The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Selma Lagerlöf (i wanna iguana read aloud .txt) đ
- Author: Selma Lagerlöf
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âIt may be because I want to show you wild geese that we tame ones may also be good for something,â said the goosey-gander.
âYes, it would be well if you could show us that,â said the leader-goose. âWe have already observed how much you know about flying; but you are more skilled, perhaps, in other sports. Possibly you are strong in a swimming match?â
âNo, I canât boast that I am,â said the goosey-gander. It seemed to him that the leader-goose had already made up her mind to send him home, so he didnât much care how he answered. âI never swam any farther than across a marl-ditch,â he continued.
âThen I presume youâre a crack sprinter,â said the goose.
âI have never seen a tame goose run, nor have I ever done it myself,â said the goosey-gander; and he made things appear much worse than they really were.
The big white one was sure now that the leader-goose would say that under no circumstances could they take him along. He was very much astonished when she said: âYou answer questions courageously; and he who has courage can become a good travelling companion, even if he is ignorant in the beginning. What do you say to stopping with us for a couple of days, until we can see what you are good for?â
âThat suits me!â said the goosey-ganderâ âand he was thoroughly happy.
Thereupon the leader-goose pointed with her bill and said: âBut who is that you have with you? Iâve never seen anything like him before.â
âThatâs my comrade,â said the goosey-gander. âHeâs been a goose-tender all his life. Heâll be useful all right to take with us on the trip.â
âYes, he may be all right for a tame goose,â answered the wild one. âWhat do you call him?â
âHe has several names,â said the goosey-ganderâ âhesitantly, not knowing what he should hit upon in a hurry, for he didnât want to reveal the fact that the boy had a human name. âOh! his name is Thumbietot,â he said at last.
âDoes he belong to the elf family?â asked the leader-goose.
âAt what time do you wild geese usually retire?â said the goosey-gander quicklyâ âtrying to evade that last question. âMy eyes close of their own accord about this time.â
One could easily see that the goose who talked with the gander was very old. Her entire feather outfit was ice-gray, without any dark streaks. The head was larger, the legs coarser, and the feet were more worn than any of the others. The feathers were stiff; the shoulders knotty; the neck thin. All this was due to age. It was only upon the eyes that time had had no effect. They shone brighterâ âas if they were youngerâ âthan any of the others!
She turned, very haughtily, toward the goosey-gander. âUnderstand, Mr. Tame-goose, that I am Akka from Kebnekaise! And that the goose who flies nearest meâ âto the rightâ âis Iksi from Vassijaure, and the one to the left, is Kaksi from Nuolja! Understand, also, that the second right-hand goose is Kolmi from Sarjektjakko, and the second, left, is NeljĂ€ from Svappavaara; and behind them fly Viisi from OviksfjĂ€llen and Kuusi from Sjangeli! And know that these, as well as the six goslings who fly lastâ âthree to the right, and three to the leftâ âare all high mountain geese of the finest breed! You must not take us for landlubbers who strike up a chance acquaintance with any and everyone! And you must not think that we permit anyone to share our quarters, that will not tell us who his ancestors were.â
When Akka, the leader-goose, talked in this way, the boy stepped briskly forward. It had distressed him that the goosey-gander, who had spoken up so glibly for himself, should give such evasive answers when it concerned him. âI donât care to make a secret of who I am,â said he. âMy name is Nils Holgersson. Iâm a farmerâs son, and, until today, I have been a human being; but this morningâ ââ He got no further. As soon as he had said that he was human the leader-goose staggered three steps backward, and the rest of them even farther back. They all extended their necks and hissed angrily at him.
âI have suspected this ever since I first saw you here on these shores,â said Akka; âand now you can clear out of here at once. We tolerate no human beings among us.â
âIt isnât possible,â said the goosey-gander, meditatively, âthat you wild geese can be afraid of anyone who is so tiny! By tomorrow, of course, heâll turn back home. You can surely let him stay with us overnight. None of us can afford to let such a poor little creature wander off by himself in the nightâ âamong weasels and foxes!â
The wild goose came nearer. But it was evident that it was hard for her to master her fear. âI have been taught to fear everything in human shapeâ âbe it big or little,â said she. âBut if you will answer for this one, and swear that he will not harm us, he can stay with us tonight. But I donât believe our night quarters are suitable either for him or you, for we intend to roost on the broken ice out here.â
She thought, of course, that the goosey-gander would be doubtful when he heard this, but he never let on. âShe is pretty wise who knows how to choose such a safe bed,â said he.
âYou will be answerable for his return to his own tomorrow.â
âThen I, too, will have to leave you,â said the goosey-gander. âI have sworn that I would not forsake him.â
âYou are free to fly whither you will,â said the leader-goose.
With this, she raised her wings and flew out over the ice and one after another the wild geese followed her.
The boy was very sad to think that his trip to Lapland would not come off, and, in the bargain, he was afraid of the chilly night quarters. âIt will be worse and worse,â said he. âIn the first place, weâll freeze to death
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