the whole pattern. Erica has worked it beautifully, to be sure."

"I think we have said quite enough about it," observed Erica, smiling
and blushing. "I hope M. Kollsen will accept it. The down is Rolfs
present."

Rolf rose, and made his bow, and said he had had pleasure in preparing
his small offering.

"And I think," said Erlingsen, "it is pretty plain that my little girls
have had pleasure in their part of the work. It is my belief that they
are sorry it is so nearly done."

M. Kollsen graciously accepted the gift,--took up the coverlid and
weighed it in his hand, in order to admire its lightness, compared with
its handsome size; and then bent over the carvers, to see what work was
under their hands.

"A bell-collar, sir," said Hund, showing his piece of wood. "I am
making a complete set for our cows, against they go to the mountain,
come summer."

"A pulpit, sir," explained Rolf, showing his work in his turn.

"A pulpit! Really! And who is to preach in it?"

"You, sir, of course," replied Erlingsen. "Long before you came,--from
the time the new church was begun, we meant it should have a handsome
pulpit. Six of us, within a round of twenty miles, undertook the six
sides; and Rolf has great hopes of having the basement allotted to him
afterwards. The best workman is to do the basement, and I think Rolf
bids fair to be the one. This is good work, sir."

"Exquisite," said the pastor. "I question whether our native carvers
may not be found to be equal to any whose works we hear so much of in
Popish churches, in other countries. And there is no doubt of the
superiority of their subjects. Look at these elegant twining flowers,
and that fine brooding eagle! How much better to copy the beautiful
works of God that are before our eyes, than to make durable pictures of
the Popish idolatries and superstitions, which should all have been
forgotten as soon as possible! I hope that none of the impious
idolatries which, I am ashamed to say, still linger among us, will find
their way into the arts by which future generations will judge us."

The pastor stopped, on seeing that his hearers looked at one another, as
if conscious. A few words, he judged, would be better than more; and he
went on to Peder, passing by Oddo without a word of notice. The party
had indeed glanced consciously at each other; for it so happened that
the very prettiest piece Rolf had ever carved was a bowl on which he had
shown