The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-15
DIVA EVINA.

Far from the haunts of men, IN a
lonely spot near the dense forest. lived a
peasant. He had one daughter He call
ed her Evina. His hut was built on the
banks of lake No other habitation
was to be seen for miles. save 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 to exc out a precarlous
existence They had a son. known as
Vermund Troutand other fish abound
ed in the lake. the forest was full OF
birds and game. but, excepting an oc-
casional woodchopper. no human being
had ever appeared there.
Hrcm early childhood Evina had found
great pleasure in singing: She learned
TO initiate the notes of the birds, and IN
tune her songs surpassed these of all the
birds in the forest Whenever Vermund
heard her sing he dropped his ak OF
rested in his boat Then he began to
think how nice it would be to have
Evina in his own hut'all the time. so he
should not miss her voice and song
when the storm drowned every other
melody Then he began to so to the vii
lage. He sold fish and he bartered birds
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
him. was to sell some more birds and
some more fish and then to give the
money to the priest. who would publish
the bans. And Evina agreed
The leaves of the trees 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 as we'll never before had she
been so happy In three short weeks she
would be housed on the other side Of
the lake Then she would not have to
ceIl to vermund over the water.
She had been singing all the after
noon. Her happiness was complete, and
her voice, sounded more birdlike than
ever before. Then out of the forest came
several fine gentlemen
I'VE have been listening to you. We
have never heard voice like yours.
said the one who was tallest.
..That is quite possible. said Evlna.
..for the dense forest is the best place
to sing in. 1t is so wonderful in there. :
They asked who she was, where she
lived. and they went with her to see
her father. Among themselves they
talked in language she could not un-
derstand. They looked at her; they
made signs to each other; they talked
loudly and excitedly.
In the hut they found Evina's father
h7sily engaged in making brooms he
had seen fine gentlemen before. and he
knew that they did not come to order
brooms. He 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 a
hundred kroner bill on the table and
told him that Evina must come to the
city and sing there In one year, SO the
tall man told him, she could earn money
enough to bay large farm for her ia
ther
Eyina was amazed She did not know
what a city was She had once been to
the village, and she thought the things
she saw there very wonderful. But she
was ready to go to the city and willing
to sing there.
lone thing only, beg Of you, : said
she .Wait until I have married Yer
mund
No: that could not be- After she had
earned riches she could retlrn home, II
she chose and marry Vermund. but now
she must go with them-go that very
hour
On her way she sang. She said gooc
by to Vermund in song. The gentle.
men stood and listened. They wondered
and looked at her with admiration
The one who looked the noblest, he who
gave the money to her father, wlpee
Lis ewes with his handkerchief. He wa:
crying. yet he had not even seer yer
mund.
Never before had Evina slept IN ST
soft a bed as was given her in the city
She had never even thought of sucl
beautiful things as those that surround
ed her Only the air seemed to te clos
and heavy She felt an impulse to g
out into the country So in the midst 9
the night she got up She would ru'
home. But door was closed, securel.
bolted. There she lay and cried unit
morning came. They brought her coffee
they brought her cake. but she coul
not eat
Later kind men came and taught he
what to do when she should sing befor
many people They gave her beautifu
dresses. they took her to a large hous
all aglow with brilliant lights. The
taught her how to bow how to retire
how to return and bow again.
Then came the night when the peopl
were 20 listen to her When she appear
ed on the stage she saw many heac
close together; they reminded her OF tn
tree tops in her forest. She thought
yermund. She began in clear, silver
voice Those who heard her seemed
hear the lark as she rises in the air
More and more joyful did it sound; ne
voice increased in power: she sang q
she used to sing when she sent greeting
Tn Vermund across the lake.