The Land of the Long Night

terior.-Queer Beds.-Snowed in.-Exit Through the Chimney

e. Here lived friends of my driver. I alighted and walked through the narrow trench and opened the storm door. In the little hall hun

om. I saluted the farmer and family. They all looked at me with as

now-ploughs abandoned, horses belonging to them gone to the nearest farms? You cannot go further until the snow packs

rove," I

is your

gate," I

you going

n is to be seen for weeks; but I am afraid I cannot travel further for a few days on account of the deep snow, and I shall have to wait

"We are poor people, we have a humble home, for our

ever so muc

aced upright, in which manner they throw out much more he

m is about one foot above the floor and generally four or five feet square, with a crane to hang kettles or cooki

the fire, and one of the daughters k

astonishment, the husband said, "I have a brother in America." The wife said, "I have a sister and two nieces in America," and tears came into her eyes. They did also into mine; there

e girls had fair hair and large blue eyes, and were strong

were: Engla Matilda, Serlotta Maria, and Kajsa Maria; the mothe

of thick coarse woollen stuff or cloth which was being woven, was in another corner. Near by were three spinning-wheels;

lls were several wooden benches like sofas, upon which the people sat. A large wooden table with wooden benches and two or three wooden chairs completed the furniture. There

containing milk and the churn to make butter with. In the other room were a number of painted chests

es and a big piece of bacon. The sight roused my appetite. The potatoes were washed a

ps were filled to the brim, and every two or three minutes we were urged to eat more, to drink more coffee. How good were the potat

ugh the trap-door and soon came back w

t more, eat more;" and before I knew it, our two cups were filled for the third time, and more pota

nd kind to me. Do not wonder that I love them. No one in these co

happy than if I had been in a splendid palace. I forgot the snow and stor

there were only embers left he stirred them with the poker until not a particle of flame appeared, and when there was

yself, "we are all going up the ladder to sleep upstairs. Perhaps we are going to sleep on the floor." But I did not s

drawer out of each sofa. These were to be the beds. They were filled wi

rent widths, according to the number of oc

imes we can squeeze five or six into one of these beds." I was glad I was not goin

d was given me, and the rest of the family slept in their own, two girls sleeping in on

thankful I felt to be under shelter! Early in the morning, while still in bed, I was startled

owed in?"

ame time. I jumped out of bed to fin

wind has filled all the trenches with snow. We shall hav

out of a house through the chimney, and I was anxio

s not been touched, so we have plenty of food," said the father. "Besides, there is bacon, cheese, and butter," said

memory. Old Pehr, my neighbor, whom I went to see yesterday, and who i

e. "Boys, we must make the way clear to the stable and feed your ho

so much fodder before them that they will not

poor animals when they have not strength enough to carry the heavy load put upon them, or to make them work when they are i

f any one among our neighbors who is unkind to his horse. W

our horse used to put his head through the door

ovels were brought in. There were three of them. Then Nils ascended the ladder, and afterwards crept to the top. This

cord we drop." They had taken the precaution of car

of my hands and p

scended the ladder, then crept up the rest of the chimney. The boys got hold of my hands and pulled me through. What a sight! I was black with soot. Nils

ame out and joined us in making the way clear to the barn, to the two horses, five cows, and twelve sheep. When we opened the door of the barn the h

was surrounded by a mass of ice. We drew water and gave a good drink to the hors

s hungry as the wolves are in winter

stice to the food. The potatoes and the bacon quickly disappeared. After the meal we cleared the other windo

de were two wooden bowls filled with sour milk. We ate with wooden spoons from the same dish. There were no plates for supper,

Erik. They were fine boys, and we were friends. Did we not sleep w

ling snow to make one sleep,"

-wheel, Serlotta carded wool, and Maria wove a thick woollen cloth to be turned into garments

llowed by the rollers had made their reappearance on the highroad. It was time for me to leave,

d, "No, no; to be paid for giving food and shelter to a person who is overtaken by a storm, is a

vercoming her scruples and making her take it; a

tired. The place was filled with travellers and all the beds were taken. Men slept on benches, on the top of the tabl

get in-and I quietly stepped over three fellows who were fast asl

us road leading north, towards "The Land of the Long N

han one hour. As I travelled further north I was surprised to notice that the snow diminished rapidly. I h

Pite?, and Lule?, and at last I reached Haparanda, situated at the extreme northern part

ty-five hundred miles since I had left the mountains of Norway. I was only forty-one miles