“One cold and windy autumn evening many years ago a newspaper parcel was found on the doorstep of the Home for Moomin Foundlings.[…]
The Hemulen who had built the Foundlings Home snorted her customary snort and clamped a numbered seal on my tail to avoid mixing me with other children. There were a lot of us, and we all soon became grave and tidy youngsters, because the Hemulen had a most solid character and used to wash us more often than she kissed us.
Still, she had one little weakness; she was interested in astrology, and every time a Moominchild was found on her doorstep she observed the position of the stars. They seem to be most important things!
Just imagine – had I come into the world only half an hour later I would have felt compelled to join the Hemulic Voluntary Brass Brand, and one day earlier only gamblers were born. (Mothers and fathers should keep such things well in mind.)
But when the Hemulen looked at my stars she just shook her head and exclaimed: ‘This will be no easy Moomin. He’s overtalented.’ “
This is how Moominpappa starts his touching story in “The exploits of Moominpappa – Described by Himself. Set down and illustrated by Tove Jansson” – translated by Thomas Warburton