Gerda in Sweden

f Thor's hammer could be heard only faintly in the distance. In the trees overhead the birds were calling t

h was leaning against the tent, and led the wa

r constantly to keep them together. When the herd is attacked by a pack of wolves, the frightened ani

er, they stopped once in a while to sniff the a

ark forests of fir and birch. It was cold and the wind blew in strong gusts. Tiny rills and brooks, formed by the melted

wball. "Put it in your pocket, and take it home to

a, "I'll set it up on this rock and ta

rda, hurrying on without waiting for her brother. In a few moments more they came in sight

to the reindeer with pride, "there ar

l animals furnish their owners with food, clothing, bedding and household utensils. They are horse, cow, express mes

s which grows in patches among the rocks, tearing it off with their forefeet. They showed

n he spoke to them, but not one would tou

great antlers. "He was given to me when I was born, to form the beginning of my herd. I have ten d

. "It shall cost him nothing," he sai

father, who had hoped that the sight of the reindee

head. "I want

utenant Ekman, "and I will see

that my son would live here in Lapland and become an owner

l Laplanders owned rein

e fisher Lapps who live on the coast; and then there are the field Lapps who live on the river-banks and cultivate little farms. It is

n the winter when the snow cove

n the snow with their forefeet until they reach the moss," replied his father. "The reindeer are never housed and seem to l

ak to her husband, and in a few minut

lk the reindeer," Eri

you milk the

"They give only a little milk,

ill while the mother did the milking. The twins looked on with interest; but to their great astonishment not one of the rei

nough cream to make but

cheese," Erik's mother explained, as she

rda asked her father, when the

sell an animal they buy coffee, sugar, meal, tobacco, and whatever else th

rs in my life," Erik's

s belt, from which hung

w how to speak Swedis

ow how to read and

vernment provides teachers and ministers for the largest settle

erheard the conversation. "It is a Lapp village near Gellivare, and my father go

ce, suddenly put up her hand and took off a leather pouch which hung aroun

uch a pouch, and she had seen the mother open hers, when

he others were watching her with interest. Off came the cover of the box. Out of the box came a tiny

she saw what it was; "it is

made from a bit of bone, with hoofs,

e her take it. But Gerda hesitated to do so until Erik said, "My father will make her ano

ext winter, she looked at it and thought of the child who gave it to h