From Bentley's Miscellany.

THE SLEDGE DRIVE TO CHURCH.

A TALE OF NORWAY.

of the sledges had been recently disabled, so none of the farm-servants were able to go with them. Rather a large party got into the reWHAT a strange wild country is old Nor- maining sleigh, which though a roomy one way! The brow of the earth, the forehead was more than full; but when the farmer of the world, as the Scalds of eld loved to proposed to leave the two boys at home, call it in their songs. Even in the map how there was so much lamentation that he resingular is that jagged, furrowed, long coast-lented. Andreas handed his comely-looking line, stretching above a thousand miles, from wife Ingeborg to her seat; she was followed the North Cape with its eternal ice, down to by her sons, Raoul the younger, a walking a genial latitude of wheat land and flowers. bundle of fur, taking his place on his mother's On this vast seaboard, water and land seem knees. Ella, the pretty only daughter, next to have been struggling for the mastery, till stepped in; and lastly, carrying some wrap at last all was amicably settled by a division for his lady-love, came Hugo, Ella's betrothed, of the territory, and the deep fiords run miles who the day before had arrived on snow-shoes inland, and the steep' promontories project from the southward, to spend a few days at far out into the ocean. Truly it is a beautiful Ravensdal. Andreas mounted to his seat, country, with its great bosses of snow-fields, gently touched with the whip the three the long windings of the lake-like fiords, the horses, harnessed unicorn fashion, and they roaring Foss, and the endless pine forest. started at a smart pace. It was quite early Then, too, what strange sights meet the trav- for service began at twelve, and as the dis eller: the midsummer night's sun never set-tance was great it was necessary to start ting, the months of darkness, the shepherd's betimes. As yet there was no glimmer of life in the Saeters, the wandering nomade daylight, but moon and stars shone with a Laps and their encampments, the bear hunts, radiance unknown in our latitudes, and there and the Old World superstitions and customs was abundance of light for the journey. which linger in the secluded valleys.

Buried in skins and furs, the party did not Norway has still other and more important feel the cold, which though great was not ex claims to notice; it is one of those few and cessive-the absence of a breath of wind and favored countries where freedom is enjoyed, the perfect dryness of the atmosphere making and the hardy prosperous peasantry are it much more endurable than the same de living witnesses of the worth of its immemo- pression of the thermometer would be in rial institutions. Norway, also, was among England. It was a grand event this journey the first to shake off the errors of Rome, to church, for weeks and weeks had passed and to embrace the doctrines of the Reformation. It is true that rationalism and indifference have long chilled the Christian heart of the country, but now it is throbbing with increased vigor, and sending warm streams

of life-blood to the extremities of the land.

since last they were able to go. True, Andreas had every Sunday a sort of prayer meeting at Ravensdal with the neighboring peasants, but this did not compensate for the lack of the public services. Then, too, the whole family thought it most fortunate that A pleasant-looking farm that of Ravensdal, the fairness of the weather should enable nestling beneath some sheltering rocks in an them to go on this especial Sunday of all inland valley not far from the Arctic circle. others, for it was what they call an altar-day, The commodious dwelling was of blackened i. e. the Sacrament was to be administered timber, adorned with curious carving, and There was an eyrie beauty in the scene: pious sayings cut in the beams; while cluster- the solemn mountains lifting up their hoary ing round stood the cottages of the peasants heads into the star-sprinkled sky; the small who cultivated the soil. In all the province tarn with its glittering icy surface, the stern of Norland there was not a farmer more re- old pines, whose green looked almost black spected and esteemed, or a more upright, contrasted with the snow, and the graceful honorable man, than Andreas Jansen, the birken trees, those "ladies of the woods," owner of Ravensdal. decked out, as little Raoul said, when the It was early one Sunday morning in mid- first rime fell that winter, in their white winter, and the Jansens were preparing to mantles, all ready for sister Ella's wedding start for church, a drive of many miles. One day. The stillness was unbroken; dumb the

ere long dancing elv (river), where, when the the air, even if they could make room for valley was filled with the sound of its noisy him in that state. To turn back and take music, the English milords had caught the him home was almost as difficult, and if so salmon with those marvellous many-colored they must give up church entirely. Ella, flies, the envy of the neighborhood; silent who had alighted to assist them, at last said and deserted the picturesque saw-mill, which in a decided tone, "There is but one thing, had been such a busy animated scene in the father, that we can do: Hugo must stay with summer, when the English lady had sketched the poor man." it, half deafened by the whir of its wheels. But as if to make amends for the stillness elsewhere, there was no silence in the sledge. Andreas turned round to address his wife, or talked to his horses, in that brotherly way so characteristic of the Norwegian, who always makes friends of the four-footed creatures in his service, and particularly of his horses. Olaf, the elder boy, who was perched on" she was the first to propose getting rid of Hugo's knee, after some vain attempts to me."

"Yes," said Hugo," that is the best plan. You drive on to church, and take us up in the afternoon as you return; by that time he is sure to be all right."

"Well," said Andreas, "it does seem the only way; but it will be a sad disappointment for you, my poor girl."

