Section 1
Once there was an old country-house owned by young and rich people. They had wealth and blessings, and they liked to have fun. But they were not selfish and did their best to benefit others and make them as happy as they were themselves.
On Christmas Eve, a magnificently adorned Christmas tree stood in the old hall, where a fire blazed in the chimney and fir branches were strung around the old paintings. The family and their guests had gathered here. They were also dancing and singing. There had been a Christmas cheer earlier in the evening in the servants' hall. There was also a beautiful fir tree decorated with red and white candles, miniature Danish flags, swans, and fishing nets carved out of colored paper and loaded with sweet treats. The hosts had invited poor children from the neighborhood, and each one was accompanied by his mother. But the Christmas tree got less attention from the mothers than the Christmas table, where there was linen and woolen cloth—stuff for gowns and stuff for pants. Only the youngest kids reached for the candles, tinsel, and flags, while they and the older children observed there.
The entire party arrived early in the afternoon and received Christmas porridge, and roast goose with red cabbage. After the Christmas tree was seen and the gifts were handed out, everyone was given a small glass of punch with apple fritters. Then the poor neighbors returned to their own poor houses and discussed the good life, that is, good food; and the gifts were once again scrutinized. It was the turn of Garden Kirsten and Garden Ole. They were married and had a house of their own and daily sustenance for weeding and digging in the enormous house's garden. They received a fair share of the gifts at each Christmas event. They had five children, and the family clothed them all.
"They are kindhearted, our master and mistress," they remarked, "but they have money to be so, and they enjoy it."
Ole said, "Here are some nice clothes for the four children. But the cripple is left out, why? They usually didn’t forget him even when he hadn’t been present at the festival.”
It was the firstborn of the children who got the nickname "The Cripple." Otherwise, his name was Hans.
He was the brightest and the most active boy as a kid, but he got "loose in the legs" all of a sudden, unable to walk or stand, and it was now five years since had been lying in bed.
"Oh, there is something for him, as well," the mother answered, "but it's nothing special, just a book to read."
“He won’t gain weight on that,” the father added.
However, Hans was pleased with it. He was a bright young man who enjoyed reading but also worked, insofar as one who had to lie in bed could be productive. He was quite adept and could knit woolen stockings and even quilts. The lady from the big house had highly appreciated and purchased them. It was a storybook Hans had received where he found plenty to read and consider.
"There's no use in this house," his parents said, "but let him read; it'll pass the time. He can't be weaving stockings all the time!"
The spring sprung, and blossoms and green leaves started to grow-the weeds as well, as one could call nettles, yet the hymn talks so well of them:
If every king in their might and glory
Marched forth in a splendid row
They could not make the smallest leaf
Upon a nettle grow.
The gardener and his apprentice, as well as Kirsten and Ole, had a lot of work to do in the garden.
"It is an uphill task," they said. "No sooner have we raked the paths to make them lovely, than they are trampled down again. There is such an influx of guests to the house. How much should it cost? Yet the family is wealthy!"
"Everything is unevenly divided," Ole observed; "the priest claims we are all our Father's children, so what's the difference?"
"It comes from the Fall!" Kirsten exclaimed.
They discussed it again later that evening, where cripple Hans lay with his storybook. Tough conditions, labor, and difficulties had hardened not only the parents' hands but also their opinions and perceptions. They neither understood it, nor could explain, and as they talked, they became more irritated and enraged.
"Some people are given happiness and wealth, while others get only poverty! Why should we pay the price for our ancestors' disobedience and curiosity? We would never have behaved the way they did!"
"Oh, yes, we would!" exclaimed cripple Hans all of a sudden. "All that is written in the book."
"What is there?" inquired the parents.
