Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-17

that cannot pass over it without lingering
to enjoy, in memory, its wonderful aroma.
Besides, if it be true, as some shockingly
gross persons assert, that the belly is a moro
important district of the human economy
than the brain, good meal deserves chron-
icling no less than an exalted impression
Certain it is, that strong digestive are to be
preferred to strong thinking powers--bettcr
live unknown than to die of dyspepsia
This was our first country meal in Norrland,
of whose fare the Stockholmcrs have hor-
ror, yet that stately capital never furnished
a better. We had bcefsteak and onions,
delicious blood-puddings, the tenderest Of
pancakes (uo omelette soyfee could be more
fragile,) with ruby raspberry jam and bot
tie Of genuine English porter. If you think
the bill of fare too heavy and solid, take
drive of fifteen miles in the regions Of Zero,
and then let your delicate stomach decide.
In picturesque dell near Fjal we cross
cd the rapid Indal River, which comes
down from the mountains of Norway. The
country was wild and broken, with occasion
al superb views over frozen arms of the
Gulf, and tho deep rich valleys stretching
inland. Leaving Hernosand, the capital of
of the province, few miles to our right, we
kept the main northern road, slowly advan-
cling from station to station with old and
tired hUrses. There was snow storm in
tho afternoon, after which the sky came out
splendidly clear and gorgeous with the long
northern twilight. In the silence of the
hour and the deepening shadows of the for
est through which we drove, it was startling
to hear, all at once the sound of voices
singing q solemn hymn. My first idea was
that some of those fanatical Dissenters, Of
Norrland, who meet, like tho Scotch Cow
enanters, among the hills, were having a re-
frcshing winter meeting in the woods; but
proceeding further we found that the Choir
Isters were a company Of peasants returning
from market with their empty slods.
1t was already dark at o'clock, and our
last horses were so slow that the postilion,
r a handsome, lively boy, whose pride was a
@ little touched by my rcmonstrances, failed,
!, in spite Of all his efforts, to bring us to the
: station before T. We stopped at Weda, on
# the Angermann River, the largest stream in
o Northern Sweden. Angermannland, the
h country which is drained, is said to be a very
= wild and beautiful region, where some ira
a ces of the old, original Asiatic type which
l. peopled Scandinavia are yet to be found in
r the features of its secluded population. Al
e Wcda, we found excellent quarters. A neat
ic quiet old fashioned little servant girl of Il
e. or fourteen took charge of us, and attended
q to all our wants with the greatest assiduity
lc We had good supper, small but neat
Ie room, clean beds, and coffee in the morning
= besides plentiful provision for broaksast or
IS the way, for sum equal to seventy-ivc
j. cents.
n We left at y, the waning moon hanging
,r on the horizon, and the first almost impre.
r ceptible signs of twilight in the east. The
If Angcrmann River, which is here mile
r, broad, was frozen, and our road led directly
e across its surface. The wind blew down it
n across the snow covered ice, making our ia
j. ces tingle with premonitory signs of freez
lr ing, as tho murcury was a little below zero
s. Ny hands were chilled inside the fur mittens
W and was obliged to rub my nose frequent
IN ", to prevent it from being npped. Th
te day was raw and chilly, and the temperatur
rose very little although the hills occasion
e. dllb SlltlbCIcu liOllI tiiO NllNs HO SCtuS
: ry, also, grew darker and wilder as we ad
10 vanced. The fir-trccs were shorter an
h, stunted, and of dark greenish-brown, whic
- at little distance appeared completed
wv black. Nothing could exceed the bleal
IT. inhospitablc character of these landscape
IS The inlets of the Bothnian Gulf were har,
NO snow-covercd plains, inclosed by bold ru!
Is. ged headands, covered with ink-back fo
yc ests. The more distant ridges faded into
-tv dull indigo hue, fleckcd with patches
rn- ghastly whitish, under the lowering, sulle
er- short lived daylight.
er- Our road was much rougher than hithe
nc to. We climbed long ridges, only TO d
an scend by as steep declivitcs on the northei
sin side, to cross the bed OF an inland strear
nd and then ascend again. The vallys, howe
IN er, were inhabited and apparently we'll cr
nd tivated, for the houses were large and col
AZ Portable, and the people had thrifty, pre-
ace porous and satisfied air Besides the far,
-he houses were immense racks twenty fc
high, for the purpose of prying flax al
lat grain, and at the stations the people offer
M for sale very fine and beautiful linen
lily their own manufacture. This is the stap
re, production of Norrland, where the she
we summers are frequently insufficient to IN
i'd ture the grain crops. Tho inns wero 1
w comfortable buildings, with very fair aecor
lis, modations for travellers.
ful We have had bad luck with horses IL
me day, however, two or three travellers havil
til been in aduance and had the pick. On o.
es. stage our baggage-slcd was driven by apoij
ak of not more than ten years old--a daril
sds fellow, with face as round, fresh and swe
nd as damask rose, the bluest of eyes, and
ere cloud of silky golden hair, His success
nix. was tall, lazy lout who stopped so Fl
nd quently to talk with the drivers Of sleds b
om hind us that we lost all patience, drove pa
id and pushed ahead in the darkness, al
se, trusting our horse to find tho way. H
pcr horse followed, leaving him in the lure
me and we gave him a long-winded chase astc
er- before we allowed him TO overtake us. I'll
ice so exasperated him that we had no trout
me the rest of the way. Mem,-If you wi
gh to travel with speed, mako your postilli
&c, angry.
ad At Hornas, they gave us a supper of .
ore and cold pig's-feet, admirable beds, al
a we're only deficient in the matter of wat
in for washing. We awoke with hcadach
nd on account of gass from the tight Russi