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unfold its great wings； and soar upwards to the skies； there to
burst like a soap…bubble in the radiant glance of the Deity。 Oh；〃
sighed he； 〃that the last day were come！〃
Silently he wandered on through the country of the Alps； which
seemed to him like a fruit garden； covered with soft turf。 From the
wooden balconies of the houses the young lacemakers nodded as he
passed。 The summits of the mountains glowed in the red evening sunset；
and the green lakes beneath the dark trees reflected the glow。 Then he
thought of the sea coast by the bay Kjoge； with a longing in his heart
that was； however； without pain。 There； where the Rhine rolls onward
like a great billow； and dissolves itself into snowflakes； where
glistening clouds are ever changing as if here was the place of
their creation； while the rainbow flutters about them like a
many…colored ribbon； there did Knud think of the water…mill at
Kjoge； with its rushing； foaming waters。 Gladly would he have remained
in the quiet Rhenish town； but there were too many elders and
willow…trees。
So he travelled onwards； over a grand； lofty chain of mountains；
over rugged；… rocky precipices； and along roads that hung on the
mountain's side like a swallow's nest。 The waters foamed in the depths
below him。 The clouds lay beneath him。 He wandered on； treading upon
Alpine roses； thistles； and snow； with the summer sun shining upon
him； till at length he bid farewell to the lands of the north。 Then he
passed on under the shade of blooming chestnut…trees； through
vineyards； and fields of Indian corn； till conscious that the
mountains were as a wall between him and his early recollections；
and he wished it to be so。
Before him lay a large and splendid city； called Milan； and here
he found a German master who engaged him as a workman。 The master
and his wife； in whose workshop he was employed； were an old； pious
couple； and the two old people became quite fond of the quiet
journeyman； who spoke but little； but worked more； and led a pious；
Christian life； and even to himself it seemed as if God had removed
the heavy burden from his heart。 His greatest pleasure was to climb；
now and then； to the roof of the noble church； which was built of
white marble。 The pointed towers； the decorated and open cloisters；
the stately columns； the white statues which smiled upon him from
every corner and porch and arch；… all； even the church itself；
seemed to him to have been formed from the snow of his native land。
Above him was the blue sky； below him； the city and the wide…spreading
plains of Lombardy； and towards the north； the lofty mountains；
covered with perpetual snow。 And then he thought of the church of
Kjoge； with its red； ivy…clad walls； but he had no longing to go
there； here； beyond the mountains； he would die and be buried。
Three years had passed away since he left his home； one year of
that time he had dwelt at Milan。
One day his master took him into the town； not to the circus in
which riders performed； but to the opera； a large building； itself a
sight well worth seeing。 The seven tiers of boxes； which reached
from the ground to a dizzy height； near the ceiling； were hung with
rich； silken curtains； and in them were seated elegantly…dressed
ladies； with bouquets of flowers in their hands。 The gentlemen were
also in full dress； and many of them wore decorations of gold and
silver。 The place was so brilliantly lighted that it seemed like
sunshine； and glorious music rolled through the building。 Everything
looked more beautiful than in the theatre at Copenhagen； but then
Joanna had been there； and… could it be？ Yes… it was like magic；…
she was here also： for； when the curtain rose； there stood Joanna；
dressed in silk and gold； and with a golden crown upon her head。 She
sang； he thought； as only an angel could sing； and then she stepped
forward to the front and smiled； as only Joanna could smile； and
looked directly at Knud。 Poor Knud！ he seized his master's hand； and
cried out loud； 〃Joanna；〃 but no one heard him； excepting his
master； for the music sounded above everything。
〃Yes； yes； it is Joanna；〃 said his master； and he drew forth a
printed bill； and pointed to her name； which was there in full。 Then
it was not a dream。 All the audience applauded her； and threw
wreaths of flowers at her； and every time she went away they called
for her again； so that she was always coming and going。 In the
street the people crowded round her carriage； and drew it away
themselves without the horses。 Knud was in the foremost row； and
shouted as joyously as the rest； and when the carriage stopped
before a brilliantly lighted house； Knud placed himself close to the
door of her carriage。 It flew open； and she stepped out； the light
fell upon her dear face； and he could see that she smiled as she
thanked them； and appeared quite overcome。 Knud looked straight in her
face； and she looked at him； but she did not recognize him。 A man；
with a glittering star on his breast； gave her his arm； and people
said the two were engaged to be married。 Then Knud went home and
packed up his knapsack； he felt he must return to the home of his
childhood； to the elder…tree and the willow。 〃Ah； under that
willow…tree！〃 A man may live a whole life in one single hour。
The old couple begged him to remain； but words were useless。 In
vain they reminded him that winter was coming； and that the snow had
already fallen on the mountains。 He said he could easily follow the
track of the closely…moving carriages； for which a path must be kept
clear； and with nothing but his knapsack on his back； and leaning on
his stick； he could step along briskly。 So he turned his steps to
the mountains； ascended one side and descended the other； still
going northward till his strength began to fail； and not a house or
village could be seen。 The stars shone in the sky above him； and
down in the valley lights glittered like stars； as if another sky were
beneath him； but his head was dizzy and his feet stumbled； and he felt
ill。 The lights in the valley grew brighter and brighter； and more
numerous； and he could see them moving to and fro； and then he
understood that there must be a village in the distance； so he exerted
his failing strength to reach it； and at length obtained shelter in
a humble lodging。 He remained there that night and the whole of the
following day； for his body required rest and refreshment； and in
the valley there was rain and a thaw。 But early in the morning of
the third day； a man came with an organ and played one of the melodies
of home； and after that Knud could remain there no longer； so he
started again on his journey toward the north。 He travelled for many
days with hasty steps； as if he were trying to reach home before all
whom he remembered should die； but he spoke to no one of this longing。
No one would have believed or understood this sorrow of his heart； the
deepest that can be felt by human nature。 Such grief is not for the
world； it is not entertaining even to friends； and poor Knud had no
friends； he was a stranger； wandering through strange lands to his
home in the north。
He was walking one evening through the public roads； the country
around him was flatter； with fields and meadows； the air had a
frosty feeling。 A willow…tree grew by the roadside； everything
reminded him of home。 He felt very tired； so he sat down under the
tree； and very soon began to nod； then his eyes closed in sleep。 Yet
still he seemed conscious that the willow…tree was stretching its
branches over him； in his dreaming state the tree appeared like a
strong； old man… the 〃willow…father〃 himself； who had taken his
tired son up in his arms to carry him back to the land of home； to the
garden of his childhood； on the bleak open shores of Kjoge。 And then
he dreamed that it was really the willow…tree itself from Kjoge； which
had travelled out in the world to seek him； and now had found him
and carried him back into the little garden on the banks of the
streamlet； and there stood Joanna； in all her