The National tribune., 1909-11-11

boat was nearly two hours late. and
when we got on board of her about s
o'clock We found her Iiretty well crowd
ed, with her small deck sloppy and
dirty. We got seats wherever we could,
fortunately together, and tho every
thing was so horrid, we forgot our dis
comfort temporarily lin thes magniii-
cence of the scenery. We were on the
lovely Sunelvsfjord, which was so mar
row that the great rocky peaks, SEEM
ingIy higher and grander thauianything
we had seen while on the Amazon, We're
at times SO close that we could almost
touch them. We stopped at many a
little fishing village, copSi sting of some
half-dozen houses and usually a small
white church. poor in everything but its
wonderful situation. The mist was so
heavy, however, that we could only see
very indistinctly, and as it grew later it
became heavier, until finally Elizabeth
and /, cold and wet where we were,
sought the protection of the only COW
cred place on deck, small room with
seats for about four people. Earlier in
the evening, while watching the Won
derful scenery thru the mist, a man,
rather poorly dressed, but very intelli-
gent looking and extremely gentleman
ly in manner, answered III good English
some question he had heard us ask, and
w x
ing his native land after an absence of
|2O years. Norway was u beautiful coun-
try, indeed, but his people would never
|amOunt to anything While they We're
content with their fishing and haying.
They lacked enterprise and ambition, he
said, and he pointed out to us Little
hut clinging to the side of the rock
way up at the very top of great peak,
apparently as far away from everything
human as it could possibly get. I'm
what other country could you find any
one willing to live like that" he said,
and when we asked how such people
did live he replied that probably they
had a few sheep up there, and raised a
little something which kept them from
Starving. He had come to Norway to
visit his native village, and would re-
turn to America, of course; that was
the only land where a man had any
chance to make anything of himself.
Pretty soon after this we stopped at one
of these little forlorn places, much Ike
the inclosed picture, where he left us,
and / didn't wonder, indeed, that he
had the ticket for his return passage in
his pocket as he probably had.
Inside of this small place. be-
fore referred to, where at least we
were protected from the rain and
cold. we found pretty, bright-eyed.
well-dressed girl of about 16 and her
nicely behaved younger sister of per-
haps 10. These children had been off
somewhere visiting relatives, and were
returning to their home. The older
girl spoke English well, said she had
learned it ir the schools, and that all
her girl and hoy friends spoke it as
well as she did. She displayed much
interest in America, and said she want
ed to go there and be lady compan-
ion," for she had heard that girls made
q great deal of money being lady COM
panion' in America. Pretty soon these
children, whose prattle had interested
and amused us. got off at one of the
many stops, and Elizabeth and l were
left alone. The fog was now so thick
that nothing whatever could be seen
from the deck, and we summoned all
our philosophy to endure the remaining
hours We were naturally very tired.
and the supper which we had been OBJ
liged to take on the boat was the first
poor meal we had had in Norway. On
each side of the door opening into this
box of a place was a long cushioned
seat, and each of us took one of these
and stretched out, trying to get n nap.
Pretty soon a little maid came in, bring
ing two pillows and two blankets, which
mitigated the gloom considerably. We
were long past conversation, but we
couldn't either of US lose consciousness
for q moment. ! kept quiet and tried
to- but poor Elizabeth was too miser-
able to keep her reclining position, and
whenever 1 opened my eyes and looked
at her she presented such q picture of
woe, with her head buried In her hands,
that if / hadn't felt so sorry for her 1
should have laughed. 1t did seem so
absurd that we two, out on the gayest
Of pleasure trips, should be caught In
such a forlorn pickle as this. Well, the
hours slowly dragged on, and finally, at
$3.50. the Captain sent some one TO tell
us that we were at Hellesylt. We got
our traps together and were all ready
to step ashore as soon as the little
steamer made the landing. On shore
we found the porter of the Grand Ho-
tel' (they are mostly "Grands" in these
places, consisting of three or four
houses), whom we silently followed to
his exceedingly simple hostelry. Every
thing was clean, as everything always
is in this land, but our rooms were fur
nished as plainly as prison cell would
be, tho j have never seen prison cell.
containing nothing but the little bed,
with untucked bedding in true Norway
fashion, one wooden chair and wash
stand. But little did we care for G!-
Dearauces at that hour. We were not
long in saying goodnight to each other.
YOU better believe, and having tucked
in orr foots. tumbled in as quickly as
possible.
L is is a heavenly, beautiful place, as
told YOU in the beginning of this let
ter The sun is shining. We had a
very good breakfast, sharing it with a
silent German, good looking and evi-
IDENTIFY here fishing. We expect our
stolk jaerre and driver to appear any
moment to drive us to Grodes. where
we are to stop for dinner, then we
change horse. driver and stolkjaerre
and drive to Faleidet, where we are to
spend the nighl We are as gay as
larks, in spite OF the small amount of
sleep we had last night and the discom-
fort of the experience of the steamer,
and feel that the curtain is now well
up, the orchestra finished its opening
piece, and the show about to begin in
good earnest. You shall be informed
If its development, favorite niece. as 1t
unfolds step by step. / could ask for
no more appreciative or sympathetic
audience. Your loving,
Sailor Aunt"