Strife and Peace

F >> Fredrika Bremer >> Strife and Peace

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Be it who it may--they who write with their own life, song and legend,
who express the depths of being by the silent but mighty language of
deeds--they are the real authors, the first poets of the earth. In the
second rank stand those who relate that which the others have lived.

When the day's work was over, and Mrs. Astrid had again betaken herself
to her chamber after her slight evening meal, it gave Harald great
pleasure to read aloud or to relate histories to Susanna, whilst she
sewed, or her spinning-wheel hummed often in lively emulation of Larina
and Karina, and whilst the flames of the fire danced up the chimney, and
threw their warm joyous gleams over the assembled company. It pleased
Harald infinitely to have Susanna for his auditor, to hear her
exclamation of childish terror and astonishment, or also her hearty
laughter, or to see her tears over his now merry and now sorrowful
tales.

How deeply was Susanna's heart touched by the relation of Mari-Stien,
whose path over the mountain on the edge of the abyss of Rjukan-force,
which in these days the traveller treads with dread, was discovered by a
young girl guided by the courage of love. It was by this path that the
beautiful Mary of Vestfjordal went with light and firm foot to meet the
friend of her childhood and her beloved, Ejstein Halfvordsen. But the
avarice of her father separated them, and Mary's tears and prayers
obliged Ejstein to fly, in order to escape the schemes of a treacherous
rival against his life. Years passed on, and Mary remained steadfast in
her faith. Her father died. Ejstein had, by his bravery and his
magnanimity, made his former enemy his friend, and the lovers were now
about to meet after a long separation, never again to be divided.
Ejstein hastened by the shorter road of the Mari-Stien to meet his
beloved. Long had she awaited him. She saw him coming, and his name
escaped her with a cry of joy. He saw her--stretched forth his arms, as
his whole soul, eagerly towards her, and he forgot--that he had no
pinions. He fell, and the Rjukan swallowed him in its foaming depths.
For many years after this there wandered daily upon Mari-Stien, a pale
figure, whose beautiful features spoke of silent insanity, and stood
bent down over the stream, and seemed to talk with some one down in its
depths. With melancholy joy in her countenance returned she ever from
her wandering, and said to her people in the cottage, "I have spoken
with him, and he besought me to come to him every day, and to tell him
how I love. It would be wrong to refuse him this; he is so good and
loves me so truly."

Thus went she, even when the wind blew her silver hair around her
wrinkled cheeks; thus she went until a merciful voice called the weary
wanderer to ascend the path of heaven to rest and joy, in the arms of
the beloved.

Less mournful, but not the less interesting for Susanna, was the old
legend of Halgrim.

Stormannadauen (the Black Death) had raged through Norway, and cut off
more than two-thirds of its population, and desolated whole extents of
country and large populous districts. In Uldvig's Valley, in Hardanger,
a young peasant of the name of Halgrim alone, of all the people who had
died there, remained alive. He raised himself from the sick bed on which
he lay surrounded by the dead, and went out in order to seek for living
people.

It was spring, and the larks sang loud in the blue clear air; the
birch-wood clothed itself in tender green; the stream, with its melting
snow-drifts, wound down the mountains singing on its way; but no plough
furrowed the loosened earth, and from the heights was heard no wood-horn
calling the cattle at feeding time. All was still and dead in the
habitations of men. Halgrim went from valley to valley, from cottage to
cottage; everywhere death stared him in the face, and he recognised the
corpses of early friends and acquaintance. Upon this, he began to
believe that he was alone in the world, and despair seized on his soul,
and he determined also to die. But as he was just about to throw himself
down from a rock, his faithful dog sprang up to him, caressed him, and
lamented in the expressive language of anguish. Halgrim bethought
himself, and stepped back from the brink of the abyss; he embraced his
dog; his tears flowed, and despair withdrew from his softened heart. He
began his wandering anew. Thoughts of love led him towards the parish of
Graven, where he had first seen and won the love of Hildegunda.

It was evening, and the sun was setting as Halgrim descended into the
valley, which was as still and dead as those through which he had
wandered. Dark stood the fir-trees in the black shadow of the rocky
wall, and silently rolled on the river between the desolate banks. On
the opposite side of the river a little wooded promontory shot out into
the blue water, and upon the light green tops of the birch-trees played
the last rays of the sun.

