PREFACE

PREFACE

It is with a certain amount of misgiving that the author sends out this little volume of Scandinavian dialect verses. To the residents of Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the "lumberyack" lives and thrives, the dialect will seem familiar enough; but to other readers such terms as "skol" (shall or will), "ban" (been), "panga" (money), "sum" (than or as), may convey little or no meaning.

But, if the Scandinavian dialect verses are not widely popular, they are at least comparatively fresh and original; and to those readers who can readily grasp the patois, as well as to those who are compelled to struggle painfully through its labyrinths, this volume is respectfully dedicated.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

HIS LYRICS

"YIM"

TILLIE OLSON

THE "LUMBERYACK"

LITTLE STEENA YOHNSON

OLAF

"YENNIE DEAR"

"PEEK-A-BOO"

SONNET ON STEWED PRUNES

A GOOD FELLOW

"IT'S UP TO YOU"

HIS HISTORICAL TALES

HORATIUS AT THE BRIDGE

WILLIAM TELL

THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH

ROBINSON CRUSOE

GEORGE WASHINGTON

PAUL REVERE

WATERLOO

BARBARA FRIETCHIE

SHERIDAN'S RIDE

HIS POETICAL TRANSLATIONS

SPEAK GENTLY

THE BAREFOOT BOY

FATHER WILLIAM

ABOU SWEN ANSON

MAUD MULLER

LUCY GRAY

STEALING A RIDE

"CURFEW SHALL NOT RING TO-NIGHT"

A PSALM OF LIFE

ANNIE LAURIE

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

EXCELSIOR

MORTALITY

THE DAY IS DONE