“He shall not rob me,” said the Smith coolly, earnestly. Then he heaped more fuel upon his fire and blew his bellows till the flames leaped up to the roof of his smithy. “Anniki, your news is worth the price. I will fashion the pretty girdles for you, I will make the rings and the earrings and the brooch and the comb, and I will bring them all to you before the sun goes down.”
“That’s a good brother!” cried the maiden. “I knew you would do it. Now I am sure that [[183]]a great resolve is in your heart, and you will do something worthy of your name and fame. How can I help you?”
“Hasten home and heat the bath house for me,” answered Ilmarinen. “Heap the wood around the big bath-stones; put plenty of dry kindlings underneath, then lay hot coals around and make a roaring fire. Fetch water and fill the pails and the tubs, for I shall need not a little of it. Make a handful of soap, for nothing else will cleanse my smoky, grimy visage. Get everything ready, and tell mother that I am going on a long journey.”
“Yes, brother,” said Anniki. “I know what is in your mind, and everything shall be done as you desire;” and then with hasty steps, smiling and proud, she ran out of the smithy and hurried to her mother’s house in the village.
“Mother!” she cried, “Ilmarinen is coming home early to-day. I think he must be going on a journey, for he wishes to take a bath.”
“Well then, my daughter,” said good Dame Lokka, “it is for you to make the bath house ready. Put plenty of wood around the bath-stones and build a roaring fire. See that the water is ready, and put everything needful in [[184]]the right place. And you should see that his clothes are mended and brushed and fit for him to wear.”
“Yes, mother!” answered the dutiful maiden.
Anniki ran into the forest and gathered armloads of pine-knots, dry and resinous and impatient to be burned. She carried them into the bath house and heaped them up on the big hearth; she brought hot coals from the kitchen and made a roaring fire. She filled the pails and the great kettles with water. She placed the bath-stones where they would heat the quickest. She dipped some sprigs of white birches in wild honey and threw them into the water. Then she ran again to the kitchen and brought a handful of reindeer fat. She mixed this with milk and ashes, and thus made a magic soap that was pure and white and cleansing.
“My brother will have a good bath when he comes home,” she said. “It will not be my fault if he doesn’t come out of it clean.”
Meanwhile the master Smith was toiling steadily at his forge, making the ornaments which he had promised to give to his sister. First, he hammered out the finger rings of gold and the precious earrings. Then he made six [[185]]girdles of rare and most wonderful beauty; nor did he forget the comb and the brooch and some golden pins which he knew would please Anniki’s fancy. He finished all these quickly, skilfully. Then he raked the coals from his forge; he laid his hammer down in its place beside the anvil; he took off his leather apron and hung it on a peg; he went out of his smithy and closed the door behind him. With long, impatient strides he hurried home and laid the precious gifts in his sister’s hands.