It was one of the good old taverns whose proprietors do not change every year, but where one generation succeeds the other.  The innkeepers, who were just sitting at their coffee as the bridal couple entered, recognized Uli at once.  Now a very friendly salutation, and the couple must sit down and celebrate with them, whether or no.  They were told not to make a fuss about it, everything was ready, and nothing was more grateful on such a cold morning than a cup of hot coffee.  Freneli acted somewhat bash-fully, for it seemed bold of her to sit down with them as if that was her home.  But the hostess urged her until she sat down, surveyed her, and began to praise her to Uli, remarking what a pretty wife he had; there hadn’t been a prettier one there this long time.  She was glad he was doing so well; they had all been sorry when he went away; one always liked to see a friend get along well.  Not that there weren’t folks that couldn’t bear to see it, but there weren’t many such.

Uli asked whether she thought the pastor was up; he would go to him first.  He surely would be, they thought, especially on a Friday, when folks usually came.  Not that he was one of the earliest risers usually, for he liked to lie abed; but he was getting old and so that could be excused.  But he had had a vicar during the winter, and he had never been in sight before eight; everybody had been vexed that they had to have such a lazy vicar.  Here Uli asked whether it was customary to take the bride along.  No, they said; folks seldom waited in the parsonage.  Afterward a good many went back together to get the certificate.  But the bashful ones, or those that thought the pastor would have cause to say something to them, would come right back to the inn, and only the lads would go for the certificate.  After Freneli had declined to go along and had bidden Uli to let his master know and send word to have his master and mistress come, he set out.

In his handsome dress and in the dark room the old pastor did not at first recognize him, but then was heartily rejoiced.  “I heard,” he said, “that you were doing well, were to get a fine lease and a good wife, and had saved a tidy sum.  It gives me great joy to bless a marriage that I can hope will remain in the Lord.  That you have saved something is not the chief thing; but you wouldn’t have it, and people wouldn’t have had so much confidence in you, if you were not honest and God-fearing, and that’s what pleases me most of all.  The things of the world and the things of the spirit are much closer to each other than most people believe.  They think that in order to get along well in the world, you’ve got to hang up your Christianity on a nail.  But it’s just the reverse; that’s what causes the everlasting complaint in the world; that’s why most men make their beds so that they have to lie on nettles.  Ask yourself if you would be as happy now if you had stayed a vagabond, despised by all.  What do you think—­what