handed to him, but his regard for the Hindricksons was so great
that he would not have dared refuse it.

Now, turning back from the gate, he walked over to the barn and put
the parcel down near the door, where the housefolk constantly
passed and would be sure to see it.

He was sorry to have to leave it. But his little girl was no
beggar! Nobody must think that she and her father went about asking
alms.


THE SCHOOL EXAMINATION

When the little girl was six years old Jan went along with her to
the Östanby school one day, to listen to the examinations.

This being the first and only schoolhouse the parish boasted,
naturally every one was glad that at last a long-felt want had
been met. In the old days Sexton Blackie had no choice but to go
about from farmhouse to farmhouse with his pupils.

Up until the year 1860, when the Östanby school was built, the
sexton had been compelled to change classrooms every other week,
and many a time he and his little pupils had sat in a room where
the housewife prepared meals and the man of the house worked at a
carpenter's bench; where the old folk lay abed all day and the
chickens were cooped under the sofa.

But just the same it had gone rather well with the teaching; for