The God-Son

Once upon a time there was beautiful young girl who brought a little son into the world, and she asked her cousin to be his godfather. “He is a fair child, and you are to hold him over the baptismal font. You will look after him by yourself.” - “Yes, yes,” answered the godfather. “By all means, and if you ever need anything, think of me. I would like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself.” All of this, however, was untrue. The woman had no cousin, and the man whom she had asked to be godfather was strait from the church.

One day he went for a stroll in town, and then he stretched out to the sun, licking his lips over the thought of wine. He did not return home until evening. “Well, here you are,” he said to the godson.

“You must have had a happy day.”

“Everything went well,” answered the man. “An odd and uncommon name made my acquaintance.”

“What does that matter?” Said the son.

“It is no worse than your name, First-leif, as far as you godchildren are called.”

“What was it?”

“You must do me a favor, and once more manage that because I have been asked to be your godfather, and so have a white ring around my neck, I will not refuse your question.”

“What was the name that the child was christened with?”

“Half-god” answered the godfather.

“Half-god? What does it mean?”

“I have never heard a name like that in all my life. I’ll wager it is not in the almanac.”

The godfather’s mouth soon began to water for wine. “All good things, I have been asked to be godfather again, and Half-god is also fair. He has not a single black spot on his whole body,” and he thought out loud: “They are such odd names, that it makes you stop and think. Here I sit at home. With my godchildren. In a dark gray fur coat and a long braid of hair, capturing fantasies.”

“That is because you do not go out in the daytime,” said the godson.

“One only has piece when the day is gone,” he said as he drank his wine.

Well filled with wine, he went out into the nighttime. “You will not like this either, he said. “This one’s name is All-god.” - “All-god!” He cried to himself. “That is the most wondrous name of all. I have never seen it in print. All-god! What can that mean?” He spoke to himself.

From this time forth when the godfather was invited to take children, there was no longer anything that surprised him. He thought of their names as memories, and said, “Come First-leif, Half-god, All-god, father-god. We will have wine now.” - “Yes” they would answer. “I enjoy it as much as you sticking that dainty tongue of yours into the pot.” And the pot of wine, to be sure, was still in the window.

“Alas,” said the godfather, “Now I see. Now it comes to light. My true friend. You fill my pot every time I am to serve as a godfather. First First-leif, Half-god, All-god, father-god, then…” - “Be quiet!” Cried the air through the window. “One more word, and I will drink you too!”

“God-son,” was already on his lips. He had scarcely spoken it before the pot of wine sprang up, and was swallowed down. You see, that is the way of the world.