The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-03-04
Jlistrllaneous.
THE LUUR.

Was tIdNclluS lute one summer
evening through one of the most lone
ly and picturesque valleys of the ives.
tern coast of Norway. 1t was impas-
| sible for all save the sure-f footed noun
tain'pony OF that country, so that /
preferred often to trudge few miles on
foot, my luggage, rods, &C., being strap
ped on the pony's back. 1t was one of
those delicious evenings that are to be
found, think, only in northern lati-
tudes; for, though it was close on mid
night, the sun still shone on the tops of
the mountains that hemmed in either
side of the narrow valley; while below
was quite light enough to read the small
est print with ease. My guide and
pony We're about a couple of hundred
yards in front of me, for l loitered be.
hind,every now and then, to admire the
grandeur of the scene, or to watch the
ever shifting light on distant glacier,
which looked more like a sea of opal
than anything else to which can COM
pare it. Indeed, every yard advanc-
ed, there was something fresh to won
at. Now it was a torrent falling
perpendicuarly downward from the
heights above, and losing itself long ere
it reached the bottom in masses of feath-
cry spray, affording wondrous display
Of aquatic fireworks; now it was a
grand waterfall, leaping and dashing
down the field side in impetuous haste
to reach the river, that fretted and chat
ed along like an angry serpent at the
bottom Of the valley. And yet, with
all the din and noise of the roaring
flood, therewas deathly, oppressive
stiffness. Not breath of wind stirred,
not sound of animal life was heard,
save here and there the tinkling of a
distant cow-bell, the whirring ofa goat
sucker on the wing, or the splash of a
salmon in the river below.
All at once, however, / was startled
by hearing a loud though melodious
sound far above my head among the
rocks. 1t reminded me more of the
Alpine horn than anything l had ever
heard.
"What is that?" inquired as l has
tened on to catch up to my guide.
at is a haT" was the reply. A iitiT
| must inform my readers, is long
horn made of birchen bark, which the
peasants use to collect their cattle. 1t
struck me at the time as being strange
for people to be out at that time of
night so late with their cattle but my
attention was soon diverted to other
objects, and | daresay l dismissed the
strangenoss of the incident from my
thoughts with the reflection that moth
ing could in truth be strange in cOun-
try where day and night We're one.
Before long, L arrived at the farm
house where | was expected, and where
/ intended staying few weeks salmon
fishing. Late though it was, my host
was waiting TO receive me. lie was a
middle.aged man, with long fiaxen hair
flowing down to his shoulders. and was
dressed in full national costume. He
greeted me in true Norwegian style,
and after expressing his fears that l
must be weary, led the way into the
house, where an ample supper was laid
out for me- / had an introduction to
him from friend Of his in Christiania,
who promised me some excellent fish
ing, if | would consent to put up with
rough life for few weeks. =
Ingebriet-such was the name in
which my host rejoiced--was tall,
broad-built man. His features were
finely chiselled; in fact, he was a per-
son who could not fail to attract atten-
ton wherever he might be. He was a
widower, but his only daughter, Ingel-
civ, lived at homo with him, and man
aged his domestic affairs for him. These
two, with some half-dozen farm-ser-