DEAR PARENTS,—­We have to study much more now than at first, but
as I am less behind the others than I was, it is not so hard.  I shall change many things in father’s place when I come home; for there is much that is wrong there, and it is wonderful that it has prospered as well as it has.  But I shall make everything right, for I have learned a great deal.  I want to go to some place where I can put into practice all I now know, and so I must look for a high position when I get through here. 
     No one here considers Jon Hatlen as clever as he is thought to be
at home with us; but as he has a gard of his own, this does not concern any one but himself. 
     Many who go from here get very high salaries, but they are paid so
well because ours is the best agricultural school in the country.  Some say the one in the next district is better, but this is by no means true.  There are two words here:  one is called Theory, the other Practice.  It is well to have them both, for one is nothing without the other; but still the latter is the better.  Now the former means, to understand the cause and principle of a work; the latter, to be able to perform it:  as, for instance, in regard to a quagmire; for there are many who know what should be done with a quagmire and yet do it wrong, because they are not able to put their knowledge into practice.  Many, on the other hand, are skillful in doing, but do not know what ought to be done; and thus they too may make bad work of it, for there are many kinds of quagmires.  But we at the agricultural school learn both words.  The superintendent is so skillful that he has no equal.  At the last agricultural meeting for the whole country, he led in two discussions, and the other superintendents had only one each, and upon careful consideration his statements were always sustained.  At the meeting before the last, where he was not present, there was nothing but idle talk.  The lieutenant who teaches surveying was chosen by the superintendent only on account of his ability, for the other schools have no lieutenant.  He is so clever that he was the best scholar at the military academy. 
     The school-master asks if I go to church.  Yes, of course I go to
church, for now the priest has an assistant, and his sermons fill all the congregation with terror, and it is a pleasure to listen to him.  He belongs to the new religion they have in Christiania, and people think him too strict, but it is good for them that he is so. 
     Just now we are studying much history, which we have not done
before, and it is curious to observe all that has happened in the world, but especially in our country, for we have always won, except when we have lost, and then we always had the smaller number.  We now have liberty; and no other nation has so much of it as we, except America; but there they are not happy.  Our freedom should be loved by us above everything. 
     Now I will close for this time, for I have written a very long
letter.  The school-master will read it, I suppose, and when he answers for you, get him to tell me some news about one thing or another, for he never does so of himself.  But now accept hearty greetings from your affectionate son,
               O. THORESEN.