Part 13 (1/2)

He comforted her, and she stopped crying. ”Have you never heard singing before, child?” he asked wonderingly, when she had calmed down.

”Yes, the spinning-song,” sniffed Ditte.

”Who sang it to you then?”

”Granny----” Ditte suddenly stopped and began to choke again, the thought of Granny was too much for her. ”Granny used to sing it when she was spinning,” she managed at last to say.

”That must be a good old Granny, you have. Do you love her?”

Ditte did not answer, but the face she turned to him was like suns.h.i.+ne after the storm.

”Will you sing us the spinning-song?”

Ditte looked from the one to the other; the whole cla.s.s gazed breathlessly at her; she felt something was expected of her. She threw a hasty glance at the schoolmaster's face; then fixed her eyes on her desk and began singing in a delicate little voice, which vibrated with conflicting feelings; shyness, the solemnity of the occasion, and sorrow at the thought of Granny, who might now sit longing for her. Unconsciously she moved one foot up and down as she sang, as one who spins. One or two attempted to giggle, but one look from the master silenced them.

Now we spin for Ditte for stockings and for vest, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

Some shall be of silver and golden all the rest, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

Ditte went awalking, so soft and round and red, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away, Met a little princeling who doff'd his cap and said, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

Oh, come with me, fair maiden, to father's castle fine, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

We'll play the livelong day and have a lovely time, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

Alas, dear little prince, your question makes me grieve, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

There's Granny waits at home for me, and her I cannot leave, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

She's blind, poor old dear, 'tis sad to see, alack!

Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

She's water in her legs and pains all down her back, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

--If 'tis but for a child, she's cried her poor eyes out, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

Then she shall never want of that there is no doubt, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

When toil and troubles tell and legs begin to ache, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

We'll dress her up in furs and drive her out in state, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

Now Granny spins once more for sheet and bolster long, Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away!

For Ditte and the prince to lie and rest upon, Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray!

When she had finished her song, there was stillness for a few moments in the schoolroom.

”She thinks she's going to marry a prince,” said one of the girls.

”And that she probably will!” answered the schoolmaster. ”And then Granny can have all she wants,” he added, stroking her hair.

Without knowing it, Ditte at one stroke had won both the master's and the other children's liking. She had sung to the whole cla.s.s, quite alone, which none of the others dared do. The schoolmaster liked her for her fearlessness, and for some time shut his eyes whenever she was late. But one day it was too much for him, and he ordered her to stay in. Ditte began to cry.

”'Tis a shame,” said the other girls, ”she runs the whole way, and she's whipped if she's late home. Her mother stands every day at the corner of the house waiting for her--she's so strict.”