Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-23
THE EVENING STORY
One of the Worlds Best Works

prey, the river leaped and Toared aloud
and tossed its name of spray; then
hushed again its voice to a softly plash-
ing Groom, as dark it rolled beneath the
sun and white beneath the moon.
1t was a merry sight to see the lum-
per as 1t whirled adown the tawny eddies
that Kissed and sesthed and swirled, now
shooting through the rapids, and, with
reeling swing, into the foaming creSts
diving like an animated thing. But in
the narrows Of the rocks, where DER a
steep incline the waters plunged and
wreathed in foam the dark boughs of
the pine. the lads kept watching with
shout and song, and sent each stray
gnng beam a-Spinning down the rapids
lest 1t should lock the stream.
And yet-methinks l hear 1t now
wild voices in the night, rush of feet,
a dogs harsh bark, a torch's fiaring
light, and wandering gusts of dampness,
ana round us far and nigh, throbbing
Doom OF waters like a pulSe-beat in the
sky. The dawn just pierced the pallid
east with spears of gold and red, as we,
with boat-hooks in our hands, toward
the narrows sped. And terror smote us:
Tor we heard the mighty tree-tops SWAY.
and thunder, as Of chariotS, and Kissing
showers of spray.
Now lads" the sheriff shouted. "you
are strong, like Norway's rock; a hun
dred crowns 1 give to you who breaks
the lumber locki For if another hour
&c by, the angry waters spoil our homes
VIII be, and fields, and our weary years
OF TOLL
We looked each at the other: each
hoped his neighbor would brave death
and danger for his home, as valiant
Norsemen should. But at our feet the
Drawing tide expanded like a lake, and
winning beams came shooting on, and
made the firm rock quake.
Two hundred crowns" the sheriff
CRED and breathless stood the crowd.
Two hundred crowns. my bonny lads"
In anxious tones and loud.
but not a man came forward, and no
one spoke or stirred, and nothing save
the thunder OF the cataract was heard,
but as with trembling hands and with
tanning hearts we stood, We spied a
little curly head emerging from the
wood. We heard a little snatch of q
merry little song, and saw the dainty
throng. '''S
An angry murnur rose from the
people round about. Fling her into the
r1ver!" we heard the matrons shout:
chaSe her away, the silly thing; for
goa himSef scarce knows why ever he
created the worthless Brier-Rose.
sweet Brier-Rose she heard their
cries; little pensive smile across her
fair face fitted that might a stone be-
guile, and then she gave her pretty
head roguiSh little cock:
Hand me a boat-hook, lads" she
said; Il think I'll break the lock-"
Derlsive shouts of laughter broke
from Threats of young and old: no!
good for nothing Brier Rose, your
tongue was ever bold"
And I1oaE I,oof-
hands was flung, when, 10! into the
river midst with daring leaps she
sprung! We saw her dimly through a
mist OF dense and binding spray: from
beam to beam she skipped. like a
Water-sprite at play; and now and then
faint CLEANS we caught of color through
the mist; a crimson waist, a golden
head, little dainty wrist
y
In terror pressed the people to the
margin of the HILL hundred breaths
were bated, hundred hearts stood still:
Tor, bark! from out of the rapids came
a strange and creaking sound, and
then crash Of thunder which shook
the very ground. The waters hurled the
lumber mass DER the rocky steep: we
heard muffled rumbling and a rolling
in the deep; we saw a tiny form which
the torrent swiftly bore and flung into
the wild abyss, where it was seen no
more.
At, little naughty Brier-Rose, thou
couldst not weave nor spin: yet thou
couldst do a nobler deed than all thy
hooking kim for thou hadSt courage
cen to die, and thy death to save a
thousand farms and lives from the fury
of the wave. And yet the adage lives,
In the valley of thy birth: when way
ward children spend their days in heed
less play and mirth, oft mothers say,
half smiling, Heaven knows whatever
will become Of the naughty Brier-
RoSe!''