Stavanger lay bright and beautiful at our bow, rising slowly from the sea, with pretty grass-clad island to the north. Two years had now passed since I sailed out. One has to have the experience to realize the feelings that stir in the breast upon the return of a native son from strange adventures in foreign lands. I am unable to describe those feelings. They took me fairly off my feet. And, over there lay Roalsøy. where my sweetheart lived. The sun shone just as brightly today as it did two years ago, when I departed, and she was on the wharf, and as it did when I received her letter of "Yes" on the west coast of Africa a year ago. Was she at home now; or was she in town? I knew where I could find out. On landing, I found a man to take my belongings to a hotel. There I learned she was in town, and after a little time I met her.
It was a strange meeting, expected and yet so unexpected. We became somewhat bashful in each other's presence. We had been in each other's company only a few times before I went away, and now we were betrothed. It was almost like a dream, and difficult to realize at once. And she had changed so much. She was no longer the little girl I had imagined, but a grown-up, fully developed woman. She was taller but especially more symmetrical of build, and more beautiful than before. I hardly dared to talk to her. The situation seemed so strange. But, as usual, she was able to overcome difficulties, and was equal to them also on this occasion. She ended the embarrassment by inviting me at once to come home and meet her parents, and become better acquainted.
Rather doubtful as to how her relatives might look on me, thus suddenly being placed on exhibition before them, I accepted the invitation, and we went over to Roalsøy in the afternoon, where we found her parents, and we greeted each other without many formalities. Olava had told her parents about me before, and her mother seemed to feel acquainted at once, but her father seemed to regard me more as a stranger, and seemed to wonder how to address me. He finally asked if I was the one who had been on a long voyage, to which I answered I had been away for quite a while. Then the ice appeared broken. I was asked to sit down, and soon we were good friends.
Gustav, the youngest brother of Olava, came in. He was also a sailor, married and residing in a house near by. He had seen us come, and was desirous of making acquainted. It did not take long for us, as seamen, to become acquainted, and we were soon comrades. He was of agreeable and kindly temperament; physically larger than average. He called Olava 'the child', and that she could take it into her head to become engaged to marry at her age was something he could not understand. But she took it goodnaturedly, and said that he, at any rate, could not deny that her fiancé was a full grown man. But he still maintained that it was too bad for a child rashly to proceed to get married without considering the seriousness of it all.
True, she was the youngest member of the family, but she was over 19 years old, and I was of about the same age, and we considered ourselves grown-ups. She was rather small compared to me, as I think I weighed about 220 pounds at that time. Her brother's remarks were made mostly for the purpose of teasing her.
It was not long before everybody in the neighborhood seemed to know we were betrothed. At her home I understood I was always welcome. Olava was much thought of in her family, probably because she was the youngest daughter and sister, and she was now the only on at home with her parents. They seemed very much pleased that she was satisfied and happy with me; and we made no secret of our love for each other. Her mother told me that she and my mother had been the best of friends in youth. She was from Rossøy. near Finnøy. She told me my mother was very beautiful, and of a quiet, lovely nature. That was 50 or 60 years earlier.
Olava's father had been the owner of nearly all of Roalsøy. Now he was up in years, and in poor health, and he had divided his part of the island among his three married sons. A fourth son was married to a girl at Eide, Fogn. who had a farm of her own. And the eldest daughter was also married and resided on Sandøy. near Roalsøy.
For themselves the parents had retained a small piece of land on which theer was an orchard and garden, and had built on it a new, cozy little house, where they now resided. They were moderately well to do, and their daughter did about as she pleased, always with due regard for proper conduct toward her parents. A very good table was the pride of the house, and I did not suffer from hunger while staying there.
The father, who was now ageing somewhat, had been a farmer in his younger years, and later, when his sons were old enough to accompany him, a very successful fisherman (notebar), and in that occupation had amassed a snug fortune. And, located as they were in a seaport of great activity, the family was much interested in trade, commerce and sea-faring.
My stay here at this time could only be for about a day, as I must go home to father and sisters and brothers. Going home to Finnøy on the steamer 'Rogaland' I landed at Judaberg on the east side of our island. This afforded me a walk across the island which I shall never forget.
It was in the latter part of July. The loveliness of midsummer enshrouded the island. I had never before seen anything so beautiful. It was like going through a flower garden the whole way. Again and again I had to stop and admire the surroundings. Though born and brought up on this island I had never before noticed its beauty as I did now. The truth of the poet's lines came to mind:
'There is no place on Earth like Home. Home, Home; sweet, sweet Home.'
My folks at home I found all in the enjoyment of good health, and glad to see me. Father had had an order on the ship owners to draw 20 crowns of my wages each month during the time I sailed with 'Hjemmet.' This money he had saved for me; and now he added something to it, to make up a total of 400 crowns. I also had saved some of my wages on the last voyage. Thus I now had money enough to begin my course at the school of navigation, that would begin in September. And I was now old enough, and had served long enough as a sailor before the mast, so I could take the examination when my studies should be completed.
Prospects now seemed very bright. There was not a cloud in the sky of my prospective fortune. But I now had two homes, and was always welcome in either.
(Now, I sit here, aged and alone, dreaming and writing about those lovely and unspeakably happy days of youth. Tears run down my cheeks as I dwell on those treasure memories, and I hope the kind reader will not blame me for that.)
With Olava I took many trips here and there, sometimes by sailboat and sometimes by steamer, to visit her and my friends and acquaintances. We were cordially received everywhere, and treated as most honored quests. My betrothed was lively and versatile, and had a remarkably winning way. If she met people she had never seen before, it was not long before they seemed the best friends. She had many friends in Stavanger, from school days and through church affiliation. I also had several relatives in the city. Everywhere we were received in the most friendly and genial manner.
Those were the happiest days of my life. No worries either about the present or the future. But the best of all was that I found my betrothed and myself so well suited to each other. The same kind of wishes, joys, longings, and anticipations of a bright future. We could read each other's thoughts, and were as happy as I think anybody could be.