Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-23
Brier-Ros
BY HJALMAR HJORTH BOYESEN.


.. 1AjalmSr AjoEth Boyesen, isss-is S was 2
wrote in the United States)
GAID Brier-Rose's mother to the
~ naughty Brier-Rose:
What will become of you, my child,
the Lord Almighty knows. You will not
scrub the kettle, and you will not touch
the broom; you never sit a minute still
at spinning wheel or loom"
Thus grumbled in the morning and
grumbled late at eve, the good wife, as
she hustled with pot and tray and sieve;
but Brier-Rose, she laughed and she
cooked her dainty head:
Why, shall marry, mother dear"
full merrily she said.
You marry, saucy Brier-Rosel The
man, he is not found to marry such
worthless wench, these seven leagues
around"
But Brier-R she laughed and she
trilled a merry lay:
Perhaps he'll come, my mother dear,
from 80 leagues away"
The good wife, yith "humph" and a
sigh, forsook thu battle, and flung her
pots and pals about with much vindic-
| tive rattle:
20 Lord, what sin did I commit in
youthful days and wild, that thou hast
punished me in age with such a way
! ward child"
Up stole the girl on tiptoe, so that
none her step could hear. and laughing
pressed an airy kiss behind the good
| wife's ear. And she, as e'er. relenting,
sighed: "Oh, heaven only knows what
ever will be become Of you, my naughty
Brier- Rose!'
The sun was high and Summer sounds
we're teeming in the air; the clank of
scytheS, the cricket's whir, and swelling
wood-notes rare, from field and copse
and meadow; and through the open
| door sweet, fragrant whiffS of new
| mown hay the idle breezes bore. Then
Brier-RoSe grew pensive, like a bird of
thoughtful mien, whose little life has
problems among the branches green.
She heard the river bawling where the
tide was swift and strong, she heard the
Summer singing its strange, alluring
! song. And out she skipped the mead
dows DER and gazed into the sky; her
| heart o'erbrimmed with gladness, she
| scarce herself knew why, and to a
merry tune she hummed:
"Oh, heaven only knows whatever will
become Of the naughty Brier-Rose!"
Whene'er a thrifty matron this idle
| maid espied, she shook her head in
warning and scarce her wrath could
hide; for girls were made for housewives.
drink the sunshine and wild flowers
| sweet perfume. And oft the maidens
| cried, when the Brier Rose went by:
You cannot knit stocking, and you
cannot make a pie"
But Brier-Rose, as was her wont, she
| cooked her curly head: But / can sing
| pretty song" full merrily she said.
And oft the good lads shouted, when
| they saw the maid at play: "Ho, good
for-nothing Brier-Rose, how do you
do today"
Then she shook her tiny fist; to her
| cheeks the color flew: However much
you coax me, I'll never dance with you
Thus new the years light winged over
Brier-Rose's head, till she was 20 Sum-
mers old and yet remained unwed. And
all the parish wondered: 1.-The Lord Al
| mighty knows whatever will become Of
that naughty Brier-Rose!"
And while they wondered came the
Spring a-dancing Ger the hills; her
breath was warmer than of yore. and
all the mountain rills, with their tinkling
and their ripping and their rushing.
filled the air; and the misty sounds of
wate9forth-welling everywhere. And in
the valleys depth, like lusty beast of