Illustrations for the fairy tale Little Nils Carlson. All books about: “illustrations for the fairy tale baby...

The main character of the fairy tale “Little Nils Carlson” is the boy Bertil. He is still too young to go to school. Therefore, Bertil sits alone at home all day while mom and dad work. Previously, his older sister used to sit with him, but she died of illness. And Bertil is forced to be bored alone, because he is tired of toys, and he has not yet learned to read.

But one day he heard a rustling under his bed and found a tiny boy the size of his little finger there. The little one said that his name was Little Nils Carlson, and he rented a room in a rat hole under Bertil's bed. Nils invited Bertil to visit him. Bertil could not understand how he would fit into the narrow hole, but Little Nils taught him magic words that turned an ordinary boy into one as tiny as Nils.

Bertil boldly uttered the magic words and became as tiny as his new friend. They climbed into the rat hole and went down the stairs to Little Niels' room. The room was empty, there was only a stove in it. There wasn't even firewood in it.

And then Bertil came up with an idea! He went upstairs, said the magic words, and when he became the old boy again, he went into the kitchen and picked up some burnt matches. He brought the matches to the rat hole and turned back into a tiny boy. Now the matches seemed like huge logs. He called Little Niels, and the two of them carried the wood down to the stove and immediately lit it. It became much warmer.

Then, questioning Little Niels, Bertil realized that he was hungry. He went upstairs again, took just a little food and took it to the hole. After another transformation into a crumb, the amount of food began to seem simply incredible. The friends ate to their fill.

After dinner, Bertil began to think that Little Nils had no furniture in his room and was forced to sleep on the floor. And Bertil went up to his apartment again, where among his sister’s toys he found a bed, a bed for it, and even a doll’s nightgown. All this turned out to be very useful in the room of Little Nils, who, well-fed and satisfied, immediately went to bed.

The next day was no less interesting. Bertil helped Niels tidy up his home and brought more doll furniture - a table, a wardrobe, armchairs and benches. The room became completely cozy. And when the time came for Bertil to return to his home, he invited Little Niels to go with him. After all, Little Nils was very small, and it was easy for him to hide from Bertil’s dad and mom.

Now Bertil was not at all bored sitting at home without his parents. He was no longer bored alone, because he had a good friend.

This is the summary of the tale.

The main point of the fairy tale “Little Nils Carlson” is that sometimes in order to make another person happy, you need to spend very little effort. But how great it is to see the happy eyes of someone you helped in difficult times! The fairy tale “Little Nils Carlson” teaches you to help other people and be caring.

In the fairy tale, I liked the main character, Bertil. He turned out to be a friendly and caring boy, and helped his new friend, Little Niels, in every possible way. And Bertil was not afraid to turn into a tiny man to visit the home of Little Niels. He is a brave boy.

What proverbs fit the fairy tale “Little Nils Carlson”?

The day until the evening is boring if there is nothing to do.
Don't sit idly by, you won't get bored.
You won't know a friend until you need his help.

Bertil looked out the window. It was beginning to get dark, it was cold, foggy and uncomfortable outside.

Bertil was waiting for dad and mom. He was waiting for them with such impatience that it was simply surprising why they had not yet appeared from his mere anticipation at that street lamp. It was usually near this lantern that Bertil noticed them first. Mom came a little earlier than dad, but she couldn’t return before work at the factory ended.

Dad and Mom went to the factory every day, and Bertil sat at home alone all day. Mom left food for him so he could have a snack when he got hungry. Then, when mom returned, they sat down to dinner.

It was terribly boring to walk around the apartment alone all day long, with no one to say a word to. Of course, Bertil could have gone out into the yard to play, but now, in the fall, the weather was bad and none of the children were visible on the street.

Oh, how slowly time passed! He was tired of toys a long time ago. Yes, there weren’t that many of them. He looked through the books that were in the house from cover to cover. Six-year-old Bertil did not yet know how to read.

The room was cold. Dad lit the stove in the mornings, but by lunchtime almost all the heat was gone. Bertil is frozen. Darkness thickened in the corners of the room, but he did not even think of turning on the light. It was so terribly sad that he decided to lie down in bed and think a little about why everything in the world is so sad.

He didn't always have to sit alone. He used to have a sister, and her name was Marta. But one day Marta returned from school sick. She was sick for a whole week and then died. And when Bertil thought that he was now alone, without his sister, tears rolled down his cheeks.

And just at that moment he heard...

