Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
Sailing of Olaf.


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In answer to Mrs. S. c. AS inquiry
for the words, Sailing Of King Olaf" I
take pleasure in sending you a copy of
them. J. Fl. LEATH'
SAILING OF KING OLAF"
Composed by Alice Williams Brotherton)
''Norroway hills are grand 10 see,
Norroway wales are broad and fair;
ANY monarch on earth might be
Contented to find his kingdom there"
So spake Harold Haardrade, bold,
To Olaf his brother, with beard red
gold.
"a bargainr cried Olaf: Beside the
strand
Our ships rock idle. Come sail away!
Who first shall win 20 our native land.
He shall be king Of all Norroway."
Quoth Harold the stern: MY vessel Tor
thine,
I will not trust TO this laggard Of mine"
.srake thou nv dragon with silken sails. d"
Said Olaf, The OK shall be mine IN
place.
II II pleases our Lord TO send me gales,
In either vessel I'll win the race.
With this exchange art satishedY
CAV brother" the crafty one replied.
King Olaf strobe 70 the church to pray
For blessings of God on crew and ship;
But Harold, the traitor. made haste to
weigh
His anchor, and out of the harbor slip.
"Praver." Laughed Harold Haardrade,
pray!
The winds in my favor, let sail! Away.
AS Olaf knelt by the chancel rail,
Down the broad aisle came one in haste
With painting bosom and cheeks all pale;
Straight to King Olafs side he paced;
"Ohl waste no time in praying" cried he,
For Harold already is far at sea-!
Put Olaf answered: LET sail who will,
Without Gods blessings 1 shall not 60"
Reside the altar he tarried still,
While the GOOD priest chanted soft and
And Olaf prayed the Lord in his heart,
~ shall win yet, If Thou take my part"
Cbeerily then he leaped on board;
High on the prov he took his stand;
Forward he bade, I'm the name OF the
Lordw
Held the white horn Of the OK in his
hand;
Now OK, good OK pray thee speed
AS if TO pasture in clover-mead!'
The huge OK rolled from side TO side,
And merrily out Of the harbor sped.
post see the dragon?" King Olaf cried,
To the lad who chung TO the high mast
head:
mot sou the watcher swift answer gave,
"There is never boat upon the wave"
Onward then, for league and twain
Right In the teeth of the wind they few
"seest aught OF the dragon upon the
main?"
Something to landward sure I view
Far ahead l can just behold
slken. sails with a border OF gold"
The third time Olaf called with frown:
post see my Dragon yet? Hol say?'
out Of the masthead the cry came down.
'Nigh to the shores Of Norroway
The good ship Dragon rides full sail,
Driving ahead before the gaie!
"Ho. to the haven't" King Olaf cried
And smote the eye of the OK with his
hand.
II leaned so madly along the tide
That never a sailor on deck could stand;
Rut olaf dashed them firm and fast,
With trusty cords to the strong oak mast.
..Now who" the helmsman said, will
The vessel upon the tossing sea?"
"Tbat will dor King Olaf cried.
And no mans life shall be lost through
me-"
Like living coal his dark eye glowed'
AS swift 10 the helmsman's place ne
strobe.
Looking neither to left nor right.
1aI stvnf m
Steering straight as a line OF iight'
$50 must run If would win;
Faith is stronger than hills or rocks,
over the land speed on, good OK"
Into the valleys the water rolled;
uillocxs and meadows disappear;
Crashing the helm in his iron hold,
ON right onward. St Olaf steered;
uieh and higher the blue waves rose;
"Ong he shouted. no time TO lose!
su,,fter and swifter across the foam
The ouiyering OK leaped over the track,
TIN olaf came to his boyhood's home;
Tben fast as II rose, the tide fell back.
And Olaf was king of the whole Morse
when Harold. the third day. reached the
strand.
such was the sailing Of Olaf, the king,
Monarch and saint OF Norroway;
In view OF whose wondrous prospering
THE Morse have a saying unto this day:
AS Harold Haardrade found 10 his cost,
Time spent in praying Is never lost"
To Build "a Wharf
To the Editor Of the Dispatch
VIII you please answer In your query
column ~ any person or party has the