THE LITTLE WOODSTOVE - from Life of a Librarian

I left work the other evening, coming out of the library into an icy rain, glad for my new umbrella and happy at the prospect of a quiet evening at home. I made a bit of supper and ate it while reading a book, and then I read some more.  I listened to the sleet sliding down the windows, and the wind making ice-covered tree branches rattle, and I decided it would be a good thing to light a fire in the woodstove.

I braced myself to go out to the chilly porch. There in the woodbox were broken twigs and branches, keepsakes from other winds and storms. There, too, was a good-sized log, one I had sawn from a large branch broken off one of the great old silver maples in this yard. I carried the wood inside. Kneeling by the woodstove in the living room, I began the ritual of emptying the ashbox under the stove. I swept up the spilled ash, then crumpled newspaper and laid it next to the big partly-burned log lying cold in the stove. I added tinder and kindling, and the new log, and struck the match. The flame dance-paintings came to life, and I moved my rocker and a footstool over, to toast my toes a little and warm my bones, as I dove back into my reading.

One afternoon not long ago I was working the library reference desk when a man came up to me with a request. He was not a library user, but his curiosity about an inscription stamped in the iron of his woodstove had, after thirty-some-odd years, brought him through the doors of the library at last. I was thrilled to be part of his quest! He had in his hand a slip of paper, on which was written the inscription.

I began to google, finding some sites that translate Norwegian into English. This man, who was not a computer user either, was blown away. We were hot on the trail together! Finally we hit paydirt when I typed into the search bar, "Norwegian poems inscribed on woodstoves." Bingo! Here is the traditional rhyme in Norwegian and English: 

EG GREV NED MIN ELD (I RAKE MY FIRE)

Eg grev ned min eld

(I rake my fire)

Sent om kveld

(Late in the evening)

Naar dagen er slut

(When the day is over)

Gud gje min eld

(God let my fire)

Aldri slokna ut

(Never burn out.)

This brand new library patron was so grateful he could not thank me enough. We shook hands and smiled together, the thrill of the successful chase still with us. He asked me what on earth he could ever do to repay the library for helping satisfy his curiosity? I had a ready answer, in these times of looking at our rough economy, job losses, closing of facilities......I said, with all my heart, "Vote for our levy when it comes up." He said, with his whole heart, "I will!"