ms, who could best explain the old-fashioned terms and who had a
clear remembrance of obsolescent details of saeter life. For this
welcome help and for elucidations through other friends I wish here to
offer my hearty thanks.

Being desirous of having the conditions of Norwegian farm life made as
clear as possible to young English and American readers, I felt that
several illustrations were necessary and that it would be well for
these to be the work of a Norwegian. To understand how the sun can be
already high in the heavens when it rises, and how, when it sets, the
shadow of the western mountain can creep as quickly as it does from the
bottom of the valley up the opposite slope, one must have some
conception of the narrowness of Norwegian valleys, with steep mountain
ridges on either side. I felt also that readers would be interested in
pictures showing how the dooryard of a well-to-do Norwegian farm looks,
how the open fireplace of the roomy kitchen differs from our
fireplaces, how tall and slender a Norwegian stove is, built with
alternating spaces and heat boxes, several stories high, and how
Crookhorn and the billy goat appeared when about to begin their grand
tussle up at Hoel Saeter.

_Sidsel Sidsaerk_ has given much pleasure to old and young. I hope that
_Lisbeth Longfrock_ may have the same good fortune.

LAURA E. POULSSON

HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. LISBETH LONGFROCK GOES TO HOEL FARM 1

II. LISBETH LONGFROCK AS SPINNING WOMAN 12

III. LEAVING PEEROUT CASTLE 22

IV. SPRING: LETTING THE ANIMALS OUT TO PASTURE 33

V. SUMMER: TAKING THE ANIMALS UP TO THE SAETER 52

VI. THE TAMING OF CROOKHORN 68

VII. HOME FROM THE SAETER 84

VIII. ON GLORY PEAK 98

IX. THE VISIT TO PEEROUT CASTLE 113

X. SUNDAY AT THE SAETER 129

XI. LISBETH APPOINTED HEAD MILKMAID 139

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

LISBETH LONGFROCK _Frontispiece_

PAGE

HOEL FARM 4

THE BIG KITCHEN AT HOEL FARM