The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-22
4 Co!c Of NorwoD.
The SIcdge Drive 10 Church.
CHAPTER /.

What strange wild country is old
Norway! The brow of tie earth, the
forehead of the world, as the Scalds of
old loved to call it III their songs. Even
in the map low singular is that jagged,
furrowed, long coast-linc, stretching
above thousand miles, from the North
Cape with its eternal ice, down to a
genial latitude of wheat land and flowers.
On this vast scaboard, water and land
seem to have been struggling for the
mastery, till at last all was amicably
settled by division of the territory,
and the deep fords run miles inland, and
the steep promontorics project far out
into the ocean. Truly, it is beautiful
country, with it's great bosses Of snow
fields, the long windngs of the la!e-like
fiords, the roaring Foss, and the endless
pine forest. Then, too, what strange
sights meet the traveller the mid-sum
meningitis sun never setting, the months
of darkness, the shepherds life i'll tie
Saetcrs, the wandering nomadc Laps aid
their encampmcnts, the bear hunts, aid
the Old World suporstitions and Gus
toms which lingcri in the secluded vales.
Norway has still other and more in
portant claims to notice it is one of
those few and favored countr les where
freedom is enjoyed, and the hardy pros
porous peasantry are living witnesses of
the worth of its immemorial institutions.
Norway, also, was among the first to
shake off the creed of Rome, and to
embrace the doctrines of the Rctorma-
ton. 1t is true that rationalism and
indifference have long chilled the chris
tian heart of the country, but now it is
throbbing with increased vigor, and
sending warm streams of life-blood to
the extrcmitcs Of the land.
A looking farm that Of
Ravcnsdal, nesting beneath some shell
tcring rocks in an inland valley, not far
from the Arctic circle. The cOmmodio;;s
dwelling was Of blackencd timber,
adorned with curious carving and pious
sayings cut in the beams while clus-
terinG round stood the cottages of the
peasants who cultivated the soil. In all
the province of Norland there was rot a
farmer more respected and esteemed, or
more upright, honorable man, than
Andrcas Jansen, the owner Of RavenSdal
1t was early one Sunday morning in
mid winter, aud the .Jansens were pre-
pairing to start for church, drive of
many miles. One Of the slcdgcs had
been recently disabled, so none Of the
farn-servants were able to 60 with them.
Rather large party got into The re-
naming sleigh, which, though roomy
one, was more than full but when the
farmer proposed to leave the two boys
at home, there was so much lamcntation
that he relentcd. Andreas handed his
comcly-looking wife, Ingcborg, to her
seat ; she was followed by her sons
Raoul, the younger, q walking-bundle of
fur, taking his place on his mothers
knees Ella, the pretty, only daughter,
next stepped in; and lastly, carrying
some wrap for his lady-love, came Hugo,
ELIAS betrothed, who the day before
had arrived on snow-shocs from the
sonthward, to spend few days at
Ravensdal. Andrcas mounted to his
scat, gently touched with the whip the
three horses, harncsscd unicorn fashion
ard they started at smart pace. 1t
was quite early, for service began at
twelve, and as the distance was great ii
was necessary TO start botimes. As yet
there was no glimmer of daylight, but
moon and stars shone with radiance
unknown in our ATTITUDES, and there was
abundance Of light for the journey
Buried in skins and furs, the party did
not feel the cold, which, though great,
was not excessivo-the absence Of d
breath of wind and the perfect dryncss
of the atmosphere making it much moro
cndurable than the same depression OF
the Thermometer would be in this coun-
try. 1t was a grand event, this journey
to church, for weeks and weeks hat
passed since last they were able to 90
True, Andreas had every Sunday sort
of prayer-mecting at Ravcnsdal with the
neiglboring peasants, but this did moi
compensate for the lack of the public
services. Then, too, the whole iamil,
thought it most fortunate that the fair
ness Of the weather should enable then
to 60 on this especial Sunday of al
others, for it was what they call al
altar-day-i. e., the Sacrament was t.
| be administered.
There was an cerie beauty in the scene
the solemn mountains lifting up thei
hoary heads into the star-sprinllled sky
the small tarn with it's glittcring ic,
surblack contrasted with the snow, an,
the graceful birkcn trees, those " ladie,
of the woods,' deckcd out, as littlt
Raoul said, when the first rhine fell tina
winter, in their white nantes, all read,
for sister Elias wcdding-day. But, a
if to make amends for the stiffness else
where, there was no stiffness in TIL,
sledge. Andreas turned round to ad
dress his wife, or talked to his horses
in that brotherly way so characteristic
Of the Norwegians, who always max
friends of the four.footcd creatures i
their service, and particularly of thci
horses. Olaf, the elder boy, who wa
porched on Hugo's knee, after some val
attempts to obtain his attention, turnec
to his mother and Raoul, and kept IL
with them continuous stream of qucs
ton and remark while Hugo and Ella
leaning back in one corner, heedin
nobody but themselves, found much t
say to each other in low, happy tones