“One day my hostess went away again and told me that she would be gone longer this time than usual—­I should pay strict attention to everything, and not let the time drag on my hands.  I took leave of her with a certain uneasiness, for I somehow felt that I should never see her again.  I looked after her for a long time, and did not myself know why I was so uneasy; it seemed almost as if my intention were already standing before me, without my being distinctly conscious of it.

“I had never taken such diligent care of the dog and the bird before—­they lay closer to my heart than ever now.  The old woman had been away several days when I arose with the firm purpose of abandoning the hut with the bird and going out into the so-called world.  My mind was narrow and limited; I wanted again to remain there, and yet the thought was repugnant to me.  A strange conflict took place in my soul—­it was as if two contentious spirits were struggling within me.  One moment the quiet solitude would seem so beautiful to me, and then again I would be charmed by the vision of a new world with its manifold wonders.

“I did not know what to do with myself.  The dog was continually dancing around me with friendly advances, the sunlight was spread out cheerfully over the fields, and the green birch-trees shone brightly.  I had a feeling as if I had something to do requiring haste.  Accordingly, I caught the little dog, tied him fast in the room, and took the cage, with the bird in it, under my arm.  The dog cringed and whined over this unusual treatment; he looked at me with imploring eyes but I was afraid to take him with me.  I also took one of the vessels, which was filled with gems, and concealed it about me.  The others I left there.  The bird twisted its head around in a singular manner when I walked out of the door with him; the dog strained hard to follow me, but was obliged to remain behind.

“I avoided the road leading toward the wild rocks, and walked in the opposite direction.  The dog continued to bark and whine, and I was deeply touched by it.  Several times the bird started to sing, but, as he was being carried, it was necessarily rather difficult for him.  As I walked along the barking grew fainter and fainter, and, finally, ceased altogether.  I cried and was on the point of turning back, but the longing to see something new drove me on.

“I had already traversed mountains and several forests when evening came, and I was obliged to pass the night in a village.  I was very timid when I entered the public-house; they showed me to a room and a bed, and I slept fairly well, except that I dreamt of the old woman, who was threatening me.

“My journey was rather monotonous; but the further I went the more the picture of the old woman and the little dog worried me.  I thought how he would probably starve to death without my help, and in the forest I often thought I would suddenly meet the old woman.  Thus, crying and sighing, I wandered along, and as often as I rested and put the cage on the ground, the bird sang its wonderful song, and reminded me vividly of the beautiful home I had deserted.  As human nature is prone to forget, I now thought that the journey I had made as a child was not as dismal as the one I was now making, and I wished that I were back in the same situation.