He heard small, mincing steps under the bed. “Are there really ghosts here?” thought Bertil and leaned over the edge of the bed to look.

And then he saw that someone was standing under the bed... Yes, yes. It was an ordinary boy, only very small, well, just tiny - no bigger than his little finger.

Hello! - said the kid.

Hello! - Bertil answered embarrassedly.

Hello! Hello! - the baby said again, and both were silent for a while.

Who are you? - Bertil finally asked. - And what are you doing under my bed?

“My name is Little Nils Carlson,” the kid answered. - I live here. Well, of course, not right under your bed, but a little lower. The entrance to me is in that corner!

And he pointed to the rat hole under Bertil's bed.

How long have you lived here? - Bertil asked in surprise.

No, just a few days,” the baby answered. - Before that, I lived in the Liljanskogen forest under the roots of a tree. But you know, by the fall you get tired of living in a campsite and want to go back to the city. I was very lucky that I managed to rent a room from a rat who moved in with his sister in Södertälje. You know how difficult it is to find a small apartment.

Yes, Bertil heard about this more than once.

Do you have it? - asked Bertil.

That’s just the point, no,” the kid answered sadly. He suddenly shrank. - Brrrr, how cold it is down there! But it’s no better for you at the top either.

Yes, it’s true,” Bertil agreed, “I’m also cold as a dog.”

There is a stove in my room,” the kid continued to explain, “but there is no firewood.” Firewood is so expensive these days!

He wrapped his arms around himself to keep warm. Then he looked at Bertil with large, clear eyes.

What do you do all day? - he asked.

Nothing special! - answered Bertil. - To be honest, I just don’t do anything!

“Exactly like me...” said Tiny. - It's boring to live alone, isn't it?

How boring,” Bertil said.

Do you want to come downstairs with me for a minute? - the kid suggested.

Bertil laughed.

Do you think I can fit into this hole?

It’s as easy as shelling pears,” explained Tiny. - All you have to do is click on the nail, which is next to the mink, and then say:

Turn around as a baby! -

And you will become as small as me.

Is it true? - Bertil was delighted. - Will I be able to become big again before mom and dad get home?

Of course, you can,” Tiny reassured him. - To do this, you will press the nail again and say again:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

Well, there you go! - Bertil was surprised. -Can you become as big as me?

Alas! “I can’t do this,” Tiny sighed. “Still, it would be nice for you to come downstairs to me at least for a while.”

Come on! - Bertil agreed.

He crawled under the bed, pressed the nail with his index finger and said:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn around as a baby!

Indeed!

A moment - and he stands in front of the rat hole, as small as Tiny.

Actually everyone calls me Nisse! - The little man introduced himself again and extended his hand to Bertil. - Come downstairs to me!

Bertil realized that something exciting and unusual was happening to him. He was simply burning with curiosity, he was so impatient to quickly go down into the dark hole.

Go down carefully! - Nisse warned. - The railing is broken in one place.

Bertil carefully walked down the small stone stairs. Just think, he didn't even know there were stairs here! It ended in front of a locked door.

Wait, I’ll turn on the light,” Nisse said and turned the switch.

A business card was taped to the door, and on it was written in neat letters:

Little Nils Carlson.

Nisse opened the door and turned another switch. Bertil entered the room...

It’s not very cozy here,” Nisse apologized.

Bertil looked around. The room was small, cold, with one window and a tiled stove painted blue.

Yes, it can be better,” he agreed. -Where do you sleep at night?

“On the floor,” Nisse answered.

You're so cold! Brrrr... - Bertil shuddered in horror.

You ask! It's still so cold! You can be sure. It’s so cold that every now and then you have to jump up and run around the room so as not to freeze at all!

Bertil felt terribly sorry for the baby. At least he himself didn’t freeze at night.

And then a good idea occurred to Bertil.

How stupid I am! - he said. - I can get firewood for you!

Nisse quickly grabbed his hand.

Do you think you can do it? - he asked quickly.

Nothing! If only you managed to get firewood, then I can light it...

Bertil ran up the stairs and pressed the nail... but forgot what to say.

What words need to be said? - he shouted down to the baby.

Hmm, snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy! - answered Nisse.

Hmm, snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy! - repeated Bertil. But nothing worked out.

Ugh, you just need to say

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy! -

Nisse shouted from below.

Just snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

Bertil repeated.

But again nothing happened.

Oh oh! - Nisse shouted again. - Nothing except

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy! -

you don't need to tell!

