Chapter 9
The next day Daniel was sick.
The head ached with a heavy pressure. The throat was sore and painful. A strong taste of phlegm clung to his whole mouth. A sharp pain stung his side; fever rushed through his blood. He knew that he was awake; he lay and rebuked himself with the thought that he had broken his student’s oath when he pawned his student cap for food; but strange images went thrugh his brain; and sometimes he lost the grip on his thoughts that glided away. He alternated between waking and unconsciousness like a fish that swam between the surface and the depths.
As the day passed he felt worse; the fever had him totally in its grip. Madam Henriksen, his landlady, was at home and looked in on him; asked about something or other, but only got gibberish for a reply; so she went inside the room, thinking that he might need something; washed his forehead with vinegar and let the servant girl put firewood in the burner before she left.
The room was small and the air heavy. Daniel had a bad night; lay and flitted from one dream to the next; the next heavier than the other Sometime in the morning he finally fell asleep; and when Madam Henriksen came in before noon, he was awake. She asked if she should fetch the doctor. Daniel remembered he was broke and said no; but he was afraid. Can he be so sick that it could be dangerous?
The pain in his head was bad; the sharp pain at his side made it difficult to breathe. Would he die? The thought was so strong that he was paralyzed with fear. He saw himself white and stiff in a black coffin; he thought he recognized the smell of the linen cloth in which a corpse was wrapped and the smell of the earth in the burial ground; curled up in the bed tried to pray; and then he thought of the life he had been living. He saw all his sins, he thought of his stubborn ideas and they marched up and down his head like ugly beasts; the basement coffeeshop with all the beer drinking and swearing and all the wild escapades seemed to him like the foyer of hell; his dreams about “the student life” made him feel ashamed; everything that he had done and thought about was really sinful and shameful and stupid. If he dies now, then he would die that everlasting death that he knew so well. Trembling with fright he grasped the bedpost and prayed, prayed with disjointed and frightened thuoghts; he must live; live so he can redeem himself. And then the fever returned and with it came the nonsensical thoughts.
For several days, he lay that way, half-conscious, afraid whe he woke up; tormented when he was dreaming; Madam Henriksen was filled with tendernes when she looked at this poor boy; took care of him with the little that she could and scared the life out of him with her talk of doctors; but she comforted him when she saw that he was terrified.
Then he walked up one day before noon and he felt better. His head hurt and he was dizzy; but the head did not throb so painfully; the stinging pain at his side was felt only when he drew a deep breath; the raging fever in his blood had slackened. Madam Henriksen was gentle like a mother; gave him food and drink and asked him to tell her if there was anything he wanted. Through the window came a thin glimmer of sunlight.
Then the boy thought that everything was good and alright, and that a new life awoke in him. He thought of death, but without fear; he thought of the Good Lord, but as a father. He lay with gentle thoughts and rested; and affectionate thoughts streamed inside him. He had walked through the valley of death and prayed to fight for his life and soul; but now he had won; now he was saved. With a childlike trust he turned to the Good Lord. He knew that the Father in heaven will now help him. His evil heart was changed and gentle; now the Good Lord could do with him according to His loving will . And he prayed for forgiveness for all his sins for the sake of Jesus Christ; and he looked up at God the Father sitting up in heaven in his white cape that shown like the sun and smiling down on his sick child. He was so touched that his eyes filled with tears; and that caused him pain in the head. Now he would put himself entirely in God’s hand and let His will be his only guide. If it were God’s will that he should die, so he would follow that call without resistance; but if he would live, he would live as a child of God; because only then could he cope well by himself. And if the Good Lord in His wisdom had decided that he should live, then he would also have His angels and His servants who could help him in this dark times... Daniel thought of Pater omnipotens, and it was surely the Good Lord himself that gave him this idea.
His life should now begin anew. He had never kown himself to feel so safe and redeemed; that was God’s peace that was over him now; he was certainly converted.
Tired and worn-out as if he had a hangover, he fell asleep again and slept for a long time. It was night when he woke up, with happy thoughts about God and felt himself so clean and so good. He had an appetite and got some fruit soup that he ate up; and he was able to get up by himself; and there is nothing in this world that can compare with the feeling of redemption that he has now, after he had cast away his sins. This feeling lasted for two days. He lay in a mild, peaceful convalescence and loved and prayed; read the psalm book and the New Testament, and had such joy in God’s word. He shuddered when he thought of his old sinful life between the beer bottle and the doubters; and he promised Our Lord, with a little sigh that he swallowed, that he will give up all his worldly thoughts, yes, even the ideal student life itself.
