Nils Finn

Now little Nils Finn had away to go; The skis were too loose at both heel and toe. --"That's too bad!" rumbled yonder. Then little Nils Finn in the snow set his feet: "You ugliest troll, you shall never me cheat!" --"Hee-ho-ha!" rumbled yonder. Nils Finn with his staff beat the snow till it blew "Your trollship, now saw you how hapless it flew?" --"Hit-li-hu!" rumbled yonder. Nils Finn pushed one ski farther forward with might; The other held fast,--he reeled left and right. --"Pull it up!" rumbled yonder. Nils' tears wet the snow, while he kicked and he struck; The more that he kicked there, the deeper he stuck. --"That was good!" rumbled yonder. The birch-trees, they danced, and the pine-trees said "Hoo!" They more were than one,--were a hundred and two. --"Know your way?" rumbled yonder. A laugh shook the ridge till it made the snow fly; But Nils clenched his fists and he swore 't was a lie. --"Now beware!" rumbled yonder. The snow-field yawned wide, and the heavens came low; Nils thought 't was now time for him also to go. --"Is he gone?" rumbled yonder.-- Two skis in the snow looked about everywhere, But saw nothing much; for there was nothing there. --"Where is Nils?" rumbled yonder.