The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-04-16
A NIGHT IN A SETTER.
The Queer Experience of Traveller
in Norway.

prepared Tor long walk over the
fields, writes traveller describing his
tramp through Norway. My trusty
Baedeker informed me that should
find well defined path leading ovei
the hills to Molmen, fifty miles off
and that could get bed at the Ny.
seter, half way; so nothing doubling
l set forth, armed only with a KNAPP
sack, for my solitary expedition.
may mention that aseter is a hut |
usually two-roomed, situated high up
on the mountains, whittier the valley |
inhabitants drive up their cattle for
two or three months i'll the Summer.
The charge of these cattle is usually
deputed to girls, who occupy them
selves in compromising cheese during
their sojourn in the seters, as the cot
tie look after themselves for the most
part, and only require to be driven
out in the morning, and called back
in the evening.
1t was q steep climb up from the
valley, and the sun was really very
hot; luckily had many excuses for
halt, as the views became finer at
every step. The mountains seemed to
spring up on all sides, but looked es-
pecially grand to the south, where the
Jotunheim district lies. In walk OF
nine or ten hours / saw no living crea-
ture but stray bird or two. The
path OF which Baedeker had so much
to say, SOON became nothing but a
name pushed steadily on, however,
and. soon came upon little noun
tain valley with turbid stream
rushing down it, and, to my Joy, sew
eral little huts scattered about on its
bank. | felt convinced that this could
not be the Ny-sater, but the fact that
it was O. human habitation was quite
enough.
Outside the first hut was a man cut
ting up logs, so / summoned up my
| best Morse and accosted him. lie
| speedily informed me that | had mis-
: sed my way altogether, and was now
miles from the y-seter-in fact, three
J hours walk from anywhere SO, as II
was then o'clock, the only thing was
e to try and get q bed where | was. My
I friend told me that he could supply
: my wants, and proceeded to Introduce
: me to his hut.
1t looked most unpromising from
outside, but proved to be clean
( though terribly stuffy, within. Tn
whole establishment really consisted
of only one room, as a kind OF littl
IS pantry; into which peeped througl
y an open door, was consecrated entire
ly to milk pans and pals OF variou
~ shapes and sizes The effect OF tn
O larger room was exceedingly pictures
lie que.
" All was OF wood, of course, excep
! the huge cavernous hearth, which wa
"a constructed ofstone. Over this hun
re two enormous caldrons filled wit
a. milk in process, | imagine, OF bein
10 turned into cheese. Everything /
this mountainous region, where tn
u winds in Winter must be terrific, ha
u to be uncommonly strong, and tt
p vast beams that supported the ro'
Sc looked as if they conld resist any sol
et of weather. But they had other us'
en- than merely to sustain the fabric
re the house. They seemed to me
us combine the duties of wardrobe al
Is store cupboard as well, for all ma
20; ner of things were hanging from the
Iiu in the most picturesque disorder.
NJ / cannot tell what various kinds
nc apparel l distinguished; but amo
TO articles of an edible nature | detect
ne what looked like strips OF dried mee
'lo and / think, onions, also, but l cou
we not be sure of the latter. At any ra
mt when the lady of the house appear
- and gave me my supper, which to-
some time, as her astonishment at n
appearance and condition required
quarter of an hour or so to evapora
on got nothing but hadbrod, a kind
ei light oatcake, and milk. However, t
su- milk was delicious, and the fladbrod,
I'll not very sustaining was fresh and crl
ty, so did not regret the STRIPS OF mei
OH After supper | began to think OF be
being rather tired after my da,
" march, but my experiences OF s@t
aV- life were by no means at an e
la yet. The inhabitants OF the varic
huts in the neighborhood had heard
a.. my arrival, and all trooped in to inv
ely tigate the stranger. was really gu
vas an event in the hamlet and fully
sh- preciated the honor of my positi
ere They seemed very amiable set oipe
ants, and did my best to compreh'
me- and answer their various questions
by, They were much pleased at find
ere that | was an Englishman which
hattering, and were quite overco
tor with delight when l showed them
int Morse English dialogues at the enc
"Baedeker," for several ofthem seen
ler, able to read. But the climax '
ms, reached when | produced my tobaC
OF then / was promoted at once to
rank of a hero.
red, | was rather amused at their
not quette the men all came up and CT
+ / tered away volubly enough but
1T. women and children evidently did
permit themselves such familiarity
perhaps it was my appearance WI
overawed them, for they only sal
)Ueu a bench by the door and stared.
the After q time all the visitors exc
yerv one retired, and he, my host, and |
heir ana SMOKED over ehe SlomnIs 49,
the " beautiful scene; the deep shad
in the roof lit up by an occasiC
own blaze from the pinelogs, the huge
mas hearth and the quaint figures sit
over it made up quite Rembri
tesaue picture, and the whole t
saiu was delightfully."- cosy after my raj
- over the bleak fields.
or' Nv hostess seemed quite to
disappeared; where she slept ] cal
imagine. but at any rate the one r
~ was left to her husband and me.
1. L., I ~,