Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-09

with another man in it, and went to sleep With
out supper. | was so thoroughly worn out
that got about three hours rest, in spite Of my
pain.
We took coffee in bed at sevcn and started
for Raanbyn, on the Raaneaa RIVER The day
was lowering, temperature 8 l-2 deg. below
zero. The country was low, slightly undulat-
ing, with occasional wide views to the NORTH
over the nlets of the gulf and vast, wide tracts
OF forest. The settlements were still as fire.
queni as ever, but there was little apparent cul
tivation, except flax. Raanbyn is a large vii
lage, with a stately church. The people were
putting up booths for lair "a fair in the open
air, in lat. 65 deg. N. with the mercury ireez-
ing y, which explained the increased travel on
the road. We kept on TO Hyitaa for breakfast,
thus getting north Of the latitude of Torneaa
thence our road turned eastward at right angles
around the head of the gulf Much snow had
fallen, but the road had been plowed, and we
had iolorable track, except when passing
sleds, which sometimes gave us an overturn.
We now had uninterrupted forest scenery be-
tween the siations-and such scenery! 1t is
almost impossible TO paint the glory of these
~ A"'N' iN'SS'S' i1Ntll tltts ldutl WIN NHc
purest snow, resembles a Gothic fountain of
bronze, covered with frozen spray through
which only suggestive glimpses of its delicate
tracery could be had. From every rise we
looked over thousands Of such mimic fountains,
shooting low or high, from their pavemenls of
ivory and aidbaster. 1t was an enchanted will
derness- white, silent, cleaning, and filled
with inexhausiible forms of beauty. To what
shall liken those elmpses under the bouehs,
into the depths of the forest, where the snow
destroyed all perspective, and broaght the re-
motest fairy nooks and coveris, too lovely and
fragile 10 seem cold into the gittering fore
ground Wonderful! :" "glorious - could
only exclaim, in breathless admiration. Once,
by the roadside, we saw an Arctic ptarmigan,
as white as the snow, with ruby eyes that
sparkled like jewels as he moved slowly and ST.
lently along not frightened in the least.
The sun sat a little after o'clock, and we
pushed on TO reach the Kalix River the same
evening. At the last station we got boy pos
illion and two lazy horses, and were three
hours and a half on the road with tempera-
ture of 90 deg. below zeio. My feet became
like ice, which increased the pain in my face,
and began to feel faint and sick with so much
suffering and loss of rest. The boy aggravated
us so much by his lazlness, that Brasted ran
ahead and culed his ears, after which We made
better speed. After drive through intermin-
able woods, we came upon the banks of The
kalix, which were steep and fIinged with spen-
did frs Then came the village of Maansbyn,
where, thank Heaven, we go, something to eai +,
warm room, and bed.
While we were at supper, two travellers ar
ed yoaIg @ fellow, was us6ered into % our room.
lie was J,7'k-pairon (iron-master, so the SER
want informed US, and from his superfne broad
cloth, rings, and the immense anchor-chain
which attached him 10 his watch, appeared to
he doing a thriving business. lie had the
! Morse bloom on his face, dignfed nose and
| English whskers flanking his smoothly-shaven
chin. His air was flushed and happy; he was
not exactly drunk. bu, comfortably within that
gay aud cheerful veslibule beyond which. lies
the chamber of horrors. He listened TO our
conversation for some time, and finally address
ed me in imperfect English. This led to mu-
tual communications, and a declaration of our
character, and object in travel-nolhing OF
which would he believe. "Nobody can posi-.
bly, come here for pleasure" said he 81 know
better; you have secret political mission. -
Our amusement al this only strengthened hin
in his suspicious. Nevertheless he called fol
bottle of Port wine, which, when ii came
turned out TO be bad Malaga, and insisted OF
drinking welcome. "You are in latitude &C
deg. North" said he, ION the Kalix, where
no American has ever been before, and slal
call my friend to give skadi to your country
We have been 10 the church, where my frien(
is stationed"
With that he went out, and soon returned
with short, stout, broad-faced large-headet
man of forty or thereabout. His manner wa,
perfectly wel-bred and self possessed, and
took him TO be clergyman, especially as The
iron-maser addressed him as "Broher Hor
ton" "Now," said he, "welcome 10 G6'
North and prosperity to free America Art
you for Buchanan or Fremontl'' Brother Hor
ton kept watchful eye upon his young friend
but cheerfully joined in the sentiment. CAV,
in return "Skdal to Sweden and the Swedish
people," and hoped to get rid of our Jolly &c
!, qnaintance; but he was not TO be shaken of
"You don't know me-! he said, 'and don
know you-but you are something more thai
! you seem to be- you are political character.
Just then Braisted came in with the thermome
ter and announced 24e of cold (Reaumur.
Thousand devils - exclaimed Brother Hor
ton, (and now was convinced that he was no
= clergyman) "what thermometer How col
il makes the weather Would you part wit
I it if were 10 give you money in relurnP
: declined, stating that it was impossible for u
, to procure so cold a thermometer in the North
, and we wanted 10 have as low temperature a
! could be obtained
! This seemed 10 puzzle the iron-masler, VIII
. studied awhile upon it, and then returned 10 tn
S subject of my political mission. 81 suppos
< you speak French" said he sit is necessar
3 in diplomacy can speak it also'-which h
I, began 10 do, in bunglng way. | answere
: in the same language, but he soon gave up III
attempt and tried German. | changed ast
q and finding that he had exhausted his philoll
s gy, of which he was rather proud, especial
6 as Brother Horton knew nothing but Swedish
= determined 10 have little fun. "Of oours
III - A =.