724 GLEANINGS IN BKK CULTURE 



A FUETHEM GLIMPSE OF MOUNTAIN LIFE IN NORWAY 



r.V IIAK'OLI) HOVIND 



1 have been an liuiioiaiy member of the 

 North American Beekeepers' Association 

 since January 28, 1893. I was before and 

 after that time the editor of our Norwegian 

 bee-pajoer {Tidsskrift for Biskjotsel) for 

 some 18 years. I thought perhaps you knew 

 it, therefore I did not write about it in my 

 last letter to you ; but as you published that 

 letter in Gleanings, p. 117, Feb. 1, I may 

 tell it noAv, and present myself as an un- 

 worthy brother in the craft to the American 

 beekeejiers — the most progressive beekeep- 



Larye stone koiJt uccordiuK ti. 

 Norwegian viking's (sea-kings), 

 petuated to some extent. 



the -ways of the uhl 

 a custom still pi v- 



ers of the world. It was my duty lo intro- 

 duce myself to my American brethren of 

 bee lore long ago. Perhaps they will excuse 

 me, and kindly take the haiul I now extend 

 them. We go to the American beekeejjers 

 for our best instructions. 



Thinking that ])erhaps it may interest; yon 

 to see some of pioturesf|ue Norway I send 



you two views. The laj-ger engraving [cover 

 picture for this issue. — Ed.] is a most beau- 

 tiful vieAV, I think, taken from the corner 

 of a little house on the mountain side opiDo- 

 site our own home. 



The smaller picture represents an old 

 Norwegian custom. In commemoration of 

 memorable events the old Norwegian \rikings 

 or sea-kings in times long past raised big 

 stones called banta, and carved them, so we 

 do the same yet. 



It is indeed edifying in the highest degree 

 to see how many kind, Avarm-hearted people 

 there are in the Avorld. In consequence of 

 my last letter, Avhich yon published, I have 

 received many letters from America and 

 Australia, full of kind Avords, and sending 

 me some of their seeds, books, and papers, 

 samples of honey, and samples o' maple 

 sugar, iihotogTaphs, and one a beautiful 

 arrowhead of stone probably found in an 

 old Indian grave. I do not knoAv hoAv to 

 thank these good friends giA-ing such tokens 

 of kindness to a stranger in a foreign coun- 

 try far up under the pole in the " land of 

 the midnight sun." I haA'e often had the 

 opportunity of seeing that all such hobbies 

 as bees, foAvls, and other sorts of animals, 

 etc., are the greatest blessing; for they bring 

 people of all classes together in friend- 

 ship and brotherly understanding, giving a 

 foretaste of the time Avhen there shall be 

 love and good Avill among all men. Some of 

 my truest friends and greatest joys I owe 

 to sucli hobbies.' Therefore Ave cannot do 

 enough to encourage tliem in our children. 



There are some misprints in my former 

 linrried letter; but it does not matter much; 

 but I haA'e not tAvo fruit-trees but a hun- 

 dred though they are yet very small. 



Tvedestrand, NorAvay. 



THE PEACE OF A DREAM. 



BY GRACE ALLEN 



I am wcirn with the roar of the street, 



I am tired with the tire of the town, 

 Where the noise and the heat seem to bruise me 

 and l:eat, 



And the smoke is an insolent frown. 

 But a mile or two out to the west 



There's a hive or two under the trees. 

 And my feet take their quest to the quiet and rest 



Of the rapturous hum of the bees. 

 For they go and they come and they go 



In the magic and might of a song; 

 And the gentle hours glow, and my soul and I know 



It's the peace of a dream, dreamed strong. 



