Legacy of Loss

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A wealthy and influential man named Thord Overaas experiences a profound transformation after losing his only son in a tragic boating accident. What begins as a story of pride and status-seeking becomes a powerful tale of grief, redemption, and the discovery of true value in life.

• Thord first visits the priest to arrange a private baptism for his son Finn
• Sixteen years later, Thord returns when his son is to be confirmed at the head of his class
• Eight years after that, Thord proudly announces his son will marry the richest girl in the parish
• While making wedding arrangements, Thord's son drowns in a lake accident
• A year after the tragedy, a physically and spiritually transformed Thord returns to donate half his wealth
• The priest observes that Thord's son has finally brought him a true blessing through this transformation

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, are you tired?
You will be.
This is Ron Reeds and this isthe Father by Bjornstjern
Bjornsson.
The man whose story is here tobe told was the wealthiest and

(00:22):
most influential person in hisparish.
Story is here to be told wasthe wealthiest and most
influential person in his parish.
His name was Thord Overass.
He appeared in the priest'sstudy one day, tall and earnest.
I've gotten a son, said he, andI wish to present him for

(00:44):
baptism.
What shall his name be?
Finn, after my father and thesponsors.
They were mentioned and provedto be the best men and women of
Thord's relations in the parish.
Is there anything else?
Inquired the priest and lookedup.
The peasant hesitated a little.
I'd like very much to have himbaptized by himself, said he

(01:08):
finally, that is to say on aweekday, next Saturday, at
twelve o'clock noon.
Is there anything else?
Inquired the priest.
There is nothing else.
The peasant twirled his cap asthough he were about to go.
Then the priest rose there isyet this, however, said he, and

(01:31):
walking towards Thord, he tookhim by the hand and looked
gravely into his eyes.
God grant that the child maybecome a blessing to you.
On the 16th.
One day, 16 years later, thordstood once more in the priest's
study.
Really, you carry your ageastonishing well, thord, said

(01:54):
the priest, for he saw no changewhatever in the man.
That is because I have notroubles, replied Thord.
To this.
The priest said nothing, butafter a while he asked is your
pleasure this evening?
I have come this evening aboutthat son of mine who is to be
confirmed tomorrow.

(02:16):
What the boy would have when hetakes his place in the church
tomorrow.
He will stand number one.
So I have heard, and here areten dollars for the priest.
Is there anything else I can dofor you, inquired the priest,
fixing his eyes on Thord.
There is nothing else.

(02:38):
Then Thord went out.
Eight years more rolled by andthen one day a noise was heard
outside of the priest's study,for many men were approaching
and at their head was Thord whoentered first.
Priest looked up and recognizedhim.
You come, well, attended thisevening, thord, said he.

(02:59):
I am here to request that thebanns may be published for my
son.
He is about to marry KarenStorledon, daughter of Goodmund,
who stands here beside me.
Why, that is the richest girlin the parish, so they say,
replied the peasant, strokingback his hair with one hand.
The priest sat a while as if indeep thought, then entered the

(03:24):
names in his book without makingany comments and the men wrote
their signatures underneath.
Thord laid three dollars on thetable.
One is all I am to have.
Said the priest, I know thatvery well, but he is my only
child.
I want to do it handsomely.
The priest took the money.
This is now the third time,thord, that you have come here

(03:48):
on your son's account.
But now I am through with him,said Thord, and folding up his
pocketbook, he said farewell andwalked away.
The men slowly followed him.
A fortnight later, the fatherand son were rowing across the
lake one calm, still day tostore linen to make arrangements

(04:08):
for the wedding.
This thwart is not secure, saidthe son and stood up to
straighten the seat in which hewas sitting.
At the moment, the board he wasstanding on slipped from under
him.
He threw out his arms, uttereda shriek and fell overboard.
Take hold of the oar, shoutedthe the father, springing up to

(04:28):
his feet and holding out the oar.
But when his son had made acouple of efforts, he grew stiff
.
Wait a moment, cried the fatherand began to row towards his
son.
Then the sun rolled over on hisback and gave the father one
long look and sank.
Thord could scarcely believe it.
He held the boat still andstared at the spot where his son
had gone down, as though hemust surely come to the surface

(04:50):
again.
There rose some bubbles, thensome more, and finally one large
one that burst and the lake laythere as smooth and bright as a
mirror again.
For three days and three nightspeople saw the father rowing
around and around the spotwithout taking either food or
sleep.
He was dragging the lake forthe body of his son, and toward

(05:11):
morning of the third day hefound it and carried it up in
his arms over the hills to hisguard.
It might have been about a yearfrom that day when the priest,
late one autumn evening, heardsomeone in the passage outside
the door carefully trying tofind the latch.

(05:31):
The priest opened the door andwalked in a tall, thin man with
bowed form and white hair.
The priest looked long at himbefore he recognized him.
It was Thord.
Are you out walking so late,said the priest and stood still
in front of him.
Ah, yes, it is late, said Thordand took a seat.

(05:54):
The priest sat down also, asthough waiting.
A long silence followed At last.
Thord said I have somethingwith me that I would like to
give to the poor.
I want it to be invested as alegacy in my son's name.
He rose and laid the money onthe table and sat down again.
The priest counted it.
It is a great deal of money,said he.

(06:16):
It is half the price of myguard.
I sold it today.
The priest sat long in silenceAt last.
He asked, but gently, what doyou propose to do now, thord?
Something better?
They sat there for a while,thord with downcast eyes, the

(06:36):
priest with his eyes fixed onThord Presently.
The priest said slowly andsoftly I think your son has at
last brought you a true blessing.
Yes, I think so myself, saidThord, looking up while two big
tears coursed slowly down hischeeks.

(06:59):
This has been the Father byBjorn Bjornson.
You've been listening to RonReads Boring Books.
Thank you.
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(07:27):
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