say that all matters have been carefully considered by us before
they were introduced here."

Here little Canute Aakre resumed his quick way of speaking:

"In God's name take the honor, I am content to live without it;
there are other things harder to lose!"

Involuntarily Lars turned his eye from Canute, but said, the straw
moving very quickly: "If I were to speak my mind, I should say
there is not much to take honor for;--of course ministers and
teachers may be satisfied with what has been done; but, certainly,
the common men say only that up to this time the taxes have become
heavier and heavier."

A murmur arose in the assembly, which now became restless. Lars
continued:

"Finally, to-day, a proposition is made which, if carried, would
recompense the parish for all it has laid out; perhaps, for this
reason, it meets such opposition. It is the affair of the parish,
for the benefit of all its inhabitants, and ought to be rescued
from being a family matter." The audience exchanged glances, and
spoke half audibly, when one threw out a remark as he rose to go
to his dinner-pail, that these were "the truest words he had heard
in the meetings for many years." Now all arose, and the
conversation became general. Canute Aakre felt as he sat there
that the case was lost, fearfully lost; and tried no more to save
it. He had somewhat of the character attributed to Frenchmen, in
that he was good for first, second, and third attacks, but poor