"But dear Bikku," said the old soldier, with tears in his eyes, "Grandfather gives you only hard bread, water and herring. Don't you hear that gentleman offers you soft bread, milk and other good things, and a horse to ride?"
"I want to stay with Grandfather, I won't leave Grandfather," cried Bikku, hardly able to keep the tears away.
"You are right," said the General and stroked Bikku's round cheek, "stay with your Grandfather, and none of you shall suffer want, and when you grow to be a man, come to me, if I am still living. You shall have fields to plow and forests to hew. But whatever work you do, it is all the same, you will be an honest and loyal son of your country. Will you not, Bikku?"
"Yes," said the boy standing straight and tall.
"God bless you child," said Grandfather and Grandmother, moved to tears. "And God bless our beloved country, and may he give it many loyal sons like you, little Bikku. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
"That's written in my primer," said Bikku Matti softly.
"Yes, but it must be written in our hearts also," said the general, and once more he kissed the boy.
—From the Swedish by Zacharias Topelius.