Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-05-20
DIVA ENINA.

I
peasant He had one daughter He call
ed her Evina His hut was built on the
banks of lake No other hahitation
was IL be- seen for miles. save a little
house on the other side of the lake
| That was the home of an old couple
who by cultivating "a small piece of
land. managed 10 exc out prccarious
existence They had Il SON known as
Vermund Trout and other fish abound
ed in the lake the forest was full of
birds and game but. excepting an oc-
casiunal wondchoppcr. no human being
had ever appeared there
From early Childhood Evina had found
great pleasure in singing She learned
to initiate the notes Of the birds. and in
tune her songs surpassed those of all the
| birds in the fcrcst Whenever Verinund
| heard her sing he dropped his ax or
rested in his boat Then he began To
think how nice il would be to have
Evina in his own hut all the time. 50 he
should not miss hci VOICE and song
when the storm drowned every other
melody Then he began to 20 ~ the vii
! ltSt ne SUN l.-il anu VII lilIHN
He received money for his wares. and
never did he return without some sweets
| for Evina He had heard in the town
that people marry. and he told Evina
that they too. ought to get married
! All that WAS necessary they had told
hlm was To sell some more birds and
some more fish and then to give the
| a
the tans And Evina agreed
The leaves of the tiecs began to turn
| yellow and red Only three more weeks
were to pass before they would have the
marriage ceremony performed During
the clear and still autumn evenings
| Evina sang and sang Never before did
she sing rs well. never before had she
been 80 happy In three short weeks she
would he housed on the other side of
the lake Then she would not have to
call To Ncrmund over the water
She had been singing all the after
noon Her happiness WAS complete. and
her voice sounded more brdlike than
ever before Then ont Of the forest came
several fine gentlemen
/ w HtNt i''h ilNA'hihF~ ~ NpA. W Z
have never heard voice like yours.
said the Cne who was iallest
That is quite possible. said Evina.
FOR the dense forest is the best place
to sing in II Is 50 wonderful in there.
They asked who she was. where she
lived and they went with her to see
her father Among themselves they
talked III u language she could not un-
dcrstand They hooked at her; they
made signs 10 each other they talked
loudly and "Xcitcdly
In the hut they found Evina : father
busily engaged in making bro"ins. He
had seen fine gentlemen before. and he
knew that they did not come 10 order
bruums lie ordered his daughter to
keep still for he wanted to hear what
| the visitors had To say He was almost
| frightened when the tall man put Il
hundred kroner hill on the table and
told him that Evina must come To the
city aud sing there In one year 50 the
| tall man told him. she could earn money
enough 10 buy large farm for her fa
! ther
Evna was amazed She did not know
what Il city was She had once been to
the village and she thought the things
she saw there very wonderful But she
was ready la 20 To the city and willing
To sing there
''One thing only. | beg of you. said
she Wait until | have married Yer
mund
No that could not be After she had
earned riches she could return home if
sh, chose and marry Vermund but now
she must 90 with them 20 that very
hour
On her way she sang She said good
by To Nermund in IA SONY The gentle
ren stood and listened They wondered
and looked at her with admiration
The one who looked the nohest he who
gave the money 10 her father wiped
his eyes with his handkerchief He was
crying yet he had not even seen Yer
mund
Never before had Evina slept in so
soft Il bed as was given her in the city
She had never even Thought of such
beautiful Things as those that surround
and heavy She felt an impulse To 20
ont into the cuuutry So i'll the midst of
the night she g"i mp She would run
home Bui The iuor was closed securely
hnltcd There she lay and cried until
Dlurnlne came They brought her coffee
they hIought her cake hui She could
not cal
Later kind men came and taught her
what Ia do when she should sing before
many people They gave her beautiful
dresses they took her To large house
all aglnw with brilliant lights They
taught her nov To bow how Ia retire,
how L. return and bow again
Then came the might when the people
were IL listen To her When She appear
ed on the stage she saw many heads
close together they reminded her of the
tree tops in her forest She thought of
Nermund She began i'll clear. silvery
voice, ThuS, who heard her seemed to
near the lark as she rises III the air
More and more joyful did il sound: her
voice increased in power she sang rs
she used tu sing when she sent greetings
Ia Ncrmund across the lake
When She ha | finished her song the
whole sea of upturncd faces remained
| imfnoVable There was no applause. and