Suddenly it seemed to Halgrim as if a light smoke rose up from among the
trees. But he trusted not his eyes; he stared upon it breathlessly. He
waited however hardly a second, when he saw a blue column curling slowly
upwards in the peaceful evening air. With a cry of joy Halgrim darted
forwards, waded through the stream, and soon stood on its opposite
shore. Barking and whining his dog ran onwards to the cottage whence the
smoke ascended. Upon its hearth clearly burned the fire, and a young
maiden stepped forward to the door--one cry of inexpressible joy, and
Halgrim and Hildegunda lay in each other's arms! Hildegunda was also the
only living person in her valley after the terrible visit of the Black
Death.

On the following day, after mutual agreement, they went to church, and
as there was no priest to marry them, and nobody to witness the
plighting of their faith, they stepped alone together to God's altar,
and extended to each other a hand, whilst Halgrim said with a solemn
voice, "In the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost!"

And God blessed the faith plighted in His name. From this happy pair
descended generations who peopled anew this region, and the names of
Halgrim and Hildegunda are to this day in use among its inhabitants.

* * * * *

Through Harald also was Susanna made acquainted with the legends of the
kings of Norway; with the deeds of Olaf Haraldsen, the blood-baptizer;
with those of the noble Olof Tryggveson; and with admiration heard she
of king Sverre, with the little body and the large truly-royal soul. It
flattered also somewhat her womanly vanity to hear of women as
extraordinary in the old history of Norway; as for example, the proud
peasant's daughter, Gyda, who gave occasion to the hero-deeds of Harald
Haarfager, who first made Norway into a kingdom; and although the action
of Gunild, the king's mother, awakened her abhorrence, yet it gave her
pleasure to see how a woman, by the supremacy of her mind, governed
seven kings and directed their actions.

Darker pictures were presented by the citizen-wars, which hurried
"blood-storm upon blood-storm" through the land, and in which it at
length "bled liberty to death."

Now the wild strawberry blooms in the ruins of former strongholds, and
upon blood-drenched fields grow golden forests,

As the scar groweth o'er the healed wound.--TEGNER.

A milder generation lived in the place of the "Bloody Axe,"[2] and
looked serenely and hopefully towards the future, whilst in their
peaceful, beautiful valleys, they listened willingly to the memories of
the old times.

Upon the hill-tops stands the ancient stone,
Where legend hovers like a singing lark,
With morning brightness on its downy breast.

VELHAVEN.

One subject of conversation and of dispute also between Harald and
Susanna, was their pale lady. As soon as the discourse turned to her,
Harald assumed a very grave demeanour, and replied only to Susanna's
earnest inquiries of what he knew about her, "she must have been very
unfortunate!" If, however, Susanna began to assail him with questions
about this misfortune, in what it consisted, whether one could not help
her in some way or other--Susanna would have gone up and down the world
for this purpose--then began Harald to tell a story.

Tales of women, powerful and distinguished in their valleys, are not
rare in Norway. The story of the lady in Hallingdal, called the
Shrieking Lady, is well known, who was so magnificent that she was drawn
by elks; one hears of the rich Lady Belju, also of Hallingdal, who built
Naes church, and by means of fire and butter split the Beja rock, so
that a road was carried over it, which road is called to this day the
Butter Rock. One hears tell of the Ladies of Solberg and Skoendal, of
their great quarrel about a pig, and of the false oath which one of them
swore in the lawsuit which thence ensued; and to every one of these
ladies belongs the story, that the preacher did not dare to have the
church-bells rung until the great lady had arrived there.

They tell further the history of the wife of the knight Knut Eldhjerna,
who, from grief for the criminal lives of her seven sons, retired from
the world, and lived as a hermit in a lonesome dale, where, by fasting
and alms, she endeavoured to atone for the misdeeds of her children.
Yes, indeed, there are many histories of this kind. But as concerns the
history which Harald related to Susanna, of Mrs. Astrid, its like had
not yet been heard in the valleys of Norway. There occurred in it so
many strange and horrible things, that the credulous Susanna, who during
it had become ever paler and paler, might have been petrified with
horror if, precisely at the most terrible part of the catastrophe, the
suspicion had not suddenly occurred to her, that she was horrifying
herself--at a mere fiction! And Harald's countenance, when she expressed
her conjectures, made this certainty; and the hearty laughter with which
he received her exclamations and reproaches excited her highest
indignation, and she rose up and left him, with the assurance that she
never again would ask him anything, never believe a word that he said.

