THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

 

Reindeer in Norway.

FEW minute’s walk up the valley
brought us in sight of the herd,
about two hundred yards off.
They were standing on a slight
eminence close to the glacier, and an im-
mense field of snow which filled up the
end of the valley. The glimmer of these
white masses in the growing dusk formed

a fine relief to the outline of their heads”

and branching horns. The deer were
grouped in all positions, with their heads
turned toward us, keenly alive to our ap-
proach, presenting a spectacle singularly
picturesque, heightened as it was by the
grandeur of the background. I had pro-
mised myself no small pleasure in meeting
with them; the whole of our search had
been full of interest, and I was’ not disap-
pointed. I lingered for some minutes in
contemplation of the scene, but the guide
was soon among them, and almost lost
behind their tall heads and branching
antlers, They were so tame, though suf-
fered to roam at large in these boundless
wastes, that they not only allowed him to
approach them, but crowded round to re-
ceive handfuls of salt, which he doled out
to them. Our coming had been an-
nounced by a wild, and not unmusical
call, with which they seemed familiar;
but they were somewhat alarmed at the
approach of a stranger, and stared at me
with their bright, full eyes, and with heads
erect, presenting a show of antlers truly
formidable. However, they were soon
reassured, and finding that I had salt to
give them, pressed round me to receive it.
I had not imagined that the reindeer were
such noble animals as I found them. I
could not cease admiring their beautiful
eyes, their wide and branching horns of

varied shape, covered at this season with
skin and soft down, their sleek bodies
and fine clean limbs. There were at least
two hundred, of all sizes, from the little
fawns and the neatly-shaped young does,
to the majestic-antlered bucks, some of
whose horns were not less than five or six
feet across. One or two of the older ones
had flat, projecting branches over tlie eyes
and forehead; and none were exactly
alike. A curious cracking noise was pro-
duced by the joints of their legs and feet
as they moved about. Some of them
were yet partially covered with their win-
ter coat, presenting a singular appearance,
as the fur is about two inches longer than
the summer coat, and of a much lighter
color. I pulled off handfuls of it. The
perpetual changes of attitude and position
of these graceful animals, some breaking
into groups, gave endless variety to a scene
which I scarcely knew how to quit. At
last we leave them in full possession of”
their romantic resting-place; and, as I
gaze back, I see them fast settling them-
selves for the night on the mossy ground,
I learned that the herd is shared among
the farmers of Fortun, who purchased it
from a party of Finmakers. I think the
value of a reindeer is about ten or twelve
dollars.—Forester’s Norway.

N Iceland, if a minor commits a crime,
the parents are immediately arrested,
and unless they can prove to the
satisfaction of the magistrate that

they have afforded to the child all needed
opportunities for instruction, the penalty
of the crime is visited upon them, and
the child is placed under instruction.