SCENES FROM PEASANT LIFE IN NORWAY.

IN Tönset parish, in Oesterdal, on a hill-side, rising from the borders of the narrow tarn which winds like a river through the glen, stands the house which my grandfather built for himself when he first settled in the village.* At the time of which I am about to speak, when I

*This word is adopted as most intelligible to English readers, though it does not quite truly render the Norwegian term, bygd (meaning strictly an inhabited place); for, though the people of a bygd consider themselves as forming a community, their dwellings are not clustered together as in a village, but are spread over an area frequently several Norwegian miles in extent, each farmhouse being situated in the midst of the lands belonging to it; and as the peasantry make everything for themselves-from their houses, household furniture, and linen, to their harness, ploughs, carts, &c.-the bygd presents none of the usual features of the village.

The feudal system having never been introduced into Norway, the peasantry of that country have, from the earliest ages to the present times, possessed their lands in freehold; and although the right of taking part in the popular assemblies, and giving his voice on all matters of public interest, which was originally enjoyed by every Scandinavian Bonde, or freeborn holder of property, was superseded during four hundred years, the Norwegian peasant (to which class the name Bonde is now exclusively applied) has regained his lost

No. 146.

was a boy of thirteen, the house, like its master, bore traces of the years that had passed over it, and was in no way distinguished from that of an ordinary Norwegian peasant-farmer; but in my eyes, it was a dwelling fit for a king. The rough aspect of the outer walls, formed of logs, laid one upon the other, and tightened in the interstices with layers of moss, was relieved by the shining panes of glass in the broad windows, that let in abundance of air and light, and gave a look of cheerfulness to the house within and without. How well I remember every nook and corner: the Storstue (large room, or reception-room), with its dark wooden panellings, its high-backed carved chairs, with embossed Russia leather seats; the huge oaken presses and cupboards, in which were ranged, in studied order, all kinds of curiosities from the four kingdoms of nature, together with models of various machines and utensils; the venerable old musicalclock in the corner, made by my grandmother's father, which played such beautiful psalms; and above the door, the head of a stately elk, with horns measuring six feet between the tips, and eyes of polished pebbles. Then there was the large cheerful kitchen, with its long white deal-table, where the family took their repasts, 'themselves' Occupying the upper end, while the domestics were seated at the lower. Outside the kitchen-window was the board on which grandfather strewed pease for the pigeons every morning, calling them to their meal with the shrill tones of a watchman's whistle; and under the eaves of the gable, was the box he had prepared as a nest for the starling, which never failed to take possession of it in spring, when he returned from his long travels.

Behind the house was the garden, surrounded by a high wooden fence, with a double row of larches on the outside, to protect it against the north wind. But the poor foreigners seemed themselves to stand in need of protection from this rude child of the north; for although they had stood there upwards of forty years, they did not yet reach much above the fence. Within were many delicate leafy trees, such as the wild cherry and the rowan; and in one of the angles, a bower formed of the Siberian pea. In the garden-beds grew carrots and onions, and potatoes and pease; and, best of all, wild strawberries, which, however plentiful in other parts of Norway, are very rare in this place. Then there was the middle walk, with position within the last century, and may now elect and be elected to a seat in the Diet of his country. The farms are generally of about forty or fifty acres, each having, besides, a large tract of pasturage in the Fjelds or mountains, whither the cattle are sent to pasture in spring and summer, under the care of the daughters and female servants of the farmers. Upon these out-farms, which are called Sæter, there are of course houses for the 'sœtergirls' to sleep in, and to carry on their dairy-work, all of which is done here; but they are of inferior construction. Below the farmers or Gaardmænd, there is a race of cottars, or Huusmand (housemen), as they are termed in the language of the country, whose lot is a less happy one; yet, even these are not without their bit of ground, mostly, however, held in rent; in which case, as also when large farms are held in rent, the lease is always granted for the lifetime of husband and wife, and generally renewed to the son on the demise of the parents. The rent of the cottars is usually paid in labour, either of husband or wife.

the gilt sun-dial; and the rural seat, with the stone table in front; and the little flower-bed, with its border of mountain auriculas, transplanted by myself from the grassy slope without. Ah, that was a garden which had not its like! at least within a distance of ten miles. *

One spot in the landscape, on the other side of the tarn, was particularly dear to me: this was the bank beyond the meadow, with the beautiful drooping birches, on which stood Tjönmo Farm dwelling-house, with its dark-brown log walls, its broad windows and turf-covered roof, and clustering around it the various barns, outhouses, and stables, each under a separate roof; and, foremost in importance in my eyes, old Mother Kari's store-room, raised upon posts, to secure it from the visits of the rats and other enemies. The Tjönmo children-Olaug, Sigri, and Per--were my sister's and my dearest and most constant companions. Many a feast of dried salt meat and cream from Mother Kari's store-room had we with them; and in return, it was they who, above all others, were invited to celebrate grandfather's birthday with us, when we were regaled with chocolate out of the little china cups, and with gingerbread and dried figs, produced from the mysterious chest in the passage, in which grandfather seemed to have stored away the good things of all climes.

II.

RAGNHILD AND BERSVEND.

At the time of which I am speaking, several of the daughters of Tjönmo were already confirmed.† The eldest, whose name was Ragnhild, was considered the prettiest girl in the village-nay, perhaps, in the whole Oesterdal—at least so said the Sorenskriver's (local magistrate) clerks, and they were very knowing in such matters: indeed, one of them, who had just come home after a visit to Christiania, maintained that, even in the capital, there was not a girl equal to Ragnhild Tjönmo. The people of the village, however, spoke little of Ragnhild's beauty. Among these simple mountaineers, delicacy of feature is not much appreciated, and no one thinks of finding fault with a face that is not decidedly disfigured: Ragnhild

*There are seven English miles to one Norwegian mile.