And then Bertil finally understood what needed to be said.

Turn into a boy! -

he said and became the old Bertil again, so quickly that he even hit his head on his bed.

Bertil quickly crawled out from under the bed and crawled to the kitchen stove. There was a whole pile of burnt matches lying there. He broke them into tiny slivers and placed them near the rat hole. Then, having uttered a spell, he became small again and shouted:

Nisse, help me move the wood downstairs!

After all, now that he had become small, he was not able to drag all these matches alone. Nisse came skipping, and with difficulty, helping each other, they dragged the firewood down the stairs and piled it in the room by the stove.

Nisse actually jumped for joy.

This kind of firewood is the best in the world! Yes, yes, the best in the world!

He filled the stove full of firewood, and neatly stacked what was left side by side in the corner.

“Now I’ll show you something,” he said. Nisse squatted down in front of the stove and blew on the wood:

The firewood crackled and caught fire!

What a miracle! - Bertil was delighted. - And matches are not needed!

“Yes,” said Nisse. - What a wonderful fire. I haven't felt so warm since summer.

They both sat down on the floor in front of a blazing fire and extended their hands, blue from the cold, to the life-giving warmth.

And how much wood is still left! - said a pleased Nisse.

When they run out, I’ll get more,” Bertil promised. He was pleased too.

“I won’t freeze tonight,” Nisse rejoiced.

What are you eating? - Bertil asked a little later.

Nisse blushed.

“Yes, a little bit of everything,” he answered uncertainly. - Whatever you can get.

Well, what did you eat today? - Bertil asked curiously.

Today, I... - Nisse drawled. - Today, I don’t think I ate anything.

But then you're hungry as a wolf! - exclaimed Bertil.

Yes,” Nisse answered, hesitating a little. - I'm terribly hungry.

Why didn’t you say so right away, hat? I'll bring it now.

Nisse almost choked with joy.

If you actually get me something to eat, I will never forget it!

Bertil was already climbing the stairs. He said quickly:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

He quickly rushed to the pantry and took a very small slice of cheese and a very small slice of bread. Then he buttered the bread, put a cutlet and two raisins on top. He put all this next to the rat hole. Then he became small again.

Nisse, help me carry the food downstairs! - he shouted.

Nisse was already standing next to him and waiting.

They carried all the supplies downstairs. Nisse's eyes lit up like stars. Bertil also felt that he was hungry.

Let's start with the cutlet! - he suggested.

The cutlet was no smaller than Nissa's head. They started eating it from both sides to see who could get to the middle faster. The first was Nisse.

Then they started eating bread and cheese. A very small slice of bread seemed so big to them, like a huge loaf.

And Nisse decided to hide the cheese.

You see, I have to pay the rat every month with a rind of cheese. Otherwise I'll just be thrown out of here.

“We’ll sort this out,” Bertil reassured him. - Eat cheese.

And they ate the cheese, and then began to feast on the raisins.

But Nisse said that he would hide half of his zest in the morning.

“When I wake up, I’ll have something to chew,” he explained. - I’m thinking of lying down near the stove, it’s warmer there.

Then Bertil shouts:

Invented! Great idea! Vips!

And he disappeared. He was gone for quite a long time. Suddenly Nisse heard him shout:

Come here, help me lower the bed!

Nisse rushed upstairs. Bertil stood there with the cutest white crib in the world. He took it from his sister Martha's old doll closet. Actually, there was a tiny doll lying there, but Nissa needed the crib more.

I grabbed a sheet for you and a piece of green flannel that my mother bought me for new pajamas. You will cover yourself with flannel instead of a blanket.

ABOUT! - Nisse said and fell silent, unable to utter a word.

“I also took the doll’s nightgown with me,” Bertil added. “You don’t mind sleeping in a doll’s nightgown, do you?”

Of course not,” Nisse whispered.

You know, girls have so many different clothes,” Bertil said, as if apologizing.

But it’s warm in such a shirt,” Nisse objected to him and stroked the doll’s nightgown with his hand. “I’ve never slept in a real bed before,” he said, “I just want to go and lie down right away.”

“Let’s go to bed,” Bertil agreed. - I still have to go upstairs. Just look, mom and dad will come.

Nisse quickly took off his clothes, put on a doll's nightgown, jumped into bed, wrapped himself in a sheet and pulled a flannel blanket over himself.

ABOUT! - he repeated. - I'm completely full. And I feel very warm. And I really want to sleep.