The next day he got up from bed. He did not dare go out; but Madam Henriksent gave him food and firewood; and so he had the pleasure of sitting indoors; ate and drank, but his smoking pipe did not taste good; and read the New Testament. He had not felt such a rich pleasure in God’s word as he had today, and although his thoughts were not quite so confident about mercy, he knew from those who had been awakened that the mercy was not always as strong; besides it was not God’s will that we should think only about heaven.
This last thought disappearead; he laid aside the New Testament and gave himself to thinking about his worldly affairs. He wanted to go to Pater, now that he has been converted, he could go with an easy heart and ask this man for guidance and help; both in the secular and the spiritual. Otherwise he would not ask him to help with money. In his sinful days he had lived too much on other people’s money; now he would follow God’s word; and it was written that he who would not work would not eat. He yearned to talk with this man; he thought he already loved him even now.
He ate well these days, so well that he felt ashamed with Madam Henriksen. But she only seemed to be happy that he did honor to her food; and besides... yes, it was clear that he should pay. for this So Daniel ate, and ate heartily. And he read all the prayers at meals that he could remember; both before and after a meal; and it was wonderfully strange how his prayers were heard. He had never had it so good with food as he has it now.
When he was strong enough that he could dare go out, he dressed himself in his Sunday clothes and went to Pater.
He was shown into a light, nice room that opened into a big garden. A little soft sunlight shone through the glass of the door to the garden, broke itself glimmering through the glass pieces of the chandelier and filled the room with spring thoughts and brightness. At the window were exotic plants with big, green leaves; and round the walls hung paintings of Jesus with the crown of thorns. Jesus on the cross and that Norwegian-Swedish king; in addition there was a couple of paintings of Norwegian landscape. In the middle of the floor below the chandelier stood a great round drawing room table with portrait books and a bowl filled with greeting cards. Around the table were chairs of different kinds, comfortable and soft; small and big plaster figurines and busts were lined up on shelves or cabinets. Along the well by the window stood a piano, and at the wall farther into the room stood a sofa on which Daniel sat and waited. There was a student with Pater, as the servant girl had said.
Daniel was uneasy. Today when he had gone out in the fresh air, the faith had become weak inside him. He had known such pleasure in this worldly place; and he thus longed for “the student life,” that he almost must force himself to hold on to the mercy. Where had it gone? Yes, has he not been converted? But glad as he ought to be that he will be talking to Pater, he did not dare admit this.
A sound came from the door; Daniel got up and prepared to bow in greeting. The door opened; “the student” came out, backing out of the door and bowing; and Daniel heard a hearty voice say with a heartfelt friendliness: “God be with you, dear friend!” At once Daniel paled, and just as quickly blushed; the strange student was Ole Bentsen.
Ole Bentsen was neither pale nor red. But it looked like he was happy; he stopped and said with a singing voice, “Now, then, that I shall meet you here? This is very nice. So Our Lord had then found you too, finally. I knew that He was working with you; and I saw that He must have used strong methods with you, because you were so vain in your heart and would not listen to His voice. Now he has found you; I see it in you; you are most welcome!” And Ole Bentsen turned to Pater, “this is student Daniel Braut; an old and nice acquaintance. Before, he was a child of the world, like me and so many others; but I believe and now I think I know that the Lord through His strange fashion has bent him.” “You are very welcome!” said Pater, giving him a mighty hand shake with a childlike joy, “welcome dear friend! Come, let me speak with you.... yes, I may well use the informal form of “you?” Daniel stood blushing and wholly spellbound, “Thank you, thank you,” he stammered. “Yes, goodbye, then, dear Bentsen!” said Pater; Bentsen left. But Pater took Daniel inside with him; “Come! Come now, dear, young friend!” he said; and closed the door.
Inside the office was more sunlight; it lay over all over the carpet and the table in bright streams that lighted the rom; so that even the crucifix up on the wall looked like it was smiling. “Now, dear friend,” said Pater, “how have you been?” He was so warm and trusting in all his ways that the boy was very touched; he has not been received as beautifully as this. He lifted his joyful, begging eyes – clean and clear as in the old days , “I have had so much pain,” he said. But Pater sat where the sunlight shone on him, broad, beautiful light; his face was clear, fresh, and smiling like a little child; and a small curl of blonde hair lay like a halo on his forehead. He was fond of this boy, who sat there so helpless and trusting; and he stood up and laid his hand on his shoulder and said, “Yes, you have had so much pain; so be confident that it is God’s fatherly hand that has been laid over you, and that He willl now help when His time has come!” He sat down again; his cheerful light blue eyes was wet with tears.
