he could not take us in. "But, good maging and clatter, brought in some friend, it is after two o'clock, and what wooden bedsteads, sheets and blankets, are we to do? There are no ladies in and we were left masters of the situation. our party, and we won't bother you; just After a short sound sleep we were early let us in, and we shall sleep on the abroad, and got the reckonings of the tables." The old Norseman was by this town. It was a beautiful morning, and time beginning to thaw. "Var so got as an old pilot told us, the first fair day (be so good), he said, and we stepped that they had had for six weeks, and the first moment across his unadorned threshold. fine day that summer. Bergen was lookIn a short time a good-natured-looking ing its best, and as the sun, out of a young woman appeared on the scene. cloudless sky, shone upon Fjord and The landlord and she, after much rum- forest, and Fjeld and mountain, and the quaint red-tiled houses, we could not wonder at the enthusiasm with which Norsemen speak of the old Viking town. Bergen was the Norwegian capital before that was transferred to Christiania, and consequently there are a number of good houses in it, and the surroundings of refinement. As a rule most of the houses that are built now are constructed of stone, because of the ravages effected by frequent fires; but wooden houses still abound. We had a letter of introduction to one of the largest merchants in the town, who kindly put himself at our service, and became our guide. The trade of Bergen is carried on in the lower town, much of it, of course, on the quays, and the rest, so far as shops are concerned, in one long and fairly wide street, the Strand Gattan. Some of the shops would do credit to an English country town, the rest are of a third-rate description. The tide of life runs strong along this street from early morning, and as vehicles are numerous, and the big-limbed Scandinavians walk with a will, an inquiring tourist has to have all his wits about him. In a bookseller's store that we visited, one department consisted of English literature, theology, science, and fiction. John Bunyan and John Ploughman were in strong force. The Norwegians are particularly attached to the English language, it is taught in all the schools, many of them speak it with as charming a fluency and accent as the Russians, and no seaman can become captain of a vessel until he can master it, at least for commercial purposes. Under the Giver of all good, Bergen lives and moves and has its being, because the Norwegian waters teem with fish. "If the fish left our coasts," said our guide," we might all go to America." Three thousand boats, employing twenty thousand fishermen, go to the Lofoden islands annually between January and April, and catch on an average twenty millions of cod fish. After being dried they are brought to Bergen between June and August, the boats being loaded halfmast high. The fish are tied in bundles as large as trusses of straw, and warehoused till every building along the wateredge is gorged from basement to roof-tree. But Bergen has its live as well as its dead fish market, and no prettier or more animating sight is to be witnessed in the town than the fish market at the quay between eight and ten o'clock every morning. The fishermen bring the produce of sea and Fjord to market alive, for the people are most fastidious on this score. "Unless fish is put into the kettle," say they, "within half an hour after it is dead, it is off, and not worth eating." The fishermen for there are no women-stand in their open boats just below the level of the quay in the midst of all descriptions of fish, some of them being most beautifully coloured, and fair-haired maidens and comely matrons keep poking with their umbrellas at the red-capped and obdurate old salts, and try to beat down the price. The fishermen, however, are not to be moved, they know that the harvest of the deep must be had, that a few öre more or less will be offered, and when the mark is reached they hand the fish into the opened basket or trencher, and the fair purchaser goes off only to return on the morrow. The day we spent in Bergen was exceptionally fine, the night was the same, and a treat was in store in the shape of a military concert in the public gardens. Our enjoyment consisted more in looking at the people than in listening to the music, although that was good. Now at last was a fine night after weeks of rain, and all Bergen was abroad. The moon shone out bright, and the scene was animating. The burghers were there in their hundreds, staid merchants with their families, shopmen, workmen, old and young. The gardens were crowded, and so were the streets outside. promenaded, and as they moved up and down they spoke in soft accents. There All was no rude pushing or horse-play, and when at ten o'clock the