do anything for which I could not answer before God?' Thus he spoke to me, while the tears flowed down his cheeks.
"I consented to all. George could scarcely contain himself for joy. I had no more clothing with me than what I had on. ”

“ So many have come, and you refused them all."
"Then I was not followed by that soldier with those awful eyes," whispered Victorka. "You have lost your senses! What of that soldier? What do you care for him? Let him go where he wishes, he cannot carry you away from your home."
"But, dearest mother, it is he, only he. My heart is heavy and full of sorrow; I am so uneasy and can find no peace anywhere," sobbed the girl. "Why didn't you tell me long ago? I would have taken you to the blacksmith's wife; she knows how to cure such things. ”