SAETER LIFE. 181 



in Scandinavia is celebrated in a festive manner. In the 

 country districts the engaged couple often go before the 

 clergyman, who, in presence of the respective families, 

 says : " Before God, the All-knowing, and in presence of 

 these witnesses, I ask thee if thou wilt have, him or her, 

 for thy betrothed ? " After an affirmative answer from 

 both, rings are exchanged as a pledge ; these are worn on 

 the ring ringer of the left hand. The custom of going 

 before the parson is dying out. In cities, or among the 

 educated classes, after a gentleman and a lady have become 

 engaged both their names are written on a single visiting 

 card and sent to all their acquaintances, this being a notice 

 of the betrothal ; it is also published in the newspapers. 

 The lady, after her engagement is announced, is allowed 

 to go with her affianced, and they are often seen together 

 without their families at balls or places of amusement. 

 Nothing but a plain gold ring is given even among the 

 most wealthy. The wedding token is of the same char- 

 acter. When a woman has a family she wears three rings 

 as a mark of distinction, of which many feel very proud, 

 though this last fashion is going somewhat into disuse. 



' A few days before the departure for the saeter a great 

 stir takes place on the farm ; milk-pails, churns, and 

 wooden vessels, the great iron pot, the mould for the 

 cheese, two or three plates, and a cup or two, a frying pan, 

 and above all the coffee kettle, are made ready for packing. 

 Salt for the cattle, flour to be mixed with skim-milk for 

 the calves, bread, a piece of bacon for Sunday, coffee and 

 sugar, a covering for the beds, must not be forgotten. The 

 girls take their Sunday clothes, and prayer-books, and old 

 garments for e very-day use ; a good stock of spun wool to 

 make stockings, mittens, or gloves, in their leisure hours, 

 and pieces of cloth upon which they can embroider. The 

 old horse which carries the load is often let loose to pas- 

 ture in the mountains for several weeks, for the ploughing 



is over, and the grass or hay left from the }ear before is 



carefully saved. 



