'Don't be so grieved over this!' said he. 'Only wait until I have
created people who can till the swamps and break up fields from the
stone hills.'
"That was the end of our Lord's patience--and he said: 'No! you can go
down to Skane and make the Skaninge, but the Smalander I will create
myself.' And so our Lord created the Smalander, and made him
quick-witted and contented and happy and thrifty and enterprising and
capable, that he might be able to get his livelihood in his poor
country."
Then little Mats was silent; and if Nils Holgersson had also kept still,
all would have gone well; but he couldn't possibly refrain from asking
how Saint Peter had succeeded in creating the Skaninge.
"Well, what do you think yourself?" said little Mats, and looked so
scornful that Nils Holgersson threw himself upon him, to thrash him. But
Mats was only a little tot, and Osa, the goose-girl, who was a year
older than he, ran forward instantly to help him. Good-natured though
she was, she sprang like a lion as soon as anyone touched her brother.
And Nils Holgersson did not care to fight a girl, but turned his back,
and didn't look at those Smaland children for the rest of the day.
THE CROWS
THE EARTHEN CROCK
In the southwest corner of Smaland lies a township called Sonnerbo. It
is a rather smooth and even country.
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