THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND THE FINLAND WOMAN.
“Ab. poor thing!" said the Lapland woman, © you have still a long wm
hefore you! you have a hundred miles to run before you can arrive in Finland: the
Snow Queen dwells there and burns blue lights every evening. I will write for vou
1 few words on a piece of dried stock-fish—paper 1 have none --and you may take
t with you to the wise Finland woman who lives there, she will advise vou better
han [ can?
So when Gerda had well warmed herself and taken some food, the Lapland
woman wrote a few words on a dried stock-fish, bade Gerda take care of it, and bound
her once more firmly on the Keindeer's back. Onward they sped, the wondrous Northern
Lights. now of the loveliest, brightest blue colour, shone all through the might, and
wnidst these splendid illuminations they arrived in Finland, and knocked at the
‘himney of the Wise-woman, for door to her house she had none
Hot, very hot was it within, so much so that the Wiscewoman wore ~carceh
iy clothing; she was low in stature and very dirty. She immediately loosened litih
Lerda’s dress, took off her fur boots and thick yloves, laid a picce of ice on the
Keindeer's head, and then read what was written on the stock-fish. She read it thre
aes, after the third reading she knew it Fv heart, and threw the fish nto the
osorridge pot, for it might make a very excellent supper, and she never wasted anv
hing.
‘The Reindeer then repeated his own story. and when that was finished he
old of little Gerda's adventures, and the Wise-woman twinkled her wise eves, but
spoke not a word.
“Thou art so powerful,” continued the Reindeer, “that 1 know thon canst
wist all the winds of the world into a thread, of which if the pilot nosen one knot