Thynell Ulla - Nordic tales: folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark

Copyright 2019 by Chronicle Books LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-4521-7447-1 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4521-7502-7 (epub, mobi)

Design by Maggie Edelman.

Illustrations by Ulla Thynell.

Chronicle books and gifts are available at special quantity discounts to corporations, professional associations, literacy programs, and other organizations. For details and discount information, please contact our premiums department at or at 1-800-759-0190.

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

When he had finished his story everyone was silent for wonder,
except Hildur, who went up to him and said:
I declare you to be a liar in all that you have said, unless
you can prove it by sure evidence.

- jn arnason, translated by
george e. j. powell and eirkur magnsson,

Hildur, the Queen of the Elves

F inland

T here was once a farmer who had three sons. One day when the boys were grown to manhood he said to them: My sons, it is high time that you were all married. To-morrow I wish you to go out in search of brides.

But where shall we go? the oldest son asked.

I have thought of that, too, the father said. Do each of you chop down a tree and then take the direction in which the fallen tree points. Im sure that each of you if you go far enough in that direction will find a suitable bride.

So the next day the three sons chopped down trees. The oldest sons tree fell pointing north. That suits me! he said, for he knew that to the north lay a farm where a very pretty girl lived.

The tree of the second son when it fell pointed south. That suits me! the second son declared thinking of a girl that he had often danced with who lived on a farm to the south.

The youngest sons treethe youngest sons name was Veikkowhen it fell pointed straight to the forest.

Ha! Ha! the older brothers laughed. Veikko will have to go courting one of the Wolf girls or one of the Foxes!

They meant by this that only animals lived in the forest and they thought they were making a good joke at Veikkos expense. But Veikko said he was perfectly willing to take his chances and go where his tree pointed.

The older brothers went gaily off and presented their suits to the two farmers whose daughters they admired. Veikko, too, started off with brave front but after he had gone some distance in the forest his courage began to ebb.

How can I find a bride, he asked himself, in a place where there are no human creatures at all!

Just then he came to a little hut. He pushed open the door and went in. It was empty. To be sure there was a little mouse sitting on the table, daintily combing her whiskers, but a mouse of course doesnt count.

Theres nobody here! Veikko said aloud.

The little mouse paused in her toilet and turning towards him said reproachfully:

Why, Veikko, Im here!

But you dont count. Youre only a mouse!

Of course I count! the little mouse declared. But tell me, what were you hoping to find?

I was hoping to find a sweetheart.

The little mouse questioned him further and Veikko told her the whole story of his brothers and the trees.

The two older ones are finding sweethearts easily enough, Veikko said, but I dont see how I can off here in the forest. And it will shame me to have to go home and confess that I alone have failed.

See here, Veikko, the little mouse said, why dont you take me for your sweetheart?

Veikko laughed heartily. But youre only a mouse! Whoever heard of a man having a mouse for a sweetheart!

The mouse shook her little head solemnly. Take my word for it, Veikko, you could do much worse than have me for a sweetheart! Even if I am only a mouse I can love you and be true to you.

She was a dear dainty little mouse and as she sat looking up at Veikko with her little paws under her chin and her bright little eyes sparkling Veikko liked her more and more.

Then she sang Veikko a pretty little song and the song cheered him so much that he forgot his disappointment at not finding a human sweetheart and as he left her to go home he said:

Very well, little mouse, Ill take you for my sweetheart!

At that the mouse made little squeaks of delight and she told him that shed be true to him and wait for him no matter how long he was in returning.

Well, the older brothers when they got home boasted loudly about their sweethearts.

Mine, said the oldest, has the rosiest reddest cheeks you ever saw!

And mine, the second announced, has long yellow hair!

Veikko said nothing.

Whats the matter, Veikko? the older brothers asked him, laughing. Has your sweetheart pretty pointed ears or sharp white teeth?

You see they were still having their little joke about foxes and wolves.

You neednt laugh, Veikko said. Ive found a sweetheart. Shes a gentle dainty little thing gowned in velvet.

Gowned in velvet! echoed the oldest brother with a frown.

Just like a princess! the second brother sneered.

Yes, Veikko repeated, gowned in velvet like a princess. And when she sits up and sings to me Im perfectly happy.

Huh! grunted the older brothers not at all pleased that Veikko should have so grand a sweetheart.

Well, said the old farmer after a few days, now I should like to know what those sweethearts of yours are able to do. Have them each bake me a loaf of bread so that I can see whether theyre good housewives.

Mine will be able to bake breadIm sure of that! the oldest brother declared boastfully.

So will mine! chorused the second brother.

Veikko was silent.

What about the Princess? they said with a laugh. Do you think the Princess can bake bread?

I dont know, Veikko answered truthfully. Ill have to ask her.

Of course he had no reason for supposing that the little mouse could bake bread and by the time he reached the hut in the forest he was feeling sad and discouraged.

When he pushed open the door he found the little mouse as before seated on the table daintily combing her whiskers. At the sight of Veikko she danced about with delight.

Im so glad to see you! she squeaked. I knew you would come back!

Then when she noticed that he was silent she asked him what was the matter. Veikko told her:

My father wants each of our sweethearts to bake him a loaf of bread. If I come home without a loaf my brothers will laugh at me.

You wont have to go home without a loaf! the little mouse said. I can bake bread.

Veikko was much surprised at this.

I never heard of a mouse that could bake bread!