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herself； quite a pocket full。 Ib and Christina looked at the wishing
nuts with wide open eyes。
〃Is there in this nut a carriage； with a pair of horses？〃 asked
Ib。
〃Yes； there is a golden carriage； with two golden horses；〃 replied
the woman。
〃Then give me that nut；〃 said Christina； so Ib gave it to her； and
the strange woman tied up the nut for her in her handkerchief。
Ib held up another nut。 〃Is there； in this nut； a pretty little
neckerchief like the one Christina has on her neck？〃 asked Ib。
〃There are ten neckerchiefs in it；〃 she replied； 〃as well as
beautiful dresses； stockings； and a hat and veil。〃
〃Then I will have that one also；〃 said Christina； 〃and it is a
pretty one too。 And then Ib gave her the second nut。
The third was a little black thing。 〃You may keep that one；〃
said Christina； 〃it is quite as pretty。〃
〃What is in it？〃 asked Ib。
〃The best of all things for you；〃 replied the gypsy。 So Ib held
the nut very tight。
Then the woman promised to lead the children to the right path；
that they might find their way home： and they went forward certainly
in quite another direction to the one they meant to take； therefore no
one ought to speak against the woman； and say that she wanted to steal
the children。 In the wild wood…path they met a forester who knew Ib；
and； by his help； Ib and Christina reached home； where they found
every one had been very anxious about them。 They were pardoned and
forgiven； although they really had both done wrong； and deserved to
get into trouble； first； because they had let the sucking…pig fall
into the water； and； secondly； because they had run away。 Christina
was taken back to her father's house on the heath； and Ib remained
in the farm…house on the borders of the wood； near the great land
ridge。
The first thing Ib did that evening was to take out of his
pocket the little black nut； in which the best thing of all was said
to be enclosed。 He laid it carefully between the door and the
door…post； and then shut the door so that the nut cracked directly。
But there was not much kernel to be seen； it was what we should call
hollow or worm…eaten； and looked as if it had been filled with tobacco
or rich black earth。 〃It is just what I expected！〃 exclaimed Ib。
〃How should there be room in a little nut like this for the best thing
of all？ Christina will find her two nuts just the same； there will
be neither fine clothes or a golden carriage in them。〃
Winter came； and the new year； and indeed many years passed
away； until Ib was old enough to be confirmed； and； therefore； he went
during a whole winter to the clergyman of the nearest village to be
prepared。
One day； about this time； the boatman paid a visit to Ib's
parents； and told them that Christina was going to service； and that
she had been remarkably fortunate in obtaining a good place； with most
respectable people。 〃Only think；〃 he said； 〃She is going to the rich
innkeeper's； at the hotel in Herning； many miles west from here。 She
is to assist the landlady in the housekeeping； and； if afterwards
she behaves well and remains to be confirmed； the people will treat
her as their own daughter。〃
So Ib and Christina took leave of each other。 People already
called them 〃the betrothed；〃 and at parting the girl showed Ib the two
nuts； which she had taken care of ever since the time that they lost
themselves in the wood； and she told him also that the little wooden
shoes he once carved for her when he was a boy； and gave her as a
present； had been carefully kept in a drawer ever since。 And so they
parted。
After Ib's confirmation； he remained at home with his mother；
for he had become a clever shoemaker； and in summer managed the farm
for her quite alone。 His father had been dead some time； and his
mother kept no farm servants。 Sometimes； but very seldom； he heard
of Christina； through a postillion or eel…seller who was passing。
But she was well off with the rich innkeeper； and after being
confirmed she wrote a letter to her father； in which was a kind
message to Ib and his mother。 In this letter； she mentioned that her
master and mistress had made her a present of a beautiful new dress；
and some nice under…clothes。 This was； of course； pleasant news。
One day； in the following spring； there came a knock at the door
of the house where Ib's old mother lived； and when they opened it；
lo and behold； in stepped the boatman and Christina。 She had come to
pay them a visit； and to spend the day。 A carriage had to come from
the Herning hotel to the next village； and she had taken the
opportunity to see her friends once more。 She looked as elegant as a
real lady； and wore a pretty dress； beautifully made on purpose for
her。 There she stood； in full dress； while Ib wore only his working
clothes。 He could not utter a word； he could only seize her hand and
hold it fast in his own； but he felt too happy and glad to open his
lips。 Christina； however； was quite at her ease； she talked and
talked； and kissed him in the most friendly manner。 Even afterwards；
when they were left alone； and she asked； 〃Did you know me again； Ib？〃
he still stood holding her hand； and said at last； 〃You are become
quite a grand lady； Christina； and I am only a rough working man；
but I have often thought of you and of old times。〃 Then they
wandered up the great ridge； and looked across the stream to the
heath； where the little hills were covered with the flowering broom。
Ib said nothing； but before the time came for them to part； it
became quite clear to him that Christina must be his wife： had they
not even in childhood been called the betrothed？ To him it seemed as
if they were really engaged to each other； although not a word had
been spoken on the subject。 They had only a few more hours to remain
together； for Christina was obliged to return that evening to the
neighboring village； to be ready for the carriage which was to start
the next morning early for Herning。 Ib and her father accompanied
her to the village。 It was a fine moonlight evening； and when they
arrived； Ib stood holding Christina's hand in his； as if he could
not let her go。 His eyes brightened； and the words he uttered came
with hesitation from his lips； but from the deepest recesses of his
heart： 〃Christina； if you have not become too grand； and if you can be
contented to live in my mother's house as my wife； we will be
married some day。 But we can wait for a while。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 she replied； 〃Let us wait a little longer； Ib。 I can
trust you； for I believe that I do love you。 But let me think it
over。〃 Then he kissed her lips； and so they parted。
On the way home； Ib told the boatman that he and Christina were as
good as engaged to each other； and the boatman found out that he had
always expected it would be so； and went home with Ib that evening；
and remained the night in the farmhouse； but nothing further was
said of the engagement。 During the next year； two letters passed
between Ib and Christina。 They were signed； 〃Faithful till death；〃 but
at the end of that time； one day the boatman came over to see Ib； with
a kind greeting from Christina。 He had something else to say； which
made him hesitate in a strange manner。 At last it came out that
Christina； who had grown a very pretty girl； was more lucky than ever。
She was courted and admired by every one； but her master's son； who
had been home on a visit； was so much pleased with Christina that he
wished to marry her。 He had a very good situation in an office at
Copenhagen； and as she had also taken a liking for him； his parents
were not unwilling to consent。 But Christina； in her heart； often
thought of Ib； and knew how much he thought of her； so she felt
inclined to refuse this good fortune； added the boatman。 At first Ib
said not a word； but he became as white as the wall； and shook his
head gently； and then he spoke；… 〃Christina must not refuse this
good fortune。〃
〃Then will you write a few words to her？〃 said the boatman。
Ib sat down to write； but he could not get on at all。 The words
were not what he wished to say； so he tore up the page。 The
following morning； however； a letter lay ready to be sent to
Christina； and the following is what he wrote：…
〃The letter written by you to your father I have read； and see
from it that you are prosperous in everything； and that still better
fortune is in store for you。 Ask your own heart； Christina； and
think over carefully what awaits you if you take me for your
husband； for I possess very little in the world。 Do not think of me or
of my position； think only of your own welfare。 You are bound to me by
no promises； and if in your heart you have given me one； I release you
from it。 May every blessing and happiness be poured out upon you；
Christina。 Heaven will give me the heart's consolation。
Ever your sincere friend； IB。〃
This letter was sent； and Christina received it in due time。 In
the course of the following November； her banns were publish