Translated from the Danish by Hanna Astrup Larsen and Published in Twelve stories as En Landsbydegns Dagbog, 1824 FÖULUM, January 1, 1708. GOD give us all a happy New Year! and preserve our good Pastor Sören. He blew out the candle last night, and mother says he will not live to see next New Year; but I dare say it means nothing.--We had a merry evening. When Pastor Sören took off his cap after supper, and said "Agamus gratias," he pointed to me instead of to Jens. It is the first time I have said grace in Latin. A year ago today Jens said it, and then I opened my eyes wide, for then I didn't understand a word, but now I know half of Cornelius. Just think if I could become pastor at Föulum! Oh, how happy my dear parents would be if they might live to see that day. And then if the Pastor's