Hello then! - said Bertil. - I'll be back in the morning.

But Nisse didn’t hear anything anymore. He slept.

The next day Bertil couldn’t wait for mom and dad to leave. Why are they digging there! Usually Bertil said goodbye to them in the hallway with a sad look. But today everything was different. Before the door in the hallway slammed behind them, he crawled under the bed and went down to Nissa.

Nisse had already gotten up and lit the stove.

Is it okay that I burn wood? - he asked Bertil.

Of course, it’s okay, you can drown as much as you want,” Bertil answered. And he looked around the room.

You know, we need to clean up here,” he suggested.

Yes, it won’t hurt,” Nisse agreed. - The floor is so dirty, as if it had never been washed.

And Bertil was already climbing the stairs. A floor brush and a washbasin - that's what he needs! In the kitchen, on the table for washing dishes, there was an old, worn-out toothbrush. Bertil took it and broke off the handle. Then he looked into the cupboard. There was a very, very small cup - my mother served jelly in it. Bertil poured warm water from a saucepan into a cup and put a piece of soap in it. He put all this, as usual, near the rat hole. Nyssa had to help him get it all down again.

What a huge brush! - Nisse was surprised.

It will be of great use to you,” said Bertil, and they began to wash the floor. Bertil rubbed it with a brush, and Nisse wiped it dry with a rag. The water in the cup was completely black with dirt. But the floor soon became almost clean.

“Sit here, near the stairs,” Bertil invited. - A surprise awaits you. Close eyes! Don't look!

Nisse closed his eyes. He heard Bertil go upstairs to his apartment, then heard him dragging something.

Now open your eyes! - suggested Bertil.

Nisse did just that. And I saw - neither more nor less: a table, a corner cabinet, two very beautiful armchairs and two wooden benches.

I have never seen anything like this before in the world! - Nisse shouted. - You sure know how to cast magic!

Bertil, of course, did not know how to cast magic. He took all this furniture from his sister Martha's doll's closet. He also grabbed from there a striped rag rug that Martha had woven on her doll loom!

First they laid out the rug. It covered almost the entire floor.

Oh, how cozy! - Nisse exclaimed. But it became even more comfortable when the closet took its place in the corner, a table with armchairs was placed in the middle of the room, and both benches were placed near the stove.

Just think how well you can do! - Nisse sighed.

Bertil also thought that it was good here, even much better than upstairs in his own apartment.

They sat down in an armchair and began to talk.

“It doesn’t hurt to tidy yourself up a little,” Nisse said. - Otherwise I’m terribly dirty.

What if we ransom? - suggested Bertil.

And now the jelly cup was quickly filled with clean, warm water, a piece of an old torn terry towel turned into a wonderful bathing sheet, and although a little water splashed on the stairs, what was left was enough for a bath. Bertil and Nisse quickly took off their clothes and climbed into the tub. That's great!

“Rub my back,” Nisse asked.

Bertil did this with pleasure. Then Nisse rubbed Bertil's back, and then they started splashing water and spilled water on the floor. But it’s not scary - they moved the rug to the side, and the water quickly dried up. Then they wrapped themselves in bathing sheets, sat on benches near the burning stove and began to tell each other about everything in the world. Then Bertil ran upstairs and brought sugar and a very, very small piece of apple, which they baked on the fire.

But then Bertil remembered that mom and dad should return home soon, and he hurried to throw on his clothes. Nisse also began to dress.

It would be great if you came upstairs with me,” Bertil dreamed. - You could hide under my shirt, and. Mom and Dad wouldn't notice you.

This offer seemed unusually tempting to Nissa.

I will sit quietly, like a mouse! - he promised.

What's happened? Why is your hair wet? - Mom asked when the whole family was already sitting at the table and having dinner.

“I was swimming,” Bertil answered.

Did you swim? - Mom asked again. -Where did you swim?

“In this cup,” said Bertil and, giggling, pointed to a cup of jelly that stood in the middle of the table.

Mom and Dad decided he was joking.

“It’s so good that Bertil is cheerful again,” Dad rejoiced.

My poor boy,” my mother sighed. - What a pity that you are alone all day long.

Bertil felt a movement under his shirt. So warm, very, very warm.

Don’t be upset, mom,” he said. - I have a lot of fun when I'm alone.

And, putting his index finger under his shirt, he carefully stroked Little Nils Carlson.