This lasted till--the next time. Then if Harald promised to tell the
truth as regarded their lady--the whole pure truth, then Susanna let
herself be befooled, listened, grew pale, wept, till the increasing
marvels of the story awoke afresh her suspicion, which she again plainly
expressed as before, and again Barbra stood up, scolded, threatened,
banged the door after her in anger, and Harald--laughed.

In one point, however, Harald and Susanna always perfectly agreed, and
that was in serving their lady with the greatest zeal; and this, without
themselves being aware of it, increased their esteem for each other,
which, however, by no means prevented their boldly attacking each other,
and slandering--he Sweden, she Norway.

Thus, amid perpetual alternations of strife and peace, slid away the
autumn months unobserved, with its darkening days and its increasing
cold; and the season came, in which important business demanded the time
of the ladies, as well in great as in small houses; the time for lights
and tarts, dance, play, and children's joy, in one word--

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Several districts, wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah, are said to be
buried under the gigantic pall, and it is related that people have heard
the cock crow below the snow covering. If the sun appears above the
Fond, it is believed that swarms of innumerable birds of all colours,
white, black, green, yellow, and red, are seen flying up and down over
the snowy sea. It was thought in early times, that these were the souls
of the wicked inhabitants of the valley which swarmed about here in the
shapes of birds.--FAYE.

[2] Eric, king of Norway, so called because of his cruelty.

CHRISTMAS.

Come hither little birds, merry of mood,
By barn-door and dwelling-house corn ears are strewed;
Christmas comes hither,
Then may ye gather,
Food from the bread-giving straw, golden hued.

BJERREGAARD.

The sun shall warm and illumine the whole earth, therefore is the
earth glad of his coming.--THE KING'S PLAY.

Thanks be to God for the sun! So many friends, so many joys, desert us
during our pilgrimage through life; the sun remains true to us, and
lights and warms us from the cradle to the grave. This is it which
unites the Pagan and the Christian in one common worship, inasmuch as it
lifts the hearts of both to the God who has created the sun. The highest
festival of the year among the Northern Heathens and Christians occurs
also at the season in which the sun, as it were, is born anew to the
earth, and his strength is converted from waning to waxing. With the
greatest cordiality is this festival celebrated in the Scandinavian
countries. Not alone in the houses of the wealthy blaze up fires of joy,
and are heard the joyful cries of children; from the humblest cottages
also resounds joy; in the prisons it becomes bright, and the poor
partake of--plenty. In the country, doors, hearths, and tables, stand
open to every wanderer. In many parts of Norway the innkeeper demands no
payment from the traveller either for board or lodging. This is the time
in which the earth seems to feel the truth of the heavenly words--"It is
more blessed to give than to receive." And not only human beings, but
animals also, have their good things at Christmas. All the inhabitants
of the farm-yard, all domestic animals, are entertained in the best
manner; and the little birds of heaven rejoice too, for at every barn a
tall stake raises itself, on the top of which rich sheaves of oats
invite them to a magnificent meal; even the poorest day-labourer, if he
himself possesses no corn, asks and receives from the peasant a bundle
of corn, raises it aloft, and makes the birds rejoice beside his empty
barn.

Susanna had much to care for in the Christmas week, and was often up
late at night: in part, on account of her own business; in part, on
account of some Christmas gifts with which she wished to surprise
several persons around her. And this certainly was the cause of her
somewhat oversleeping herself on the morning of Christmas-eve. She was
awoke by a twittering of birds before her window, and her conscience
reproached her with having, amid the business of the foregoing day,
quite forgotten the little birds, to which she was accustomed to throw
out upon the snow, corn and bread crumbs; and they were now come to
remind her of it. Ah! were but all remembrances like to the twittering
of birds! With real remorse for her forgetfulness Susanna hastened to
dress herself, and to draw aside the window-curtain. And behold!
outside, before her window, stood a tall slender fir-tree, in whose
green top, cut in the form of a garland, was stuck a great bunch of
gold-yellow oats, around which great flocks of sparrows and bulfinches
swarmed, picking and chirping. Susanna blushed, and thought "Harald!"
The people in the house answered with smiles to Susanna's questions, the
Steward had, indeed, planted the tree. The Steward, however, himself
appeared as if he were quite a stranger to the whole affair, betrayed
astonishment at the tree with the sheaf of oats, and could not conceive
how it had come there.

