Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-12-03
TALE OF NORWAY.
By 4 YOUNG LADY FROM NORWAY,

BY YOUNG LADY FROM NORWAY.
In the valley of Hallingdahl, at the
foot of mountain, was small and mea-
gre farm. On this farm dwelt Hans and
his wife Johanna. where for years they
had lived in humble way, thankful for
what they had and asking for no more.
When their two twin boys Pere and Ole
came, the parents were very poor; 80 poor
that the good priests wife, hearing of
their misfortunes, came in and took care
of the mother until she became we'll.
From that time, Hans and his wife could
not show their thankfulness enough, and
when their SONS grew older, they told
them of the lady's kindness, and the sons
never lost an opportunity to show, in
their humble way, their gratitude. But
Pere was much smarter, and brighter,
and gayer, than Ole, who was weak and
sickly;: 30 Pere, with his ways and glib
tongue won the favor of the priests wife
and her daughter Petra. Petrla was in
deed a lovable child; round, fair, rosy
checked, with clear blue eyea, ,. and plen-
ty Of yellow hair, which always hung in
two long braids. A laughing girl who
turned the heads of all the village youth,
who came to her fathers house to study.
When Pere and Ole were preparing
for conformation, they too went to the
priests house to study, and it was there
that poor Ole also fell snare to the pret-
ty Petra. She pitied him and was kind
to him. His eyes always frightened
when she came near, until one almost for
got he was the poor sickly Ole. Pere
saw this too and he looked angerly at
Ole. But Ole was gentle, did no harm,
and expected harm from no one. One
night when Petra left the dancers to
come and sit by him he involuntarily
drew up his little figure and thought
will out live this; l will not always
study III will be active; I will not Il.
ways be called "Sickly OLE" So some.
time may do Petra q kindness of which
her mother will not be ashamed. And
he kept his word. He was active and
willing to work. He studied hard. What
he before only dreamed, he sometimes
now. put into words and sung them to
his mother. But a. he grew In all this
he grew in something else too, He read
that book called Human Nature. He
saw that his brother was smart; that his
brother WAS wicked; that his brother
loved Petra; that his brother hated him,
When springtime came his parents
and he went the "Leter" to pasture the
cattle and to make cheese. The Letter"
is one of the most beautiful spots in Nor
way. Up among the mountains are spots
of greenest green, and skies of bluest
blue. Mountain houses arc built for the
keepers of the cattle, and al dav long
You can hear the tinkle of the COW bells.
Here it was Ole and his father and moth
er went Here they lived happy and
free, breathing the pure mountain air.
Pere was at home. He would not come
but would take care of the farm. Ole
knew why he stayed at home, and his
heart was sometimes heavy. He told it
to no one, but he wove it into = song
which was very sad. There were maid
ems in the Letter. as fair and as rosy
checked as Petra, who looked admirinx
" at Ole, but he had no eyes for them, 50
they called him "Love sick Ole." But
he read books-large books-ovsr which
his mother shook her head. He wrote
more verses, and when the pasturage
was over, he went home, we'll in BODY
and mind, ruddler, healthier, manlier
locking: =
Petria gave him both her hands, and
her blue eyes sparkled more than ever
Ali he was happy and thankful then.
OleI verses now were much admired, and
Hallingdahl soon became proud of it's
sunny faced young man, who was soSwise
and who had . good word for all he met.
He now noticed change in Petria's con
duct towards his brother Pere. Instead
Of her free and friendly ways, she appear.
ed afraid Of him and shrunk from meet.
ing him In any place. Toward Ole, Pere
became silent moody. shorter in his an.