Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/352

346 Fir is a boy that sways about, it was tended by Hotja, v. Fir, a tall, lanky boy was reared by Hotja, 4 Rocked by a Turjalainen, swung by a Vaaralainen, Put to sleep by frosty weather, suckled by hard frost, v.suckled by warm air, Souced by sky water, splashed by warm (water). It sprang from the ground like a strawberry—like a rooted plant with a stiff top, Grew up with a pair of boughs, rose with triple branches, Increased from the air's dew, shot out shoots owing to the sky water [v. owing to Jesus' blood], Stretched itself like wheaten dough, kept rolling like a butter-pat.
 * O Fir, pitiable and useless boy, brought forth by Syöjätär,

Formed from the earth by Maajatar, thou wast reared by a hillock, Made bushy by Pellervoinen [v. Pelleroinen], nailed down by Naservainen [v. spiked down by Nasarvainen v. Natulainen], Thou didst sprout from earth like a strawberry—from the forest like an arctic bramble, The sun shone through thee, the moon shed light upon thy sides, A hillock suckled thy roots, wind rocked thy leafy boughs.

4 Rocked by a whirlwind [v. by Tuuletar, v. Tutjelmoinen].

The fir is a tall, lanky boy—a comely tree created by God, A sprout drawn forth by Jesus Christ, a shoot brought to light by good luck,