Madeline Brandeis

“ The wind [Pg 96] was trying to scalp the head of Hanssonborg.
"We cannot keep this house standing another winter without repairs," sighed Fru Hansson. Then she sat up straighter, and Greta could see the question forming on her lips. "When are you going to set your wedding day?"
Greta suddenly stood up. Her lovely face was flushed with anger.
"You cannot force me to marry a coward," she told her mother.
Fru Hansson stiffened. "But the Baron is not a coward," she said. "In his family are men of valor, as brave and strong as those in our own." ”

“ Erik found Greta in the garden. As he poured out his story, she listened sympathetically.
"But even though Hanssonborg does not need the Baron's money now," he finished, [Pg 146] "your mother will not call off the wedding because she has given her promise."
"And so," said Greta, "Karl is to be master of Hanssonborg tomorrow!" Her lake-blue eyes had turned ocean-green.
"Oh, but he must not! He must never be master of Hanssonborg," cried Erik. "Baron von Engstrom is a coward!" ”

“ Absurd!"
"Oh, no, sir," said Erik seriously. "Hanssonborg is haunted."
Then Erik told him a legend which some of the peasants believed. The spirit of a warrior maiden was supposed to dwell in the [Pg 28] walls of the old castle. Her battle cry was often heard at the dead of night.
"And that is why," continued Erik, as he watched the Baron's pasty face grow paler in the moonlight, "no one will marry Greta. For, you see, every time a suitor comes, he is driven away by these ghostly cries." ”

“ Then he lifted up his head and began to sing, splashing the oars about in time to his singing:
"The sun upon the silver lake
Is shining like a wedding cake."
He did not look at Greta and Nils. He did not have to. He knew without looking that at last they were telling each other the truth. The "happily ever after" part of their story was coming true.
At the big house, Baron Karl was calling out the strongest and tallest servants to go with him to the island. He was fussing about in a panic, and Fru Hansson's nostrils were beginning to quiver with irritation. ”

“ The little boy shook his head.
"Baron Karl von Engstrom from Stockholm [Pg 14] arrived at Hanssonborg today," said Nils. "He is to spend the holidays here, and they say that he will ask Fru Hansson for Greta's hand in marriage."
Erik's mouth fell open. His eyes widened with horror. A baron from Stockholm! Greta's hand in marriage!
The memory of a few lines from his fairy-tale book flashed over him:
"Down the mountainside came thundering,
Fierce and wild, a giant tall,
Carried off the lovely princess—"
"No, no, Nils," cried Erik. "You can't let him do it. You shan't!" ”

“ Fru Svenson's two big hands settled upon her fleshy hips. She narrowed her eyes at the broken dish lying in pieces on the floor. Then she raised them to Erik's flushed face. He was breathing hard, and the look he gave [Pg 164] her was pathetic. With an unexpected gesture, Fru Svenson swept him into her arms and hugged him close.
"Bless you, child!" she cried. "Don't look like that. It was your brother Nils whom I meant when I said that Greta was to marry [Pg 165] a great nobleman. Nils is the greatest nobleman in the land and will make Hanssonborg a strong and clever manager." ”

“ Even though Erik could not help feeling contempt for this frightened little man, he was polite to Baron Karl. Swedish children are always polite to everyone. But he kept thinking of his brother Nils, who would not have been frightened by anything on earth.
Nils studied late every night, and that, Erik knew, was because he had a dream. He wanted to become the manager of Hanssonborg some day. He wanted to marry Greta. ”

“ That reminded Erik of the Herr Banker who had visited Hanssonborg over Christmas. Why, he could help Fru Hansson. Erik suggested this to Greta, but she shook her head.
"Mother has already written to him," she said. [Pg 73]
[Pg 74]
"What was his reply?" asked Erik eagerly.
"He refused," answered Greta. "Hanssonborg is already so heavily in debt that nobody will lend us any more money."
This was hard for Erik to understand. How could anybody refuse to help his beloved family? A strong bond existed between the landowner and the tenants, and to Erik, the Hanssons were like his own people. ”

“ Erik could well understand this. "Home," like many other words, came to the English language from the Swedish. The Swedes build homes, and not just houses. Their dwellings are not mere objects of brick and wood, but are living parts of themselves.
Perhaps this is because so much time must be spent indoors when the long winter months are mostly made of night.
No, Greta and her mother could never give up Hanssonborg. Yet, on the other hand, Greta must never be forced to marry the Baron. Something must be done. ”

“ Fru Svenson turned with a bowl of cakes in her hand. "Your mother is helping the [Pg 163] bride, and you must not bother her. Are you hungry, child?"
Now Fru Svenson knew that this last remark was unnecessary. Erik was always hungry.
So she was greatly surprised when he ignored her question and asked quickly, "Is Greta to be married?"
"Tomorrow," replied Fru Svenson, and set the dish of cakes before him on the table. "She is to wed a great nobleman."
With a sudden shove of his arm, Erik swept the dish off the table, and it crashed to the floor.
"What!" he cried. "She is not to marry Nils?" ”

“ STOCKHOLM IS A CITY OF BRIDGES
He blew his nose. "Jenny Lind was a child like you," he continued, "and she lived in Sweden, too. One day she was heard singing a lullaby to her cat, and from that time on, a great opera house became her home. She grew up to be one of the best singers in all the world, and they called her 'the Swedish Nightingale.'"
THE CONCERT HALL IN STOCKHOLM.
BEFORE IT IS THE OPEN MARKET.
EVERY SWEDISH CITY HAS ITS OPEN MARKET
Erik's eyes suddenly blazed with anger, and he threw back his head. ”

