(1842)
There is nobody in the world who knows so many stories as Ole-Luk-
Oie, or who can relate them so nicely. In the evening, while the children are
seated at the table or in their little chairs, he comes up the stairs very softly,
for he walks in his socks, then he opens the doors without the slightest
noise, and throws a small quantity of very fine dust in their eyes, just
enough to prevent them from keeping them open, and so they do not see
him. Then he creeps behind them, and blows softly upon their necks, till
their heads begin to droop. But Ole-Luk-Oie does not wish to hurt them, for
he is very fond of children, and only wants them to be quiet that he may
relate to them pretty stories, and they never are quiet until they are in bed
and asleep. As soon as they are asleep, Ole-Luk-Oie seats himself upon the
bed. He is nicely dressed; his coat is made of silken stuff; it is impossible to
say of what color, for it changes from green to red, and from red to blue as
he turns from side to side. Under each arm he carries an umbrella; one of
them, with pictures on the inside, he spreads over the good children, and
then they dream the most beautiful stories the whole night. But the other
umbrella has no pictures, and this he holds over the naughty children so that
they sleep heavily, and wake in the morning without having dreamed at all.