In the Lutheran Church, in Scandinavia, confirmation, which is compulsory on all classes of the people, and may be performed by clergymen of all grades, generally takes place between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. The children receive regular instruction from the pastor six months previous to the confirmation; and on the day of the ceremony, are publicly examined in the church before the blessing is conferred. No young persons can be admitted to the previous religious classes who are not able to read and write; and certificate of confirmation being required on their entering into private or public service, and on various other occasions of life, such as marriage, &c., this acts as a compulsory enactment as regards popular education, at least as far as relates to the rudiments.

herself would, therefore, probably never have known that she was pretty, had it not been for the said clerks, and some stray lieutenants, sent to make trigonometrical surveys, who were always so anxious to take part in the hay-making when Ragnhild was there. But the poor fellows got little for their trouble; and even the lads of the village found her door closed against them, when, in accordance with the custom of the country, they went to visit her in the evening after the labours of the day were over.

Very likely, however, Ragnhild made an exception with Bersvend Embretsen, the son of the house in the neighbouring farm, Tröen. Bersvend was not particularly comely; but in his sunburned freckled face and clear blue eyes there was an expression of goodness and honesty that won all hearts. And the lasses liked him well for a partner in the dance; for, lithe, muscular, and well-built as he was, they were always sure that in the Halling* he would raake Slinda, or reach the beam. Ragnhild and Bersvend had grown up together, and had learned to love each other, without either of them being able to say when the feeling took birth. Sure it is, they wished to become man and wife; but, as it so often happens, the parents and the children were not of one mind on this subject, and old Arne Tjönmo, Ragnhild's father, received Bersvend's advances in no friendly spirit. Bersvend's mother, who was a widow, had mismanaged affairs since her husband's death, and had got the farm deeply in debt, and as yet Bersvend had not succeeded in setting matters to rights again. Besides, Mother Beret had the name of being something of a scold; and she and the goodman at Tjönmo had repeatedly had words together about fences that were broken down, or sheep or calves that had strayed, and such-like matters as may easily occur between neighbours; and therefore old Arne had no wish to have Bersvend for his son-in-law. For a long while, however, he left things alone, and seemed not to heed that Bersvend was 'going after' his Ragnhild; but when the latter rejected several good offers, and obstinately refused to yield to her father's remonstrances, he thought it was time to watch his lamb more closely. When, therefore, Bersvend at length, though with little hope of success, presented himself, in company with a kinsman, to make formal application for Ragnhild's hand, as is the custom of the country, Arne Tjönmo was highly incensed, and gave the suitor a blunt refusal; telling him, in plain terms, that a man who knew not when he would be driven from house and home, had no business to take a wife. In vain Bersvend's companion urged, that the debt had been considerably reduced since the young man had been allowed

* A national dance, requiring an extraordinary degree of agility and muscular strength, the dancer having sometimes to bend so low as almost to touch the floor with his knees, at others to make a sudden leap, and touch the wall or the ceiling with his toe. Skill in this dance is so much prized, that records are kept of extraordinary feats of agility performed therein.

to take the management of the farm into his hands; and in vain Ragnhild, who was in the next room, wept till her apron was steeped in tears. From that moment she was more closely watched. She was no longer allowed to fetch water from the well at Trön, as she used to do; and when spring came round, and they were to go to sæters, either Ragnhild staid at home, or her mother went with her. But it is no easy matter to shut up a kid, says an old proverb, and, in spite of all precautions, Ragnhild and Bersvend found opportunities to meet; but nevertheless, confinement and sorrow began to fade the roses on Ragnhild's cheeks, and Bersvend went about with downcast looks, and kept aloof when the young people met for social amusement.

III.

BOATING ACROSS THE MEADOW S.

It was Whitsunday morning; the soft south breeze and the clear blue sky, in which a few vapoury white clouds were sailing, promised a real summer day, although we were only in the beginning of June; and, in general, summer does not reach our northern mountain valleys so early in the year. The solemn pealing of the church-bell announced the festive day. Within the house everything had been scoured, cleaned, and tidied; the white deal floors were strewn with fresh green tops of fir; and round the kitchen fireplace and the plate-racks were wreathed verdant branches of birch. The maidservants had donned their green holiday bodices with snow-white linen sleeves; we had all partaken of the cream porridge, which constituted our breakfast on great holidays, and were awaiting a signal from grandfather to proceed together to church.

The tarn, which usually was not broader than that it might be spanned across with one or two ordinary fishing-nets, was on this day swelled into a mighty lake. The long sharp-bladed grass and numerous water-plants which commonly fringed the banks, were nowhere to be seen; and the low dike which bridged it over, as also the meadows on the far side, through which runs the pathway that leads to the church, had likewise disappeared: for the spring-floods, which had this year come later than usual, and had been much swelled by the sudden thawing of the snow on the mountains, had united into one great sheet the waters of the tarn and the river Glommen, overflowing the low grounds that intervened between them. Only a few wooded knolls were seen rising, like little islands, out of the lake. It was a strange but pretty sight, to see the drooping birches lifting their crowns of tender green foliage out of the tranquil waters, while the tops of the lower bushes seemed to swim about on the surface, until here and there they gathered again into