Daniel had to tell him about his life from beginning to the present. He would have glossed over the part about having Hirsch as teacher but he did not succeed; Pater asked about it; and Daniel had to tell him; then Pater laughed: “You have been in touch with the Grundtvigianism also?” (1) “Oh, yes, in a way,” answered Daniel; but I have never been a follower of the Grundtvig group. When he told the story of his student life; Pater wanted to know if he had joined the group in a way – an acquantance had dragged him; but he had never been a member of Fram’s group. Finally he told of his bad days, about his poverty and starvation; and then about his sickness that taught him how to turn his thoughts to .... the right helper; and now he has only one wish, he said: to work very hard, so that he could take the second examination and pass it, as he has always had the idea of being a theologian.
Pater liked the boy. Once again, here is one of these fresh, undamaged farmers and natural children with the rich gift to believe and to love; here again is a man of the people driven by the spirit to the war of the Lord. He asked why Daniel had chosen theology. Would he like to be a man of science? Oh, no, Daniel had not thought of something as high as that, he wanted to be a priest. Why not? Yes, he had always thought that it must be ... a great longing of his life ... to undertand the word. Had he not a strong drive to work for God’s kingdom? Had he not not once known the truth of God’s word, that the work was great and the laborers are few? It could be that he is good enough to be a laborer, Pater pointed out, but such laborers who have the calling and love; of these laborers, there are only few, sadly few, and the labor, it was great enough; for here are a people, a wonderful, powerful people, with the Lord’s gift in wonderful measure, a harvest that should be brought into the Lord’s barn. Daniel looked at Pater with a deep respect; Pater had talked with a passion.
He dreamed great dreams for the Norwegian people and could never be dissauded from this belief, that Our Lord had chosen them for a wonderful deed in His kingdom. The great people of culture about whom there was so much talk, they were more or less damaged and perverted by vice, conceit and lack of faith; but the Norwegian people are young and fresh, with a confident child’s belief with his whole being; and when God has added His blessing, which He truly would, and which He had sown in all His strange and remarkable ways, then we should see what He could create out of us; so small as we are. The folk will be as strong as Joshua, I and my house, we will serve the Lord! – stronger than all the philistines, stronger than all the heathens with their war horses and chariots. It means working during the day; it means sowing and plowing and watering so that the Lord could give growth; that would happen as the poet said, “The land would grow over our graves that would bloom like the Garden of the Lord.” Pater talked ardently, his eyes filled with tears again and again, and the strong mouth trembled. Daniel was thrilled; now and then he thought of chaplain Hirsch.
But when Pater began to tak about the “personal relation with God” and about life in Christ, Daniel could no longer follow so well. He was shy as a little boy, and he knew that he was really a stranger here. And when Pater explained about “the blessed rank of salvation” and the fight against the flesh and the peace in the hope for eternal life, the more Daniel undertood that he was not converted.
“Is it not true,” ended Pater, “this is wonderful and liberating, much greater and richer than all earthly success and happiness and splendor that the wordly life can create? Have you understood this? Have you experienced it?” Daniel did not think that he could answer anything than yes. “That makes me happy!” said Pater, “that makes me happy” Thank god for this, and not in the least, He must be thanked that He has saved you in the days of your youth; and saved you from getting into the company of the unbvelievers!” The unfortunate people; Pater felt so much pain for them; they themselves had it worst. Without peace, without hope, without comfort and help in life or death.
Hhmm, strangely enough, he had recently been visited by one of these poor people, one of Fram’s clique; an entirely lost son who had tried as long as he could to fill himself up with all the disgusting things that could be found; oh, he was moaning so disconsolately about what plagued his soul and his heart that knew no peace while he travelled that road! But now he had found his home in the fatherly house; and now he is saved. “And just think: he was so poor that he barely had clothes on his back; and can you guess what he asked for? Not money, not food, not clothes; no, only a bible!” Daniel sat with his eyes on the floor and was ashamed like a dog. “That is remarkable,” he said. “Yes, it is wonderful,” added Pater in great joy. “But that is how it is, when God takes hold of a soul, everything that is worthless is cast away; only peace with God; only the His word will the soul have; and when one has that, one does not want anything else in the world.” “Yes, that is something I experienced,” mumbled
Daniel uncertainly. Pater stood up and filled his pipe. “Oh, yes, God be praised and thanked!” he sighed, “He knows how to find us, ad He knows how to deal with us. Ho! ho! We hide and convince ourselves that we are so smart and wise; but He teaches us to see that all our wisdom is stupidity!”
