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SKETCHES. 385
There was also “ lutfisk,” quite white and soft in a pan, and
potatoes, as a matter of course.
The Christmas cake was already placed upon the table,
and there also stood the “ Yule-Kuse,” with long horns.
And there he was to stand during all the holidays, in the
midst of all the Christmas fare. Have you heard, children,
what a “ Yule-Kuse” is, and why he stands upon the Christ-
mas tables in the country ? I will tell you.
The “ Yule-Kuse” is a large lump of dough, which is
kneaded and made into the shape of a large goat, with long
horns. When he has stood upon the Christmas table Al
the holidays, he is put into a wooden chest, where he rests in
_peace until spring comes, and the fields are to be ploughed.
Then the “ Yule-Kuse” comes forth again out of the chest,
is chopped in pieces, and given to the horses and oxen that
have to labor in the fields, and which through the “ Yule-
Kuse” become doubly as strong as before.
And ifthe fields are well ploughed, the grain will grow
beautifully, and a vast number of sheaves will be brought
into the barns, and a great deal of grist to the mills, and
much bread into the house, and all this the “ Yule-Kuse ”
does, thit wonderful animal. 1
Two little children, Pehr and Maja, were running round
the Christmas table, and could scarcely conceal their delight
at the “ Yule-Kuse,” and the cakes, and at the Yule fare
boiling on the hearth, smelling so nice in the cottage, and
at the Christmas Day matins, which they were going to
attend the following morning with their mother. Brother
Anders was going to take them all in the sledge drawn by
old Polle. And the children had never yet been to the
Christmas matins, and did not quite know what it meant;
but something grand and beautiful it was to be, and that
they had heard and could well believe.
Brother Anders was still standing upon the hillock be-
hind the cottage, cutting wood, that there might be plenty
of fuel for the whole week, from Christmas Eve until
25
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