"I do not know that," muttered Hugo;

obtain his attention, turned to his mother "Now that is too bad," said Ella, with a and Raoul, and kept up with them a continu- face rueful enough to satisfy her lover," when ous stream of question and remark; while you know I have been counting for weeks Hugo and Ella, leaning back in one corner, and weeks upon your being with us for this heeding nobody and nothing but themselves, altar Sunday."

found much to say to each other in low, happy tones. And the tinkling of the merry sleigh bells, as they jingled round the horses' collars, made to all this a most musical accompaniment.

It clearly was the most feasible plan, and so it was settled. Ella murmured to Hugo as he helped her into the sledge again :

"God will not the less bless our engagement that it begins with an act of self-denial." "True, Ella; you remember what you said last night about being almost too happy, every thing so bright; it is as well there should be a little cross.'

Some provisions, which had been put into the sledge ready for any emergency, were handed out to Hugo, and he was entreated to take care of himself as well as the pedler, and to keep up a good fire.

"Certainly," said he, " no fear of not doing that; why here is fire-wood enough to roast half a dozen oxen whole. You are sure you will be able to do without me, Father Andreas?"

One third of the journey was over, when, with a startled exclamation, Andreas suddenly pulled up his horses. At a turn of the road there lay, extended on the snow, a human form. In a minute the farmer had confided the reins to Olaf, proud of the charge, and he and Hugo jumping down, ran to give assistance. The pack at the man's side told them that he was one of those pedlers who wander from farm-house to farm-house all over the country. Overpowered by the cold, he had sunk into that fainting, deathlike sleep from which there is ofttimes no waking. At first all efforts to rouse him failed, but life was evidently not extinct; so seeing a châlet close at hand, which in the summer had been used as a covert for cattle, and now was a store for firewood, they carried him there, So they started off again, Olaf saucily calland kindling a fire on the outside, they rubbed ing out to Hugo, that now he was gone Ella his limbs till some warmth returned, and would be of some use to other people, and poured some corn brandy (which no Norwe-that the rest of the party would gain, not gian travels without) down his throat, and he lose, one by his departure. However, Ella partially revived. All this occupied some was not inclined to be lively, and her gravity time, and now they were quite in a dilemma infected even the high spirits of her young as to what to do next. Leave him they could brothers. The remainder of the drive was not, to take him on with them was impossi- rather dull for all parties, and every one ble; he was not sufficiently recovered to bear was glad when the peaked roofs of the small

Perfectly, the horses are quite manageable, the road good, and the weather set fair— we can have no difficulty."

town came into sight The Jansens drove them anxious to be off, and the good old to a relation's house, put up the horses, left man, shaking him heartily by the hand, said: their outer coverings in the sledge, and then "So some of you have been acting what I entered the church soon after service had have been preaching, playing the good Sa commenced. Dame Ingeborg and Ella took maritan. Well, well, it shall not lack its retheir places on the north side, while Andreas ward. God bless you, friend Andreas!" and his boys went to the south, the men's The short-lived, northern day had long side. The church was a large octagon waned when, leaving the clustered, wooden wooden building, black with age, and of pic-dwellings surrounding the church behind turesque construction, the interior adorned them, the Jansens started on their homewith quaint carving and some strange fres- ward route to Ravensdal. But little was the coes of Scripture subjects, dating from before daylight missed, for the glorious northern the Reformation. It was well filled and with lights were up, streaming, flickering like fiery a congregation as picturesque as the building. banners across the sky, brighter far than the There was a mixture of races and dress, the pale Arctic winter sun, and diffusing around Norse women wearing beneath their hoods a mild beautiful radiance neither sunshine the "lue," the close-fitting, black cap, and nor moonshine, but a light more poetic, more dark, sober-colored dress, while the Fins romantic, than that of common day or night. were decked out in gaudy colors and tinsel Little Raoul clapped his hands with delight, ornaments. The tall forms of the blue-eyed, as from the luminous cloud on the northern fair-haired descendants of the Vikings, con- horizon streamers of green, purple, red, and trasted very favorably with the stunted fig- golden light shot up. Andreas said it was ures and dark, sallow faces of the more years and years since an Aurora so splendid northern and inferior race. The pastor was had been seen. "Look at that blood-red a venerable old man, dressed in the style of color: our forefathers thought it ever foreour English divines of the time of Elizabeth baded death or misfortunes. I have heard and James I. He had on the black canoni- many stories of the terror such an appear cals of the Lutheran clergy; a thick, white ance occasioned. How happy are we who ruff round his neck, his long white hair have learnt to trust in a Heavenly Father, floated over his shoulders, while, on account and no longer fear such omens." of the cold, he wore a black velvet skull-cap on his head.

A lonely road was their way home: no habitations except a few farm-houses near the town, and when these were passed a long stretch of desolate country-wild, rocky val leys, all clad in their snowy garments, with the deserted summer châlets scattered over them, mocking the traveller with an idea of human life; beneath, frowning precipices of black rock, where the snow could find no resting-place; through pine woods, whose venerable denizens had survived many gene rations of mortals,

"Moored to the rifted rock.

