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Hospitality Under the Arctic Circle

           Whenwehadlaidasideourtravellingwrapsthevoiceofthehostwasheardinvitingustothekitchen,theonlyroomwhereafirewaslightedevenintheseverestcold.

           Myunclelostnotimeinobeyingthefriendlycall,norwasIslackinfollowing.

           Thekitchenchimneywasconstructedontheancientpattern;inthemiddleoftheroomwasastoneforahearth,overitintheroofaholetoletthesmokeescape.Thekitchenwasalsoadining-room.

           Atourentrancethehost,asifhehadneverseenus,greeteduswiththeword"Sællvertu,"whichmeans"behappy,"andcameandkissedusonthecheek.

           Afterhimhiswifepronouncedthesamewords,accompaniedwiththesameceremonial;thenthetwoplacingtheirhandsupontheirhearts,inclinedprofoundlybeforeus.

           IhastentoinformthereaderthatthisIcelandicladywasthemotherofnineteenchildren,all,bigandlittle,swarminginthemidstofthedensewreathsofsmokewithwhichthefireonthehearthfilledthechamber.EverymomentInoticedafair-hairedandrathermelancholyfacepeepingoutoftherollingvolumesofsmoketheywereaperfectclusterofunwashedangels.

           MyuncleandItreatedthislittletribewithkindness;andinaveryshorttimeweeachhadthreeorfourofthesebratsonourshoulders,asmanyonourlaps,andtherestbetweenourknees.Thosewhocouldspeakkeptrepeating"Sællvertu,"ineveryconceivabletone;thosethatcouldnotspeakmadeupforthatwantbyshrillcries.

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