Pater lighted the pipe and said in another tone. “You thought that you would work; was that not so, dear friend?” he said. Yes, in case there is an opportunity for it, said Daniel, he would most gladly do so. Pater sat down again.
“Hmm, that is wonderful,” he said with a little smile, “I have just received a letter that could be appropriate for you. There you see! Our Lord is never without resources. This is a job as home tutor out in the countryside in a beautiful village; I do not think the position has been taken. Would you like me to inquite about it? Daniel thanked him very much. “Yes, I shall do that,” answered Pater. “I will think that it seems like Our Lord himself has sent you. You are just the one, one that I could have use for. Listen, do you know student Bentsen?” “Yes, very well.” “That is a remarkable young man... so strong in his faith, so honest in his judgment over himself, is that not so? “Yes, that is correct. “Who are the other students that you know?” Daniel thought about it; mentioned Hans Haugum. He must tell about Hans Haugum; and he did so in such a way that he told everything that he thought Pater would like. “Yes, that is strange,” said Pater, “that is like Our Lord has prepared this for you.
Student Stensrud was here recently and asked me to go on ... and now you are here. What was your name again?” “Daniel Braut”. “Daniel Braut, yes. I thought you must be a Daniel! Come back here in a couple of days; I believe that Our Lord will help you.! He patted Daniel on the back and laughed, “You are a real farmer boy! So quiet and faithful ... a real Israelite in whom there is no deceit. I am so fond of such boys; actually I am a farmer myself; and the farmer, you see, the farmer, that is the marrow.... “What the farmer’s back can carry, even if it was seldom sown, that is our people’s honor and has predicted our future!“ said the poet. Was there something else I could help you with? Daniel blushed and hesitated; “Yes, it coul dnot be ...” “Talk freely!” said Pater, “Let me be like a father to you; do not be afraid. There is nothing more blessed than to be like a hand that would do God’s will. You need money! “Oh, that was ... I cannot say that it is not needed. Pater smiled. “Just today there was a man who gave me ten dalar, which he asked me to give to a needy student ... yes, isn’t it strange how He steers everything?
Daniel was saved.
“Yes, the Lord be with you, then, dear Braut!” said Pater as farewell and took Daniel’s hands in his. “He is near those who keep themselves near Him. Come back in a few days, then I shall see if He has meant that you have been sent here. Our Lord be with you, goodbye, dear friend!”
Daniel left. A new visitor sat waiting in the receiving hall. “Good day, good day, dear friend!” said Pater heartily; “Goodbye, dear Braut!” he called to him with equaly heartiness; and the door closed after Daniel.
A couple of days later he received a letter from Jens Rud that tomorrow at five in the afternoon, there would be a meeting at the Café National about the “theater issue”, as had been agreed.
“Nonsense!” said Daniel and laid the letter aside. He did not want to join such things now. He knew that Pater would not like it either; besides, he had other things to think about now than theater issues.
The next day, he met Jens Rud on the street. “Then,” said Jens, “are you coming?” Yes... Daniel did not know ... it was not so easy for him ... “I shall take care of the ticket,” said Jens Rud in a low voice. Yes.... but ... he should be at some other place that evening. “Oh, come on, leave serious things for tomorrow!” laughed Jens. “Tonight, the fatherland expects that every man shall do his duty!” Yes, yes, Daniel had to think about it. “Tonight at five!” Café National!” said Jens and went on his way.
Really this was reckless nonsense, thought Daniel. But it could be also be fun to join in such things for once. And if he was not converted yet, so for that reason... besides he had in a way promised... but thee was Pater to think of. Such a good man like him is someone he did not want to antagonize.
Uneasy and in doubt, he went home; and still in doubt and in a quandary, he waited until it was five o’clock; and could not make any decision. So he went out. One could always think while walking along the stree; and then one could make a decision afterwards. He did not mean to join in. But it does not do any harm to think more about it. So he walked along and thought about it; he was still thinking the same thoughts he had been thinking before. Finally he stood outside the Café National and was no closer to a decision. He walked up and down the street; he wanted to think better about it; the thoughts were the same, but the desire to go in was growing.
He saw group after group going in; they came sneaking in like conspirators. It would be fun to join them! The city lay quiet and safe as if nothing was the matter; the good citizens were dreaming about nothing; but inside in that little basment, in a secret, locked room, sat the young Norway making revolution ... and it would be fun to join that! The thoughts disappeared one by one; the desire grew; if only Jens Rud would come and take him inside!