band played the National Anthem, all moved off quietly to their respective homes. We had visited these gardens during the afternoon, and sat down on a bench by the side of a gray-haired and venerable-looking gentleman. When we got into conversation we found that he had spent his life in labouring as an evangelist. It was highly gratifying to hear him tell how gladly the Norwegians received the Gospel of peace and salvation, and how a more decided evangelical spirit was spreading through the country. A servant of Christ himself in these high latitudes, he had a son who was also serving the Master labouring in word and doctrine in Madagascar. When we parted we shook hands, and he gave us his benediction, it was thus expressed: "May God's peace go with you wherever you may go." The churches in Bergen are mostly large buildings. The Dom, or chief church, is capable of holding three thousand worshippers, and on Sundays, along with the other churches, it is filled with a devout audience. In this church a long rod of iron is suspended from the lofty roof right in front of the pulpit, and attached to it there is a large gilded angel figure-the angel of the resurrection, who with one hand extends the trumpet on which he blows his blast which shall raise the dead, and summon both quick and dead to stand before the Judge, while with the other he holds forth a crown, symbolising that crown of glory which shall never fade away, and which the righteous Judge shall give to all who love and long for His glorious appearing. There are two things in Bergen which cannot fail to strike a traveller, the multitude of sparrows and the people's love for flowers. Bird life in Scandinavia, so far as we saw it at any rate, is far from being abundant. Neither on Fjeld nor Fjord was there to be heard the carol of the lark, the song of the thrush and blackbird, or the piping of the bullfinch, but in Bergen and other towns sparrows congregate by the thousands. They absolutely litter the streets, they are as numerous as the pigeons in Venice, and no one ever thinks of molesting them. And then the array of flowers in the windows is most charming. Most of the houses are so constructed that there are four windows on the ground floor, three on the first, and so on, till at the top of the high-pitched roof there is one. From the cross-tree to the ground every window is filled with equisitely developed flowers and greenery. Lilies, geraniums, calceolarias, tea-scented roses, heliotrope, and everywhere ivy. Behind this array of flowers chastely designed curtains are stretched across the windows. North of 66° the Scandinavians live in summer in a floral paradise. Go where you will it is the same. The humblest peasants make an attempt to grow something green and brightly coloured, as if to remind them of a world of beauty lying far away in more genial climes. J. C. THE POWER Y all means let there be plenty of song in the home circle. It is healthful alike for body, mind, and spirit. It promotes cheerfulness and good temper, and fills the home with sunshine. David's music drove away the evil spirit from Saul, and David's psalms, set to music and sung, will do much to effect the same thing. A clergyman whose daughters were remarkable OF SONG. for their happy and amiable dispositions was asked to explain his system of domestic education. He replied that when anything occurred to disturb his children's tempers, or when they began to speak evil of any one, he at once ordered them to sing. In this way they sing away all causes of discontent and all disposition to scandal. "UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST."-MATT. xxv. 40. RETCHEN and Fritz were a Had come from the Ger- To find if they could, on 36 By Minden on Weser, wode To Over the new land journey To build at the last their rustic nest, The river Missouri, far to the west; And Alice, with wealth of golden hair; ToLeft them until the home should be them until Ready for them across the sea. Some one, perhaps, as they travel the road, That she can go with them over the sea. Till they reach their home on the Western plain. "I will not be faithless or doubting," said she, "No keeping can be so safe as the Lord's." So taking a Bible, she wrote their names Upon the flyleaf, and thereafter the words Which the Saviour spoke: "Inasmuch as ye When this life is ended for evermore, "If you on your journey," she said, "should be Open the book to the first that you meet, Kissed them and sent them upon their way, Sail stately forth from the landlocked bay. The gallant ship carried the children to Leith, Then many a city and town they passed Whenever they stocd in need of a guide, unto Me." And it came to pass that wherever they went, Of nothing but kindness did they partake, And with a glad consciousness seemed to hear O name of the Crucified, wonderful name! Till we