The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-19
50 Home from Church" in Dalecarlia.

A writer in Harpers Monthly, describ-
ing life in Dalecarla, Sweden, says: The
village of Vikarby was distant across the
lake perhaps two miles and a half, and
quite four times as far away by the dusty,
hilly road. The church boats had come
overloaded to the waters edge, and no
small boats were to be had. We had
Just made up our minds to walk, encour-
aged in this enterprise by the sight of
great crew ofprctty girls putting off in one
of the Vikarby boats when the people
began to fill the second one. 1t was
quite as elastic as an American horse-car.
When it was filled ovcrfull a half dozen
laggards came down to the shore and
calmly piled themselves in. This addi-
ton to the freight apparently made no
difference at all We took courage from
this incident, and resolved to try it our
selves. The third and last boat was
rapidly filled up, and we boldly went
down and asked to be taken to Nillarby.
A place was rapidly made for us in the
bow-a small place, but still as much as
anybody had-and off we went
The moment we were clear of the
shore the forty oars struck the water to-
RHYTHM. The immense weight of the
people caused the frail craft to culver
and settle. and for moment it almost
seemed as if she must sink lower But
with the first strong strokes she felt alive
and leapcd forward, swelling her sides
like some heavy breathing monster. The
rival boats of the village had Il little the
start of us. and our crew was determined
to reach the village as soon rs they. The
excitement developed rapidly as we
darted out into the deep water of the
bay. How the 1.-the oars bent, and how
the gunwalc crcakcd and shivered! ThA
old helmsman kept his eye on the leading
craft. and steered with a firm hand, now
and then noting the progress by a word
or gesture of encouragement. Ten
thwarts held four rowers each, two girls
and two men, the latter sitting in the
middle and holding the end of the oar.
Every space on the gunwale between the
oars was occupied by woman, the stern
held mass of children and adults packed
closely, and even to the high stem the
bow was wedgcd in solidly with men and
women. Altogether we counted very
nearly hundred souls.
The day was very warm, and a bright
sun threw up a painful reflection from
the water The girls took off their ker
chiefs and pulled the harder; the men
paused one by one to doff their jackets,
and then worked with the more vigor,
the perspiration running from their faces.
On the thwart near us sat a young couple
who took the opportunity at every recov-
cry of the stroke to speak to one another
or to glance into each others eyes When
she smiled he threw himself with redou-
blcd energy on the oar. She, on her
part. sometimes hid her heated, blushing
face in the full sleeves of her outstretched
arms. 1t was perhaps the only chance
during the week of speaking to one an
other, for the social etiquette of Dale
caria forbids the young men to notice
the young women in public places, and
only cOndones conversation on the sly.
This was not the only little pastoral
drama on the boat, for other plump
damsels and muscular youths were be-
coming intimate as they tugged at the
same oar. Truly, age and experience
had the helm, but young love propelled
the boat
On the same thwart with the young
lovers sat Il man of middle age, with his
wife beside him. AS he let go the oar to
take off his jacket he turned and said, in
the best of American: Its an awfully
hot day. Don't you think so!' He had
spent half his life on Western farm,
and had come home to live in compare
tive ease.
Thrilled by the excitement of the race,
we watched the distance between the
boats grow smaller and smaller, and as
we were stern and stern with them we
ran upon the shingly beach. Out
tumbled crew and passengers with the
same impulse, and the boat was instantly
housed under the long shed.