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seen at the judge's and the pastor's omber parties。 And for all this Bjarne
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
Blakstad only hated him the more。 Hedin's wife； Thorgerda； was fair…
haired； tall and stout； and it was she who managed the farm； while her
husband read his books； and studied politics in the newspapers； but she
had a sharp tongue and her neighbors were afraid of her。 They had one
son； whose name was Halvard。
Brita Blakstad； Bjarne's eldest daughter； was a maid whom it was a joy
to look upon。 They called her 〃Glitter…Brita；〃 because she was fond of
rings and brooches； and everything that was bright； while she was still a
child； she once took the old family bridal…crown out from the storehouse
and carried it about on her head。 〃Beware of that crown； child；〃 her
father had said to her； 〃and wear it not before the time。 There is not
always blessing in the bridal silver。〃 And she looked wonderingly up
into his eyes and answered： 〃But it glitters； father；〃 and from that time
forth they had named her Glitter…Brita。
And Glitter…Brita grew up to be a fair and winsome maiden； and
wherever she went the wooers flocked on her path。 Bjarne shook his
head at her； and often had harsh words upon his lips； when he saw her
braiding field… flowers into her yellow tresses or clasping the shining
brooches to her bodice； but a look of hers or a smile would completely
disarm him。 She had a merry way of doing things which made it all seem
like play； but work went rapidly from her hands； while her ringing
laughter echoed through the house； and her sunny presence made it bright
in the dusky ancestral halls。 In her kitchen the long rows of copper pots
and polished kettles shone upon the walls； and the neatly scoured milk…
pails stood like soldiers on parade about the shelves under the ceiling。
Bjarne would often sit for hours watching her； and a strange spring…feeling
would steal into his heart。 He felt a father's pride in her stately growth
and her rich womanly beauty。 〃Ah！〃 he would say to himself； 〃she has
the pure blood in her veins and； as true as I live； the farm shall be hers。〃
And then； quite contrary to his habits； he would indulge in a little reverie；
imagining the time when he； as an aged man； should have given the estate
over into her hands； and seeing her as a worthy matron preside at the table；
and himself rocking his grandchildren on his knee。 No wonder； then； that
he eyed closely the young lads who were beginning to hover about the
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
house； and that he looked with suspicion upon those who selected
Saturday nights for their visits。＇5＇ When Brita was twenty years old；
however； her father thought that it was time for her to make her choice。
There were many fine； brave lads in the valley； and； as Bjarne thought；
Brita would have the good sense to choose the finest and the bravest。 So；
when the winter came； he suddenly flung his doors open to the youth of
the parish； and began to give parties with ale and mead in the grand old
style。 He even talked with the young men； at times； encouraged them to
manly sports； and urged them to taste of his home…brewed drinks and to
tread the spring…dance briskly。 And Brita danced and laughed so that her
hair flew around her and the silver brooches tinkled and rang on her
bosom。 But when the merriment was at an end； and any one of the lads
remained behind to offer her his hand； she suddenly grew grave； told him
she was too young； that she did not know herself； and that she had had no
time as yet to decide so serious a question。 Thus the winter passed and
the summer drew near。
＇5＇ In the country districts of Norway Saturday evening is regarded as
〃the wooer's eve。〃
In the middle of June； Brita went to the saeter＇6＇ with the cattle； and
her sister； Grimhild； remained at home to keep house on the farm。 She
loved the life in the mountains； the great solitude sometimes made her feel
sad； but it was not an unpleasant sadness； it was rather a gentle toning
down of all the shrill and noisy feelings of the soul。 Up there； in the
heart of the primeval forest； her whole being seemed to herself a
symphony of melodious whispers with a vague delicious sense of
remoteness and mystery in them； which she only felt and did not attempt
to explain。 There； those weird legends which； in former days； still held
their sway in the fancy of every Norsewoman； breathed their secrets into
her ear； and she felt her nearness and kinship to nature； as at no other time。
＇6＇ The saeter is a place in the mountains where the Norwegian
peasants spend their summers pasturing their cattle。 Every large farm has
its own saeter； consisting of one or more chalets； hedged in by a fence of
stone or planks。
One night； as the sun was low； and a purple bluish smoke hung like a
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
thin veil over the tops of the forest； Brita had taken out her knitting and
seated herself on a large moss…grown stone； on the croft。 Her eyes
wandered over the broad valley which was stretched out below； and she
could see the red roofs of the Blakstad mansion peeping forth between the
fir…trees。 And she wondered what they were doing down there； whether
Grimhild had done milking； and whether her father had returned from the
ford； where it was his habit at this hour to ride with the footmen to water
the horses。 As she sat thus wondering； she was startled by a creaking in
the dry branches hard by； and lifting her eye； she saw a tall； rather
clumsily built； young man emerging from the thicket。 He had a broad
but low forehead； flaxen hair which hung down over a pair of dull ox…like
eyes； his mouth was rather large and； as it was half open； displayed two
massive rows of shining white teeth。 His