Read Online Tales From Moominvalley by Tove Jansson - Free Book Online
Authors: Tove Jansson
Tags: General, Fantasy, Juvenile Nonfiction, Classics, Action & Adventure, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Short Stories, Animals, Dragons; Unicorns & Mythical, Moomins (Fictitious Characters), Children's Stories; Swedish, Fantasy Fiction; Swedish
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swings.
The roller coaster railway was difficult. It had to be only a third of its former size, because so many parts
were missing. But the hemulen comforted himself with the thought that no one could be frightened enough to scream in it now. And from the last stretch one was dumped in the brook, which is great fun to most people.
But still the railway was a bit too much for the hemulen to struggle with single-handed. When he had got one side right the other side fell down, and at last he shouted, very crossly:
'Lend me a hand, someone! I can't do ten things at once all alone.'
The kiddies jumped down from the wall and came running.
After this they built it all jointly, and the hemulens sent them such lots of food that the kiddies were able to stay all day in the park.
In the evening they went home, but by sunrise they stood waiting at the gate. One morning they had brought along the alligator on a string.
'Are you sure he'll keep quiet?' the hemulen asked suspiciously.
'Quite sure,' the whomper replied. 'He won't say a word. He's so quiet and friendly now that he's got rid of his other heads.'
One day the fillyjonk's son found the boa constrictor in the porcelain stove. As it behaved nicely it was immediately brought along to grandma's park.
Everybody collected strange things for the hemulen's pleasure-ground, or simply sent him cakes, kettles, window curtains, toffee or whatever. It became a fad to send along presents with the kiddies in the mornings, and the hemulen accepted everything that didn't make a noise.
But he let no one inside the wall, except the kiddies.
The park grew more and more fantastic. In the middle of it the hemulen lived in the merry-go-rqund house. It was gaudy and lopsided, resembling most of all a large toffee paper bag that somebody had crumpled up and thrown away.
Inside it grew the rose-bush with all the red hips.
*
And one beautiful, mild evening all was finished. It was definitely finished, and for one moment the sadness of completion overtook the hemulen.
They had lighted the lanterns and stood looking at their work.
Mirror glass, silver and gold gleamed in the great dark trees, everything was ready and waiting - the ponds, the boats, the tunnels, the switchback, the juice stand, the swings, the dart boards, the trees for climbing, the apple boxes...
'Here you are,' the hemulen said. 'Just remember that this is not a pleasure-ground, it's the Park of Silence.'
The kiddies silently threw themselves into the enchantment they had helped to build. But the whomper turned and asked:
'And you won't mind that you've no tickets to punch?'
'No,' said the hemulen. 'I'd punch the air in any case.' He went into the merry-go-round and lighted the moon from the Miracle House. Then he stretched himself out in the fillyjonk's hammock and lay looking at the stars through a hole in the ceiling.
Outside all was silent. He could hear nothing except the nearest brook and the night wind.
Suddenly the hemulen felt anxious. He sat up, listening hard. Not a sound.
Perhaps they don't have any fun at all, he thought worriedly. Perhaps they're not able to have any fun without shouting their heads off... Perhaps they've gone home?
He took a leap up on Gaffsie's old chest of drawers and thrust his head out of a hole in the wall. No, they hadn't gone home. All the park was rustling and seething with a secret and happy life. He could hear a splash, a giggle, faint thuds and thumps, padding feet everywhere. They were enjoying themselves.
Tomorrow, thought the hemulen, tomorrow I'll tell them they may laugh and possibly even hum a little if they feel like it. But not more than that. Absolutely not.
He climbed down and went back to his hammock. Very soon he was asleep and not worrying over anything.
*
Outside the wall, by the locked gate, the hemulen's uncle was standing. He looked through the bars but saw very little.
Doesn't sound as if they had much fun, he thought. But then, everyone has to
The roller coaster railway was difficult. It had to be only a third of its former size, because so many parts
were missing. But the hemulen comforted himself with the thought that no one could be frightened enough to scream in it now. And from the last stretch one was dumped in the brook, which is great fun to most people.
But still the railway was a bit too much for the hemulen to struggle with single-handed. When he had got one side right the other side fell down, and at last he shouted, very crossly:
'Lend me a hand, someone! I can't do ten things at once all alone.'
The kiddies jumped down from the wall and came running.
After this they built it all jointly, and the hemulens sent them such lots of food that the kiddies were able to stay all day in the park.
In the evening they went home, but by sunrise they stood waiting at the gate. One morning they had brought along the alligator on a string.
'Are you sure he'll keep quiet?' the hemulen asked suspiciously.
'Quite sure,' the whomper replied. 'He won't say a word. He's so quiet and friendly now that he's got rid of his other heads.'
One day the fillyjonk's son found the boa constrictor in the porcelain stove. As it behaved nicely it was immediately brought along to grandma's park.
Everybody collected strange things for the hemulen's pleasure-ground, or simply sent him cakes, kettles, window curtains, toffee or whatever. It became a fad to send along presents with the kiddies in the mornings, and the hemulen accepted everything that didn't make a noise.
But he let no one inside the wall, except the kiddies.
The park grew more and more fantastic. In the middle of it the hemulen lived in the merry-go-rqund house. It was gaudy and lopsided, resembling most of all a large toffee paper bag that somebody had crumpled up and thrown away.
Inside it grew the rose-bush with all the red hips.
*
And one beautiful, mild evening all was finished. It was definitely finished, and for one moment the sadness of completion overtook the hemulen.
They had lighted the lanterns and stood looking at their work.
Mirror glass, silver and gold gleamed in the great dark trees, everything was ready and waiting - the ponds, the boats, the tunnels, the switchback, the juice stand, the swings, the dart boards, the trees for climbing, the apple boxes...
'Here you are,' the hemulen said. 'Just remember that this is not a pleasure-ground, it's the Park of Silence.'
The kiddies silently threw themselves into the enchantment they had helped to build. But the whomper turned and asked:
'And you won't mind that you've no tickets to punch?'
'No,' said the hemulen. 'I'd punch the air in any case.' He went into the merry-go-round and lighted the moon from the Miracle House. Then he stretched himself out in the fillyjonk's hammock and lay looking at the stars through a hole in the ceiling.
Outside all was silent. He could hear nothing except the nearest brook and the night wind.
Suddenly the hemulen felt anxious. He sat up, listening hard. Not a sound.
Perhaps they don't have any fun at all, he thought worriedly. Perhaps they're not able to have any fun without shouting their heads off... Perhaps they've gone home?
He took a leap up on Gaffsie's old chest of drawers and thrust his head out of a hole in the wall. No, they hadn't gone home. All the park was rustling and seething with a secret and happy life. He could hear a splash, a giggle, faint thuds and thumps, padding feet everywhere. They were enjoying themselves.
Tomorrow, thought the hemulen, tomorrow I'll tell them they may laugh and possibly even hum a little if they feel like it. But not more than that. Absolutely not.
He climbed down and went back to his hammock. Very soon he was asleep and not worrying over anything.
*
Outside the wall, by the locked gate, the hemulen's uncle was standing. He looked through the bars but saw very little.
Doesn't sound as if they had much fun, he thought. But then, everyone has to
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