It is in the hot lands that the sun burns, sure enough! there the people become quite a mahogany brown, ay, and in the HOTTEST lands they are burnt to Negroes. But now it was only to the HOT lands that a learned man had come from the cold; there he thought that he could run about just as when at home, but he soon found out his mistake. He, and all sensible folks, were obliged to stay within doorsthe window-shutters and doors were closed the whole day; it looked as if the whole house slept, or there was no one at home. The narrow street with the high houses, was built so that the sunshine must fall there from morning till eveningit was really not to be borne. The learned man from the cold landshe was a young man, and seemed to be a clever mansat in a glowing oven; it took effect on him, he became quite meagreeven his shadow shrunk in, for the sun had also an effect on it. It was first towards evening when the sun was down, that they began to freshen up again. In the warm lands every window has a balcony, and the people came out on all the balconies in the streetfor one must have air, even if one be accustomed to be mahogany!* It was lively both up and down the street. Tailors, and shoemakers, and all the folks, moved out into the streetchairs and tables were brought forthand candles burntyes, above a thousand lights were burningand the one talked and the other sung; and people walked and church-bells rang, and asses went along with a dingle-dingle-dong! for they too had bells on. The street boys were screaming and hooting, and shouting and shooting, with devils and detonating ballsand there came corpse bearers and hood wearersfor there were funerals with psalm and hymnand then the din of carriages driving and company arriving: yes, it was, in truth, lively enough down in the street. Only in that single house, which stood opposite that in which the learned foreigner lived, it was quite still; and yet some one lived there, for there stood flowers in the balconythey grew so well in the suns heat! and that they could not do unless they were wateredand some one must water themthere must be somebody there. The door opposite was also opened late in the evening, but it was dark within, at least in the front room; further in there was heard the sound of music. The learned foreigner thought it quite marvellous, but nowit might be that he only imagined itfor he found everything marvellous out there, in the warm lands, if there had only been no sun. The strangers landlord said that he didnt know who had taken the house opposite, one saw no person about, and as to the music, it appeared to him to be extremely tiresome. It is as if some one sat there, and practised a piece that he could not masteralways the same piece. I shall master it! says he; but yet he cannot master it, however long he plays. |