St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-02-19
- leI ATIl..E 60 9. y - 90 '".--.-L
L NoRWEGlAN WOLF STORY |

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loved. to call it in their songs. Even in
the map, how singular is that jagged, fur
revedj long coast line, stretching above .
thousand miles, from the North Cape
with it, eternal ice, down to a genial lati-
tude. e.of wheat lands and flowers. On this
vast seaboard, water and land seem to have
been struggling for the mastery till at last
all was amicabty settled by a division Of
the territory, and deep fords run miles in
land, and the steep .promontories project
far out into the ocean. Truly it is beau
tiful country, with its great bosses of snow
fields, the long windings Of the lake-like
6ords, the roaring Foss, and the endless
pine forest Then, too what strange
sights meet the traveller: the midsummer
nights sun never setting, the months of
darkness, the shepherds life lin the sa,-
ters, the wandering nomade Laps, and
their cncampments, the bear hunts, and
the Old World superstitions and customs
which linger in the secluded valleys. '"S
Norway has still other and more impor-
tant claims to notice; it is one of those
few and favored countries where freedom
is enjoyed, and the hardy prosperous
peasantry are'fving witnesses Of the worth
Of its immemorial institutions. Norway,
also, vas among the first to shake off the
errors of Rome, and to embrace the doc
trines of the Reformation. It is true that
rationalism and Indifference have long
chilled the Christian heart Of the country,
but pow it is throbbiug with increased
vicor, and sending warm streams of lite
blood to the e4tremities Of the land.
p A pleasant looking farm that Of Ravens
dal, nestlisg beneath soma sheltcring
rocks in an inland valley, not far from the
Arctic. The commodious dwellin; was of
blackened timber, adorned with curious
carving, and pious sayings cut. in the
beams; while clustering round stood the
cottages Of the. peasants who cultivated
the soil. In all the province of Norland
there was not farmer more respected and
Or a more upright, honorable
man than Andreas Jansen, the owner 'of
- j..
- It was early, one: Sunday morning in
m,dvinter, and the Jansens we're prepar-
ing to start for church, drive of many
miles. One Of the sledges had been re-
Gently disabled, 80 none of the firm ser.
wants were able togo with .thsm.s Rather
large party got into the. remaining
sleigh, which, though roomy ore, ore l. was
more than full but when the farmer pro.
posed to leave the two boys at home, there
was so much lamcntation that he relented.
Andreas handed his comcly- Looking wife
lngeborg 70 her seat; she was followed by
her sons-Raoul, the younger, a walking
bundle of r;;-ttakAins bis~pl}ssv-s.e his
'nottst,s k6essi R1la the zp1eay only
daughter, 4 next sterped in; and lastly,
sarFJips, some xrsp IA ,*for i. haylove,
came Huge; Elias. betrothed, who the dalY
before had arrived % sner, Shots from the
to spend ! tev dasyls dsl .t; Ravens:
dal Andreas mounted to his,seat, gently
touched with the whip the three bhorse@s,
unicorn fashion, and they start.
ed at smart pace; 4 + s,'a vss qailfss1 1sarly,
for service began atitgslye <apd, ~ the
distance was great,ait was nesssrasy 70
start betimes. Asyetthere txas ne. .elim,
mer of daylight bat moon I'D itafrss shone
with radiance unkknown q en ~ 54ur attude,
and there wae shundaacesef light for tho
journey Z Bsried in skins addafuis, the
patty did hot feel the cold which, though