The Argosy — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

About Norway. 131 expression brimming over with kindliness and goodwill towards man- kind, distinguished them. As long as we were together—until the afternoon of the follow- ing day—this kindliness of disposition was abundantly manifested ; in thoughtfulness, in small self-sacrifices in favour of the two strangers visiting their country. It was delightful and refreshing, a species of moral tonic, to encounter such people, who go through the world scattering a seed broadcast that must one day bear a rich harvest. = The devotion of this brother and sister to each other was such as might be expected in lovers. Often it was impossible to avoid smiling at their demonstrations of mutual affection—carried perhaps to excess according to English views—yet delightful at their age from its very youthfulness. Here, at least, were two enthusiastic people, exceptions to their race. In this our first experience of travelling in Norway, they were of great service to us, pointing out their system of doing things, and making clear much that would long have remained misty and uncertain. Mr. B., as we will call him, spoke a little English and a little French, and Miss B. a little German; by which means we managed to get along with some degree of understanding. Not another soul on board spoke anything but Norwegian. Before starting we managed to make the captain comprehend that, if within the range of pos- sibility, we should like some dinner on board—we had thirty-five miles and a six hours’ journey before us: and he, by signs that would have made the fortune of a clown in a pantomime, replied that they were quite equal to the occasion. The voyage up the lake was one of our pleasantest bits of Norwegian travelling. The banks on either side were varied and. picturesque. Here and there the slopes were cultivated, and evidently fertile. Houses were dotted about, and small settlements, many of them with slanting, overhanging roofs, like Swiss chalets ;. others of light wooden construction painted some gay colour, like the houses of Christianssand. Every now and then the whistle sounded, the engines stopped, and a small boat shot out from the shore, to bring up a passenger or carry off some cargo. Once, we went alongside, and landed many bags of meal, and stayed there half an hour: an opportunity seized upon by the few passengers, to land and take a glass of beer with their friends. In the distance, mountains, gloomy and severe, rose abruptly, and we were soon upon them: the little steamer looking dwarfed and tiny as she hurried past their frowning, barren sides. Great masses of rock, stern and terrible, that were too much for kindly, gentle Miss B., who clasped her brother’s arm as if for protection from their threatening looks. Here and there we passed over a small rapid, through which the little boat tossed as on a miniature sea: whilst not unfrequently we had to steer out of the way of huge rafters of CoOnniclbooks (CO)