8 CONDITION OF THE PEASANTRY. 



than very moderate exercise. Nutting expeditions, pic-nics, 

 &c., are less frequent than with us in England, which is the 

 more surprising, as from the summer being so short, it might 

 naturally be expected that they would make the most of the 

 fine weather. The winter is their grand social season, at 

 which time they usually have feasts, balls, &c., to satiety, 

 and, out of doors, provided the weather be favourable, sledge 

 parties are the order of the day. 



The peasantry in my vicinity were generally in comfortable 

 circumstances. Those that farmed their own ground, as was 

 the case with very many, were well off; and even the 

 Torpare, the class who hold small homesteads under others, 

 had little to complain of. They had substantial dwellings, 

 and, so far as fell under my observation, sufficient and whole- 

 some provisions. The mere day-labourer, or he whose bread 

 altogether depends on the wages he may earn, is almost 

 unknown in the rural districts of Sweden ; for almost every 

 one, even the very poorest, has a small holding, either 

 rented, or of his own, which, in part at least, serves to 

 support him. 



Wages with me, taking winter and summer together, it 

 may be proper to remark, did not exceed sixpence to eight- 

 pence the day ; and I am inclined to believe that, as respects 

 the rural districts, this may be assumed as the average of 

 wages throughout Sweden. In towns more especially if 

 a man is expert in the use of the axe, can carpenter a 

 little, in short, he may probably earn double that sum. 



Serious crimes were rather uncommon in my neighbour- 

 hood, but petty thefts were not very rare. I speak not, 

 however, from personal experience, never having suffered 

 beyond a very trifling extent. That there should be rather 



