Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-08-28
'ounded on all sides by snowdrifts and

rounded on all sides by snowdrifts and
huge mountains One mountain tow
cred above the others, and this, he
knew. must be Rastekais, the home Of
the fierce mountain king, who swal-
lowed little boys like fiics
Sampo Lappelill WAS frightened now.
ard heartily wished himself safe az
home. But how was he TO get therel
There sat the poor child. alone in the
darkness, among tie deeolate. snow COW
cred rocks, with the big black shadow
of Rastekais frown!ng down upon him
AS he wept his tears froze Immediately
and rolled down oven his jacket III round
little Jumps like peas. So Sampo thought
he had better leave off crying and run
about in order 70 keep himself warm.
Rather than freeze to death here, I"
he said to himself, Il would go straight
to the mountain king If he has Il mind
to swallow me, he must do so, | sup
pose, hut j shall advise him 10 eat in
stead some Of the wolves in this neigh
borhood. They are much fatter than /,
and their fur would not be SO difficult to
swallow. "
Sampo began TO ascend the mountain.
Before he had gone far he heard the trot-
ting Of some creature behind him, and
moment after large wolf overlook
him. Although inwardly trembling,
Sampo would not betray his fear He
shouted:
Keep out Of my wayl / am the bear
er of message to the king, and you
hinder me at your peril"
Dear me-" said the wolf Con Ras-
tekais all the animals can speak, "And,
pray, what little shrimp are you, wrig-
CLING through the snow?"
My name is Sampo Lappelill," re-
piled the boy. WHO are you?"
II, answered the wolf Am first
gentleman usher to the mountain king.
/! have just been all over the kingdom TO
call togo ther his subjects for the great
sun festival. As you are going my way.
you may, If you like, get upon my back
and SO ride up TO the l.uuntG II. "
Sampo instantly accepted the invita-
ton. He climbed upon the shaggy back
of the wolf, and they went of at gal
lop.
what do you mean by the sun festi-
val?" inquired Sampo.
Don't you know that?" said the
wolf. 1--WE celebrate the sun feast the
day he first appears on the horizon after
the long night Of winter All trolls
COLLINS and animals in the north then
assemble on Rastekais, and on that day
they are not permitted to hurt each 9TH
er Lucky il was for you, my boy, that
you came here I. day. On any other day
l should have devoured you long ago. "
Is the king bound by the same lawp"
asked Sampo anxiously.
"Of course he is" answered the wolf.
From one hour before sunrise until one
hour after sunset he will not dare to
harm you If, however, you are on the
mountain when the time expires, You
will be in great danger. For the king
Will then seize whoever comes first, and |
1000 bears and roo, 900 wolves will also |
be ready TO rush upon you. There will |
soon be all end Of Sampo Lappelill.
But perhaps, sir, " said Sampo tim
idly, you would be so kind as to help |
me back again before the danger be. |
gins?"
The wolf laughed. Don't count Oh |
any such thing, my dear Sampo On the |
contrary, l mean 10 seize you first my
self. You are very nice, plump little
boy! | see that you have been fattened |
on reindeer milk and cheese You will |
be splendid for breakfast tomorrow
Sampo began 10 think that his best
mi u tn i'm, off hn
back at once. But it was too late They
had now arrived at the top of Rastekais.
Many curious and marvellous things
were there TO be seen. There sat the ter
rlble mountain king on his throne of
cloudy rocks gazing out over the snow
fields He wore on his head a cap OF
white snow clouds his eyes were like a
full moon; his nose resembled a noun
tain ridge; his mouth was an abyss
his beard was Ike tufts Of immense
lcicles; his arms were as thick and
strong az fir trees; his coat was like an
enormous snow mountain. Sampo Lap
pelill had good view IF the king and
his subjects, for bow Of northern lights
'hone III the sky and illuminated the
scene.
All around the king stood millions ol
COLLINS, trolls and brownies, tiny gray
creatures, who had come from romotesl
parts of the world TO worship the sun
This they did from fear, not love- foi
trolls and COLLINS hate the sun and al
ways hope that he will never return.
when they see him disappear at the en-,
If summer.
Farther off stood all the animals Of
Lapland, thousands and thousands OF
hem Of all sizes-frum the bear, the
wolf and the glu,ton to the little noun
ain rat and the brisk, tiny reindeer
iea No gnats appeared, however
They had all been frozen.
Sampo was greatly astC nished at what
le saw. Unobserved, he slipped from
he VOLTS back and hid behind pom
ferrous stone to watch the proceedings
The mountain king shook his head
md the snow whirled about him The
northern lights shone around his heaG
ike crown Of glory. sending long,