Prayers and singing over, he commenced his discourse without notes of any kind, and in a strain of simple, fervid eloquence, which riveted the attention of his auditors; he expounded the sublime precept which Christianity first inculcated, of doing to others what we would that they should do to us. The sermon over some christenings followed, and then the Communion. The service, which had lasted more than three hours, at length terminated, and they emerged from the church. Many were the greetings to be exProof to the tempest shock." changed between friends and neighbors unThe children were asleep, Raoul in his seen for long, and it was some time ere the mother's arms, who half unconsciously was Jansens reached the relation's house, where humming to herself a hymn of praise as she they were to partake of the mid-day meal. wrapped the little nestling warm in her furs. This over, they did not linger long, for An- Olaf, after repeated declarations that he was dreas had promised Hugo they would re- not in the least sleepy, had been glad to lean turn as soon as possible. As they were his head against his sister's shoulder; his leaving the town, they were stopped near eyes soon closed, and he was as sound asleep the parsonage by the pastor, who pressed as his little brother. Ella gave herself up to them to come in and see the Frau Pastorinn. a dreamy reverie as she thought over the Andreas explained the reasons which made solemn communion service, the sermon, and

then the bright future before her. Pleasant tumultuous rush of blood through her veins, thoughts they were: in her life's horizon it Ella sank back on her seat. It was a fearful was all blue sky behind her, and she saw still revulsion of feeling to be thus suddenly torn more before her. And soon these thoughts from a state of dreamy reverie, and brought were woven together, and bright castles in face to face with a great danger. The faintthe air arose which made her smile to herself ing sensation was over directly, and closing as she pictured them before her mind's eye; her eyes for a moment and murmuring a what Hugo and she would do when they had heartfelt prayer, her natural courage rea home of their own, how they would wel- turned. Ella had till then only seen dead come the wayfarer, nurse the sick, and suc- wolves, the trophies of the chase, and once cor the distressed. Then higher and upwards or twice one securely muzzled on its way to -flew her thoughts, and she imagined the hour some foreign menagerie; but too many when earth's usefulness should cease, earth's dreadful wolf-stories are current round Norhappiness fade; when, the threshold of eter-wegian hearths in the winter for her not to nity passed, they should hear the angelic songs of victory, and a voice from the throne saying, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

divine the greatness of the peril, and she tried to calculate their probable distance from home, and the chances of escape.

Frau Ingeborg next heard the howl, and asked the same terrified question as her Lost in her own thoughts, Ella had little daughter. 'Oh, God, my poor children!" heeded a noise which was heard from time to was her only exclamation; and then she time, and which she fancied the fall of ava- too, was calm and still. Nearer, nearer is lanches from crag to crag in the mountains. the howling-faster go the terrified horses, But now on all of a sudden she remarked that their instinct has told them the danger. her father had several times turned his head Ella gently disengages herself from the to look back, and that his face wore a trou-sleeping Olaf, and, unbidden, gets out the bled expression. "What is it, father?" she rifie and powder-flask, and in silence looks to asked; "is there anything the matter? the loading. Andreas' eyes fall,. on her; he is even at that moment pleased to see the fruit of the training he has given his child, in her pale, composed face and steady hand, like a brave Norse maiden as she was. Her eyes are now strained to look back as far as she can. Ere long, on the brow of a hill they have descended, she sees a black moving mass against the sky. "I see them, father, but they are far off yet." "God

'Nothing, nothing," he answered, in a short, stern manner not at all usual to him"I hope nothing;" and then murmured to himself, in a lower tone, "God grant it may be nothing."

Her uneasiness by no means lessened, but,
understanding he did not wish to be ques-
tioned, she remained silent, but with her at-
tention on the alert to discover the cause for
anxiety. The dull noise in the rear certainly
increased, and was heard at fitful intervals,
now almost swelling into a note, then dying
away, and was decidedly nearer than when
first she had remarked it. The horses, too,
seemed by some wonderful instinct to par-
take her father's uneasiness. Just then the
noise began afresh, and now an unmistakable
howl sent a flash of certainty into her mind.
Unable longer to bear the suspense, she half
rose, and gasped out "Oh, father, is it-is it
the wolves?"

They are a long way behind," said An-
dreas; 66
we shall reach home well, never
fear."

A groan escapes from Andreas. help us, then!" he mutters. Wife and daughter read his face, and from their hearts, too, goes up that agonized prayer. Ah! well may they pray it. On come the pack, some half-hundred gaunt, hungry wolves, their dismal howl freezing the life-blood of the Jansens. The horses bound onwards with rednostrils and panting sides; they go like the wind, but the distance is steadily diminished. And the howl of the wolves sounds like a mocking demon cry, "Ha, ha! ye go fast, we faster; ye are few, we are many; it is ou turn now; ye are the hunted, we the hun-ters. Ha, ha! how like ye the change?"

But the farmer's face contradicted his "Would it not be possible," said Ella," to cheerful words, and with a sinking of heart take refuge in one of these châlets?. Could as if its action had been stopped, and then awe not barricade ourselves there?" DCCIV. LIVING AGE. VOL. XIX. 30

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