Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-07-19
Are you satisfied with me, Luther,"


tho drawing room for the gubernatorial re-
ceptions. Seating himself at the suberb
piano that stood invtingly open at the end
Of the apartment, he preluded few NOM
ents, using succession of chords that
seemed peculiarly pleasing to his young
wife, then struck into a brisk, spar king
composition by the Norwegian ton poet,
Halfdan Kjerulf, with words by the poet
preacher, Kristofer Janson. The song in its
English dress reads thus:
Heigho how bracing the air and light
On the mountain
The wind hcre frOliCs in mad delight
On the mooutainl
The foot IT p, lightly, the eve II laughs,
The heart now life and enjoyment quaffs.
On the mountain.
Come up, come mp from the narrow vale
GA the moan,ain
There blows cool aud refreshing gale
On the m juutain.
The slope is Jvered with shining flowrs,
The SUNSHINE Gathes the u in golden show RS,
On the mountain.
The vale is sui ~ aud 81 - below,
CT NIB the nodutuini
No one how nice it IS here can know,
ON TIC mountain
The eve roves fast or the yidiy height
AS though b HelV n 'twould take its flight,
From the mountain.
And when the sun its repose would take
Beyond the mountain
The shad ows hasten couch 10 make
BY the mountain
Then Cuivers all in the dazzling beams,
The heart then wraps itself up in dreams
On the mountain
Could you have penetrated the governors
drawing room you would have found your
self in an atmosphere permeated with the
ind a,f4 ln,
mountain breeze and the din of the water
I fall You would have stood spell-bound
before the governors lady aud her hus-
band. He struck the ivory keys with
bold touch, displaying strength, compre
hension Of the song, and the singer, whose
pure well-trained soprano voice was up
lifted in food of melody. There flowed
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
adapted 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
or words, you would have been completely
captivated by the govern ors lad Y, an ideal
daughter of the North, and her be witching
song. Make yourself acquainted with the
latter
But let US turn from the governors draw
ing room, and DOMINIC oar wishing cap and
cloak of invisibility rake or way across
the seas to the land of the midnight sun, 10
rock bound, storm dashed old Norway,
mother OF the brave We find ourselves in
one of those rugged mountain regions, near
the famous Halling Valley. Far up the
slope we see "a rustic frame building Of a
style quite unfamiliar TO us 1t is the Soster
or chalet, where the dairy girls have their
headquarters when they guard their 1ocks
and herds in the mountain pastures. Sur
rounding il is fine bit OF meadow land and
the valley where IL nestle- is traversed by a
gurgllug crystal stream that plunges from
the rocks above in one Of those rare catar-
acts that form a characteristic feature of
the landscape. The sheet of water is not
very wide, but there is powerful music in
its incessant din and roar for it makes its
descent from giddy height. Gazing in
tently into the stream and mist that envel-
on it stands a young girl Her dress is of
distinctly national type. AMI she holds in
one hand the ioor. or national horn for call
ing the cattle, while with the other she
shades her eyes Her complexion recalls to
your mind the snow-white and rosy red Of
ancient story The long braids OF hair
hanging far below her waist are of the pure
yellow gold Of the midday sun. In the soft.
blue-grey eyes there 8 look of awe, and
the parted ruby lips display to view exqui-
site rows OF pearly tech.
"A mountain elf One OF those mysteri-
Gus huiders o. which we read :" exclaimed
the traveller who was approaching with
his guide "But she LOOKS as Innocent as
fair. She can be no vain, dclusive image,
bent on Turing Christian folk TO destruc-
tion. She is the beneficent elf. the child Of
light, not that false being who while fair
to behold is hollow and black within"
The guide laughed
Glow full OF fancy you Americans are ="
ssid he "If you have no traditions OF
your own you certainly take most kindly
to ours"
"Because we have a right 70 them" play
fully interposed the traveller. "rhe Amer
lean ship of state is freighted with the
treasures Of all lands. Your traditions are
ours by inheritance, and in the same way
we claim your folk-music But tell me
what you can of yonder maiden, dear Tor
geir."
''She Is brave maiden" wns the reply.
''She is a little more than sixteen; her
beauty has driven all the lads distracted,
vet her little head remains level, as you
Americans say. She is the steadiest Of all
our dairy girls far and wide, and v idow
Sylvfest her mother, has never had the
least cause Of anxiety for her AS for her
voice-but harkp'
He paused abruptly. The fragrant air
about them was tremulous with song Tho