--- title: The Tree of Magic — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Tree of Magic, «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: Very early in the morning the Minstrel rose from his couch. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/6/) [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 Tree of Magic # The Tree of Magic The Tree of Magic of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 57 sentences and 1023 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Very early in the morning the Minstrel rose from his couch.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") He opened the door and looked out.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun was not yet up, but a tinge of yellow in the eastern sky foretold the coming of brilliant day.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The stars of the Great Bear were still visible, twinkling dimly above the pine trees.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The air was sharp and biting; the frost lay thick on the hilltops and the barren moorland; patches of newly formed ice glared white in the marshes.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a fine day for my journey!” said the Minstrel.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently the Graybeard’s son brought the red reindeer to the door and harnessed it to the birchwood sledge.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") “You will have a fine day for your journey,” he said.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The Graybeard helped the Minstrel into the sledge; he wrapped the robes of fur around him and threw over his shoulders a bearskin cloak that was both ample and warm.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he packed beneath the seat a store of food for the long journey—eight large jars of bread and deer meat, yes, nine great jars of toothsome victuals.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") “Farewell, kind host and skilful surgeon!”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “Farewell, great guest\![12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") My blessings go ever with you!”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the good-bye words were spoken.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Minstrel seized the reins and cracked his long whip.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The reindeer leaped forward; the journey was begun.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Swift as the wind the well-built sledge glided on its course.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Loudly the birchwood runners rang upon the frozen ground, smoothly they sped over the hoarfrost and the glistening ice.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Through fens and woodlands, across the meadows and the moorlands, the red reindeer rushed unwearied, never pausing to rest, never thinking of food.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") For one whole day the Minstrel held the reins and shouted urgently to his faithful steed.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Yes, for two days and two long, silent nights he sat in the sledge and drove onward with no slackening of speed—so impatient was he to reach his dear home land, to behold his own fireside.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The third day came, and still onward flew the tireless reindeer.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") The fourth day came; it was half gone when the Minstrel uttered a shout so joyful that the woodlands rang with the sound, and the wild geese in the marshes answered it gleefully.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He shouted again and again, for now he was among familiar scenes.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Here was the forest road which he had often travelled in his youth and later manhood.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Here was the long, rough causeway across the treacherous fen land—he knew it so well that it seemed like the face of a friend.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Straight ahead, only three leagues farther, the little village of Wainola was nestling warmly in a wooded glen close by the sea; in that village was the snug cottage which the Minstrel called his home; and in that cottage was the fireside around which his friends were sitting and bewailing his absence.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") What wonder that he shouted so joyfully\![28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") All at once, however, his joy was dimmed; the memory of something unpleasant came into his mind.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") A cloud passed over his face, and the last shout died, half-uttered, on his lips.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The birchwood runners bumped hard on the rough causeway.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The reindeer slackened its speed; it seemed ready to sink in its tracks.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The Minstrel’s mind was far away; it was with the grim, gray Mistress of the Frozen Land.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") For suddenly he had thought of the promise he had given her—“I will send you Ilmarinen, the skilfulest of smiths; he will forge the Sampo for you.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") In another hour—yes, in half that time—he would meet Ilmarinen face to face.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Would he be able to redeem his promise?[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am a wizard; I can do wonderful things by magic,” said the Minstrel to himself.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") “If my friend, the Smith, will not be persuaded, I will prevail upon him through other means.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he chuckled to the reindeer, and the birchwood runners glided more smoothly over the causeway.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") On the farther side of the great fen there was a grove of pine trees, and in the midst of the grove was a green, grassy space as round as the moon and as level as the sea.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") At this spot the Minstrel paused; he brought the reindeer to a sudden stop.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") He leaped from the sledge and began to draw magic circles upon the ground.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He muttered strange words which only wizards and magicians know.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") He lifted his arms above his head, and sang a song so weird and wild that the pine trees shuddered and shrieked.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") He ceased; and instantly in the centre of the green space a slender twig sprang out of the ground and grew.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") It grew and grew, unfolding leaves and buds and blossoms.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") It grew and grew until it became a flower-crowned tree which seemed to pierce the clouds and sweep the solemn sky.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") No one knows how tall it might have grown.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") It might have grown till it touched the stars had not the Minstrel bidden it to cease expanding.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he sang another song quite different from the first—a song so sweet, so persuasive, that the wild creatures in the forest and the fen came out of their dens and listened to it.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") The white-faced moon heard, and sat herself down among the branches of the tree of magic.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The seven stars of the Great Bear also heard; and they came circling from the sky and began to dance and play amid the leaves and blossoms.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Cunning, indeed, was Wainamoinen, cunning and old; and when he saw the work of his magic, he was pleased beyond measure.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") He clapped his hands together in triumph; he leaped and danced around the tree like one gone mad.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he climbed into the sledge and sat down upon the furry robes; he shook the long reins and spoke gently to his steed.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Slowly and thoughtfully, as one well contented with himself, he drove onward along the well-known pathway that led towards the village.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") His sharp gray eyes looked first this way and then that; his ears were open to the slightest sound; all his senses were alert.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Wicked Hornet](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/5/) - next →: [The Smithy](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/7/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)