Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-09
TIE PEASANTS BRIDE.

Stormannadincn (tlle Black DEATH had
ragged through Norway, and cut of more than
two thirds of its population. and desolated
whole ex,cn's of coon,ry and large popnlous
districts. In uldyine's valley, in Harden
ger, a Young peasant Of the name of Hal
grim, alone, of all the people who had died
there, renamed alive. He raised himself
from the sick bed on which he lay surroun-
dcd by the dead, and went cut in order to
seek for living people.
II was spring, and the larks sang loud in
the blue, clear air the birch wood clothed
itself in tender green, the stream with its
melting snow drifts, would down tho noun
talns singing on its way hut NO pillow fur
rowcd the lnnsrncd earth and from the
heights was heard no wooi-horn calling the
tat'l" at feeding time. All was still and
dead in the hai,italions Of men. IIalgrim
went from valley to valley, from cottage to
cottage !; everywhere death stared him in the
face, and he recognized the cnrpses If early
friends and acquaintance. Upon this he be-
gan to believe that he WIS alone in the
world, and despair seized on his soul, and he
determined also to die. But as he was INST
ahon, TO throw himsrlfdown from a rock, his
faithful dog Sprang up to him. caressrd him,
and lamentod in the expressive language OF
anguish. ilalerim brthou.ht himself, and
stepped back from The brink Of the abyss ;
he embraced his don : the tears flowed, and
dispair Withdrew from his sotirncd heart
He began his wand"ringS anew. Thoughts
Of love led him toward the parish of Craven
where he had first seen and won the love OF
H%ildegunda.
1t was evening, and the sun was setting
as Hilgrim descended into the wiley, which
was still and dead ms those through which he
had wandered. Dark stood the fir trees in
the black shadow Of The rocky wall, and
silently rolled on the river between the dcs.
olate banks. On the opposite side of the
river a litllc wooded rrom0ntorv shot ont o
the blue water, and upon the ligni green top,
or,he birch trees played the las, rays Of the
sun.
Suddenly il, seemed to Elilgrlm as if /
light smoke rose up from among the trees
But he trusted not his eyes he stared on |
breathlcssly. He waited. however, hardly ,
second, when he saw a blue column curtin.
slowly upward in the peaceful evening air.
With n cry Of JOY IIalgrim daried farward
and wadrd through the stream, and soor
stood upon the opposite shore. Barking
and whining, his dog ran onward to the cot
tage from whence the smoke asccnIcd.-
Upon the hearth clearly burned the fire, ant
young maiden stepped forward to the doc
one cry Of neyprrsSihle joy, and %llllgrin
and Hidegunda lay in each others arms
Hildegunda was also the only living persol
in the valley after the terrible visit Of TIN
Black Death.
On the following day, after mutual agree
ment, they went to church, and as there wa
no priest 10 marry them, and nobody to wit
ness the p~lighring Of their faith, they steppc'
alone to Gods altar and cxteaded to eacI
other a hand, whilst IIalgrim said with
solemn voice" SIN the name Of God the Faith
err, aud Of the Son, and OF the Holy Ghost.
And God blessed the faith plighled in II
name. From this happy pair dcsccnde
generations who p"oplcd anew this rcgior
and the name Of llalerim and Ilildrgund
are to this day IN use among lis inhabitant