reach afar on the other side FOR THE YOUNG. WIDOW BLUNT; or, The Story of a Half-Sovereign. night, and I will tell you the promised story of Widow Blunt, and what she did with a half-sovereign she knew was given her by mistake." This was said by a lady of middle age, with a kindly, cheerful countenance, as she entered a cosy, well-arranged room in which sat two boys, her nephews. Oscar, the elder of the two, was about nine, and had an open intelligent face, large blue eyes, a well-shaped head, on which grew a perfect mass of golden curls. He might truly be called a handsome boy. clean, and cheerful as this quiet uncomplaining woman. If a neighbour was ill she always found time to look in and inquire after them, and give a helping hand in dressing the baby, washing the children, tidying up the house, or cooking the husband's supper. The winter of 18- was a very severe one, and Widow Blunt had a hard time of it. Work, too, was scarce, for the great folks at the hall were going away for the health of their only daughter. Now this young lady was a great friend to the widow, and out of her own pocket-money would Eric, his younger brother, was just seven, and often give a shilling to buy herself or the children resembled him only in the well-shaped head and fine features; his complexion was of that olive hue that denotes birth in a tropical climate; his dark eyes and profusion of curly black hair contrasted strangely with his brother's fair complexion, and gave him a foreign appearance. Both boys were generous and noble-looking, and the pride of their widowed aunt Mrs. Selwyn. She had taken charge of them when only two and four years old, and, since their parents had returned to India, had educated and cared for them as her own, and often sighed to think how very desolate her home would be when their father and mother came back and took them from her. Both boys exclaimed, "Oh, aunty, do-do!" One left his top spinning, and the other his book, and were very soon in their accustomed places. Eric, as youngest, jumped on Mrs. Selwyn's lap, and Oscar threw himself on the rug before the fire, resting his curly head on her knee. "Do begin, aunty," said Eric, all impatience (as for a moment she hugged the boy to her and was silent). "What are you waiting for?" 66 For you to be still, Eric," was Mrs. Selwyn's reply. You must know, boys, Widow Blunt was very, very poor, and it was a great puzzle amongst her neighbours how she managed to keep her children so clean and neat, herself and cottage always tidy, and yet be working out all day. They did not know this poor, quiet woman often sat up far into the night either sewing for herself and children, or to finish some dress she was making for one of the servants at the hall or rectory. She was found so honest, clean, and useful, that all the gentry round sent for Widow Blunt when extra help was necessary. She only got one shilling and sixpence a day, and that was not a large sum to keep herself and three hearty children; and when work was scarce it was a hard pinch indeed to keep the wolf from something, and would send some of her own dresses to make them frocks. All this was much missed, and the poor woman began to think there was nothing else to be done but ask help from the parish. One of her boys, too, had been ill, and it made the poor mother's heart ache to see his little thin limbs and pale face getting thinner and paler every day, and know it was all for want of more and better nourishment than she could get for him. One day she could bear this state of things no longer, and put on her bonnet and shawl, determined to go to the parish officer and ask for food for her boy; anything was better than seeing her poor child like this. On her way she met Tom from the farm. "Missus "I'se comin' to fetch on," said Tom. is taken bad and can't go to market." Mrs. Blunt hurried down the lane that led to the farm, and was soon told by the farmer's wife what she wanted her to do; and after selling the butter and eggs she was to get all the things wanted from the grocer, "and pay for them," said Mrs. Jackson, giving her half a sovereign. Widow Blunt was soon on her way to the little town of B, and being fortunate enough early to get rid of all the butter and eggs, went to buy the things Mrs. Jackson wanted from the grocer. Having received the parcel, she put down the half-sovereign to pay for them. The grocer's assistant brought back the change, which he put into Widow Blunt's hand and she placed in her pocket, never thinking to count it. She hurried back to the farm, and in looking at the change before handing it to Mrs. Jackson, what was her surprise to see half a sovereign amongst it! She saw at once the man had made a mistake and given her change for a sovereign. She handed Mrs. Jackson the money due to her, but said nothing about the half-sovereign. The |