III.

THE WINTER JOURNEY TO STOCKHOLM.

T was in the dead of a northern winter, when the intense cold drove every living thing within doors for shelter, that Maria Mathsdotter prepared to leave her home for the distant capital of Sweden. The consent of her parents had at length been gained. Every possible arrangement had been made by her for their comfort during her absence: and fastening on her Lapland skates, she bade farewell to home and friends, and set her face towards the unknown south.

The days were at their shortest, the nights very long. The route was new and strange. The youthful pilgrim had no companion but her own heroic heart, no protector but the God who has said: "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Far away on every side stretched interminable fields of snow and ice, with few signs of life; save here and there the mud-hut of a Lapland peasant, covered with snow, and hardly distinguishable from the wintry waste about it. Scattered along the route, with many leagues between, were stations, as they are called, consisting of a log or frame house, with a ricketty stable and shambling cribs or outhouses huddled about it, while fowls, pigs, and other domestic animals were grouped with men, women, and children, in picturesque confusion. These stations were usually shunned by Maria, not only from motives of economy, but because she feared to encounter the noise and rude merriment that reigned there. In the humble cabins of the herdsmen she found homely fare truly, but she found also kind hearts and a cor. dial welcome. Strange as it must have seemed to her generous entertainers to see a young female alone on such a journey, no questions were ever asked that could give her pain, but everywhere she met with a hospitality without stint and without suspicion.

In this way she traversed on skates the icy plains of Northern Sweden for more than two hundred leagues, until she reached the town of Gefle, on the western coast of the gulf of Bothnia, whence she took a public conveyance

to Stockholm. With unspeakable delight she found herself approaching the capital, expecting in the simplicity of her heart that every one with whom she met in these favoured regions must be all awake and intent on promoting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. Her fellowtravellers were of various classes and occupations, but all were alike engrossed with worldly interests, and incapable of sympathising with the Lapland maiden in her hopes and expectations.

One only among them, an old man whose white hair and trembling limbs proclaimed him on the verge of the grave, seemed of kindred spirit with herself. He spoke to her of the love of Jesus, and her heart glowed with delight as she recognised here, in this land of light and knowledge, the same simplicity of faith and charity which had warmed her own log-cabin on the icy plains of Lapland. Finding her an entire stranger, the old man recommended to her a boarding-house kept by an excellent Christian woman, and promised to make her errand known to his own pastor, who he was certain would befriend her to the utmost of his power. They were the first words of encouragement the brave girl had heard through all these weeks of loneliness and toil; and tears, which no suffering could call forth, fell like rain, though smiles of joy lighted up her countenance.

"Were you never sad or discouraged on the way?" inquired her aged fellow-traveller.

"Sad? yes, sometimes, when I thought of the condition of my people: but discouraged, never. How could I be, when God Himself bade me go to Stockholm?"

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"But with no one to whom you could speak on the road, was it not very lonely ?"

"Ah no; I had always the blessed Jesus. I could talk with Him in prayer, and praise Him in singing sweet hymns, and what better company could I desire?"

That these were not mere words, everything about the young stranger sufficiently denoted. Her eye was clear and bright, her countenance full of hope and animation, and her manner though modest, yet calm and self-possessed, like that of one who is conscious of leaning for support on an Almighty arm.

It was on the 3rd of March, 1864, that Maria made her first appearance in the Swedish capital. Her dress on that occasion has been described by one who saw her as singular and unfashionable in the extreme.

Her closely

fitting robe was made of reindeer-skins, partially dressed. Her high conical bonnet, large and of a deep red colour, shaded a complexion embrowned by constant exposure. She was of medium height, and walked well, with a firm, springy step, that was as light and free after this long journey as when she left Wilhelmina months before. Those who looked on her face were attracted by its expression of frankness and intelligence; and, to use the words of another concerning her" Everything about this Lapland herdswoman marked her as an uncommon and superior character."

On entering the city, Maria bade farewell to her aged friend, who was about leaving for the South, and started with full directions to find the boarding-house recommended by him. Stopping by the way to make some inquiries, she fell into conversation with a person whom she met casually, and who proved to be a warm-hearted Christian woman. Tears filled her eyes as she heard the story of the youthful stranger, told with the utmost simplicity, and evidently without one thought of finding herself a heroine in consequence of her courage and devotion.

It is easy to imagine the surprise and joy of Maria, on hearing from this individual that only the day previous a collection had been made in the French congregation of the city in behalf of missions and schools among the Lapps.

"Thanks be to God," she exclaimed, "who has gone before me, and made the way plain and easy. Now I am sure of success."

In the kind home to which she had been directed, Maria found the Christian friendship and sympathy so grateful to her, and which her peculiar circumstances made so precious. One day sufficed for rest and refreshment, and then every energy of soul and body were directed to the promotion of the object for which she had come so far. Her story was told everywhere, and multitudes thronged to see her; some drawn by mere curiosity, others moved by a deeper and purer feeling.

Through all these novel scenes, the young peasant-girl retained the calmness and simplicity which marked her character, receiving the attentions paid her as a tribute to the cause, not to herself. When in repose, the expression of

her countenance was serious almost to sternness but it would kindle with delight when some plan of benevolence was under discussion, especially if her own beloved people were concerned. Then she was all life and activity, answering questions, weighing probabilities, and shaping plans; evincing a keenness of intellect and a soundness of judgment which were alike rcmarkable.

IV.

A FEW WEEKS IN THE CAPITAL.

FOREMOST among the friends who gathered about the young Lapland girl was Pastor Rorich, of the French church in Stockholm. A man of faith and prayer, with a heart that could feel for every form of human wretchedness, and a hand ever open for its relief, he entered warmly into the plans of Maria Mathisdotter, and sought to forward them by every means in his power. Through his influence she gained access to the Committee of the Swedish Missionary Association, and pleaded her cause before them with such effect, that a generous appropriation was at once made to establish schools among the Lapps.

Many excellent families opened their doors to her, and felt, as they learned her excellence, that in welcoming this humble servant of the Lord, they had truly entertained an angel unawares. But while she was grateful for the kindness thus shown, and enjoyed with a keen relish the pri vileges of fellowship and communion with the people of God, which were so new to her, she never for a moment lost sight of her errand, or turned aside from what she regarded as the straight path of duty. Her words were precise and well-chosen, her accent pure, and she spoke the Swedish language with ease and fluency, though, when strongly excited, it required an effort to prevent herself from gliding uncon sciously into the use of the Lapland tongue.

Those who had the privilege of an acquaintance with this extraordinary woman were stimulated by her words and example to the exercise of a stronger faith and a more active charity, She had shown what religion, when it actuates every thought and feeling, can achieve; and others, seeing her labour of love, sought, in their various spheres of action, to go and do likewise."

In consequence of her visit to Stockholm, a