Decorah-posten., 1882-12-20
THE STORY OF THE FISHER LAD

IHis story, many years ago,
from ny own dear nothe, heard,
One Christmas nisai while 90 her knee
| al, and scarcely bfea,heG 81 surTed,
Lest | should lose a s.asle word
A swee,er mother. ! am sure,
NoLEle daughter ever knew
Than mine And as she told the tale
To me III tel IT now 70 you
In Norway, that Ear distant land
vi ICY sea aad s,eei-blue sky.
0nce on the coaS a cottage stood,
Behind Il mountains steep and high
And in ths cottage Enc hyed
With father, mother, sisters three:
And though ne was but ten years old.
A s,tong and helpful lad was he.
HIS father was a fisherman,
As were all men upon that shore.
And Enc sold the FISH in town.
Two miles away, from door 10 door.
Save when the storms of winter came,
And heaped the SONY road with snow
Then scarce a soul for weeks between
The to~T~and shore went TO and fro.
All very poor these people we're
Coarse were then clothes and plain their food
And yet they never ceased to say,
With faith unchansinR. God is good"
And on the blessed Christnas-day
With branches green their house they hung.
And from the roof mall baskets filled
WIKI grain fer wandering birds they swung
And many birds had stopped to feast
And sing a song Of thankful joy,
While from the window at them peeped
The faxen-haired Norwegian boy;
And as be peeped he saw an old,
Old man tome toiling up the road
HIS white hair sreamed upon the wind
He bent beneath a heavy load
Out of the door in eager haste
To meet him Enc quickly ran.
Rest here a while with US" he cned
You mus, be weary, poor old man
The strange, sadly shook his head.
And pointed to the distant town,
And then to where, far in the west.
The deep red sun was going down.
lis a long way, young Eric said.
And his face full Of pity grew:
And you've no staff to help your steps
But stay, I'll bring a staff fof you"
Back to his home again he sped.
And seized the saplins that had long
His father helped Ger rugged paths
A sapling tall and straight and strong.
Take this with you-'t~ill serve you we'll.
And now you can no longer stay.
For it grows late but | will bear
Your load for you a little way"
When, as he spoke, behold there was
No old, old man, but In has stead
The Chrst-child stood in robes OF ~hiie.
A crown Of light upon His head.
lie took the staff thar Enc brought,
And planted it beside the door.
There shall i, grow and bloom" He said.
"As blooms good deeds forever more"
And while the lad enraptured safed.
With silent lips and speaking eyes.
And all The birds sang loud and clear.
n NlsiOu uOAtcU toWdIul tue SktSs
And. 10! the npling was a tree
Within the moment. Leaves Of green
Wore thick upon i-slendeI leaves.
All shining with celestial sheen.
And from it faireS flowers smLsd
On wave and rock and barren sand,
And swsetes, fragrance gave, rs though
'Twere summer IN . summer land.
And soon in crowds to that bleak coast
The people cane from every side
To sec the Christ ehild's Christmas gh,
For news of il spread far and WIDE,
And for those pauen, fisher folks
Muchjoy and happiness began:
And Eric-why he grew to be
A poet and a famous man
A poet so beloved that
His songs were sung in many elimss.
And in the hearts Of young and old
Was kept the music of his rhymes
Rhymes sweet and simple as the notes
Gods bird, the robin-redbreas, sings,
And full OF purity and grace,
As are all sweet and supple thingA
"And." said my mother, Jesus loved,
When on the earth He dwell, to be
Among the gentle fishermen
Who lived in peaceful Calilee,
And Of his twelve disciples four
Were from the toiiers Of the sea:
And SO, no doubt, the story Of
The little fisher lad is true"
And as she told the tale to me
I've told il. children dear. to you