It looks like an enchanted spot, and now for my favorite apple-tree." The garden did look very pretty.

The little paper lanterns had been made up a long time before, and this very morning Jule had fastened them about on all the trees and high bushes, and while the hand-shaking and kissing had been going on in the house, Battiste and Trine had lighted the candles.

The big apple-tree was dotted all over with them, so that it looked like a huge out-of-doors Christmas tree, and the red apples shone so prettily in the flickering light, that altogether it would have been difficult to imagine a more charming scene.
The table, spread with a white cloth and loaded with all sorts of nice dishes, looked irresistibly attractive.
"What a beautiful banquet-hall," cried the delighted father, "and how good the feast will taste! But what is this?
Another poem ?" and to be sure, a large white placard hung by two cords from the high bushes behind the apple-tree, and on it were the following lines: "My first is good for man to be-- Better than wealth.
My second we have longed to see Our father do in health.
My whole with merry hearts we cry Today, and shout it to the sky." "A riddle! Rolf made this too, I am sure," said he, clapping the boy kindly on the shoulder.

"I will begin to guess it as soon as I can.

Now we must sit down and enjoy these good things before us, and the pleasure of being all together again." So they all took their places at the table, and each had his or her own story to tell of what had happened, and what had been done during the separation.