The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-13


loving Olaf and Mmgsret-the food from
the hands of fair kinswomen--the clothes
and furniture wrought by the skill Of BROTH
er peasants and brother boatmen. How
beautifully illustrative Of the generous and
simple habits Of this natural people, And
as the boats move onward for the Church,
now the pandean-pipe pours out its music,
and woman's voice goes with it, and then
the drum pours out its louder Joy. and pres
emily the music ceases, and the rifles are
discharged along the water, and the distant
echoes rei.erate their discharge, again and
again. And these rough men, with their
large slouched hats, and tightened jenkins,
and long knives, stuck in at their waists,
and reaching down to their large water
boots, are all Joyous. too, and they sing in
loud and spirited chorus their national an
them of ''For Norge" and then, as its cho-
rus dies upon the waters, the rifles are again
discharged. There, too, is an old Morse
man, whose age precludes his singing. but
who is venerable in his knowledge Of the
historic records Of his countrywide, wend.
ing back into primitive times, can recount
the Saga, 2 which he now recites with the
energy Of younger days-the Saga of many
noble sea hing, who carried war and
conquest down into England, and off far
south-who gave Norway laws, and made
her name ring, thing Of terror, upon
southern ears. How intently that national
people regard his historic tales, and thank
1 hair - II
then the TASKS Of corn-whiskey. and the
fiery potato-spirit, and the brch.ree wine,
are handed round, and the toast Of 'Gamle
Norge is drunk with an enthusiasm be-
coming the sons Of that mountain, snow.
clad land. Oh, it is happy seene!-and
when pause comes in their Joyous music,
the tinkling Of bells can be heard upon
these waters, from the village church, where
the clergyman awaits their coming.
Nearer and nearer they make for that vii
lage; and already Margaret's boat, lightest
made and lightest filled, strikes ahead Of the
others, and bids fair to win in this bridal
race to reach the church. And now the
rough Jest is thrown by his male compan-
ions to Olaf
His bride and her bright crown are fee
ing from him..
His lazy boat had best pull hard, or she
will be at the church and wed to his rival
before he can reach her.
And Olaf looks serious, not because his
honest nature disrelishes the Joke, but his
seaman's knowledge has looked ahead, and
that plEewood forest, and the gathering
shadows portend that ere the evening closes,
the storm-demon may screech over those
calm waters. He shouts to Margaret's boa,
to have her sail lowered, and to work with
their oars. But that boat is too far ahead
to hear, or else the laughter and music
aboard OF it browns Olaf's voice, which
blends and dies away with the surrounding
echoes. His comrades have lowered ,heiI
sails, and pull their oars Justify TO gain up
on the maiden's boat, and still the Jest goes
round; but Olaf does not heed it; his whole
attention seems fastened upon that cloud
and that treasure-fIeighted boat, which still
skins those waters like a spirit of living
beauty. Ii may be but the fears of ar
anxious bridegroom; bat Olaf has lived
upon these waters, and tossed upon them in
many storm, and from his boyhood ha.
been schooled to see it coming, to prepare
, for it, and to fight it; and his friends grow
serious as they mark the anxiety depicted
upon his face. A wild anxiety-and now
without a word from the foremost rover
he has seized the oars. and pulls with an
t energy and force that he alone is capable
of.
Aye, there goes Olal-none but he could
do that, cries many voice.
!. lie shouts again, and vainlv shouts
while the crimsoned blood distends his fea
lures, and the veins are swollen like cord:
IN his s,newy arms, as, with renewed ef
forts, he seeks TO reach that fated boat.
A few heavy drops patter upon the water
low, murmuring sound, now swelling
louder, gains upon the ear. Olaf has cas-
down his oars; he leans from the head oil
the boat; his whole strength seems gathered
into one wild shout-a shout Of fearful en-.
ergy. That shout is heard. Margaret ha,
heard it, and turns to look upon him. The
sailOr.boys fly to lurl the sail; but, OH it is
all too late. Olaf has looked his last on
Margaret. He caught the last glance Of
her sunny eyes. From that opening in the
side-rocks, as from the mouth OF cannon,
the storm-cloud has burst upon the waters,
and burst at the moment the boat was be.
meath its power; the storm had fastened upon
its sail, and with the rapidity of the light
ming flash, the boat was cast upon its side
and With its inmates went down forever from
the surface Of that Fiord! One short cry
a feeble and a startled cry-from that sink
ing boat, and then the heavy splash, and
the waters were for moment troubled, then
rippled in circling eddies around the grave
of the bride of the Ford!
, 1t went down full Of life and beauty, full
Of Joy and hope-hope that was pressing
} into future times, and carrying happy years
And this is life Alas the uncertain life
the dreamy thing Of blasted wishes anc
drowned hopes, to which we all so londly
cling.
, Olaf made no plunge into the water tc
seek for Margaret; the power to do SO hac
passed away with that moment of intense
mental agony. 1t was too much for his sim
pie nature; he had lost the object Of hi.
life, and with the loss, reason had fed for
ever.
As that boat went down, his companion,
raised the short, quick cry of men who are
honifed. A moments cry-a shout of ter