Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson Page B

hills and the shore were coming with food and drink, which they spread out on the tables in the garden: there were big piles of gleaming fruit and huge plates of sandwiches on the bigger tables, and on tiny little tables under the bushes there were ears of corn and berries threaded on straws and clusters of nuts nestling in their own leaves. Moominmamma put the fat for frying the pancakes in the bathtub because there weren't enough basins, and then she carried up eleven enormous jars of raspberry juice from the cellar. (The twelfth had been cracked, I'm sorry to say when the Hemulen let off his squib - but it didn't matter as Thingumy and Bob had licked most of it up.)
    When it was dark enough to light the lanterns the Hemulen beat the gong as a signal for the party to begin.
    Thingumy and Bob were sitting at the top of the biggest table. 'Faney!' they said, 'so much buss and fother all in our honour! Can't understand it.'
    At first it was very solemn as everyone was dressed in his best, and felt a bit strange and uncomfortable. They greeted each other and bowed saying: 'What a good thing it didn't rain and fancy the bag being found,' and nobody dared to sit down.
    Then Moominpappa made a little opening speech in which he began by explaining why the party was being held, and then thanked Thingumy and Bob, after which he made some remarks about the short August nights and how everyone should be as happy as possible, and then he began to talk about what it was like in his youth. This was the signal for Moominmamma to push in a whole trolleyful of pancakes, and everybody clapped.
    Things at once began to liven up, and soon the party was in full swing. The whole garden - in fact the whole valley - was full of small lighted tables sparkling with fireflies and glow-worms, and the lanterns in the trees swung to and fro like big shining fruit in the evening breeze.
    The rockets leapt proudly up into the August sky, and exploded infinitely high up in a rain of white stars, which slowly sank down over the valley. All the little animals lifted their noses up to the starry rain and cheered - Oh, it was wonderful!
    Then the Blue-star Rain began to fall and the Bengal Lights whirled over the tree tops. And down the garden path came Moominpappa rolling the big barrel of red punch in front of him. Everybody came running down with their glasses, and Moominpappa filled every one - cups and bowls, birch bark mugs, shells and even cornets made of leaves.
    'Good health to Thingumy and Bob!' cried the whole of Moomin Valley. 'Hip, Hip - Hurra! Hip, Hip - Hurra! Hip, Hip - Hurra!'
    'Dappy hays!' said Thingumy to Bob, and they drank each other's health.
    Then Moomintroll got up on a chair and said: 'Now I want to drink the health of Snufkin who is trekking South tonight all alone, but feeling I am sure as happy as we are here. Let us wish him a good pitch for his tent and a light heart!'
    And on that everybody raised their glasses.
    'You did speak well,' said the Snork Maiden when Moomintroll sat down again.
    'Oh, well...' he replied shyly 'of course I'd thought it all out beforehand.'
    Then Moominpappa carried the wireless out into the garden and tuned in to dance music from America, and in no time the Valley was filled with dancing, jumping, stamping, twisting, and turning. The trees were thronged with dancing spirits, and even stiff-legged little mice ventured on to the dance floor.
    Moomintroll bowed low to the Snork Maiden and said: 'May I have the pleasure?' but as he looked up he caught sight of a shining light brimming over the tree tops.
    It was the August moon.
    It sailed up, a deep orange colour, unbelievably big and a little frayed round the edges like a tinned apricot, filling Moomin Valley with mysterious lights and shadows.
    'Look! Tonight you can even see the craters on the moon,' said the Snork Maiden.
    'They must be awfully desolate,' said Moomintroll. 'Poor Hobgoblin up there hunting!'
    'If we had a good telescope couldn't we see