Sweet lille Bang, delightful spot;
Nature herself, impelling,
Bids me pour forth such tuneful song,
That now my heart’s o’erwelling.
What now, then, may be wanting?
All Nature’s powers combine,
With order and with harmony,
To perfect the design.
The Fjeld-slopes’ flowery garlands
Enwreath the little dale;
And, winding in and outwards,
The rippling streams prevail.
Yet, ’twixt the banks so stilly,
The murmuring waters flow,
Till down a rapid torrent,
Restless, on they go.
Nor wanting from the gloam-land,
’Mid the grove’s secluded alley,
Is the eider duck to give some life
To hill-side and to valley.
What charm is there yet wanting,
Which lille Bang has not?
Her voice invites all Nature
To show a fairer spot.
Noah and Zachariah returned with the kagebröd, dark, heavy bread, with carraway seeds in it.[114] Our friend from Eisbod had sent to say, he would come up to our camp, if well enough. They had also made acquaintance, with an old Norwegian, who resided near the village. He showed them his violin, for which he wanted four dollars.
After we had finished our tea, bread, and butter, more visitors arrived. One peasant was an important representative of royalty. He wore a large waistcoat; on every button he had a photograph of some potentate. The King and Queen of Sweden, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the King of Sardinia, were among the number. His waistcoat, in fact, included nearly all the crowned heads of Europe. After tea, we sat in the rocks above our camp. The evening was very damp, and showery. When we returned, our visitors were still sitting by our tents. Notwithstanding heavy rain, they continued until about nine o’clock.
It was three o’clock in the morning when we were stirring. The Tarno Rye’s back was much chafed. The donkeys had eaten the best part of one of our pocket handkerchiefs, the day before. For frokost we had tea, black-bread, and cheese.