--- title: The Hero’s Return — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Hero’s Return, «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: It was midwinter in Wainola, and the shortest day of the year. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/16/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old No…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/) / The Hero’s Return # The Hero’s Return The Hero’s Return of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 56 sentences and 1035 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. It was midwinter in Wainola, and the shortest day of the year.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun had not been able to rise above the horizon and short was the interval between night and night.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The North Wind came hurtling over the sea, carrying the storm spirit in his arms.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He buried the earth in snow and filled the air with blinding frost.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") He roared on the hill-tops, and shrieked in the tree-tops, and threatened to overwhelm everything that stood in his way.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") But, safely sheltered in their low-roofed dwellings, the villagers thought but little of the turmoil out-of-doors.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") They sat gossiping and nodding beside their cheerful hearth-fires, and were glad that their lives had been cast in the pleasant Land of Heroes.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") To sleep, to eat, to rejoice together in the hour that was their own—this, to them, was the sum of all happiness—and this, too, is wisdom.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly, far down the snow-drifted road, a sound was heard which was not the noise of the wind, a cry was heard which was not the voice of the storm spirit.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") It was repeated again and again, each time a little nearer.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Men heard it and ran to their doors to look out and listen.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Women left off their knitting, they forgot their baking, and peered out wonderingly, into the gloomy twilight.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Again the call was heard.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the call of a human voice; but by whom was it uttered?[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Was it the cry of a stranger, or was it the shout of a home-coming hero?[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently, some of the watchers saw in the distance a dim figure battling with the storm, struggling through the heaped-up snowdrifts.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Friend or stranger, it mattered not, this man needed help.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") A dozen heroes ran forward to save him, a dozen strong arms were stretched out to succor him—and lo! to the wonder and joy of all, they perceived that it was Wainamoinen, their honored neighbor, their best-loved countryman.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") His face was haggard and worn, and his body was bent with weariness from long journeying and much buffeting with the storm.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “O sweetest of singers\![20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Is this indeed you?” cried his rescuing friends.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") He could answer them not a word, so feeble had he become; his eyes grew suddenly dim, and he fainted away in their arms.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") They lifted him gently; they carried him to Ilmarinen’s dwelling and laid him on his own bed.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") There the master Smith and his mother, Dame Lokka, did all that they could for his comfort.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") They covered him with soft robes, they wrapped his half-frozen feet in warm flannels and chafed his icy hands between their own cheer-giving palms.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, as he gradually came to himself, the good matron brought him that which would satisfy his hunger.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") She fed him warm milk of the reindeer, food most nourishing; soups and gruels she also gave him till his strength revived.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") All this and more did these kind people do for the returning hero—gave him rest and quiet, asking no questions, saying nothing, suffering no one to disturb him.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") On the third day the poor man rose and sat in his old accustomed seat by the fire—he seemed quite well and strong.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the neighbors flocked in to see him.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") They came by twos and threes—men, women, and children—and each one brought him some gift to cheer him in his illness.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why did you leave us, O best of singers?” they asked.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have missed you sadly, and great was our fear that we should never see you again.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") “O my friends,” answered the hero, “it is only through Jumala’s goodness that I am here\![34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") For surely I have been in dreadful places, I have seen dreadful sights, I have suffered dreadful hardships.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tell us about it,” cried both men and women.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tell us of the dreadful places in which you have been.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") It will ease your mind and make you stronger.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “My friends,” then answered the Minstrel, “I have been to the land of Tuonela.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Oh, whisper not that name, breathe it not to your children or to one another\![40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") For it is a land indescribable, full of terrors, full of fearful creatures.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Many heroes have gone unwittingly to Tuoni’s kingdom, but none have ever returned.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") O my friends, pray now to Jumala, the almighty\![43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Pray that the day may be far away when you shall cross the dark river into that unnamable region.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") He could say no more.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") His friendly neighbors saw how sadly the memory of his journey distressed him, and they asked no more questions.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") They talked of the storm, of their household affairs, of their children, of Ilmarinen’s latest work in smithing; and all thoughts of the dark river and Tuoni’s kingdom were banished from their minds.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Days passed, and strength returned to the hero minstrel.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon all his ancient courage came to him again, and the happy habits of by-gone days were resumed.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Again he sat with the master Smith through the evening hours, and pleasantly discussed the charms of the Maid of Beauty; again in every dwelling he was a welcome visitor, and his voice was heard singing the sweet songs of the older times; and again the children of the village clustered round him to listen to his words of wisdom and to be taught the lore of the ancients.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now, every child of Hero Land, listen to me,” he would say.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here are five rules for you to remember—yes, six which you must write down in your hearts and never, no, never, forget:[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Honor father, honor mother; Kindly bear with one another; Help the helpless, cheer the friendless; Let your deeds of love be endless; Cheat your trusting neighbor never; Speak the truth, and speak it ever.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Obey these rules, my children, and you will be happy.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the time comes for you to cross the dark river you need have no fears of King Tuoni, for messengers of light will lead you into the valley of rest prepared for the good and the true.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Pray earnestly to Jumala to help you.”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Hag of the Rock](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/15/) - next →: [The Wisdom Keeper](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/17/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)