"It must," said he, "have shot forth of itself during the night;" and
this could only be proved from the wonderful strength of the excellent
Norwegian earth--every morsel of which is pulverised primary rock. Such
a soil only can bring forth such a miraculous growth.

In the forenoon, Harald went with Susanna into the farm-yard, where she
with her own hands divided oats among the cows; bread among the sheep;
and among the little poultry corn in abundant measure. In the community
of hens was there with this a great difference of character observable.
Some snatched greedily, whilst they drove the others away by force;
others, on the contrary, kept at a modest distance, and picked up well
pleased the corn which good fortune had bestowed upon them; others,
again, seemed to enjoy for others more than for themselves. Of this
noble nature was one young cock in particular, with a high comb, and a
rich cape of changeful gold-coloured feathers, and of a peculiarly proud
and lofty bearing; he gave up his portion to the hens, so that he had
scarcely a single grain for himself; regarding, however, the while, with
a noble chanticleer-demeanour the crowd which pecked and cackled at his
feet. On account of this beautiful behaviour, he was called the Knight,
by Susanna, which name he always preserved after that time. Among the
geese, she perceived with vexation that the grey one was still more
oppressed and pecked at by his white tyrant than ever. Harald proposed
to kill the grey one; but Susanna declared warmly, that if either of the
rivals were sacrificed it must be the white one.

In a house where there are no children, where neither family nor friends
assemble, where the mistress sits with her trouble in darkness, there
can Christmas bring no great joy. But Susanna had made preparations to
diffuse pleasure, and the thoughts of it had through the whole week,
amid her manifold occupations, illumined her heart; and, besides, she
was of that kind that her life would have been dark had it not been that
the prospect of always making somebody happy had glimmered like a star
over her path. Larina, Karina, and Petro tasted on this day of the
fruits of Susanna's night-watching; and when it was evening, and Susanna
had arranged the Christmas-table in the hall, and had seen it adorned
with lut-fish,[3] and roast meat, and sweet groats, cakes and butter,
tarts and apples, and lighted with four candles; when the farm-people
assembled round the table with eyes that flashed with delight and
appetite; when the oldest among them struck up a hymn of thanksgiving,
and all the rest joined in with folded hands and solemn voices--then
seemed it to Susanna as if she were no longer in a foreign land: and
after she had joined in with the hymn of the people, she seated herself
at the table as the most joyous, cordial hostess; clinked her glass with
those of men and maid servants; animated even the most colossal passion
for eating, and placed the nicest things before the weak and the timid.

Mrs. Astrid had told Susanna that she would remain alone in her chamber
this evening, and only take a glass of milk. Susanna wished, however, to
decoy her into enjoyment by a little surprise; and had laid the
following little plot against her peace. At the time when the glass of
milk was to be carried in to her, instead of this a very pretty boy,
dressed to represent an angel, according to Susanna's idea of one, with
a crown of light upon his head, should softly enter her room and beckon
her out. So beautiful and bright a messenger the lady would find it
impossible to withstand, and he would then conduct her out into the
great hall, where, in a grove of fir-trees, a table was covered with the
sweetest groats, and the most delicious of tarts, and behind the
fir-trees the people of the house were to be assembled, and to strike up
a song to a well-known air of the country, in praise of their lady, and
full of good wishes for her future life.

Harald, to whom Susanna had imparted her scheme, shook his head over it,
at first, doubtfully, but afterwards fell into it, and lent a helping
hand to its accomplishment, as well by obtaining the fir-trees, as by
fitting out the angel. Susanna was quite charmed with her beautiful
little messenger, and followed silently and softly at his heels, as with
some anxiety about his own head and its glittering crown he tripped
lightly to Mrs. Astrid's chamber.

Harald softly opened the door for the boy. From thence they saw the lady
sitting in an easy-chair in her room, her head bowed upon her hands. The
lamp upon the table cast a faint light upon her black-appareled figure.
The audible movement at the door roused her; she looked up, and stared
for some time with a wild glance at the apparition which met her there.
Then she arose hastily, pressed her hands to her breast, uttered a faint
cry of horror, and sank lifeless to the floor. Susanna pushed her angel
violently aside, and rushed to her mistress, who with indescribable
feelings of anguish she raised in her arms and carried to bed. Harald,
on the contrary, busied himself with the poor angel, who with his crown
had lost his balance, and while the hot tallow ran down over brow and
cheeks broke out into the most deplorable tones of lamentation.

