234 Language Through Nature 



Lesson 154 

 THE VOICES OF NATURE 



A Myth of Finland 



VANEMUINE, the god of song, dwelt on the 

 Hill of Taara. But he grew tired of living 

 in Finland and of his beautiful hill, so he sent word 

 for all things to come to him to receive the lan- 

 guage they were to speak before he w r ent away to 

 his palace in the sky. As they gathered around 

 him, he opened, his lips and sang 

 so sweetly, so softly, that the mur- 

 mur of his harp strings seemed 

 almost harsh as compared with the 

 music of his rich voice. 



The wandering winds who lis- 

 Finnish harp tened afar off caught and remem- 

 bered only the loudest tones. The sacred stream 

 that flows so softly around the Hill of Taara 

 chose for its language the rustling of the silken 

 garments which moved upon his shoulders as he 

 played. 



The listening trees of the forest heard the rush- 

 ing of his flowing mantle as he descended from his 



