Gerda in Sweden

ts, and the bright sun shining on the sparkling water of Lake

cross the Norrstr?m, and gray gulls, sailing up from the bay, darte

g scraped and painted, and made ready for their summer's work; children were pl

the shining blue sky. Their tongues had flown fast, their fingers faster; they had hunted up old clothes, old books, old game

urry," said Gerda, drawing her chair up to the

ger; "but how can I carve an initial on the cove

her needle; but just then there was a sound of chattering voi

th a shout of heartiest greeting. Their eyes were sparkling with fun, their cheeks rosy from a

porter's wife at the street door, and she made us answer a dozen questions. 'To wh

o see the Ekman twins, and were bringing clothing and gifts to fill

that we didn't know who was to have the box, nor why you telephoned to us to bring the gift

uses," Gerda explained. "He thinks that the storm may have caused great suffering among the poor people, so we are going to send our box with

ething important to say, had to raise her voice above the din before she could be h

while Gerda ran to get pen and ink, the boys and girls ga

ischievous-looking boy, pretendin

ts and aprons and caps and embroidered belts, and all sorts of

Unknown:-'" the boy corre

box, then we should know just what

s named Selma," said Birger; and ever

s of the white northern forests, with only a whi

ead. "How can we write to some one we have never seen?" and he sat himself down on a

or some one we have never seen," said Sigrid. "I

rld to write a letter, especially if you have nothing to say. I w

he will tell us what

ther here in Stockholm," suggested her mother, and she to

n wrote at their dictation, first one and then another added a message, until fin

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and girls because we live in Sw

erda; but her mother continued,-"and

he park, but when it storms we are glad to stay in the house and work at sewing or sloyd. So, ever since Yule-ti

have enjoyed making them; and if you have a brother, please give h

. She has outgrown it now, and will have to have a new

s, and they are all connected by bridges with each other and with the mainland. In summer, little steamers go around the city

er, holding fast to one another in a long line, and skimming across Djur

join the line and skate with us under the bridges, and up and down the

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ign our names;" and after much discussion and laughter the twelve names appeared on the paper, wri

" cried Oscar, picking up the hammer and poundi

Herr Ekman from the next room; but when he appeared in the doorway the merry twinkle in his eyes

s box," said Magnus, as he took some

thouses along the coast," said Birger, "and h

Gerda; "he wouldn't

rent in the far N

storms, and deep snow covers the ground; but the boys and girls find plenty to do

in the winter when it is dark all n

should go into a den, like the bears, a

day and all night, too," said Sigrid. "Then t

long nights in winter and our long d

y of the United States of America has really discovered the North Pole, perhaps the geog

e added. "I always meant to do it myself, w

the sun shining at midnight, I am sure I could under

spector Ekman this summer, you might meet the l

e minute I saw her,"

her name or where she lives. Father is going to give the box to th

Gerda. "And besides, she wou

homes, and after Gerda and Birger had said good-night and gone to their bed

Dalarne the day after school

ravel a little; and I have decided to take them with me when I go north this summer. They o