Susanna soon succeeded in recalling her mistress to life; but for a long
time her mind seemed to be confused, and she spoke unintelligible
unconnected sentences, of which Susanna only understood the words,
"Apparition--unfortunate child--death!" Susanna concluded therefore that
the fabricated angel had frightened her, and exclaimed with tears, "Ah,
it was only Hans Guttormson's little fellow that I had dressed up as an
angel in order to give you pleasure!"

Susanna saw now right well how little fortunate had been this thought;
but Mrs. Astrid listened with great eagerness to Susanna's explanation
respecting the apparition which had shook her so much, and at length her
convulsive state passed off in a flood of tears. Susanna beside herself
for grief, that instead of joy she had occasioned trouble to her lady,
kissed, with tears, her dress, hands, feet, amid heartfelt prayers for
forgiveness.

Mrs. Astrid answered mildly, but with excitement: "Thou meant it well,
Susanna. Thou couldst not know how thou wouldst grieve me. But--think no
more about it; never more attempt to give me pleasure. I can never more
be joyful, never more happy! There lies a stone upon my breast which
never can be raised, until the stone shall be laid on my grave. But go
now, Susanna, it is necessary for me to be alone. I shall soon be
better."

Susanna prayed that she might bring her a glass of milk, and Mrs. Astrid
consented; but when she had brought it in she was obliged again to
withdraw, her heart full of anguish. When she came out to Harald she
poured out to him all her pain over the unfortunate project, and related
to him the deep agitation of mind, and the dark, despairing words of her
lady.

At this Harald became pale and thoughtful, and Susanna at that was still
more depressed. To be sure she had yet a little mine of pleasures
remaining, on whose explosion she had very much pleased herself, but
this in the disturbed state of mind produced but little effect. It is
true that Harald smiled, and exclaimed, "The cross!" when a waistcoat
made its appearance out of a wheaten loaf; it is true that he thanked
Susanna and pressed her hand, but he had evidently so little pleasure in
her present, his thoughts were so plainly directed to something else,
that now every gleam of pleasure vanished for Susanna from the Christmas
joy. When she was alone in her chamber, and saw from her window how a
little beam of light proceeded from every cottage in the valley, and she
thought how within them were assembled in confidential circles, parents,
children, brothers and sisters, and friends, then felt she painfully
that she was lonesome in a strange land; and as she remembered how
formerly on this evening she made her little Hulda happy, and how
fortunate her projects had always been, she took out a handkerchief
which had been worn on the neck of the little beloved sister, and
covered it with hot tears and kisses. Great part of the night she passed
on the threshold of her lady's door, listening full of anguish to the
never-ceasing footsteps within. But with the exception of several deep
sighs, Susanna heard no expression of pain which might justify her in
breaking in upon the solitude of her mistress.

We will now turn ourselves to a somewhat more lively picture.

There exists in Norway a pleasant custom, which is called Tura-jul, or
Christmas-turns. In Christmas week, namely, people go out to visit one
another by turns, and then in the hospitable houses is there feasting,
sporting, and dancing. That is called "the Christmas-turns."

And the "turns" extended also to the remote-lying solitary Heimdal. The
pastor of the mother parish, the friendly and hospitable pastor,
Middelberg, had sent an invitation to friends and acquaintances in the
whole neighbourhood, which included also the inhabitants of Semb, to a
feast at the parsonage, on the second day of Christmas.

Mrs. Astrid excused herself, but besought Harald and Susanna to drive
there. It had frozen a few days before, and had freshly snowed, so that
the sledging was excellent, and Harald now again in good humour seemed
disposed to make a little festival of driving Susanna to the parsonage
in a small sledge with jingling bells.

Mrs. Astrid had regained her accustomed manner and appearance, and thus
Susanna was easy as to all consequences of her unfortunate scheme on
Christmas-eve, and could give herself up with a free mind to the
agreeable impressions which the winter-drive offered. And these were
manifold and rich to a person who was so little used to pleasure of any
kind as Susanna, and who, besides this, was of a fresh, open spirit. The
air was so clear, the snow was so dazzling, mountain and woods so
splendid, the horse so spirited, and Harald drove so indescribably well,
the most difficult places being to him mere play-work, that Susanna
exclaimed every now and then, "Oh, how beautiful! Oh, how divine!"

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