Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-17
STORY FOR THE LITTLE FOLKS
THE LITTLE POST-BOY.
ny BAYARD TAYLOR.

In my travels about the world,
have made the acquaintance of a
| great many children, and | might tell
you many things about their dress,
their speech, and their habits of life,
in the different countries have visit
ed. | presume, however, that you
would rather hear me relate some of
my adventures in which children par
ticipated, so that the story and the
information shall be given together.
Ours is not the only country in which
children must frequently begin, at an
early age, to do their share of work
and accustom themselves to make
their way in life | have found many
instances among other races, and in
other climates, Of youthful courage,
and self-reliance, and strength of
character some Of which propose to
relate to you. a.s...s ..s.e
This one shall be the story of my
adventure with a little post-boy, in
the northern part of Sweden.
Very few foreigners travel in Swe-
den in the winter, on account of the
intense cold. As you go northward
from Stockholm, the capital, the coun-
try becomes ruder and wilder, and
the climate more severe In the shell
tered valleys along the Gulf of Both
mia and the rivers which empty into
it, there are farms ard villages for a
distance of seven or eight hundred
miles, after which ,~iruit trees disap-
pear, and nothing will grow in the
short, cold summers except potatoes
and u little barley. Farther inland,
there are great forests and lakes, and
ranges Of mountains, where bears,
wolves, and herds of wild reindeer
make their home. No people could
live in such a country unless they
were very Industrious and thrifty.
made my journey in the winter,
because was on my way to Lap
land, where it is easier to travel when
the swamps and rivers are frozen,
and the reindeer-sleds can fly along
over the smooth snow 1t was very
cold indeed, the greater part of the
time and the days were short and
dark, and if ! had not found the peo-
pie SO kind, SO cheerful, and so hon
est, should have felt inclined to
turn back, more than once. But do
not think there are better people in
the world than those who live in
Norrland, which is a Swedish prov
ince commencing about two hundred
miles north Of Stockholm. '
They are tall, strong race, with
yellow hair and bright blue eyes, and
the handsomest teeth I ever saw
They live plainly, but very comforta
bly,, in snug wooden houses, with
double windows and doors to keep
out the cold and since they cannot
do much outdoor work, they spin aud
weave and mend their farming imple-
ments in the large family room, thus
enjoying the winter in spite of its Sc
verify. They are very happy and
contented and few of them would be
willing to leave that cold country
and make their homes in warmer
climate
Here there are neither railroads
nor stages, but the government has
established post-stations at distan-
ces varying from ten to twenty miles.
At each station number of horses,
and sometimes vehicles, are kept, but
generally the traveller has his own
sled, and simply hires the horses
from one station to another These
horses are either furnished by the
keeper of the station or some of the
neighboring farmers, and when they
are wanted a man or boy goes along
with the traveller to bring them back
1t would be quite an independent and
convenient way Of travelling, il the
horses were always ready; but some
times you must wait an hour or more
before they can be furnished.
| had my own little sled, filled with
hay and covered with memberships
to keep me warm. So long as the
weather was not too cold,it was very
pleasant to speed along through the
dark forests, over the frozen rivers,
or past farm after farm in the shell
tered valleys, up hill and down, until
long after the stars came out, and
then to get warm supper in some
dark-red post-cottage, while the cheer
ful people sang or told stories around
the fire. The cold increased little
every day, to be sure, but I became
gradually accustomed to it, and soon
began to fancy that the Arctic eli
mate was not so difficult to endure
as had supposed. At first the ther-
memeter fell to zero; then it went
down ten degrees below; then twen-
ty, and finally thirty. Being dressed
in thick furs from bead to foot, did
not suffer greatly but l was very
glad when the people assured me
thatisuch extreme cold never lasted
more than two or three days. Boys
oftwelve or fourteen very often went
with me tobring back their fathers
horses, and SO long as those lively,
red-cheeked fellows could face the
weather, it would not do for me to
be afraid. sassga .zs s<.a8@i .E4
One night there was wonderful
aurora in the sky. The streamers of
red and blue light darted hither and
thither, chasing each other up to the
zenith, and down again to the north
ern1 horizon, with rapidity and
brilliance which had never seen be-
fore. o'1There viii be a storm, soon,"s
said my post-bQy; cone always comes,
after these lights" Is 3sa5 s-a 8 sasss
Next morning the sky was over.
cast, and the short day was as dark
as our twilight, But it was not quite
SO cold, and / travelled Onward as