This book captivated me with its illustrations. Real windows into a fairy tale. I watched and reviewed them, fascinated...

My favorite book by Astrid Lindgren is “The Lionheart Brothers.” This book was written for me, nothing compares to it. In second place are her individual fairy tales and stories. Once upon a time, I accidentally bought a collection called “There are no robbers in the forest.” Like this:

And there were all these most beautiful and necessary fairy tales for me, the little one, which the big one had already inherited.
Favorites are “Southern Meadow”, “Does my linden tree sound, does the nightingale sing?”, “Junker Nils from Eka” and “Kaisa Zadorochka”. Moreover, only in the translation by I. Novitskaya. For some reason, she is I. Novitskaya everywhere. I suspect that this is Irina Yanovna Novitskaya, the author of the book “The Formation of the Artistic World of Astrid Lindgren.” I like her language, her images, I like “Kaisa-Zadorochka” in Novitskaya’s translation much better than the Lively Kaisa in Braude and Belyakova’s translation. Why? A feeling of coziness, a homely village nickname, and also - perky and lively - these are still different concepts. Kaisa Zadorochka endears me with her unshakable optimism. The lively Kaisa initially causes concern: she is very lively... But this is already personal.
(About like Ariadne Efron, who wrote to Boris Pasternak from Turukhansk: “And now I am re-reading - with constant pleasure - “Tom Sawyer,” although since childhood I remember this book not only by heart, but even in different versions of different translations by heart. So, for example, in the book that I had as a child, in Sunday school, a girl recites the rhymes “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and in the 1949 translation, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” it’s the same thing, but the lamb is better, because the lamb is something edible, and the lamb is clearly “Sunday school.”)

Unfortunately, the wonderful collection “Little Nils Carlson” (Swallowtail Publishing House) does not include my most favorite fairy tales. They were probably considered too dark (and “Kaisu Zadorochka” was not magical enough).
But still, the children from those fairy tales that were published are sad children. Not cheerful, not lively, not jokers, not mischievous, this is not Emil or Pippi. They are lonely, they are sick. They are bored. After all, it happens that parents spend the whole day at work, and the son is locked in the apartment all day. Or the parents live on a secluded farm, and the only daughter has absolutely no one to play with. But salvation will definitely come: it is magic and imagination. And so a tiny brownie was discovered in a city apartment, a cuckoo in a clock came to life, and in a village house a fairy sat down on the windowsill on the way to the ball and a beautiful doll grew up in the garden bed.
Well, and illustrations. For their sake, I highly recommend it. Although the translators are Braude and Solovyova. They're good too. Just not mine.
But for the illustrations, this book is worth having.
And for the sake of my favorite fairy tale “In the Land between Light and Darkness”.

I scanned some of the most amazing illustrations.

Bertil looked out the window. It was beginning to get dark, it was cold, foggy and uncomfortable outside.

Bertil was waiting for dad and mom. He waited for them so impatiently that it was simply surprising why they did not appear at that street lamp just from his anticipation. It was usually near this lantern that Bertil noticed them first. Mom came a little earlier than dad. But it is clear that none of them could return before work at the factory ended.

Dad and Mom went to the factory every day, and Bertil sat at home alone all day. Mom left food for him so he could have a snack when he got hungry. Then, when mom returned, they sat down to dinner.

It was terribly boring to walk around the apartment alone all day long, with no one to say a word to. Of course, Bertil could have gone out into the yard to play, but now, in the fall, the weather was bad and none of the children were visible on the street.

Oh, how slowly time passed! He was tired of toys a long time ago. Yes, there weren’t that many of them. He looked through the books that were in the house from cover to cover. Six-year-old Bertil did not yet know how to read.

The room was cold. Dad lit the stove in the mornings, but by lunchtime almost all the heat was gone. Bertil was freezing. The darkness thickened in the corners, but he did not even think of turning on the light. It was so terribly sad that he decided to lie down in bed and think a little about how sad everything in the world is.

But he didn’t always have to sit alone. He used to have a sister, and her name was Marta. But one day Marta returned from school sick. She was sick for a whole week and then died. And when Bertil thought that he was now completely alone, tears rolled down his cheeks.

And just at that moment he heard...

He heard small, mincing steps under the bed. “Are there really ghosts here?” thought Bertil and leaned over the edge of the bed to look.

And then he saw that someone was standing under the bed... yes... This “someone” was exactly an ordinary little boy. Only this boy was just a baby, no bigger than his little finger.

