Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-15
nilsson on Burlington Heig hts.
BURLINGTON, lows, May 20, 1871

Nilsson on Burlington helsntss
BURLINGTON, lows, May 20, 1871.
Nv summer nest here is on the crest Of
North Hill-higher than any one OF the
seven at Rome, and on the Mississippi
side a precipitous and projecting bluff
Southwark, we overlook the city and the
long iron bridge, SO frail to the eye but
so strong to the mind. Northward, our
outlook is upon the Great River, nowhere
in all its course broader than here,
sweeping between wooded shores and
studded with wooded islands. Just now
the water is at its highest and reminds
me of the Nile when it
'Broods Ger Egypt with its watery wings"
To-day we had scarcely sat down for
our noon repast when one OF the children
ran in crying, "Nilsson is walking on our
bluff" l for one did not hesitate to fore
20 the illnesses of our neat-handed fhyi-
lis" for a chance at ambrosia' Guided by
the ten-year cherub of our house, L sooD
found what sought. Nilsson was sitting
on the ground at point commanding the
very best prospect. Two of her attend
ants stood at little distance-snd q
third, Randolph, was lying on the green
sward near her.
Entering into conversation with the
man on the ground, gave him such local
information rs excited the curiosity OF the
| songstress herself, and afforded me oppor-
tunity to say to her that had been IN
Sweden. and in Malmoe 1.-THE scene, as L
remembered, of her most triumphai home
welcome). I needed no further introduc-
ton.
| Half dozen RATS were moored In the
slough Just above US, and one was just
then rushing down the rapids around the
bluff. Wilson's first questions were aoouI
these rafts,-whence they came ana
whittier they went,-then what state we
were inl-the prospects OF burlington as
a commercial point, its population &C
She speaks Euglish excellently.
I toldiher of the river at our feet, which
had flowed a thousand miles and was Sun
to flow two thousand, and other facts,
} which Randolph penciled in his open
note book. l was soon speaking OF Iowa
as having no white family thirty-eigh t
wears ago. Then she asked, "Were the
people all Indians before ?" and How
many inhabitants has Iowa now" When
T renlied. Twelve hundred thousand
she exclaimed, "What miracle ! who are
thew ? where did they come from :"
"Many of Them" said I, "are your
: countrvmeu. who have left their country
for their own good, if not Tor then
{ country's.
: "Alas 7" said che, my people canno'
E ,usb their fortunes like the Germans"
r "But have seen much of them," wal
sGa.I thau pVarywh9r9 art
, rising to higher plane" ..-a
l mo doubt" said she, "but they ar.
content with less than the tGermans. ane
I" are not so aspiring. ...r
Struck with her interest in her owl
d Swedes, told her of their migratIons Z
b IAmerics-brougbt from Scandinavia Z
IS Quebec at S11 head when they boar'
,. themselves, and for $11 more to Chicag
or Milwaukee of their lsbors far nortl
on the very lHmber we saw floating by III
t of their soon laying up enough to ou,
/ farms on those Western prairies to whIo
b that lumber was bound. 1t was plal
e that no eulogies on her songs which
dissolve us into ecstaeies
q And bring all heaven before our eyes,"
u would be so sweet to the noble woman be
for me as simple story regarding he
own kinsfolk and their new life in tn
;. new world.
- Accordingly, I proceeded to describ
! the Swedish colony of Stanton, about tw
- hundred miles west of Burlington. LII
settlement was made under the lead OF
Swedish clergyman a year ago. LII
IN lands were bought on the generous tern
40 allowed by the railroad in order te d.
at velop the country, namely, ten yeal
ad credit and six per cent interest. The Sc
tiers spent their scanty capital In farmln
We tools. in fencing, tillsge, and buildin
.st cabins. The products will pay the priI
oipal of their debt faster than its install
ments fall due. This colony, which BOZ
IS the name of Hslmstesd, in memory OF
he town on the Ksttegat, till it was asce
tanned that another Iowan colony OF Sea-
n dinavians had already assumed the nam
he already numbers three hundred souls.
IN, I also spoke of similar colonies, I
th, which there is no longer room in Iowa,
are now planting in Nebraska, and of the BIZ
nd linpton and Missouri railroad faciliti
1ot for transporting families with all thu
household stuff from the old home to
new without change of cars.
.r Some of these new Swedens IN DO
all. lowe and Nebraska will no doubt gladd
Int the ewes and heard of the great Swedi
old sonpstress when she goes TO Californ
She said she thought it now too late to &
venture thither this year, but hoped so
lay do next season by the Burlington route
sa- I cannot allude to 1.-THE of the top
10 we talked over beside the river mol
foaming and flowing. If could, tt
act might be as dull to your readers as tt
21,- were delectable to me. At the heel OF
try letter have only room for few persol
lew details as to the physique and "get up
the Queen of song. .s
Her dress was a travelling suit OF IN
. brown linen,-a sailor straw hat-bl
ribbon-blue veil, thrown back,-la
blue parasol, bronze boots-no earring
IN no watch.
rell. She is not so petite as had suppos
aid, Her stature is about five feet three.
7eos ia she over slender. Eyes light blue. !
/ be light brown-teeth regular and good,
ght- not pearly,-cbeeks suffused with deli'
re- red, skin not of the finest texture,-I
rather Grecian thaz Roman.
emit, She walks whenever she can, IN OF
He to keep up the tone of her system, as
gun az pleasure When / met her she
ring strolled mile at midday beneath a
arge sun and up steep hill.
She kissed the lips of the little girl
came with me-warned her to bewar
'n .na tumbling down the steep, and at ler
I cried: "If look at you in snch tnm
, ,e down place, I'm sure l shall tumble
1eh,' self" She played with little dog
ao ran I'D to us-wss charmed with the
erv' and shaded cottages of dsy-laborers,-
Se~ showed every way keen relish for sill
reao Measures. On the whole / shall rem
Der this celebrity as the unspoaled chi
demonstrating on the heavenly M
Uni. of high art.
the "Yet not whit TOO bsi I'm , and so0O'
|lym- Ao1 nulAan hasui' IN.