The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-12-09
From Dr. Baird's Visit to Northern Europe.
A Lnpiaua Family.


never have fixed home around which
they may gather the comforts Of life.
They have no gardens, no grain, no fruits,
not even in their long glaring summer
which is almost one incessant day-are
they blessed with the sight Of richly
verdan, landscape. Their barren soil and
ungenial climate alternating between the
dreary winter prospect of unlimited snow
fields and the scanty sameness of the arid
summer, forbid all this. Yet no people,
not even the Swiss, love their native land
so ardently as these poor step-children OF
nature. They live in tents summer and
winter, and, except fsh--the reindeer
furnishes their whole subsistence. IL
gives them food, raiment and dwellings,
and forms their only wealth and pride.
Some Lapps have as many as two thou
sand of these animals. They live chiefly
on moss, and when they exhausted the
supply in their neighborhood, they snuff
up the wind and start off in search Of fresh
pasturage. The owners have nothing TO
do but to strike their tents, pack up their
goods and their little ones, and follow
them. In this way they lead about their
patient, good natured masters at all sea-
sons, sometimes remaining six or eight
weeks in one spot, and sometimes not as
many days. Having so little to occupy
and entertain them in their way OF life,
the Lapps are driven to domestic habits,
and their family attachments, like their
national predictions, are tender and
strong. They speak with kind of fond
pride Of the splendor Of the northern lights
that illumine the darkness of their polar
winter, of the perpetual day that brghtens
their summer. and of the nee,ness and
sagaci,y of their matchless reindeer.
One of their greatest pleasures is story
telling. A large circle will collect in a
tent, half buried, perhaps, in the winters
snow, and seated ON the ground, each OF
the ring in turn relates an adventure, le-
gend, or an historical event. In this way
they receive and impart much curious IN
formation, and become more intelligent
than one would suppose from the appear
ance of their rude camps and uncoutt
: dresses. This community OF tastes, in
: lerest and amusements, strengthens in a
wonderful degree their social feelings
Nothing can detach I.app from his
: family, and they pine if even for shoT
, time they are kept from their beloved Ell
| campmeni.
A noble Swedc who was travelling il
l Lapland wished to engage messenger tc
/ 90 to certain point on the Gulf OF DO
] lhnla, and there await some papers whlcl
a he expected to be forwarded at about tina
a period to the point in question. II
i offered reward about equal TO ten rein
/, deer for every week his messenger wa
e away. This was a magnificent ,empia
IL ton TO a poor I.app, and an active, homes
If young man, who with his lathcr.in-lav
i two children and wife lived near the qua
C lers of the traveller, was persuaded by ii
e lather-in-law-to whom the promised AZ
/, cession of wealth had peculiar charms
ie to undertake the journey. When |
\, went home to communicate the propose
lc arrangement TO his wife, the Swede-wl
Of was perfectly at home i'll the deer-sk
IN winter costume and rough dialect of La
rk land--wcnt with him to sustain his res
x luton, and seating himself on large stol
be near the tent, held himself ready
le smooth down every obstacle in the W;
Ill of speedy departure. 1t was in Febr
he AIRY, and the journey was to be periorm'
,sl mostly on foot in snow shocs-a bo
,st like a skate, six feet long, with which
N Laplander will travel 60 miles day
more with as much ease as an Europe
IN, will walk 30 on the best roads.
,ul A true Lapp never thinks OF washi
in himself or his clothes, therefore a chan
a Of raiment had not to be thought of, a
ny his snow shoes lay ready for use beIC
gu hun, so our messenger has but to expl;
rty the business to his pretty wife, ask
Get for some smoked venison, and say IA
h well. The old man took upon hims
are the explanation, aud relying much on
'ck auxiliary promises Of theSwede, he cal
2 out his daughter Ralia and told her of
IL nronnsad eynelition Rnlln tnruel n