362 THE SCOTCH FIR OR PINE. 



standing, cheerful and contented. In the northern 

 parts, where the early approach of the frost, even 

 in the midst of summer, sometimes cuts off the 

 whole of his scanty crop, and deprives him of his 

 winter provision, he finds bread even in the heart 

 of the forest ; and with the bitter bark of the 

 Pine, beaten till it is reduced to a fine pulp, he 

 continues to support existence, living by means 

 of this unpalatable food where others would die. 

 Fortunately it is only in years of great scarcity 

 that he is compelled to have recourse to these 

 means ; nor did I, during my travels in the north, 

 ever meet with this harke brod^ or bark bread, 

 used as food by the poorer classes. Hard as his 

 fare is at all times, the Swedish peasant exhibits 

 no signs of discontent ; and if his countenance do 

 not pourtray a great fiow of spirits or hilarity of 

 manner, it shews him to be what he really is, 

 humble, serious, devout, and happy. Give him 

 but the smallest trifie, he receives it with thank- 

 fulness, and you are doubly repaid by the grateful 

 and contented manner in which it is accepted."'^" 



* Brook's " Sweden," 



