142 TEN YEARS IN SWEDEN. 



nently settles, or invests one shilling in land; and with 

 ready money to go into the market, he will always find an 

 estate to suit him. But do not let him be in a hurry, and 

 above all, let him choose a good district. I fancy from what 

 I have heard, the Isle of Gotland would suit a British farmer 

 better than any other part of Sweden. 



Although really practical working farmers are hard to 

 find, I know no country in Europe where the true country 

 gentleman is better represented than in Sweden, nor any man 

 who passes a happier, quieter, or more domestic life, than a 

 Swedish country gentleman who lives on his own estate, 

 happily free from mortgage debt, 



In such a case, a certain portion of the produce of his 

 land (the principal part of which he farms himself) , goes to 

 the support of his family and household, and the sale of his 

 surplus corn and timber covers incidental expenses. Thus 

 he passes his life quietly and happily in the bosom of his 

 family, a true country gentleman in every sense of the word, 

 with just employment enough to keep his time occupied ; and 

 the cares and maintenance of his family, instead of being an 

 anxious burden on his mind, add a double zest to life. His 

 wife is, in nine cases out of ten, a model in the manage- 

 ment of his household and family, industrious, careful, and 

 saving. His children are brought up at home under their 

 parents' eyes the daughters, as girls should be, who at a 

 future day will themselves, in their turn, be called upon to 

 superintend the cares of a household; the boys till such time 

 as they must leave their homes, and launch out into the world 

 to seek their own fortunes. It is, therefore, not to be won- 

 dered at, that we see such true pictures of domestic happi- 

 ness in these Swedish homes, where the members are so 

 closely thrown together, and so much of the year is neces- 

 sarily passed indoors, and such simple and domestic tastes 

 prevail. Let his system of farming be what it may, such a 

 man, if Tie is only free from debt, can always provide for the 

 wants of his family, and live comfortably, and respected by 

 all. I do not mean to say but that by a better system he 

 might materially increase his income, still, if he only attends 



