Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-26

tabiishments, two herders are employ.
ed, when they are allowed TO Craze
out continually. the herdswomen or
herdsmen being relieved every twelve
hours. Women and mep work on
even terms on Norwegian ranches and
receive the same wages. There is
little danger of the cattle wandering
| away. because the Norwegian cows
are very domestic and are so accus.
| toned to being stabbed that usually
they have to be driven away from the
houses, but the mountain saeters are
exposed to the wolves, which often
attack them If they are not watched.
The dairy maids are called "sater-
ienter." They are supposed to have
a particular costume, although | have
never seen ii worn. The garments
worn by the ''saeterjenter" in this sec.
tfon of the country are very plain and
ordinary. and seem to have been Sc.
lected for wear and not for looks.
There is a good deal of romance
about saeter life in books, but should
say there was very little of 1t in ac-
tual experience. Many of the charm
ing fairy stories in Norwegian liter
ature have their scenes at these noun
tain dairies. The saeter girls have a
peculiar and melodious cattle call,
known as the "Huldrelok,' which is
said to have been inherited from the
Huldre-folk." species of fairies
which are worry pretty, but unfortun-
ately have tails. The folk lore is
rich in stories of the "Huldrefolk. 4"
Usually young farmer falls in love
with one of the girls, and when he dis.
covers that she has a tail is so shock.
ed and disappointed that he throws
himself over preciplce; or perhaps
The "Huldre-folk" gobble him up and
carry him off into the mountains of
the JosteldalsbTae and keep him there
while the girl he left behind grieves
herself to death because of his deser-
ton.
We visited saeter yesterday and
found two young people, a boy and
girl, neither of them over II If we
could judge by appearances, in charge
of 10 cows, and they expected to re-
main in that desolate place all sum
mer making butter and myseost. the
native cheese, which is of a brownish
color and looks like maple sugar. 1t
is not so strong as Dutch or Swiss
cheese, and has a sweet, insipid taste
that is very much liked by the Nor
wegians. 1t is only one of many va
rieties, however. You can get
pungent cheese without difficulty. In
lhe country districts cheese is one of
the chief articles of diet, and at the
little inns along the highways it is
in all grades of taste and
smell. A few varieties are quiet,
tame and humble; the rest are more
or less aggressive, and some of the
kinds are actually violent. have
known a certain woman to leave the
table when the cover is lifted from a
Norwegian cheese,
and | have often been required to as
certain its exact location and secure
seats at the other end OF the table
before she will go in to breakfast.
Our little 'saetarjenta" had the
heart of poet, although her brother
seemed stupid. and even liberal pres
ents of money did not wake him up
Or make him interesting. | do not
suppose that this child had ever been
twenty miles away from the humble
cabin in which she was born, but the
vide, wide world had been opened TO
her through the books she studied at
school. She could talk little Eng
slish and knew good deal about the
United States. She has brother in
and several girls and boys
rom her neiehborhood have gone
across the Atlantic and found homes
lpon the saeterless prairies of the
northwest. She would like to go her
self, she said, but her parents are get
ting old. her mother is in poor health
and the entire responsibility of the
and the farm work is upon
her little shoulders. Yet she is brave
and contented Her mind is clear.
Her imagination is active and among
her homely surroundings she has am
pie food for thought and an opportu
lity to give expression TO the poetic
sentiments which inspire her. Each
of her Is cows has a name One she
calls the Moon Lady because she of.
ten wanders away at night; another
the Grown Weaver. because of pecu-
liar tuft upon her head. She address
IS them all in terms of affection and
ralks to them and seeks their sympa-
hy, for, poor child, they and that stu
pid, tow-headed "broder' are her only
companions in that desolate place.
WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Mother's Partinu Words