104 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



her nose. The horses show by their absence 

 of vice the kindly way in which they have been 

 handled. It is customary for the foals to run 

 with their mothers, when in work. They thus 

 early learn the incidents of travel and the 

 customs of the road. 



To their children and servants also, as far 

 as a stranger may judge, they are exceedingly 

 kind. There seems to be a complete absence 

 of the chiding and screaming mother and 

 mistress with whom we are unhappily familiar. 

 The children, though shy with strangers, seem 

 to stand in no awe of their parents and elders. 

 In the relations of master and servant there 

 is little of the assumed deference expected by 

 the payer of wages from the receiver, in 

 countries still under the influence of feudal 

 traditions. 



Norway has never known a feudal system, 

 with its accompanying primogeniture. From 

 time immemorial the father's property has been 

 inherited by all his children in equal shares. 

 The subdivision of land seems to have reached 

 its limit long ago. It is customary for the 

 eldest son to buy out the younger children, who 



