The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-29
A TALE OF NORWAY,
iENchangc.

in the map how singular IS that jagged, furrowed, long eoastline, stretching above thousand miles, from the North Cape with its eternal ice, down to genial lati- tude of wheat and flowers. On this vast seaboard water and land seem 10 have been struggling for the mastery, till at last all was amicably settled by division ofthe territory, and the deep fords run miles inland, and the steep promontories pro- rect far out into the ocean. Truly 1t IS d beautiful country, with its great bosses of snow-fields, the long windings of the lake-like fiords, the roaring Toss and the endless pine forest. Then, too, what strange sights meet the traveller; the midsummer nights sun never setting, the months of darkness, the shep- herds life in the Saetcrs. the wandering nomad Laps and their encampments, ,he bear huts and the old world supersti- tlons and customs which finger Tn the secluded valley.
 Norway has still other and more inn portant claims to notice: II IS one of those few and favored countries where freedom is enjoyed, and the hardy, pros- porous peasantry are living witnesses of .he worth of its lInmemorial institutions. Norway. also, was among the frs, to shake of the errors of Rome. and to em- brace the doctrines of the Reformation. IL IS true that rationalIsm and indifference have long chilled the Christian heart of the country, but now 1t IS throbbing with increased vlgor. and sending warm streams of life blood to the eNtrcmities of the land.
 
 \ pleasant farm that of kavensdal. nesting beneath some sheliering rocks n an nl.nd valley not far from the Arc ;ie circle. The eommadous dwelling was of blaekened timber adorned with cuHous carvings and plous sayings cu; ID he beams while clustering round stood the cottages of the peasants who
 u.iisaied the soil. In all the province oi Norl2nd there was not farmer more respected and esteemed, or a more up 'ght, honorable man than Andreas Ian sen, the owner of Ravensdal.
 l. was early one Sunday morning in nidwln,cr, and the anSens were prepar- ing to start for church. drive of many miles. One of the sledges had been re- tently disabled. so none of the farm-serv- ants were able ts so with them. Rather a large party got into the remaining sleIgh, which though roomy one was more than full but when the farmer pro- posed to leave the two boys at home there was SO much lamentation that he relentcd. Andreas handed Ais comedy looking wife lngeborg 10 her seat she was followed by her sons. Raoul. the younger. a 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, Ella's be,to,hed, who the day before had arrived on snow shoes from the southwatd 10 spend a few days al Ravensdal. Andreas mounted to his seat. gently touched with the whip the three horses, harnessed unicorn fashion. and they started ai a smart pace. IL was quite early, for service began at twelve. and as the distance was great it was nee essary To start betimes. As yet there was no gllmmci of daylight. but moon and stars shone with radiance unknown m 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 excessive the absence of breath of wind and the perfect dryness of the atmosphere making !, much more endlrable than the same depression of the thermometer would be m England. II was grand event, this journey 10 church, for weeks and weeks had passed since last they were able 10 go. True. Andreas had every Sunday sort of prayer-meeting at Ravensdal with the neighboring. peasants, but this did rot compensate for the lack of the pubic services. Then, too, the whole family thought lt most fortunate that the fair ness of the weather Sunday of all others, :. C. lhe Sacrament was to be admins tered.
 There was an eerie beauty in the scene the solemn mountains lifting up their hoary heads into the s,ar-sprinkled sky the small tarn with its glistening icy sur face, the stern old pines, whose green looked almost black contrasted with the snow. and the graceful birken trees, those ladies of the woods" decked out, as iittlc kaoul said. when the first rime fell that winter. n their white mantles. all ready for sister Elias wedding day The stiffness was unbrokcn dumb the ere long dancing ely {riverl where. when the valley was filled with the sound of it's noisy music, the English milords had caught the salmon with those marvellous, many colored flies. the envy of the neigh borhood silent and deserted the pictur- esque saw-mill. which had been such busy animated scene tn the summer, when the English lady had sSetched it, half-deafened by the whir of it's wheels. But as if to make amends for the stiffness elsewhere. there was no silence in the sledge. Andreas turned round to ad- dress his wife, or talk to his horses. in that brotherly way so characteristic of the Norwegian, who always makes friends of the fohr-footed creatures in his service, and particularly of his horses. Olaf. the elder boy, who was perched on Rugo's knee, after some vain attempts to obtain his attention, turned to his mother and Raoul, and kept up with them con,inu- ous stream of question and remark; while Hugo and Ella, leaning back in one corner, needing nobody and nothing but