le of black velvet flies behind
him over the horse. Look, how he gallops along."

Hjalmar saw that as this Ole-Luk-Oie rode on he lifted up old and young
and carried them away on his horse. Some he seated in front of him and
some behind, but always inquired first, "How stands the record book?"

"Good," they all answered.

"Yes, but let me see for myself," he replied, and they were obliged to
give him the books. Then all those who had "Very good" or "Exceedingly
good" came in front of the horse and heard the beautiful story, while
those who had "Middling" or "Fairly good" in their books were obliged to
sit behind. They cried and wanted to jump down from the horse, but they
could not get free, for they seemed fastened to the seat.

"Why, Death is a most splendid Luk-Oie," said Hjalmar. "I am not in the
least afraid of him."

"You need have no fear of him," said Ole-Luk-Oie; "but take care and
keep a good conduct book."

"Now I call that very instructive," murmured the great-grandfather's
portrait. "It is useful sometimes to express an opinion." So he was
quite satisfied.

These are some of the doings and sayings of Ole-Luk-Oie. I hope he may
visit you himself this evening and relate some more.

[Illustration]

THE MONEY BOX

IN a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, a money box
stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. It was made of clay in the
shape of a pig and had been bought of the potter. In the back of the pig
was a slit, and this slit had been enlarged with a knife so that
dollars, or even crown pieces, might slip through--and indeed there were
two in the box, besides a number of pence. The money-pig was stuffed so
full that it could no longer rattle, which is the highest state of
perfectness to which a money-pig can attain.

There he stood upon the cupboard, high and lofty, looking down upon
everything else in the room. He knew very well that he had enough inside
himself to buy up all the other toys, and this gave him a very good
opinion of his own value.

The rest thought of this fact also, although they did not express it,
there were so many other things to talk about. A large doll, still
handsome (though rather old, for her neck had been mended) lay inside
one of the drawers, which was partly open. She called out to the others,
"Let us have a game at being men and women; that is something worth
playing at."

Upon this there was a great uproar; even the engravings w