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disposition of its father； at night； on thecontrary； its outward appearance plainly showed its descent on thefather's side； while inwardly it had the heart and mind of its mother。Who would be able to loosen this wicked charm which the sorcerer hadworked upon it？ The wife of the Viking lived in constant pain andsorrow about it。 Her heart clung to the little creature； but she couldnot explain to her husband the circumstances in which it was placed。He was expected to return shortly； and were she to tell him； hewould very likely； as was the custom at that time； expose the poorchild in the public highway； and let any one take it away who would。The good wife of the Viking could not let that happen； and shetherefore resolved that the Viking should never see the childexcepting by daylight。
One morning there sounded a rushing of storks' wings over theroof。 More than a hundred pair of storks had rested there during thenight； to recover themselves after their excursion； and now theysoared aloft； and prepared for the journey southward。
〃All the husbands are here； and ready！〃 they cried； 〃wives andchildren also！〃
〃How light we are！〃 screamed the young storks in chorus。〃Something pleasant seems creeping over us； even down to our toes；as if we were full of live frogs。 Ah； how delightful it is to travelinto foreign lands！〃
〃Hold yourselves properly in the line with us；〃 cried papa andmamma。 〃Do not use your beaks so much； it tries the lungs。〃 And thenthe storks flew away。
About the same time sounded the clang of the warriors' trumpetsacross the heath。 The Viking had landed with his men。 They werereturning home； richly laden with spoil from the Gallic coast； wherethe people； as did also the inhabitants of Britain； often cried inalarm； 〃Deliver us from the wild northmen。〃
Life and noisy pleasure came with them into the castle of theViking on the moorland。 A great cask of mead was drawn into thehall； piles of wood blazed； cattle were slain and served up； that theymight feast in reality； The priest who offered the sacrifice sprinkledthe devoted parishioners with the warm blood； the fire crackled； andthe smoke rolled along beneath the roof； the soot fell upon themfrom the beams； but they were used to all these things。 Guests wereinvited； and received handsome presents。 All wrongs and unfaithfulnesswere forgotten。 They drank deeply； and threw in each other's faces thebones that were left； which was looked upon as a sign of goodfeeling amongst them。 A bard； who was a kind of musician as well aswarrior； and who had been with the Viking in his expedition； andknew what to sing about； gave them one of his best songs； in whichthey heard all their warlike deeds praised； and every wonderful actionbrought forward with honor。 Every verse ended with this refrain；…
〃Gold and possessions will flee away；
Friends and foes must die one day；
Every man on earth must die；
But a famous name will never die。〃And with that they beat upon their shields； and hammered upon thetable with knives and bones； in a most outrageous manner。
The Viking's wife sat upon a raised cross seat in the open hall。She wore a silk dress； golden bracelets； and large amber beads。 Shewas in costly attire； and the bard named her in his song； and spoke ofthe rich treasure of gold which she had brought to her husband。 Herhusband had already seen the wonderfully beautiful child in thedaytime； and was delighted with her beauty； even her wild ways pleasedhim。 He said the little maiden would grow up to be a heroine； with thestrong will and determination of a man。 She would never wink her eyes；even if； in joke； an expert hand should attempt to cut off hereye…brows with a sharp sword。
The full cask of mead soon became empty； and a fresh one wasbrought in； for these were people who liked plenty to eat and drink。The old proverb； which every one knows； says that 〃the cattle knowwhen to leave their pasture； but a foolish man knows not the measureof his own appetite。〃 Yes； they all knew this； but men may know whatis right； and yet often do wrong。 They also knew 〃that even thewele guest bees wearisome when he sits too long in the house。〃But there they remained； for pork and mead are good things。 And soat the Viking's house they stayed； and enjoyed themselves； and atnight the bondmen slept in the ashes； and dipped their fingers inthe fat； and licked them。 Oh； it was a delightful time！
Once more in the same year the Viking went forth； though thestorms of autumn had already menced to roar。 He went with hiswarriors to the coast of Britain； he said that it was but an excursionof pleasure across the water； so his wife remained at home with thelittle girl。 After a while； it is quite certain the foster…motherbegan to love the poor frog； with its gentle eyes and its deepsighs； even better than the little beauty who bit and fought withall around her。
The heavy； damp mists of autumn； which destroy the leaves of thewood； had already fallen upon forest and heath。 Feathers of pluckedbirds； as they call the snow； flew about in thick showers； andwinter was ing。 The sparrows took possession of the stork's nest；and conversed about the absent owners in their own fashion； andthey； the stork pair and all their young ones； where were they stayingnow？ The storks might have been found in the land of Egypt； wherethe sun's rays shone forth bright and warm； as it does here atmidsummer。 Tamarinds and acacias were in full bloom all over thecountry； the crescent of Mahomet glittered brightly from the cupolasof the mosques； and on the slender pinnacles sat many of the storks；resting after their long journey。 Swarms of them took dividedpossession of the nests… nests which lay close to each other betweenthe venerable columns； and crowded the arches of temples inforgotten cities。 The date and the palm lifted themselves as ascreen or as a sun…shade over them。 The gray pyramids looked likebroken shadows in the clear air and the far…off desert； where theostrich wheels his rapid flight； and the lion； with his subtle eyes；gazes at the marble sphinx which lies half buried in sand。 Thewaters of the Nile had retreated； and the whole bed of the river wascovered with frogs； which was a most acceptable prospect for the storkfamilies。 The young storks thought their eyes deceived them；everything around appeared so beautiful。
〃It is always like this here； and this is how we live in ourwarm country；〃 said the stork…mamma； and the thought made the youngones almost beside themselves with pleasure。
〃Is there anything more to see？〃 they asked； 〃are we going fartherinto the country？〃
〃There is nothing further for us to see；〃 answered thestork…mamma。 〃Beyond this delightful region there are immense forests；where the branches of the trees entwine round each other； whileprickly； creeping plants cover the paths； and only an elephant couldforce a passage for himself with his great feet。 The snakes are toolarge； and the lizards too lively for us to catch。 Then there is thedesert； if you went there； your eyes would soon be full of sand withthe lightest breeze； and if it should blow great guns； you wouldmost likely find yourself in a sand…drift。 Here is the best placefor you； where there are frogs and locusts； here I shall remain； andso must you。〃 And so they stayed。
The parents sat in the nest on the slender minaret； and rested；yet still were busily employed in cleaning and smoothing theirfeathers； and in sharpening their beaks against their red stockings；then they would stretch out their necks； salute each other； andgravely raise their heads with the high…polished forehead； and soft；smooth feathers； while their brown eyes shone with intelligence。 Thefemale young ones strutted about amid the moist rushes； glancing atthe other young storks and making acquaintances； and swallowing a frogat every third step； or tossing a little snake about with their beaks；in a way they considered very being； and besides it tasted verygood。 The young male storks soon began to quarrel； they struck at eachother with their wings； and pecked with their beaks till the bloodcame。 And in this manner many of the young ladies and gentlemen werebetrothed to each other： it was； of course； what they wanted； andindeed what they lived for。 Then they retur