The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-05
The Eve Of Saint John
A FINNISH LEGEND.

During the brief nights Of summer
In the northern latitude of Finland
and especially the shortest one--the
Eve of st. John--there is q peculiar
ard beautiful phenomenon. The east
ern ana western skies are both DOT
dered by the same warm glow, whiie
in the zenith the most delicate hues
of the sunrise and sunset mingle, Sc
that the central portion OF the heav
ems seems to be an exquisite can
opy of rose color, while the north and
south, still deep blue, appear 70 re-
cede from the eye.
This phenomenon has given rise 70
legend which can vie in charm
with those of the ancient Greeks. A
German writer preserved the gem
found in the folklore of the people
where 1t runs as follows;
Sunrise and sunset are brother and
sister. who once were inseparable. II
was their duty to precede their moth
err the sun, to announce to the earth
her approach in the morning ana
clear the way for her progress by DID
ding the moon and all the stars to sc
home.
But once 1t happened that the pair
absorbed In their fraternal deVotloh
forgot to perform their ONCE ana
passed through the heavens as III
they had nothing TO do except to gaze
into each others eyes. They were SO
radiant in their loving affection tha'
the moon and stars forgot to make
way reverently for the sun; they I'M
gered, bewitched by the charming
spectacle. Nay, even mortals ana an
nature were SO enraptured that III
their homage, the appearance OF
their queen in her golden splendor re
| manned unnoticed.
This Unprecedented neglect and
the boundless presumption of her sub
iects in offering the homage whlch
was her sole due to her undutitui
children incensed the sun. She IN
stantly covered the sky with blacb
clouds. punished the earth with ram
thunder and lightning and created a
! system of order in the heavens when
would prevent such negligence IN tht
stars from occurring again.
When, after many days, the curtain
of clouds was withdrawn, and the
sky again looked down upon the
earth. men saw with deep sorrow
that the charming brother and sister
no longer lived together. They have
| been separated ever since, iol
fine wrathful mother ordered thai
henceforth Sunrise must precedf
her alone, and Sunset must follow
So. stern and infexible, she always
remains between them, and prevents
Them from gazing too long and toe
earnestly into each others eyes She
! does not permit them even 10 ex
change a furtive glance; for ever!
day before Sunrise has left ne
couch. she sends the morning star Y
sec whether Sunset has left the hori
non and drive him away IL he i'm
eered too late Only III summer
when the days are so long that th'
Sun herself grows weary of the DIS
lance she has to traverse, ana there
fore grows less watchful do thlns
improve a little for the brother ant
sister. Then Sunrise, by coaxing an
fair words. sometimes succeeds II
OBTAINING the morning star TIL sh
can nut on her rosy robes. swirl.
darling through the gate of heavel
with him she has the delight OF eS
changing chances with her brothe
before he descends into the depths
pnt on St Johns Eve the brothe
and sister bride the morning star S
That he lets Sunrise out a full hou
earlier. and does not appear hlnsei
until the sun has left her sleepin
room and is preparing for her dali
nilqrimage. when it is high time 70
sunset to disappear. For this hrie
hour the brother and sister greet eac
other with delight, clasp each other
hands and enjoy a few moments
unrest happiness. This one hou
oives them strength TO persi'
through the year in the cheerful IN
eilment of their duty, so that Sunrl'
daily greets the earth with smit
though tears caused by grief for nc
ending her brother fall in stream
49, c,rsa. too. can smile fareWe
70 the earth. though his heart seem
almost breaking with grief at bein
comrelled TO 20 before his sistt