nt. He knew it was a hopeless thing for him to aspire to rival
such genius, and he took the thing philosophically, and did not aspire.

It occurred to Grim one day, when Bonnyboy had made a most discouraging
exhibition of his awkwardness, that it might be a good thing to ask the
pastor's advice in regard to him. The pastor had had a long experience
in educating children, and his own, though they were not all clever,
promised to turn out well. Accordingly Grim called at the parsonage, was
well received, and returned home charged to the muzzle with good advice.
The pastor lent him a book full of stories, and recommended him to read
them to his son, and afterward question him about every single fact
which each story contained. This the pastor had found to be a good way
to develop the intellect of a backward boy.

III.

When Bonnyboy had been confirmed, the question again rose what was
to become of him. He was now a tall young fellow, red-checked,
broad-shouldered, and strong, and rather nice-looking. A slow,
good-natured smile spread over his face when anyone spoke to him, and he
had a way of flinging his head back, when the tuft of yellow hair which
usually hung down over his forehead obscured his sight. Most people
liked him, even though they laughed at him behind his back; but to his
face nobody laughed, because his strength inspired respect. Nor did he
know what fear was when he was roused; but that was probably, as people
thought, because he did not know much of anything. At any rate, on a
certain occasion he showed that there was a limit to his good-nature,
and when that limit was reached, he was not as harmless a fellow as he
looked.

On the neighboring farm of Gimlehaug there was a wedding to which
Grim and his son were invited. On the afternoon of the second wedding
day--for peasant weddings in Norway are often celebrated for three
days--a notorious bully named Ola Klemmerud took it into his head to
have some sport with the big good-natured simpleton. So, by way of
pleasantry, he pulled the tuft of hair which hung down upon Bonnyboy's
forehead.

"Don't do that," said Bonnyboy.

Ola Klemmerud chuckled, and the next time he passed Bonnyboy, pinched
his ear.

"If you do that again I sha'n't like you," cried Bonnyboy.

The innocence of that remark made the people laugh, and the bully,
seeing that their sympathy was on his side, was encouraged to continue
his teasing. Taking a few dancing steps across t