Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-07-25
pY AuBERrrSE WOODWARD MOORE.

confident we shall both DO ready TO receive
our guests when they arrive"
He led her gently across the long salon
he had himself planned for hec music room,
and that was now to serve for season as
the drawing groom for the gubernatorial re-
ceptions Seating himself at the suberb
piano that stood invitingly open at the end
of the apartment he preluded few nom
.ents, using a succession of chords that
seemed peculiarly pleasing to his young
wife, then struck into brisk spar king
composition by the Norwegian ton poet
Halfdan Kjerulf, with words by the poet
preacher, Krstofer Janson. The song in its
English dress reads thus
Heighol how bracing tho air and light
On the mountain
The wind here frolics in mad delight
On the mountain
The foot trips lightly, the eye IL laughs
The heart new life aad enjoy ent quans.
On the mountain
Come up, come up from the narrow vale
On the mountain!
There blows "a cool and refreshing gale
On the mountain
The slope is covered with shining fiow'rs,
The sunshine bathes them in golden show'rs,
On the mountain!
The vale is sul'ry and close below,
Climb the mountainl
No one how nice il is here can know,
On the mountain
The eye roves fast or the giidy height.
AS though to Heav n twOuld take its flight,
From the mountain!
And when the sun its repose would take
Beyond the mOuntainl
The shadows hasten couch 10 make
BY the mountain,
Then quivers all In the da,Z ing beams,
The heart then wraps itself ~ in dreams
On the mountainl
Could you have penetrated the governors
drawing room you would have found your
self in an atmosphere permeatcd with the
influence Of the pine ami the heather, the
mountain breeze and the din OF the water
fall. You would have stood spell -bounl
before the governors lady and her hus-
band. He struck the ivory keys with
bold touch, displaying strength, compre-
hcnsion OF the song, and the singer, whose
pure, well-trained soprano voice was up
lifted in flood Of melody. There tlowe d
from her parted lips the vigorous accents
of the original verse. Could you have
heard her you would speedily have been
convicted that the language of Norway was
adal ed beyond all other tongues for use in
vocal music. You would also have wonder
ed why you were not more familiar with
the musical treasures of that land. In 9th
er words, you would have been completely
captivated by the govern or lady, an idea
daughter of the North, and her be- witchine
song. Make yourself acquainted with tho
latter.
But let us turn from the governors draw
ing room, and donning o If wishing cap and
cloak of invisibility r.ake or way across
the seas to the land of the midnight sun, e
rock b )und, storm dashed old Norway
mother of the brave. We find ourselves in
one of those rugged mountain regions neal
the famous Halling Valley. Far up the
slope we see rustic frame building Of {
style quite unfamiliar to us. 1t is the sosteI
or chalet, where the dairy girls have thell
headquarters when they guard their flock
and herds in the mountain pastures. Sur
rounding it is fine bit of meadow land anC
the valley where it nestles is traversed by
gurgling crystal stream that plpnges from
the rocks above in one of those rare catar
acts that form a characteristic feature o
the landscape. The sheet Of water is no
very wide, but there is powerful music il
its incessant din and roar for it makes its
descent from giddy height. Gazing in
tently into the stream and mist that envel
op il stands a young girl. Her dress is o
distinctly national type, AMI she holds il
one hand the ioor, or national horn for call
ing the cattle, while with the other she
shades her eyes, Her complexion recalls u
your mind the snow-white and rosy red OF
ancient story The long braids or hail
hanging far below her waist are of the pure
yellow gold Of the midday sun. In the soft
blue-grey eyes there is look of awe, and
the parted ruby lips display to view exqui-
site rows OF pearly teeth.
"A mountain elf. One Of those mysteri
Gus hulders OF which we realp exclaimed
the traveller, who was approaching with
his guide. "3ut she looks as innocent a:
fair. She can be no vain, delusivc image
bent on Turing Christian folk to destruc
ton. She is the benefcent elf. the child o.
light, not that false beng, who whilo fail
TO behold is hollow and black within"
The guide laughed.
"How full OF fancy you Americans are y
ssid he. "If you have no traditions oil
your own you certainly take most kindly
TO ours"
because we have right 10 them," play
fully interposed the traveller. 1.-THE Amer
lean ship of state Is freighted with tn,
treasures of all lands. Your traditions ar,
ours by inheritance. and In the same waI
we claim your folk-music. But tell m,
what you can OF yonder maiden, dear Tor
geir."
"She Is brave maiden" wns the reply
''She is q little more than sixteen; he
beauty has driven all the lads distracted
yet her little head remains Lowell, as yo,
Americans say She is the steadast of al
our dairy girls far and wide, and " idov
Sylvfest, her mother. has never had tn
hast cause of anxiety for har IA for no
voice-but harki"
He paused abruptly. The fragrant al
about them was tremulous with song. TIL