The visits to the church were festive occasions, but among the fishermans house one was especially looked forward to; this was, in fact, the visit of the brother of Jorgens foster-mother, the eel-breeder from Fjaltring, near Bovbjerg. He came twice a year in a cart, painted red with blue and white tulips upon it, and full of eels; it was covered and locked like a box, two dun oxen drew it, and Jorgen was allowed to guide them.
The eel-breeder was a witty fellow, a merry guest, and brought a measure of brandy with him. They all received a small glassful or a cupful if there were not enough glasses; even Jorgen had about a thimbleful, that he might digest the fat eel, as the eel-breeder said; he always told one story over and over again, and if his hearers laughed he would immediately repeat it to them. Jorgen while still a boy, and also when he was older, used phrases from the eel-breeders story on various occasions, so it will be as well for us to listen to it. It runs thus:
The eels went into the bay, and the young ones begged leave to go a little farther out. Dont go too far, said their mother; the ugly eel-spearer might come and snap you all up. But they went too far, and of eight daughters only three came back to the mother, and these wept and said, We only went a little way out, and the ugly eel-spearer came immediately and stabbed five of our sisters to death.Theyll come back again, said the mother eel. Oh, no, exclaimed the daughters, for he skinned them, cut them in two, and fried them.Oh, theyll come back again, the mother eel persisted. No, replied the daughters, for he ate them up.Theyll come back again, repeated the mother eel. But he drank brandy after them, said the daughters. Ah, then theyll never come back, said the mother, and she burst out crying, s the brandy that buries the eels.
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