Hello! said the baby.

Hello! Bertil said a little embarrassed.

Hello! Hello! the kid said again.

Then they were both silent for a while.

Who are you? asked Bertil at last. And what are you doing under my bed?

My name is Little Nils Carlson, the little one answered, I live here. Well, of course, not right under your bed, but on the floor below. You can see me in that corner over there!

And he pointed to the rat hole under Bertil's bed.

How long have you been living here? asked Bertil in surprise.

No, just a few days, the little one answered. Before that, I lived in the Liljanskogen forest under the roots of a tree. But you know, by the fall you get tired of living in a campsite and want to go back to the city. I was very lucky that I managed to rent a room from a rat who moved in with his sister in Södertälje. You know how difficult it is to find a small apartment.

Yes, Bertil heard about this more than once.

Do you have it? asked Bertil.

The fact of the matter is that no, the kid answered sadly. He suddenly shrank. Brrrr, how cold it is down there! But you, at the top, are no better.

Yes, it’s true, Bertil agreed, I’m also cold as a dog.

There is a stove in my room, the kid continued to explain. But there is no firewood. Firewood is so expensive these days!

He wrapped his arms around himself to keep warm. Then he looked at Bertil with large, clear eyes.

What do you do all day? he asked.

Nothing special! answered Bertil. To be honest, I just don't do anything!

Just like me... said Tiny. It's boring to live alone, isn't it?

How boring, Bertil said.

Do you want to come downstairs with me for a minute? suggested the kid.

Bertil laughed.

Do you think I can fit into this hole?

It's as easy as shelling pears, Tiny explained. All you have to do is click on the nail, which is next to the mink, and then say:

Turn around as a baby!

And you will become as small as me:

Is it true? Bertil was delighted. Will I be able to get big again before Mom and Dad get home?

Of course, you can do it, Tiny reassured him. To do this, you will press the nail again and say again:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

Well, there you go! Bertil was surprised. Can you become as big as me?

Alas! “I can’t do this,” Tiny sighed. Still, it would be nice for you to come down to me at least for a while.

Come on! Bertil agreed.

He crawled under the bed, pressed the nail with his index finger and said:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn around as a baby!

Indeed! A moment and he stands in front of the rat hole, as small as Tiny.

Actually everyone calls me Nisse! The little man introduced himself once again and extended his hand to Bertil. Come downstairs with me!

Bertil realized that something fascinating and outlandish was happening to him. He was simply burning with curiosity, he was so impatient to quickly go down into the dark hole.

Go down carefully! warned Nisse, the railings are broken in one place.

Bertil carefully walked down the small stone stairs. Just think, he didn't even know there were stairs here! It ended in front of a locked door.

Wait, I’ll turn on the light, Nisse said and turned the switch.

A business card was attached to the door; on it was written in neat letters:

"Little Nils Carlson"

Nisse opened the door and turned another switch. Bertil entered the room.

It’s not very cozy here, Nisse apologized.

Bertil looked around. The room was small, cold, with one window and a tiled stove painted blue.

Yes, it can be better, he agreed. Where do you sleep at night?

On the floor, Nisse answered.

You're so cold! Brrrr... Bertil shuddered in horror.

You ask! It's still so cold! You can be sure. It’s so cold that every now and then you have to jump up and run around the room so as not to freeze at all!

Bertil felt terribly sorry for the baby. At least he himself didn’t have to freeze at night.

And then a good idea occurred to Bertil.

How stupid I am! he said. I can get some firewood for you!

Nisse quickly grabbed his hand.

Do you think you can do it? he asked briskly.

Nothing! If only you managed to get firewood, then I can light it.

Bertil ran up the stairs and pressed the nail... but forgot what to say.

What words need to be said? he shouted down to the baby.

Hmm, snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy! answered Nissa.

Hmm, snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy! Bertil repeated the carnation.

But nothing worked out.

Ugh, all you have to say is “Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy!” Nisse shouted from below.

Just snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a boy! repeated Bertil.

But again nothing happened.

Oh oh! Nisse shouted again. You don’t need to say anything other than “Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips! Turn into a little boy!”

And then Bertil finally understood what needed to be said. He said:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

And he became the old Bertil again. Everything happened so quickly that he even hit his head on his bed.

Bertil quickly crawled out from under the bed and crawled to the kitchen stove. There was a whole pile of burnt matches lying there. He broke them into tiny slivers and placed them near the rat hole. Then he became small again and shouted:

Nisse, help me move the wood downstairs!

