try free from internal commotion, and too far removed
from the great scenes of European strife to excite the jealousy of
external powers; sufficient food and raiment to satisfy the ordinary
necessities of life, and no great extremes of wealth or poverty to
militate against their independence, either in a political or social
point of view. With good laws, an excellent Constitution, and a fair
representation in the Storthing, they are justly proud of their
freedom, and deeply imbued with the spirit of patriotism.

Very little of poverty or beggary is to be seen by the wayside during
a tour through Norway. Only at one point between Kringelen and
Laurgaard--a wild and barren district exceedingly savage in its
aspect, situated in a narrow gorge of the mountains near the head of
the Logen--was I solicited for alms. A portion of this route, after
passing Sinclair's Monument, is rudely fenced in, so as to render
available every foot of the narrow valley. The road passes directly
through the little farms, which at this stage of the journey are poor
and unproductive. The climate is said to be very severe in this
district, in consequence of its altitude, and the sharp winds which
sweep down from the mountain gorges. At every gateway a gang of ragged
little children always stood ready to open the gate, for which, of
course, they expected a few shillings; and as these gates occur at
intervals of every few hundred yards for some distance, it produces a
sensible effect upon one's purse to get through. Passing through some
wretched hamlets in this vicinity, crowds of old women hobbled out to
beg alms, and I did not get clear of the regiments of children who ran
along behind the cariole to receive the remainder of my small change
for several miles. Strange to say, this was the only place during my
rambles through the interior in which I saw any thing like beggary.
Generally speaking, the farming lands are sufficiently productive to
supply all the wants of the peasants, and many of the farmers are
even comfortably situated.

The houses in which these country people reside are not altogether
unlike the small log cabins of the early settlers on our Western
frontier. I have seen many such on the borders of Missouri and Kansas.
Built in the most primitive style of pine logs, they stand upon stumps
or columns of stone, elevated some two or three feet from the ground,
in order to allow a draft of air underneath, which in this humid
climate i