Thord Von Throstestad

A man was called Thord; he lived on Throstestad at Höfdestrand in Skagefjord. He had, it seemed to people, a strange disposition. It happened to a winter that he was so strongly pussy home to the trading place, that he thought there was no weather, to find a way. He carried a sack of goods, and with this he now went down over the swamps; for from there it is not far to Hofsos. After he had gone a little way, he lost the way, but continued his journey until evening; then he believed to see a few stalls; they were so high that he was amazed; he went and found the windows lit up. He went to a window and saw people inside who were amusing themselves with stringed instruments and dancing. Then he approached the door and knocked. Immediately a man in a coat to the door and asked what he wanted. Thord said how it was that he had lost his way, and also said that he would like to have shelter would do it if it could be done. The other replied that he would »Now follow me inside with your bag of goods. Tomorrow I will trade with you, and you will probably like it no less, to act here than in Hofsos.« Thord could hardly believe his eyes; it was all like a dream. The man in the coat led him into the room in, although he was not dressed up; there were many people, the lady of the house, the children and the servants, and all were very Cleaned and sang and were happy.

The man in the coat or the master of the house said quietly to his wife, but loud enough for the man to hear: »A lost traveller is He is tired and needs something to strengthen him. Give him a Refreshing drink, my darling.« She felt sorry for him, the poor man; she got up Fast and placed good and plenty of food for him. house came with two cups, poured out, emptied one cup and asked Thord to empty the other one. He did so, and he thought he had never drunk such good wine in his life. It was very funny, and Thord was not bored, although he enjoyed his adventure found something strange. began to get drunk. Then he was taken to a good bed and He slept off his hangover at night. The next morning he got Food and wine that were even better than the night before.

Then the master of the house went out with him and asked him if he Thord replied "Yes." They then went into the General store, in which all kinds of goods were stored. Thord had his goods weighed, and the merchant gave him half more for it than usual in Hofsos was given. Thord now received grain in his sack, linen and various other items that he might need. He got everything for half the usual price, and when he had finished, the Merchant a large cloth for his wife and white bread for his children and said that Thord should now be rewarded for having saved his son from mortal danger. Thord did not believe that it was so, but the merchant said that this was the case »You were once with several men below Thordshöfde; you wanted to cross to Drangö and lay there and waited for a good wind. Your comrades amused themselves by throwing stones and aimed at a rock; but it was warm sunny weather that day, and my Son had therefore laid himself down to rest under the rock; for he was tired and had been awake all night. You forbade them to throw stones and said that such stones were of no use. then they raised you up, but they mocked you for your moods and said, that you had always been a strange man. And if you had If they had not prevented me from doing so, they would have killed my son."

After this conversation, Thord prepared to go home; for now the weather was bright. He said goodbye to everyone; but the merchant set him on his way, wished him a happy hike and Then returned home.

Thord now continued his journey towards home, but when he again wanted to see the trading place, he discovered nothing but Thordshöfde, which lay not far ahead of him; he was very surprised went home, met his wife and told her everything, showed her the goods and gave her the cloth. She was very happy about it and thanked her husband for the gift. Thord's goods traveled far and wide to to be seen, and never had anything similar been seen in this country, and Perhaps there would be no equal to it, even if one could find many Would look for places.

Thord never saw the merchant or his people again. But He had something to show the goods as long as he lived.