the latter about five years old, both, like the generality
of Norwegian children, healthy and remark-
ably pleasing in their manners.
In a small cottage in the neighbourhood a family
of Laplanders had taken up their temporary abode.
A little Lapland girl, betAveen scA'en and eiglit
years of age, of a small stature, Avas alone in the
cottage, her parents being at no great distance.
On giving her some small pieces of money, she immediately,
after the Norse fashion, put her hand
into mine—a ceremony which, in this instance, I
should certainly have dispensed with, if I had observed,
before it Avas too late, that the poor little
creature’s hands Avere in a very unhealthy state.
By the immediate application of soap and Avater, I
had the good fortune to escape any ill effect, and
it Avas a lesson to me to keep on my gloAes for the
future, Avhich, although it may be considered a
piece of affectation, Avas nevertheless indispensably
necessary to avoid contagion.
In a short time the mother came in ; she appeared
to he a very good-humoured person, and, being
the first of her nation I had met Avith, made no
objection to my request to take her portra it; but
not so the child, who cried a little at first, because
she said I looked too much at her mother, but she
Avas soon quieted Avith a basin of milk or cream.
When I had nearly finished my sketch, the mother
said th a t her head was not so nicely drest as it
ought to be, upon which she ran out of the room.
i 1
Si