Birkheda Vicarage. from the Swed. of J. C (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. THE VICAR S STUDY. GLADLY would I have been alone, to put my thoughts and feelings in order; but the little duties of life cannot be neglected any more than the great, and I could not allow my old friends to wait for me. That my appearance during the meal was not so peaceful as I wished was noticeable from the vicar's peculiarly searching glance, which often rested inquisitively upon me. The good lady was too much occupied with her vexation at finding the sauce bishoped, and the pudding somewhat tough, to have time for reflection. A little while after dinner, the friendly old lady clapped my shoulder and said: "Now, I think we should all go rest us a little, and try to collect our thoughts by reading in the Bible. I see that you need some compensation in the way of sleep for the time that was lost last night." t "Who conducts the Bible lesson?" I asked. "Sellner, of course," she replied, looking proudly and pleasantly at her husband. "Every Sunday afternoon during the summer in the church, and in winter at home." "That is good. It is not done at home with us." "No, that I know," she answered eagerly, and blushing, "it is not customary." "Now, now, my dear wife do not give way to your usual freedom of talking so much about your husband," interrupted the vicar with a smile. "A priest who thinks of his duty is not really so unusuaL a phenomenon as you would make him." She ceased, but nodded significantly to me, as if she would say, "He is not one of the usual sort." And with a settled conviction that I should see she was right, she left us. When we were alone, I went towards the vicar. He reached out his hand to me, and said: "I see you want to speak to me. Come into my room. There we can remain undisturbed. You look pale, and tremble, ...