The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-03-02
THE SONGSTRESS WITH THE
GOLDEN GIRDLE.
4 TRUE EPISODE In THE CAREER OFF
NILSSON

Esadness and allence reigned upon the
country, and on the day of rest the very
bells were still. For the men of Smoland
were gone to meet an enemy upon their
eastern coast Not one was left behind
that was able to bear arms only the old,
OLD mi n sat in tue rare bleak sunshine of
that chilly cline, and shook their an
tcient heads over the dangers which their
brave sons had g"ne to meet, aad taught
their grand children to mimic in their
games the action which might be de
manded ofthem in fatal earnesthow few
Years hence. 500 aHf 5ze gts
Ea4 But the work was not undone. The
tscanty c'rG was not permitted To drop
overripe from its husks nor to rot in tGe
later rains There were still strong arms
IL Smoland--stro@g with forea of will
which supplied the lack in nerve and
sinew .s m
Now that their fathers, husbands, low
ers were away, shedding their dear blood
| To pre- eiyc homes feom risk ri insult, the
WOMEN O bmoiand rose up as aone 20 Do
the toni which their protectors had been
! forced to leave. ttH
i A tall, dark woman, with an earnest
face, stood resting at the setting of the
sun, her left hand holding tue sickle
placeca upon her hip, her right hand
large strong and shapely shading her
eyes from tie mellow CLEAN rs she look ed
across he river TO some low, b.ue Mills
On sudden, her gaze became more IN
tense she sbcnt eagerly forward with
parted lips; figure with fiutterlng robes
Came rushing down those slopes after APP
Epearlng one moment on the summit, a
black speck against the mellow sky. As
lit drew nearer, the watcher saw that Il
shapeless rag waved over the Coner'S
shoulder, and when still neared she fan
cd tins flag was red--a danger signal
A danger signal A strange cry drew
round her the other women, who were
preparing to leave their toll chatterlnG
and even laughing with the ease OF their
lighter nature
"What is it, Blinda?'
/ Danger T. said Blinda, sternly
l"Come? 2 9g 4iaa
She ran towards the mes ,enger, and
the Others followed, more or less swiftly
as they could. The@foremost were IN
time to see the meeting q
i Drawing her breath in sobs, her whole
body painting with exhaustion, the wo
$ mas cried oHa1 ~ tors
HThey are on us--the Danes are on us
a to the South There is no one left t.
defend US. They take what they will
do what they wall they march on US as
swiftly as the raven flies, and call them
selves our corquertrs" asa
4 THE cowartis!' muttered Blinda
+" Would they make war on a flock o
: lambs p 'a
8 s'They laugh and say, let the Womel
defend themselves! I" ,a .ae
; And they SHALL" said Blinda, IN
deep, strange voice When may th.
Danes be heres" Hi
F" In two days at the furthcst" t
"We will be ready" aa
"But we canBot recall our men"
1--WE will be ready" H
: III two days time the renowned FFum
I linger stood with his Danish host on til,
! top Of that low ridge The procession
WAS loose and gay, there were ligh
7 snatches of song, and hooking mirth wa
= on every face. 1t was revel rather thar
: "A war In the pride of easy conquest
$ Tumlnger gazed on the fair valley be
fore him, and the village roofs among
their trees He turned to one Of hi
captains Pre-
= "This will be a pleasant spot to con
! quer, | predict And see what a trool
of fair captives comes yonder, only toe
T willing to be taken by the gallan
Danes - slzsf sHt
He laughed, pointing to line Of figure
ascending the hill clad in their fiesta
dresses, with wreaths of flowers on thei
h ads. 1t WIS troop of handsome wo
mrn, and Blinda at their head, stately a
a queen, bearing on her arm a bundle o
corn, in sign of peace and plenty Tum
llngcr fastened to meet them, with an in
solent admiration in his eye, and his mc1
followed, laughing and TESTING with on,
another. Deeply bowling, with eyes cas-
down, as IN great humility, to hide the
CLEAN within them, Blinda drew near
and stood before the Danish general.
welcome, fair lady, he said; "hert
are such prisoners as brave soldiers. love
indeed, But the danger is great for the
leader is already vanquished."
my lord, said Btinda, in subdueG
tone, sweet as honey and soft as cream,
1--WE come, in deep humility, to own your
might and, your conquest of our land
and in sign Of homage, We pray with all
lowliness that you, my lord. and your
brave soldiers, would honor a simple
feast which the women of Smoland have
prepared for you, and where many, with
whom none of US can compare, are await
ing yonr coming to divide the portions
and to pour the wine.' go 8a
"My men," cried Tumlinger, YOU
have heard. A feast is prepared for us
by the whitest hands in Snloland. We
60 with you, lady to do honor to your
cheer, but we go hand in hand, and beg
one flower from that garland in earnest
that you will be my company at the