It was a quarter past five. If one wanted to join, one should hurry. He had actually promised to ... and really it was a good issue ... let’s go. He jumped up the stairs, choked down all his thoughts and went inside. In the coffeshop’s lounge, he met Jens. “Now, finally. In there!” said Jens. Daniel went in. “The die is cast,” he thought.
But after an hour he came out again, he had promised with hand and mouth that he would join tonight and blow the whistle in the theater with all his might, as soon as those at the seats behind the orchestra shout “Down with the Director!”, and that he would not let himself be afraid of anything, but would only hold fast to his whistle and blow. And now he knew that the issue was a good one. Fram had shown with his fiery logic that the National Theater was being run in an irresponsible way, so, no Norwegian could tolerate to see it in the hands of the clique that now managed it; and Daniel had marked himself as one of Fram’s reasons; so he he had something to justify himself in case Pater would ask about it.
He received a whistle from Jens Rud. Most of them were outside to buy whistles after the meeting. The others got themselves gate keys to whistle with, toy trumps and other things that could do as well. After the noise barrage, they would meet at the basement coffeeshop and have a little gathering.
Daniel would sit in a section in the third row and be with Sven Dufva and a Monsen, “Don Pedro”, as Aslak Fjordan called him. The bulk of the whistle blowers would sit in the second row; otherwise, they were spread all over the theater. It would be a first rate “concert”, if only everybody did their part, said Jens Rud.
Green at the gills and his hear furiously beating, Daniel sat in his place in the third row and waited for that which is to come. Beside him sat a big hunk of a guy, probably a butcher or something that he could hardly like, but there were worse; in another section sat a constable; would he interfere with the goings-on? Daniel asked the guy beside him, Monsen, about this. Monsen made a face. “He has no right to obstruct the free expression of opinon,” he droned in his coastal accent.
The orchestra began to play; Daniel did not listen. His heart lurched when he noticed that another constable was in the third row. He could not help calling Monsen’s attention to this. Monsen twisted his cold fish mouth and said with utter uncoern in his rhythmic dialect, “What the hell does that matter?”
Daniel felt ashamed. This Monsen must be a very brave man.
It seemed that the air in the theater was heavy with tension. An uneasy murmur went from bench to bench like wind blowing through leaves of trees; and wherever Daniel turn he saw pale, expectant faces. The scenes in the play went fast like a fever; the actors garbled their lines, committing a lot of mistakes. Now and then, there passed something like an electric wave through the rows of seats; it hissed in the silk and stiff collars, and the the womens’ hair done in a chignon quivered like weather vanes; is it coming now? But the young lieutenants sat and composed their faces into fierce masks, looking around them with cannibal-like eyes; if anything came up, they would be up to it!
But the acts followed one after another, and everything was calm. People thought they had been cheated. And many a lieutenant who had worn a fierce mask like Mars, the god of war, looked as if their ears were hanging low; would they not have the chance to show themselves as knights in shining armor for their young ladies? Others looked around with mocking eyes; there was nothing at all; we knew it!
But the old gentlemen were happy. No trouble; we were left in peace; the troublemakers got cold feet. Kristiania was loyal. It has always been suspicious that the second row was occupied mostly by students; but ... the good ones were always in the majority.
The play was getting close to the end of Act V. Uneasiness began to grow gain; perhaps this is when it will happen. At once there was silence, like a warning, that lay over the entire theater. Daniel’s heart began to thump, he stared down at a young man in the section behind the orchestra row who had stood up; it was the leader.
The last line of the play has been delivered: the curtain began to go down. Then the leader lifted his hands; and with a snarl, he roared: “Down with the Director!”
A sigh went up through the theateer; a groan ... and then it broke loose. A storm of whistles, challenging, howling , more and more, from the parterre section, from other rows, from the third; sharp flute notes from the gate keys, and toy trumpets that sang and cried; but suddenly a booming sound, a waterfall of applause, tramping, hissing, cheers; the theater stood drowning amid the cacophony of sounda; it was like a storm at sea. But the whistles, sharp and tearing, cut through all the sound that seemed like angry waves lashing at the rocks; getting sharper, and sharpening even more, screeching, squealing. came howling from all sides like banshees, like a storm lashing at ships’ rigs. Everything was in shambles; everybody was standing up; the air was filled with clapping hands; here and there were men arguing violently, red as a cock’s combs, hands flailing, men shouting words that nobody could hear, words that died in the boiling cauldron of sound or borne by the wind, like a raging pantomime – “Out with the scoundrels! Out with the scoundrels! – :and then the lieutenants that stood and said “devil and thunder” and wanted to go into action bud did not dare. But up in the third row were tiers of faces hanging over the partitions; they stareed and laughed; stared and wondered; stared and cursed; stared and whistled.
