When you've more
money than you know what to do with, the devil take economy. And what
about you, my girl? Any objection to a couple of thousand crowns' worth
of furs?"
"No, but seriously. The children haven't any ski--nor a hand-sleigh."
"Well, have you the money to buy them? I haven't."
"Suppose you tried making them yourself?"
"Ski?" Peer turned over the notion, whistling. "Well, why not? And a
sleigh? We might manage that. But what about little Asta?--she's too
little for that sort of thing."
"She hasn't any bed for her doll."
Peer whistled again. "There's something in that. That's an idea. I'm not
so handless yet that I couldn't--"
He was soon hard at it. There were tools and a joiner's bench in an
outhouse, and there he worked. He grew easily tired; his feet tried
constantly to take him to the door, but he forced himself to go on. Is
there anything in the notion that a man can get well by simply willing
it? I will, will, will. The thought of others besides himself began to
get the upper hand of those birds of prey ravening in his head. Presents
for the children, presents that father had made himself--the picture
made light and warmth in his mind. Drive ahead then.
When it came to making the iron ribbons for the sleigh runners he had
to go across to the smithy; and there stood a cottar at work roughing
horseshoes. Red glowing iron once more, and steel. The clang of hammer
on anvil seemed to tear his ears; yet it drew him on too.
Pages:
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239