PREFACE. THE following Tale claims no higher pretension than the delineation of scenes and characters peculiar to the North-the natives of which countries have, especially of late years, greatly interested the public. The story, translated from the Swedish of Uncle Adam, is a pleasing picture of domestic life, in which the heroine, Olga, displays the charming innocence and grace of a child of nature. It is long since I wrote to you-the sun has many times risen, and many times set-we have many times awakened, and many times gone to sleep again-we have hoped, and suffered, and planned, and been deceived since last I saw your serious and (forgive me for saying so) not over-handsome countenance. As for me, you know that I am a rather good-looking fellow, that my eyes, indeed, may be said to be irresistible-in a word, you know that in outward appearance we do not at all resemble each other; but then your inner man and mine are so much alike, that when, at some future time, we throw off our earthly envelope, we shall be as like as two berries off the same bush. I see you in spirit, brother Mathias, putting on a very solemn face, and, after a week's deliberation, sitting down to indite a long, B |