THE OESTER BERG. 273 



over, was at one end quite open to the weather. Here 

 stood a large horse-trough, into which a rivulet splashed 

 and gurgled unceasingly. At the further part of the shed 

 was the cow-house, and over this stable, immediately 

 beneath the roof, was the loft, crammed quite full with 

 hay. Here I was to sleep that night, and many a follow- 

 ing one. You scrambled up to it, by help of a rude lad- 

 der j and unless the pattering of the large rain-drops on 

 the shingle roof just above your forehead were to disturb 

 your rest, or the jingling of the cows' bells in the stable 

 beneath, or the noisy rustle of the water falling into the 

 trough, — sounds which most likely you would not be 

 accustomed to in your bedroom in town, — if, I say, the 

 novelty of all this did not keep you from sleeping, you 

 might pass as comfortable and warm a night up there 

 in, not on, the sweet hay, as in the best chamber of the 

 Clarendon. 



In the room where we sat was the usual large stove, 

 and round it ran a bench, as well as along the walls. 

 There was one deal chair besides, and a deal table, a 

 clock, and a closet where the pans of milk were placed, 

 that the warmth might the more quickly cause the cream 

 to form in thick and luscious layers.* 



As it was late in the season the greater part of the cows 

 were gone into the valley, and with them " the Swiss," 

 or chief dairyman. The calves only were left behind for 

 some weeks longer, with cows sufficient to furnish milk 

 * for them, and to make butter for the three herdsmen who 

 were still here. These had to tend the cattle, cart the 



* I here saw a method of skimming milk that was new to me. The 

 dairyman took out a pan of milk, and passing his finger round the sur- 

 face, separated, as it were, the edge of the thick layer of cream from the 

 sides of the vessel ; then tilting up the pan, as if to pour out the con- 

 tents, and blowing the surface, it floated off, and tumbled, almost in one 

 piece, into the bowl put to receive it. 