Daniel had taken his whistle out of his shirt pocket, and he should now blow on it, but he was uneasy. To overcome his disquiet, he looked to his comrades; – :Peder Monsen sat with his arms crossed and looked like he had never thought of whistling at all; but Sven Dufva whistled so that his cheeks bulged like a blacksmith’s bellows. Whom should one follow? The boy was mesmerized. But down in the parterre section, he saw Jens Rud who was standing and whistling and staring up at the rows.... He put the whistle to his mouth as fast as he could and blew; but he could not hear anything; blew stronger but still could not hear anything... Then he felt a hand on one of his shoulders. He jumped so that he nearly bit his tongue; hardly dared to look around. “Oh, what is this all about?” yelled the butcher voice into his ears, with a terrible gust of beer fumes; Daniel answered something but did not hear his own reply. “What?” howled the butcher, and yelled until he was blue in the face; Daniel did not like this; better to be cautious. And then the butcher put his mouth to Daniel’s ears and screamed like it was about life or death, “If you don’t shut up, then the devil take me if I don’t call the constable!” Daniel wanted to free himself from the hand clamped to his shoulder; but he sat as if he was screwed fast to his seat. “Put away your whistle in your pocket, boy!” yelled the butcher; he smelled beer from both the man and his words. What should he do? There was no telling what the drunk butcher would do; and he did not want to have anything to do with the constable... Daniel put away the whistle in his pocket.
Don Pedro de Monsen sat as calmly as before and stared down at the parterre section with a cold smile on his face. But Sven Dufva, who now also had a claw clamped on his shoulder, sat in a half crouch so that his bent back protected the rest of his body and his elbows protected both his sides, whistling steadfatly and seriously as if it was a matter of life and death. Daniel thought to himself that both Sven Dufva and Peder Monsen had conducted themselves so much better than he had, each in his own way; he felt sorry for himself.
A heavy, dull sound was heard, far away or deep down. Daniel did not know what it was and those who were whistling did not hear it; it was the gong that was being sounded. Then the police came... they had mobilized a lot of men down in the orchestra level. One after the other, a whistle blower was caught, held by the neck and thrown out the door; the whole second row was cleared; then they began to put out the gas lights on the walls. In the third row there was only one who was caught in the police claws; that one was Sven Dufva.
But Sven did not give up despite the police either. With one hand he held grimly to the edge of the partition and with the other hand he held on to the whistle and kept blowing; the constable had to use all his power to pry him off. And finally Sven had to followe the constable to the city hall.
As agreed, they assembled at the Café National, the flock that was under Rud’s leadership. But they were fewer now. The top members were in a bad mood; there had been so many traitors, they said. If everyone had done his part, it would have been an entirely different dance. “This damned Norwegian cowardice! These cautious and unreliable among us! They would always go only halfway; they could never stick together and win a great victory. We should only look what The Good Citizen would say tomorrow “partly young people and pupils... partly children blowing at toy trumpets ... the police took care of them quickly.”
Daniel had been in great doubt if he should go to the meeting down at the basement coffeeshop. He did not have a clear conscience. And besides .. he had promised Our Lord .... But at last he went; he wanted to defend himself, if somebody would start talking, he thought; then he was not converted.
“Now” shouted Jens Rud with satisfaction when he saw Daniel, “there comes finally a true Israelite in whom there is no treachery! Did you see him, guys! He sat up in the third row, whistling like the devil; they tried to stop him, but he only turned his back on them, back and elbows; and he blew and blew! If everyone had done his thing as well as he did, then things would have been different. Hurrah for Daniel Braut!” “Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!”
Daniel stood blushing, red as a lobster; he did not know what he should say. Then one by one they came and wanted to drink with him,; he tried to escape; he did not deserve such great praise; he had done his best, but “Oh, nonsense!” they said, “don’t let false modesty take over in a time like this!” And so Daniel did not get to explain the real story. He drank; drank with all of them; his conscience pricked him, but he was drunk.
_________
(1) Grundtvigianism - theological movement began by Grundtvig, Danish bishop and poet that revitalized the Danish church.