"The summer passed, and Thorhall heard nothing of the shepherd, nor
did any one know the least about him, but at the time appointed he
came to Thorhall-stead. The yeoman received him well, but the others
did not like him, and the good-wife least of all. He began his work
among the sheep which gave him little trouble, for he had a loud,
hoarse voice, and the flock all ran together whenever he shouted.
There was a church at Thorhall-stead, but Glam would never go to it
nor join in the service. He was unbelieving, surly, and difficult to
deal with, and ever one felt a dislike towards him.
"So time went on till it came to Christmas eve. On that morning Glam
rose early and called for his food. The good-wife answered: 'It is
not the custom of Christian people to eat on this day, for to-morrow
is the first day of Christmas, and we ought to fast to-day'. Glam
replied: 'You have many foolish fashions that I see no good in. I
cannot see that men are any better off now than they were when they
never troubled themselves about such things. I think it was a far
better life when men were heathens; and now I want my food, and no
nonsense.' The good-wife answered: 'I am sure you will come to
sorrow to-day if you act thus perversely'.
"Glam bade her bring his food at once, or it would be the worse for
her. She was afraid to refuse, and after he had eaten he went out in
a great rage.
"The weather was very bad. It was dark and gloomy all round;
snowflakes fluttered about; loud noises were heard in the air, and it
grew worse and worse as the day wore on. They heard the shepherd's
voice during the forenoon, but less of him as the day passed. Then
the snow began to drift, and by evening there was a violent storm.
People came to the service in church, and the day wore on to evening,
but still Glam did not come home. There was some talk among them of
going to look for him, but no search was made on account of the storm
and the darkness.
"All Christmas eve Glam did not return, and in the morning men went to
look for him. They found the sheep scattered in the fens, beaten down
by the storm, or up on the hills. Thereafter they came to a place in
the valley where the snow was all trampled, as if there had been a
terrible struggle there, for stones and frozen earth were torn up all
round about. They looked carefully round the place, and found Glam
lying a short distance off, quite dead. He was black in colour, and
swollen up as big as an ox. They were horrified at the sight, and
shuddered in their hearts. However, they tried to carry him to the
church, but could get him no further than to the edge of a cleft, a
little lower down; so they left him there and went home and told their
master what had happened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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