“ There can be no nonsense about education in Sweden. Boys and girls are supposed to work seriously in school, and the result is that everyone in the country knows how to read and write.
So Erik was punished. He was given so much written homework that he decided to be careful of his behavior in the future.
The Baron left Hanssonborg at last. But Greta told Erik that he was coming back again. He would return in the spring, when he hoped that Greta would announce their engagement. ”

“ Erik skated to shore. He took off his skates and started walking through the woods toward home. A Swedish law says that everyone who cuts down a tree must plant a new one; so the Swedish forests are thick and beautiful.
Little, lighted candles glowed in the windows of Erik's cottage, which was painted red and had white window frames. Vacation time was a good time, he thought, as he stamped into the cozy kitchen, where a big fire crackled. [Pg 13]
GRETA
His brother Nils sat at a rough, wooden table. ”

“ The pagans who lived in ancient times used to worship the sun, and the Swedish celebration on Midsummer Eve is as joyous and natural as those festivities which took place many years ago.
MIDSUMMER EVE FESTIVAL
Greta and Nils were married in the village, in a pretty little church with a fat, round dome.
A Maypole had been set up on the estate, and peasant and landlord, servant and master danced about it. Yet this was not the month of May, for "Maj" (mȧī) means "green leaf" in Swedish. The Maypole was wound with green leaves and on the top were blue and yellow flowers, the colors of the country. ”

“ Herr Banker was puzzled. [Pg 93]
"Yes, a sickly, cowardly old gnome!" declared Erik. "And Greta must not marry him. My brother Nils is strong and brave, and when he finishes his studies, he will manage Hanssonborg and marry Greta and pay you back your money—every cent!"
Erik drew a deep breath, and Herr Banker smiled.
"But where do you think I am to find this money to lend Fru Hansson?" he inquired. "That which is in the bank does not belong to me. It belongs to other people, who put it there to keep it safe. If I were to take it out and maybe lose it, I should be stealing. Shouldn't I?" ”

“ However, something told Erik to keep silent about his plans. If she found out, Greta might think it her duty to stop him. She was really a grown-up, though he could sometimes forget it because she played so well.
He promised to sing for her guests. How could he refuse her? However, he decided that he would have to make his call to the roof of Hanssonborg before Christmas Eve.
The next days were very busy ones. More guests arrived. Everybody living on the estate received presents of pigs and cows and chickens. Even the animals, tame and wild, must have extra meals. ”

“ All during the winter, the peasants spun at their looms. Everybody was busy. Fru Hansson began to count profits.
Yet Nils and Greta still hesitated about asking the proud lady's consent to their marriage. They feared that she would refuse it. Nils was only a poor agricultural student.
One day Erik received a letter from Johan, the banker's son, inviting him again to visit the banker's family in Stockholm.
This time, the family did not travel and [Pg 160] Erik learned to know Sweden's beautiful capital. He even went to the opera. ”

“ Finally other countries captured her trade and Visby became "the Lost City."
The following day, the banker's party left the island and returned to the mainland.
"Little boys must never play with matches," said Herr Banker and laughed.
Erik did not know what he meant. They were on the train going to Jönköping (yûn ́chû ́pĭng) .
When they arrived, Erik discovered that the town of Jönköping is the home of the [Pg 117] Swedish Match Company. It was clean and well kept and full of flowers, though it is a factory center. ”

“ Then he lifted his head and said to the boys, "I am called back to Stockholm on important business. We must leave at once." [Pg 139]
"But, Father, you promised we might stay here for Midsummer Eve," objected Johan.
"That has become impossible," said Herr Banker.
"Then Erik shall return to Stockholm with us," cried the spoiled Johan. [Pg 140]
"No," replied Herr Banker firmly. "Erik must go home. We are quite close to his province. We shall put him on the train, and he will reach Hanssonborg this afternoon."
Johan began to "please," and Erik wondered whether he would again persuade his father. ”

“ GOTHENBURG
"One day," said he, "a little bird fell at the feet of the soldier-king, Gustavus Adolphus. It had been pursued by an eagle. Gustavus believed this to be a good sign, so he built a city in the valley below." ”

“ Then, to Erik, a man without strength was like a meal without food. The men of his country were brave. Colonel Lindbergh's family came from Sweden. But Erik could not help feeling that the Baron was not only weak, but a coward. And at last something happened to show Erik that he was right.
One night after dinner, when the bright moon painted the snow silver, Erik watched [Pg 23] Greta and Baron Karl come out of the house. They were followed by Greta's big dogs.
A SWEDISH LIVING ROOM
Every evening these dogs were given their last run and always by someone in the family. ”

“ He looked very fierce, and Herr Banker laughed.
"No, no, Erik," he said. "Never a warrior! Ours is a peaceful land, remember. A sea captain, perhaps. But—" He sat down [Pg 92] on the sofa and drew Erik toward him, saying, "Tell me why you came to see me, child. What can I do for you?" ”

“ When all was still, he would become a Valkyrie and cry down the chimney.
He had his scheme nicely laid out. But there is a poem about "the best-laid schemes of mice and men" often going wrong; and Erik's went wrong.
This is how it happened. Upon St. Lucy's Day, according to the custom, a little girl awakened the household at an early hour. She wore a white nightgown and a wreath with seven candles in it round her head. She served coffee and buns.
She was one of Fru Hansson's guests and [Pg 42] came from Falun (fä ́lûn) in the province of Dalecarlia (dä ́lĕ-kär ́liȧ) . ”