Short Fiction

Short Fiction
By Selma Lagerlöf.
Translated by Pauline Bancroft Flach, Jessie Brochner, and Velma Swanston Howard.




Imprint

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Foreword
This edition of Selma Lagerlöf’s Short Fiction was produced from various translations. “The Spirit of Fasting and Petter Nord,” “The Legend of the Bird’s Nest,” “The King’s Grave,” “The Outlaws,” “The Legend Of Reor,” “Valdemar Atterdag,” “Mamsell Fredrika,” “The Romance of a Fisherman’s Wife,” “His Mother’s Portrait,” “A Fallen King,” “A Christmas Guest,” “Uncle Reuben,” “Downie,” and “Among the Climbing Roses” were translated by Pauline Bancroft Flach and originally published in 1899. “The Story of a Country House,” “Queens at Kungahälla,” “Old Agnete,” “The Fisherman’s Ring,” “Santa Caterina of Siena,” “The Empress’s Money-Chest,” “The Peace of God,” “A Story from Halstanäs,” “The Inscription on the Grave,” and “The Brothers” were translated by Jessie Brochner and originally published in 1901. “The Holy Night,” “The Emperor’s Vision,” “The Wise Men’s Well,” “Bethlehem’s Children,” “The Flight Into Egypt,” “In Nazareth,” “In the Temple,” “Saint Veronica’s Kerchief,” “Robin Redbreast,” “Our Lord and Saint Peter,” and “The Sacred Flame” were translated by Velma Swanston Howard and originally published in 1908. “The Girl from the Marsh Croft,” “The Silver Mine,” “The Airship,” “The Wedding March,” “The Musician,” “The Legend of the Christmas Rose,” “A Story from Jerusalem,” “Why the Pope Lived to Be So Old” and “The Story of a Story” were also translated by Velma Swanston Howard and originally published in 1910.



Short Fiction

 
The Spirit of Fasting and Petter Nord

I
I can see before me the little town, friendly as a home. It is so small that I know its every hole and corner, am friends with all the children and know the name of every one of its dogs. Who ever walked up the street knew to which window he must raise his eyes to see a lovely face behind the panes, and who ever strolled through the town park knew well whither he should turn his steps to meet the one he wished to meet.
One was as proud of the beautiful roses in the garden of a neighbor, as if they had grown in one’s own. If anything mean or vulgar was done, it was as great a shame as if it had happened in one’s own family; but at the smallest adventure, at a fire or a fight in the marketplace, one swelled with pride and said: “Only see what a community! Do such things ever happen anywhere else? What a wonderful town!”
In my beloved town nothing ever changes. If I ever come there again, I shall find the same houses and shops that I knew of old; the same holes in the pavements will cause my downfall; the same stiff hedges of lindens, the same clipped lilac bushes will captivate my fascinated gaze. Again shall I see the old Mayor who rules the whole town walking down the street with elephantine tread. What a feeling of security there is in knowing that you are walking there! And deaf old Halfvorson will still be digging in his garden, while his eyes, clear as water, stare and wander as