Finn Family Moomintroll Read Free

just now.'
    'Why is that?' asked the Snork Maiden sympathetically. 'On such a fine day, too.'
    'You wouldn't understand anyway,' said the Hemulen shaking his head.
    'We'll try,' said Moomintroll. 'Have you lost a rare stamp again?'

    'On the contrary,' answered the Hemulen, gloomily 'I have them all: every single one. My stamp collection is complete. There is nothing missing.'
    'Well, isn't that nice?' said the Snork Maiden, encouragingly.
    'I said you'd never understand me, didn't I?' moaned the Hemulen.
    Moomintroll looked anxiously at the Snork Maiden and they drew back their clouds a little out of consideration for the Hemulen's sorrow. He wandered on and they waited respectfully for him to unburden his soul.
    At last he burst out:
    'How hopeless it all is!' And after another pause he added: 'What's the use? You can have my stamp collection for the next paperchase.'
    'But Hemulen!' said the Snork Maiden, horrified, 'that would be awful! Your stamp collection is the finest in the world!'
    'That's just it,' said the Hemulen in despair. 'It's finished. There isn't a stamp, or an error that I haven't collected. Not one. What shall I do now?'
    'I think I'm beginning to understand,' said Moomintroll slowly. 'You aren't a collector any more, you're only an owner, and that isn't nearly so much fun.'
    'No,' said the heartbroken Hemulen, 'not nearly.' He stopped and turned his puckered-up face towards them.
    'Dear Hemulen,' said the Snork Maiden, taking him gently by the hand, 'I have an idea. What about your collecting something different - something quite new?'
    'That's an idea,' admitted the Hemulen, but he continued to look worried because he thought he oughtn't to look happy after such a big sorrow.
    'Butterflies for example?' suggested Moomintroll. 'Impossible,' said the Hemulen and became gloomy again. 'One of my second cousins collects them, and I can't stand him.'
    'Film stars then?' said the Snork Maiden.
    The Hemulen only sniffed.
    'Ornaments?' Moomintroll said hopefully. 'They're never finished.'
    But the Hemulen pooh-poohed that too.
    'Well, then I really don't know,' said the Snork Maiden.
    'We'll think of something for you,' said Moomintroll, consolingly 'Mother's sure to know. By the way, have you seen the Muskrat?'
    'He's still asleep,' the Hemulen answered sadly 'He says that it's unnecessary to get up so early, and I think he's right.' And with that he continued his lonely wanderings, while Moomintroll and the Snork Maiden steered their clouds right up over the tree-tops and rested there, rocking slowly in the sunshine. They considered the problem of the Hemulen's new collection.
    'What about shells?' the Snork Maiden proposed.
    'Or rarey buttons,' said Moomintroll.
    But the warmth made them sleepy and didn't encourage thinking, so they lay on their backs on the clouds and looked up at the spring sky where the larks were singing.
    And suddenly they caught sight of the first butterfly (As everyone knows, if the first butterfly you see is yellow the summer will be a happy one. If it is white then you will just have a quiet summer. Black and brown butterflies should never be talked about - they are much too sad.)
    But this butterfly was golden.
    'What can that mean?' said Moomintroll. 'I've never seen a golden butterfly before.'
    'Gold is even better than yellow,' said the Snork Maiden. 'You wait and see!'

    *
    When they got home to dinner they met the Hemulen on the steps. He was beaming with happiness.
    'Well?' said Moomintroll. 'What is it?'
    'Nature study!' shouted the Hemulen. 'I shall botanize. The Snork thought of it. I shall collect the world's finest herbarium!' And the Hemulen spread out his skirt * to show them his first find. Among the earth and leaves lay a very small springonion.
    'Gagea lutea,' said the Hemulen proudly. 'Number one in the collection. A perfect specimen.' And he went in and dumped the whole lot on the dining-table.
    'Put it in the corner, Hemul dear,' said Moominmamma, 'because I want