Sweden. 1 7 



two months you can hardly even get into the forests, for the snow 

 is generally too deep j but the sledging is then first-rate. Bleak as 

 the prospect, however, is without, there is nothing cold within ; 

 every country house is thrown open glad reunions of families and 

 social meetings of friends celebrate this festive season. The tinkling 

 of the sledge-bells ring cheerily through the frosty air j and nowhere 

 are the hospitable rights of old Father Christmas more strictly 

 observed than in these northern climes. 



Now is the time for getting the timber out of the forests and the 

 iron down from the mines. Driving out dung and peat-earth on to 

 the fallows, thrashing and delivering corn, keep the farmer in full 

 occupation daring this season. The cattle are all snug in the byres, 

 gates thrown off the hinges, the tops of the fences scarcely apparent 

 above the snow ; high roads are now little heeded, and short cuts 

 across the country are made for sledging over the snow and frozen 

 lakes as straight as the crow can fly. 



Nearly all the birds have left for more genial climes, and all 

 nature seems wrapped in a still deep sleep. But sudden as was the 

 change when the cold north wind, drifting over the dreary deserts 

 of the North Cape, buried the landscape beneath its icy mantle, it 

 is no less sudden when the mild west wind of April comes with 

 "healing on its wings," and the first summer migrant appears as 

 the glad harbinger of spring. A few dull misty days, with rain and 

 warm wind, and the whole face of the country changes as if by 

 magic. The trees suddenly burst into leaf, the green rye appears 

 from under the snow, and no one who had looked upon the country 

 a few days back could believe that so much beauty lay hidden 

 beneath the waste of snow. Now all is bustle out of doors animal 

 as well as vegetable life seems suddenly to wake up, and the farmer 

 has not a day to spare in making preparation against another winter, 

 which he knows will surely come again in due season. 



Although the principal riches of the north are the forests and the 

 iron mines, the country is much dependent upon agriculture ; and 

 to prove that great improvements are yearly taking place, we may 

 judge from the fact that twelve or fifteen years since 36,000 tunna 



