In Midsummer Days and Other Tales | Page 2

tree and sung of the joy of Heaven, quite
convinced that the man in the hole, who could see neither sky, nor sea,
nor meadow, must be longing for Heaven.
"No," said the farmer, "I must first dig a well; otherwise my summer
guest will have no water, and the unhappy little mother will take her
child and go and live elsewhere."
The dove flew down to the strand, when the farmer's brother was busy
hauling in the fishing-nets; it sat among the rushes and began to sing.
"No," said the farmer's brother, "I must provide food for my family,
otherwise my children will cry with hunger. Later on! Later on, I tell
you! Let's live first and die afterwards."
***
And the dove flew to the pretty cottage, where the unhappy little
mother had taken rooms for the summer. She sat on the verandah,
working at a sewing machine; her face was as white as a lily, and her
red felt hat looked like a huge poppy on her hair, which was as black as
a mourning veil. She was busy making a pinafore which her little girl
was to wear on Midsummer Eve, and the child sat at her feet on the
floor, cutting up little pieces of material which were not wanted.
"Why isn't daddy coming home?" asked the little girl, looking up.
That was a very difficult question, so difficult that the young mother
could not answer it; and very possibly daddy could not have answered

it either, for he was far away in a foreign country with his grief, which
was twice as great as mammy's.
The sewing machine was not in good order, but it stitched and stitched;
it made as many pricks as a human heart can bear before it breaks, but
every prick only served to pull the thread tighter--it was curious!
"I want to go to the village, mammy," said the little girl. "I want to see
the sun, for it is so dark here."
"You shall go and play in the sunshine this afternoon, darling."
I must tell you that it was very dark between the high cliffs on this side
of the island; the cottage stood in a gloomy pine-grove, which
completely hid the view of the sea.
"And I want you to buy me a lot of toys, mammy."
"Darling, we have so little money to buy toys with," answered the
mother, bending her head still lower over their work.
And that was the truth; for their comfort had changed into penury. They
had no servant, and the mother had to do the whole house-work herself.
But when she saw the sad face of the little girl, she took her on her
knees.
"Put your little arms round mammy's neck," she said.
The little one obeyed.
"Now give mammy a kiss!"
The rosy little half-open mouth, which looked like the mouth of a little
bird, was pressed against her lips; and when the blue eyes, blue as the
flower of the flax, smiled into hers, her beautiful face reflected the
sweet innocence of the little one, and made her look like a happy child
herself, playing in the sunshine.

"No use my singing to them of the Kingdom of Heaven," thought the
dove, "but if I can in any way serve them, I will."
And then it flew away towards the sunny village, for it had work to do
there.
***
It was afternoon now; the little mother took a basket on one arm and
the child's little hand into hers, and they left the cottage. She had never
been to the village, but she knew that it was situated somewhere
towards sunset, on the other side of the island, and the farmer had told
her that she would have to get over six stiles and walk through six
latticed gates before she could get there.
And on they went.
Their way lay along a footpath, full of stones and old tree-roots, so that
she was obliged to carry the little girl, and that was very hard work.
The doctor had told her that the child must not strain her left foot,
because it was so weak that it might easily have grown deformed.
The young mother staggered along, under her beloved burden, and
large beads of perspiration stood like pearls on her forehead, for it was
very hot in the wood.
"I am so thirsty, mammy," whispered the little, complaining voice.
"Have patience, darling, there will be plenty of water when we get
there."
And she kissed the little parclied mouth, and the child smiled and
forgot all about her thirst.
But the scorching rays of the sun burned their skin and there was not a
breath of air in the wood.
"Try and walk a little, darling," said