The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-30

the wind over tho dazzling white moorlands! /!
Tho worst Of IL is, II takes away your breath
uncommonly; and when waxcd confident,
and ,couid drive personally, was run away
with. Of coursc, upset with an awful purl
into drift Eve fathoms deep, and dug out
ignominiously, amid the laughter OF tho lit
tle folks, who greatly crowcd over clumsy
Gullivcr. Still, tho drives were famous fun.
I was frost-bitten twice, and revived by q
snow.rubblng; but, worse, wasstruck with
snow.blindncss, for had to pass fortnight
in my cabin in absolute darkness, and was
not the happier for tho reflection that my
own obstinacy In refusing to wear snow spec
taclcs had brought this agreeable secluslon
upon mo. But the kind little folks hustled
about me, and told mo the most wonderful
stories Of the gnomcs, witches, gcnii, and 70
forth, all vitS. pcrisst -ehildish belief. and
sang and played to me, and lightened my
Loneliness considerably. When recovered,
| was thankful for the spectaclcs, ind never
suffered from the glaro any more.
So tho winter wore on. The LAPS were
always extremely kind, gentle and gay,
In their strange, semi.pagan way, though
trcmbled lest I should really be III, beyond
cure Of their simple remedies, and abandon
cd to the wizard, o sort Of medicinc-man
among them, who beats his magic drum, and
mutters spells over tho sick, as among tho
American Indians. Not that tho Laps arc
idolaters now, although, In 100 Bishop
Gunner found few 6eathens still among
them, who worshippcd black stono. On
the contrary, we had pastor Of the Swedish
Church at Kubliz. But he was native
lap, meek little man, who had half forgot.
ten his small stock of learning acquired at
the Upsala and am sure he put perfect
faith in the wizard, rs tho other moved
about, naughty and mysterious, in his blue
magic dress, and was not tho sort Of priest
to eradicate the supcrstitions which he avow-
edly shared. Besides tho wizard, we possess.
ed two witches, impish crones. in pointed
caps of white fox skin, who derived fees and
much reverence from the fears Of tho COM
munity. Yet my hosts looked on them
selves as civilized folks, compared with their
more northern ncighbors. "All bad tribes
up north" Peter Wow would say, in his
broken Swedish ''shoot you il you come
for harm! Cannibals up there! and you
know the Iapland inuskcts never miss!'-l
Indeed, they very seldom do miss, ut mode
rate range.
But the merry Dancers was going TO
omit the most beautiful sight that ever as.
tonishcd my eyes, and to which whole
Royal Academy OF artists could never do
justice. The Northern Lights, tho customa-
ry auroras and meteors, were unusually spcn-
did about midwinter but once, as was re-
turning from slcdgo excursion, an excla-
nation from my guide made me start.
shall never forget tho scene. The heavens
were one vast pavilion Of many.colorcd light
blue, orange, Gcry rcd, deep violet, now
paved with fiery gold, now rranglcd with
lustrous gems all blended in ono glowing
mass; while beneath, and touching the snowy
plain, wheeled and rlarklcd, ds m fantastic
dance, u hundred columns Of prismatic fire,
that seemed the creation Of some wild dream.
These were the Merry Dancers, tho won-
drous Lights Of the North. ALI ! 1t was n
pleasant winter; and ] protest that | was
half sorry when we all went up the hill
again, and hailed tho rising sun, and day
and summer came pouring in ut oncc and
the boat was prepared, and badc my gnomc
hosts adicu, went of to the daylight, open
mir, Glouccstershirc world again. = Cham
bers' Journal.