Litchfield enquirer., 1857-06-25
The Wooden Spoon.
ALTERED FROM THE SWEDISH.


There is silence in the forests. Nothing is
more beautiful than on fine sunny summer
day TO wander in the vast fr-ferests of Swe-
den, especially those which are here and there
broken up by patches of light-green grass,
covered over by pieces of moss-grown rocks
and tall birch-trees. 1t is so solitary in these
few open places, that unless trap is seen, set
in the winter to catch foxes, one might believe
no human being had ever been there.
Every Swede feels a necessity for being
alone at times with himself he INDUCES a fer
vent love for that quiet, hidden nature, within
whose shade he played when a child. Always,
even in the most stirring scenes of life, he
hears voice from his silent forests, inviting
him to peace aud tranquility, calling him back
to all that is most beautiful, good, and holy in
his experience.
There lies near to the mountain-chain that
separates Sweden from Norway, q narrow dale,
bounded by high hills a light-green birch-for-
est spreads its shade round small lake,
which is so full of islands that the water
seems to be divided into several sparkling mir
rors rejecting them underneath. This lake is
hidden among the mountains and almost end
less fir-forests of Norland. Few have heard
of it. but those who once visit it will often
think, amid the tumult of the world, of that
wild, yet peaceful scene. Behind the birch
wood, the land rises in high terraces fir and
pine trees tower up there, and look like the
forests head--so dark green and tall, so grave
aud solemn. But still higher on tho mountain
come the birchcs again, for these trees form in
the north both the front and rear guard of the
great fr-forests High over all appears peak
of snow and hundred mountain-streams
trickle through the dark trees, and carry theil
white foam over rocks and stones, to cast
themselves into the lake, or join the river that
flows from it.
1t is well this place is so little known or Sc
much forgotten were it otherwise some spec
ulator might erect a cottage on the banks o
to an Englis6man, who wished to get '" rid it "1
his spleen by means Of fishing. If I coul,
guide you thither, however, you would hume
diately perceive one solitary red wooden house
which stands on the edge of the forest, ant
quite near to the lake. The ground at th
back has been cleared, and is now divided into
corn and pasture fields the former of whcl
sometimes yield more than the seed which wa
sown in them, One must not expect too mucl
from good Mother Nature up here in tn,
North, for she is poor, good mother, and there
fore, perhaps, all the dearer for what sh,
gives. Almost the only communication which
the inhabitants of this red wooden house hat
with the rest of the world was yearly, in tn,
beginning of March, when the house-father.
its owner, had to travel between fifty and sxt,
miles off, in order to sell to erich Erik" tn,
farmer, a quantity of fsh--a sort of char
which, in these mountain lakes are of superio
quality-and some hundreds of ptarmigan
which had been taken in nets, and were to b
transmitted to Stockholm. This. journey wa
great event in the Norland "new settlers
house the two children, especially, were lonl
beforehand engaged in preparing fathers trav
cling necessaries, and in feeding up the tw
reindeer which should draw the sledge, will
oil Its precious load, to its destination. o.
The beginning of this story is translate from
ewedish work BY " Uncle Adam" Throughout tn
remainder the original idea only has been preserved