After all, now, when he was little, he was not able to drag all these matches alone. Nisse came skipping, and with difficulty, helping each other, they dragged the firewood down the stairs and piled it in the room by the stove.

Nisse actually jumped for joy.

This kind of firewood is the best in the world! Yes, yes, the best in the world!

He filled the stove full of firewood, and neatly stacked what was left side by side in the corner.

You'll see now, he said.

Nisse squatted down in front of the stove and blew on the wood:

The firewood crackled and caught fire!

What a miracle! Bertil was delighted. And no matches are needed.

Yes, he said to Nissa. What a wonderful fire. I haven't felt so warm since summer.

They both sat down on the floor in front of a blazing fire and extended their hands, blue from the cold, to the life-giving warmth.

And how much wood is still left! said a pleased Nisse.

And when they run out, I’ll get more, Bertil promised. He was pleased too.

I won’t freeze tonight, Nissa rejoiced.

What are you eating? asked Bertil a little later.

Nisse blushed.

Yes, a little of everything, he answered uncertainly. Whatever you can get.

Well, what did you eat today? asked Bertil.

Today, I... handed it to Nissa. Today, I don't think I ate anything.

But then you'll be starving to death! exclaimed Bertil.

Yes, after a little hesitation, Nisse answered. I was terribly hungry.

Why didn’t you say so right away, hat? I'll bring it now.

Nisse almost choked with joy.

If you actually get me something to eat, I will never forget it!

Bertil was already climbing the stairs. He said quickly:

Snur-re, snur-re, snur-re, vips!

Turn into a boy!

He quickly, quickly rushed to the pantry, took a very small slice of cheese and a very small, very small slice of bread. Then he buttered the bread, put a cutlet and two raisins on top. He put all this next to the rat hole. Then he became small again and shouted:

Nisse, help me carry the food downstairs!

But he shouted in vain, because Nisse was already standing next to him and waiting.

They carried all the supplies downstairs. Nisse's eyes shone like stars. Bertil felt that he was also hungry.

Let's start with the cutlet! he suggested.

The cutlet was no smaller than Nissa's head. They started eating it from both sides to see who could get to the middle faster. The first was Nisse.

Then they started eating bread and cheese. The very small slice of bread now turned out to be big, like a huge loaf.

And Nisse decided to hide the cheese.

You see, I have to pay the rat every month with a rind of cheese. Otherwise I'll just be thrown out of here.

We will sort this out, Bertil reassured him. Eat cheese.

And they ate the cheese, and then began to feast on the raisins. But Nisse said that he would hide half of his zest for tomorrow.

When I wake up, I will have something to chew, he explained. I'm thinking of lying down near the stove, it's warmer there.

Then Bertil shouts:

Invented! Great idea!

Vips! And he disappeared. He was gone for quite a long time. Suddenly Nisse heard him shout:

Come here, help me lower the bed!

Nisse rushed upstairs. Bertil stood there with the cutest white crib in the world. He took it from his sister Martha's old doll closet. Actually, there was a tiny doll lying there, but Nissa needed the crib more.

I grabbed a sheet for you and a piece of green flannel that my mother bought me for new pajamas. You will cover yourself with flannel instead of a blanket.

ABOUT! Nisse said. ABOUT! was all he said.

He couldn't say anything else.

“I also took the doll’s nightgown with me,” Bertil added. You don't mind sleeping in a doll's nightgown, do you?

Of course not, Nisse replied.

You know, girls have so many different clothes, Bertil said, as if apologizing.

But it’s warm in such a shirt, Nisse objected to him and stroked the doll’s nightgown with his hand. I've never slept in a real bed before, he said, and I just want to go and lie down right away.

Let's go to bed, Bertil agreed. I have to go upstairs anyway. Just look, mom and dad will come.

Nisse quickly took off his clothes, put on a doll's nightgown, jumped into bed, wrapped himself in a sheet and pulled a flannel blanket over himself.

ABOUT! he repeated. I'm completely full. And I feel very warm. And I really want to sleep.

Hello then! said Bertil. I'll be back in the morning.

But Nisse didn’t hear anything anymore. He slept.

The next day Bertil couldn’t wait for mom and dad to leave. Why are they digging there! Usually Bertil said goodbye to them in the hallway with a sad look. But today everything was different. Before the door in the hallway slammed behind them, he crawled under the bed and went down to Nissa.

