The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-11
SVEN DUFVA.
Battle Poem Transla ated from the
LOngfelIoyv of Finland.
Brooklyn Eagle,


known Brooklyn iinancer. philanthropist
and generally useful citizen, General c. i.
Christensen. president of the Brooklyn
Trust Company. Here is the poem. as in
terpreted by General Christensen:
SVEN DUFvA
Sven Dufva's father. old and poor, sergeant
And IN the great King Gustafs time some
service he had seen.
Retired and living OF his farm he labored hard
Nine children had he and of them the youngest
one was seven.
'Tis hard to tell for certain if old Dufva at
Had hal enough Of wit himself to part with for
If so, he gave the older ones their shares too
Fer none was left for Sven, the son. who OF
the nine came last.
In spite of all Sven thrived and grew man
He plowed the fields and felled the trees and
iaaored like slave: en-
And ever as he plodded on, his lips were full
He dill his work with all his heart. but always
'Ah, Sven; my poor, my stupid lad," so growled
How viii this end? my Sven, my son. you are
AS this kept on, as With that song the father
ne'er got through.
Sven set at last his mind to work well as
he could do.
lie stopped. for when
Once more he asked: What shall become of
To his surprise he found his son answer
could express
Sven opened wide his mouth and said: ~ SOL
dler-sodier, yes,
Half-witted sven stood twirling thumbs, the
father shook his head.
Fine soldier you would make, my SON.. with
"Ne'er mind said sven. 1.-THE labor here 1
will understand;
7 fiS tn fight
own land"
The sergeant's heart grew warm and soon a
tear came trickIing down;
And he enlisted; strong he was, his size was
Without ado Sven Dufva got his place in
Duncker's corps
And now began a famous drill. drill well
worth TO see;
Sven as a soldier sight droll as droll
The corp raj laughed and swore such fool had
But Sven continued with a WILL unmoved by
laugh or scorn.
Such steadfast drill had ne'er before been seen
The while the earth shook meath his strides
the perspiraton ran.
He turned before the order from the corpral
He did his right he did his 'left." but al
ways did it wrong.
The meaning Of right shoulder shift" and
"Bayonet charge and ''arms present to learn
he tried his best.
he'd forget.
He shoudered gun; for arms present. he
charged his bayonet.
Ere long Sven Dufva's wondrous drill grew
His comrades. ali who saw him laughed. but
He kept his own peculiar gait, and thought
In store for him were better times-and then
he
The corps was ready. counsel held ere it
To take the silly Sven TO war some argued
He listened and he let them talk and said:
Be with YOU on the battlefield; I guess I'll find
my way
His knapsack and his gun he kept. The simple
minded wight
Became a drudge when on the march. a soldier
OF toll he was no more afraid than of the
He had his stupid moods at times, but ne'er a
bit of dread
The gallant Sandels just now retreating
And to a little rivers shore his forces made
short way up the rivulet across it ran a
score of men as outpost there had quarters
in ditch.
The little flock was ordeded out clear the
army's track.
And while they rested at a farm to get some
To guard the bridge Sven Dufva stood upon the
rivers brink.
But while the men enjoyed their meal, there
came with flying speed,
In breathless haste adjutant upon his foam
Down to the river. quck"' he cried. without
We have reports that o'er the bridge the enemy
will cross.
"And you" he spoke unto the man. who led
IF you cannot destroy the bridge. then to the
Lost is the army il behind back the foe
Tie gen raj viii be here with aid and we will
Try to VIII.
Away he few. The little troop now bridge
Z he Russians on the other shore attempt to cross
Some formed in column at command they
charged. they aimed and fired.
And of the li.tle Finnish troop eight men by
death retired.
This grew too warm; but hoping still that
The Firms stood frm-one salvo more. and left
Then sounded thro' the broil Retire. and all
obeyed but yet
his bayonet.
He took his stand upon the bridge instead OF
stood stout and still,
Prepared show the enemy his ever famous
drill.
Not long he had to wait to show the way he
used his gun.
Fer on the narrow bridge the foe came storfning
and kept
He taught them one by his drill but how
they could not tell,
For by his right and left they dropped and
in the river fell.
What use was gun or bayonet? This giant
would not yielI.
For balls and thrusts his very foes to him were
shield.
Still forces fresh came storming on. increasingly
But thei came sandels with his men, all full
OF fight and fame.
stay bravest lad aloud he cried. keep on
and strike them down.
Let not a single man pass Ger. but kill them,
let them drown
Ah that is how a soldier for Finland fights
his way
Come men, be quick, and give him help; his
courage saved the day.
To nausht the Russians plan had come. the
cruel fight DER.
The enemy soon turned about and left the river's S
shore.
When ali was quiet SandeIs rode down to the
shore and fought
To find among his men the one who had SO
nobly fought
They showed him whore Sven Dufva lay, just
in the selfsane place
Where stoutly he had stood before Now peace
was on his face
IL looked so quiet and content, as when he,
stood cr the bridge before his foe. though now