--- title: The Old Man’s Wooing — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Old Man’s Wooing, «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: Arrayed in becoming garments, the Maid of Beauty stood beside her mother. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/23/) [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 Old Man’s Wooing # The Old Man’s Wooing The Old Man’s Wooing of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 76 sentences and 1350 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Arrayed in becoming garments, the Maid of Beauty stood beside her mother.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Together they went out from their weather-worn dwelling.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") They walked across the courtyard to the dry ground beyond, and to the heap of stones beside the seashore.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The young grass was upspringing beneath their feet.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The sunlight was beaming around them.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The swallows were flitting above them.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The lonely sea was before them, the lonelier meadows were behind.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The Mistress looked out over the water, and then she bade her daughter look.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Not far from the land they saw the strange boat gliding.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Its gilded prow was gleaming in the sunlight; its sails were flapping loosely on the slender mast; and who was the sun-browned hero that stood on the deck guiding the vessel with an oar of copper?[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") “I do believe it is that old, old Minstrel from the Land of Heroes,” said the Mistress in tones of surprise.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “You surely remember him, my daughter—how he came to us from the sea, how he sat at our fireside, how he ate from our table!”[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, mother, I remember,” answered the Maid of Beauty.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") “And he grew homesick, he pined for his own fireside, he longed to return to his kinsfolk and friends, and notwithstanding our kindness he sang not one song during all his stay with us.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") “Just so,” rejoined the aged one; “and you surely remember the noble reindeer and the swift sledge that I lent him, so that he might return to his home land?”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “Certainly, mother, there are some things that I can never forget.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, my child,” said the mother, “this is surely the same great hero, the famous Wainamoinen, the first of all minstrels.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") He is rich, and no doubt his ship is filled with treasures.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") If he has really come to woo you, treat him kindly, listen to his words of honey, and answer ‘Yes’ to every question; for never will you have a nobler suitor.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “But, mother, I like him not,” answered the Maid of Beauty.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she turned away from the sea, weary of looking at the approaching vessel.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Her eyes wandered to the bleak, brown meadows, and she gazed wistfully towards the pathway which led from the distant hills.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") There she beheld the other visitor, speeding forward, drawing nearer, and now in plain view from the spot where she was standing.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Young and proud and strong seemed this landward comer.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") He was sitting in a sledge of scarlet and driving a steed of rare swiftness.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Six cuckoos were sitting on the dashboard, all loudly calling; and beside them were seven bluebirds twittering blithely as birds are wont to twitter in the joyous springtime.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “See, mother, here comes the other stranger!” said the Maid of Beauty.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nay, nay, he is no stranger,” answered Dame Louhi, speaking hoarsely.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “He is the poor young Smith who forged the Sampo for me, and his name is Ilmarinen.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He brings no gifts, he has no treasures, for his only wealth is his little smithy.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") What business has he in Pohyola?”[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “Perhaps he comes to claim his wages that are due him,” modestly answered the dutiful daughter.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Then with haste the two returned into their dwelling; they closed the door behind them; the mother sat down in her seat beside the fire, and the daughter resumed her weaving.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") “My child,” said the Mistress, “our visitors are close at hand, they will soon be at our door.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") When they come in and seat themselves beside the hearth-stones, you must come forward and greet them.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Bring in one hand a bowl of honey, and in the other a pitcher brimming full of reindeer’s milk.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Give these to the one whom you choose to follow.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Give them to the rich and mighty Minstrel.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") He will understand you and will reward you with gold and jewels and fine garments and other costly presents.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") “But he is old and I like him not,” answered the daughter.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “I care nothing for riches nor for a man of too great wisdom.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") I will give the milk and the honey to the younger man, to Ilmarinen, if in truth he has come to woo me.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He is poor, but he is handsome and strong.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Once before at your bidding I refused to go with him, but now——”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “Foolish girl and disobedient!” cried the mother, the red blood of anger rushing to her face.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why will you choose to go with that penniless fellow—to bake his barley-cakes, to wash his grimy clothes, to wipe the sweat from his sooty face, to sweep his kitchen floor, to keep his tumble-down hut in order?”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is my fancy,” quietly answered the Maid of Beauty.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile all the people of Pohyola, men and women, boys and girls, and even the barking dogs, had run down to the waterside to watch the coming of the little ship.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Skilfully, with his oar of copper, the Minstrel guided it straight towards the place of landing.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Gently, smoothly, like a mother swan swimming among her cygnets in some sheltered cove, the vessel glided into the quiet inlet.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") The rope that dangled from the prow was seized by helping hands on shore and thrown over the mooring post.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The ship trembled as it was drawn in, it stopped, it rested in deep water close by the shelving bank.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Without loss of time the Minstrel leaped ashore.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") He made his way quickly to Dame Louhi’s well-remembered dwelling; he opened the door and entered; he stood beneath the smoky rafters and received the greetings of the grim and toothless Mistress.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") “Welcome, welcome, O sweetest of singers!” she cried.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") “Much have we missed you, long have we waited for you.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Now you shall sit again at our fireside; you shall eat again at our table; you shall rest and rejoice by the sunny shores of Pohyola.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") “I thank you for your welcome, wise queen of the North,” responded the Minstrel; “but I cannot sit at your fireside, I cannot eat at your table, I cannot rest by your shores until I tell you the object of my visit, the reason for my coming.”[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Speak then, most honored friend, and I will listen,” said the cunning Mistress.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Wainamoinen bowed and smiled and thus made known his errand: “It is for your daughter, the Maid of Beauty, that I have come.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Three years ago I saw her sitting on a rainbow and spinning threads of silver.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") I asked her then to go with me to the Land of Heroes, to be the queen of my kitchen, to bake my honey-cakes, to fill my cup with barley water, to sing at my fireside.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, I am here to receive her answer.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") The Maid of Beauty rose from her weaving and came towards the hearth.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") In one hand she carried a bowl of honey and in the other a yellow pitcher brimming full of reindeer’s milk; but she offered neither of these to the Minstrel.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") She smiled and said, “Have you built the boat that I required?[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it made from the splinters of my spindle and the fragments of my shuttle?”[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have built a boat, but not that one,” answered the Minstrel.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") “With the help of magic I have constructed a vessel more wonderful than your eyes ever saw—more beautiful than your dreams ever pictured.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") It is strong to resist the waves; it has two broad sails that it may fly swiftly before the wind; its prow is of copper overlaid with gold; its deck is floored with silver; in its hold are treasures more precious than I can tell.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you not come and sit beside me on the deck of this fairy vessel?[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you not help me guide it over the trackless sea—guide it safely to the haven of Wainola?”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") “I care naught for old men,” replied the Maid of Beauty; “riches tempt me not; the magic vessel may never reach its haven.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") But wait a day, and——”[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") She looked up.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Ilmarinen was at the door.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Barking Dogs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/22/) - next →: [The Field of Serpents](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/24/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)