Do you want to hear it ?" "Yes, very much." "Well, then, come nearer this way, that the school-master may not see us." He moved close to her, and then she recited a little snatch of a song, four or five times, until the boy learned it, and it was the first thing he learned at school.
"Dance!" cried the fiddle; Its strings all were quaking, The lensmand's son making Spring up and say "Ho!" "Stay!" called out Ola, And tripped him up lightly; The girls laughed out brightly, The lensmand lay low.
"Hop!" said then Erik, His heel upward flinging; The beams fell to ringing, The walls gave a shriek.
"Stop!" shouted Elling, His collar then grasping, And held him up, gasping: "Why, you're far too weak!" "Hey!" spoke up Rasmus, Fair Randi then seizing; "Come, give without teasing That kiss.

Oh! you know!" "Nay!" answered Randi, And boxing him smartly, Dashed off, crying tartly: "Take that now and go!"[1] [Footnote 1: Auber Forestier's translation.] "Up, youngsters!" cried the school-master; "this is the first day, so you shall be let off early; but first we must say a prayer and sing." The whole school was now alive; the little folks jumped down from the benches, ran across the floor and all spoke at once.
"Silence, little gypsies, young rascals, yearlings!--be still and walk nicely across the floor, little children!" said the school-master, and they quietly took their places, after which the school-master stood in front of them and made a short prayer.

Then they sang; the school-master started the tune, in a deep bass; all the children, folding their hands, joined in.

Oyvind stood at the foot, near the door, with Marit, looking on; they also clasped their hands, but they could not sing.
This was the first day at school..