midday
Each exacted with a strong hand his quantum of respect , from the apprentices to the old master , who was nearly bursting with professional pride in his handicraft ; only Pelle had no claim to any respect whatever , but must pay tribute to all . The young master was the only one who did not press like a yoke on the youngster 's neck . Easygoing as he was , he would disregard the journeyman and the rest , and at times he would plump himself down beside Pelle , who sat there feeling dreadfully small . Outside , when the sun was shining through the trees in a particular way , and a peculiar note came into the twittering of the birds , Pelle knew it was about the time when the cows began to get on their feet after their midday chewing of the cud . And then a youngster would come out from among the little fir-trees , lustily cracking his whip ; he was the general of the whole lot -- Pelle , the youngster -- who had no one set over him . And the figure that came stumbling across the arable yonder , in order to drive the cows home -- why , that was Lasse ! Father Lasse !