Nisse had already gotten up and lit the stove.

Is it okay that I burn wood? he asked Bertil.

Of course, it’s okay, you can drown as much as you want,” Bertil answered. And he looked around the room.

You know, we need to clean up here, he suggested.

Yes, it won’t hurt, Nisse agreed. The floor is so dirty it looks like it has never been washed.

Bertil was already climbing the stairs. A floor brush and a washbasin are what he needs! In the kitchen, on the table for washing dishes, there was an old, worn-out toothbrush. Bertil took it and broke off the handle. Then he looked into the cupboard. There was a very, very small cup, and my mother served jelly in it. Bertil poured warm water from a saucepan into a cup and put a piece of soap in it. Then he tore off a small corner from a rag that was lying in the closet. He put all this, as usual, near the rat hole. Nyssa had to help him get it all down again.

What a huge brush! Nissa was surprised.

It will be of great use to you, said Bertil.

And they began to wash the floor. Bertil washed, and Nisse wiped the floor with a rag. The water in the cup turned completely black. But the floor soon became almost clean.

Sit here, near the stairs, Bertil invited. A surprise awaits you. Close eyes! Don't look!

Nisse closed his eyes. He heard Bertil making noise and dragging something upstairs in his apartment.

Now open your eyes! suggested Bertil.

Nisse did just that. And I saw no more, no less: a table, a corner cabinet, two very beautiful armchairs and two wooden benches.

I have never seen anything like this before in the world! Nisse shouted. You sure can do magic!

Bertil, of course, did not know how to cast magic. He took all this furniture from his sister Martha's doll's closet. He also grabbed from there a striped rag rug that Martha had woven on her doll loom!

First they laid out the rug. It covered almost the entire floor.

Oh, how cozy! exclaimed Nisse.

But it became even more comfortable when the closet took its place in the corner, a table with armchairs was placed in the middle of the room, and both benches were placed near the stove.

Just think how well you can do! Nisse sighed.

Bertil also thought that it was good here, even much better than upstairs, in his own apartment.

They sat down in an armchair and began to talk.

It doesn’t hurt to tidy yourself up a little, Nisse said. Otherwise I'm so terribly dirty.

What if we ransom? suggested Bertil.

The jelly cup was soon filled with clean, warm water, the old torn piece of terry towel turned into a wonderful bathing sheet, and although some of the water splashed on the stairs, what was left was enough for a bath.

Bertil and Nisse quickly took off their clothes and climbed into the tub. That's great!

Rub my back, Nisse asked.

Bertil did this with pleasure. Then Nisse rubbed Bertil's back, and then they started splashing water and spilled water on the floor. But it’s not scary, they moved the rug to the side, and the water quickly dried up. Then they wrapped themselves in bathing sheets, sat on benches near the burning stove and began to tell each other about everything in the world. Then Bertil ran upstairs and brought sugar and a very, very small piece of apple, which they baked on the fire.

But then Bertil remembered that mom and dad should return home soon, and he hurried to put on his clothes. Nisse also began to dress.

It would be great if you came upstairs with me, Bertil dreamed. You could hide under my shirt and Mom and Dad wouldn't notice you.

This offer seemed unusually tempting to Nissa.

I will sit quietly, like a mouse! he promised.

What's happened? Why is your hair wet? Mom asked.

The whole family sat at the table and had dinner.

“I was swimming,” Bertil replied.

Did you swim? asked my mother. Where did you swim?

In this cup, said Bertil and, giggling, pointed to a cup of jelly that stood in the middle of the table.

Mom and Dad decided he was joking.

It’s good that Bertil is cheerful again, Dad was happy.

Yes, my poor boy, his mother sighed. What a pity that you are alone all day long.

Bertil felt something move under his shirt. Something warm, very, very warm.

Don't be upset, mom, he said. I have a lot of fun when I'm alone.

And, putting his index finger under his shirt, he carefully stroked Little Nils Carlson.

The tale is presented for informational purposes only.

A story from the collection “There are no robbers in the forest.” Publisher: Family and School magazine. Translation from Swedish by I. Novitskaya. Illustrations by Elon Wikland. In all Lindgren's books there is a special atmosphere: fantasy, games, spiritual freedom and justice - an atmosphere especially desirable for children's minds and hearts. This amazing atmosphere - a kind of trademark of the writer - also reigns in the works collected in the book that you are holding in your hands. These are early and, as a rule, little known or unknown works by Astrid Lindgren, to...

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