Of these thirteen traditional days, Christmas-eve is the gayest.  It is the custom for the young girls and boys to go around in bands on their “schnee-schuhe,” or snow-shoes, and stop before the houses, and sing in chorus the old national melodies.  The clear voices suddenly sounding through the fresh night air, in the lonely valleys, with their wintery surroundings, have an odd and charming effect.  The doors are immediately opened, the singers are invited to enter, and they offer them cake, dried apples, and ale; and often make them dance.  After this frugal supper the joyous band depart, like a flock of gulls, to perform the same ceremony further away.  Distances are regarded as nothing, for on their “schnee-schuhe,” which are attached to their feet by leather straps, they glide over several miles with marvelous rapidity.  The peasants of Norway also use, with these show-shoes, a strong stick, to balance themselves, and help them along.  This year the festival would be a joyous one for the Herseboms.  They were expecting Erik.

A letter from Stockholm had announced that he would arrive that evening.  Therefore Otto and Vanda could not sit still.  Every moment they ran to the door, to see if he was coming.  Dame Katrina, although she reproved them for their impatience, felt in the same way herself.  Mr. Hersebom smoked his pipe silently, and was divided in his mind between a longing to see his adopted son, and the fear that he would not be able to keep him with them very long.

For the fiftieth time, perhaps, Otto had gone to the door, when he gave a shout and cried out: 

“Mother!  Vanda!  I believe it is he!”

They all rushed to the door.  In the distance, on the road which led from Bergen, they saw a black object.  It grew larger rapidly, and soon took the shape of a young man, clothed in gray cloth, wearing a fur cap, and carrying merrily over his shoulders a knapsack of green leather.  He had on snow-shoes, and would soon be near enough to recognize.

The traveler perceived those who were watching before the door, and taking off his cap, he waved it around his head.

Two minutes later Erick was in the arms of Katrina, Otto, Vanda, and even Mr. Hersebom, who had left his arm-chair and advanced to the door.

They hugged him, and almost stifled him with caresses.  They went into ecstasies over his improved appearance.  Dame Katrina among them all could not get accustomed to it.

“What—­is this the dear babe that I nursed on my knees?” she cried.  “This great boy, with such a frank and resolute air, with these strong shoulders, this elegant form, and on whose lip I can already see signs of a mustache.  Is it possible?”

The brave woman was conscious of feeling a sort of respect for her former nursling.  She was proud of him, above all for the tears of joy which she saw in his eyes.  For he also was deeply affected.

“Mother, is it really you,” he exclaimed.  “I can hardly believe that I am with you all again.  The two years have seemed so long to me.  I have missed you all, as I know you have missed me.”