Immigrant attitudes towards Norway were often like Johan Reiersen's, full of honest respect but critical of a country that could not provide for the working class. An old emigrant song is very direct:

Farewell, thou Mother Norway,
now I must leave thee.
Because thou fostered me,
I give thee many thanks.
All too sparing wert thou in
providing food for the
Throng of thy laborers.
Thou, who gavest more than
enough to they well-
schooled sons.