The Sun.
London, England, 1809-06-17 00:00:00

GLISni VG'S I:

The following very interesting anecdote respeCting
this great Monarch, and truly patriotic: hero, is re-
lated by Mr. Knit PORTEII, who has added to his
high reputation as an artist by a considerable display
of literary merit, in a very intelligent and amusing
work, which does honour to his taleuts and charac-
ter. The author, who with latidAhle enthusiasm
visited the spot in Dalecarlia, where that great Mo-
narch sought a refuge from the Danish Usurper,
obtained the subjoined narrative, and . the tradition
is so exaa, and derived froth such respeaable sources,
as to admit of no doubt °fits -authenticity. After
describing the place in general)! he says'-•-•
" On the little hill just *mentioned, stood a* very
ancient habitation.; of so simple art architeCture,
that you would have taken it for a 'hind's -cottage;
instead of a place that, in' times of old, had been
the abode of nobility. It coasistel of a long barn;
like strethire; formed of lir, covered in' a sttange
fashion With scales, and odd ornamental twisiingi
in the carved wood. But the spot was hallowed.by
the virtues of its heroic mistress, who saved, by her
presence of mind, the life of the future deliverer of
her conntry; The following are* the circumstances
alluded to ; and Most of thein *ere einnmunicated
to me under the very roof.
" Gostavus, having, by an evil accident, been
discovered in the mines, and :liter rig been 'nar-
rowly betrayed by a ‘l'edish eubleman,, bent his
course, towards this house, thee inhabited by, a.Gen-:
tleman oft he 16nie of Pearstm, or Peterson, whom
he had known itithearmies of the lateadmirristraior,
Here, he hoped, from the obligations he' had for-
Melly laid on the otlicer,that I,e Shoold at least find
a safe retreat. Pearson received him with every
mark of friendship, nay, treated hitrOOth that re-
Sped and submission which ' noble muds are proud
to,pay to the truly great, when' robbed'of their exs,
term! ' h 'tours: He seerned, more afflided by the
misfortunes of Gustayus, Allan thit prince WAS for
himself; and exclaimed with such vehemence against,
the Danes, that, instead Of awaiting a proposal to,
take op arms, he offered, una,ked, to try the spirit of
. the mountaineers ; and declared thachimself and his
vassals would he the first to set. an example, and turn
out under the command' of his beloved General.
. "GuStavris was rejoiced *to find that lie had at
last found a man who was not afraid to draw his
sword in the defenCe of his' country; and endeavour-
ed by the most impressive arguments; and the pros•
peel of a suitable.recoiripense fur the perional risks
he rau, to confirm him in so generous a resohnion.—
Pearson answered 'with repeated assurances of fideli-
ty he named .the getitlenien and the 'reading per-
sons among the peariants whom he hoped ic engage
in the enterprise. Gnatavos relied on his word, a:::1
promising not to name himself' to any one while he
was absent,' soine'days afterwards saw him leavethe
house to put ,his design in exet:utin.
" It was 'indeed a design, and a black one. Uri-
der the specious cloak of a zealous affei.:tion-fOr Gus.
tavws, the traitor was contriving his ruin. The hope
of making his court to the tyrant; And the
'expetlatiun of a laige reward, made this son of Jo-
das resolve to sacrifice his h‘inorir to his ainhitirat,
and, for the sake of 'a tiw,r.ducati,:liolitte the most
sacred laws of hospitality, by betraying his guest,—
In pursuance of that biese resetution, he went
straight to olio' of Christiern's officers, (zrrimanditT,
in the province, and infotm4 him that' Gust:l%lli
was his prisoner. Having committed, this treaciiery,
he had nut courage to face his, viajm -and telling
the Dane; how to'surprise 'the Prince, who; ire's'aid,
believed himself to be mica. the -proteelion of a
friend, (shame to manhood, to duct 'to confess that
be could betray such a contidepee!) he- proposed
taking a wider circuit home, whilethey, apparent-
l' unknown to him, rifled it. Of its trt.a.Vire.
will be an easy matte
q,' OW •• tUr trot even my
wife knows that it is, Caustarus."

Accordiagly the officer,- at the,head-of a parry
of well-artueCt soldiers, Inalthed dire6ll, to the 'au:.
...The men invested the !loose, Aye the lender,
abruptly entering,` found Pearson's zfe, according
to the flashier) of those days, employed in culinary
preparations. At - distance kern
,her sat a
young.man in a rustic garb, lopping .off the knots
from the broken branch Oa tree. The officer went
4.t0 her, and told her he came: in .King Christieru's
name to detitand the rebel Gustavus, who he knet
was ceneeded'under her roof,. -The dauntless woman
never changed colour ; she immediately guessed
the man, whom' her husband had Mirodeced .as a
Miner's eon, to be the Sivedish hero.. The door was
blecked op by soldiers. Joao instant she replied,
without once glancing at Gustavus, wile) set Motion-
kss with surprise, " If you mean the melancholy
gentletnen my husband has hid here these few days,
he halt just walked out into the wood on the other {-
side of the hill. - Some of these soldiers may readily
'seize him, as he hasno arms with him."
" The officer did not suspect the easy simplicity
of her manner; and ordered-part of the meal to go
itt iluest of him. At that moment, suddenly turn-
ing ber-eyes:on Gustavus, she tiew up to him, and tt
catching the stick out of his hand, exclaimed in -au
angry voice Unmannerly wretch ! b3l sit
before your betters Don't.you see the King's otli-
cers.ih the room Get out of my sight, or some
of them shall give you a drubbing !" As she ',poke
she struck him a blew on the pack with, all her
strength ;-.atrd opening a side door, " there, get iti-
to the icullery,", cried the, " it is the fittest place.,`
for such company and giving him another knock,:
she flung the stick after hie), and, shut the :door.—
" •Snre," added she, great heat, " never wo-
man was plagued with *sech a lout of a slave."
" The piker begged she would net disturb her-
self on his account; but• she, atUtiug great 'eve-
rence for:the King, and respeet for his tepresenta-,
the, prayed to enter her parlour while she:
brought some refreshment.. The Dane civilly com-
.plied ; perhaps, glad tonugh- to get from the side of
a shrew ; and she' irnmediately•liastened to. Giasta-
V 139, Wheat she had, bolted in, and by means of
back passage,
,comiatvd hin).i,hiiiroment to a rear-
.gain little 'apart Mem, etih clt projetiing froui 't he sitie
of the hauseelosete the t of 'Ow lake Where the
tithers' boats lay, she loweied him down the conve.
nient apertiire in thriAeat, acd giving, him a direc.i
tion Loan hottest curate acro,ei the lake, committed
him to Providence."