Nils Finn (From Halte Hulda)

(see Note)     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.