Fast by my head, and there the Balsams sat

Round about, and we talked together.

And "Here is some news," quoth Midnight. "What is this word 'news' whereof we hear?" begged the Balsams: "What mean you by news? what thing is there which is not very old? Two neighbors in a cabin talking yesterday I heard giving and taking news; and one, for news, saith William is dead; and 'tother for news gave that a child is born at Anne's house. But what manner of people be these that call birth and death new? Birth and death were before aught else that we know was."

[Credo; Hymn of the Mountains]

[Lynn, N. C., August, 1881]

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

  1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.
  2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

Transcriber's Note:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.