O. T. a Danish Romance
CHAPTER I "Quod felix faustumque sit!" There is a happiness which no poet has yet properly sung, which no lady-reader, let her be ever so amiable, has experienced or ever will experience in this world. This is a condition of happiness which alone belongs to the male sex, and even then alone to the elect. It is a moment of life which seizes upon our feelings, our minds, our whole being. Tears have been shed by the innocent, sleepless nights been passed, during which the pious mother, the loving sister, have put up prayers to God for this critical moment in the life of the son or the brother. Happy moment, which no woman, let her be ever so good, so beautiful, or intellectual, can experience--that of becoming a student, or, to describe it by a more usual term, the passing of the first examination! The cadet who becomes an officer, the scholar who becomes an academical burgher, the apprentice who becomes a journeyman, all
the cows turned their grazing heads towards home, and, on their arrival,
each was given a pat and a handful of salt. Then they went quietly into
their stalls.
It was quite late that evening before the milk had been strained into
the wooden platters and placed in rows on the shelves in the milk house.
Hr. Bogstad and Signe had proffered their help, but they had been
ordered into the house and Signe was told to prepare the evening meal.
When Hansine came in, she found the table set with the cheese, milk,
butter, and black bread, while Signe and Hr. Bogstad sat by the large
fireplace watching a pot of boiling cream mush.
The object of Hr. Bogstad's visit was plain enough. He had been devoting
his attentions to Signe Dahl for some time, and now that he was home
from college on a vacation, it was natural that he should follow her
from the village up to the mountains.
Hr. Bogstad, though young, was one of the rich men of Nordal. He had
lately fallen heir to a large estate. In fact, Signe's parents, with a
great many more, were but tenants of young Hr. Henrik Bogstad; and
although it was considered a great honor to have the attentions of such
a promising young man--for, in fact, Henrik was quite exemplary in all
things, and had a good name in the neighborhood--still Signe Dahl did
not care for him, and was uneasy in his company. She would rather sail
with some of the fisher boys on the lake than be the object of envy by
her companions. But Signe's slim, graceful form, large blue eyes, clear,
CHAPTER I "Quod felix faustumque sit!" There is a happiness which no poet has yet properly sung, which no lady-reader, let her be ever so amiable, has experienced or ever will experience in this world. This is a condition of happiness which alone belongs to the male sex, and even then alone to the elect. It is a moment of life which seizes upon our feelings, our minds, our whole being. Tears have been shed by the innocent, sleepless nights been passed, during which the pious mother, the loving sister, have put up prayers to God for this critical moment in the life of the son or the brother. Happy moment, which no woman, let her be ever so good, so beautiful, or intellectual, can experience--that of becoming a student, or, to describe it by a more usual term, the passing of the first examination! The cadet who becomes an officer, the scholar who becomes an academical burgher, the apprentice who becomes a journeyman, all