The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-27
Prem the Atlantic hsHthly far April.
Tho Story of Karin,
ADLSIsH LEoEsp,

ApLSIsH LEoEsp.
Karia tho fair, Karin the Fay,
She came on the morn Of her bridal day
She came 20 the mill pond clear and bright,
And viewed hersel' IN the morning light
"yhd oh "A" she cried, 4" that nay honny brow
Ma ever be white and smooth ~ now
oAnd Oh. my hair, that love 20 braid,
De yellow ~ sunshine, and brown in shade
"And on, my waist, ane slender and fine,
May Il never need girdls longer than mine
She fingered and laughed o'cr the waters cear
When sudden she starts, aud ahricks in fear -
"oh, What IL this face, sae laidly old,
That looks 81 my side in the waters cold
She turns around 20 view the bank
Aud the osirr Willows dark and dank -
And from the fern she secs arise
An aged cTone vi awsomc eyes,
oIIal ha q" shs laughed "yc'rc a bonuy bride
See how yen fare gin the New Year tide
ven wear robe sAs blithely gran,
An rll-long girdle canna span,
owhen tval-months three shall pass away,
Your berry brown hair shall be- sttcakod vi gray
and gin ye be- miihcr u hanics nine,
Your brow shall be wrinkled aud dark as mine
Karin shc sprang TO her feet vi speed,
And oapped her hands ahune her head --
81 pray 20 the saints and spirit, all
lhAi never tNllu may me HlllhfI fAl
The erone drew near and the cronc IA, spakc -
Sine times desh aud bancs shall ache
"Lnidly aud awsome yc shall wnnc
WI toll, and care, aud trayail'pain''
"Bettcr." said Karin, clay me low.
And sink Tor aye Ia the waters how!'
The erons raised her withcred hand on high,
And showed her tree that stood hard by,
.And take ~ the honny fruit" she said.
"And eat till the SEEDS are dark aud red.
rCount them less ~ count them more,
Nine times you shall number o'er;-
"And when each number you shalt speak,
Cast seed by seed into the lake
Karin she ate ~ the fruit sac hne
Twas mellow ~ sand, aud sweet as brine
ccd by seed she let them fall
The waters rippcd over all
Hut fka seed NJ Karin threw,
Uptosc a buShlc 20 her view
Uprosc a sigh from out the lake.
J As though bnby's heart did break.
Twice nine wears are come and Ronc
kaflN the fsif she Walk. her lone
She secs around on tika side,
Maiden and mithef, wife and bride,
Wan and pale her bonny brow,
Sunkcn and sad lrf cycids now.
Slow her step, and heavy her breast,
The old kirl-porch when Karin spicd,
y. Ps@iaIa-daaE uaa- -npcn -nidc.-
"wae's me-" she said. "I'll enter in
And shriye mc from my every sin"
Twas silence all within the kirk;
The aisle was empty, chill, and mirk.
The chancil.rails were black and bare
Nae priest, nae pcnitcnt was there.
Karin kuct. and her prayers she said
he her Mn dead
Her prayer fell back ON the old gray stone;
II would not rise TO heaven alone
Dathcr grew the dark some aisle,
Colder felt her heart the while.
'wac's me :" she cried, "what IS my sin
Never wronRcd kith nor kin.
% But why do I start and quake 4i' fear
Lost | dreadful doom, sh"uld hear
-'And what is this light that seems to fall
ON the sixth command upon the wall
"Aud who are these sec arise
Aud look on me wi stony eyes
"a shadovy troop. they flock sac fast
The khk-yard may not hold the last
Young and old Of nk degree,
Barns and bairnics' BARNS, sec.
"All look ON either way.
Mother, mother = seem TO say.
"' We are souls that might have been,
But for your vanity and sin.
We, in numbers multiplied,
Might have lived and loved, and died
"' Might have served the Lord in this
Might have met thy soul in bliss.
80 Mourn for u.s. then, while you pray,
Who might have BEEN but never may !"
Thus the voices died away
Might have been, but never may
Karin she lcf, the kirk no more;
Never she passed the postcrn door.
They found her dead at the Ncsper toll -
May HcaycNin mercy rest her soul