the broken branch of a tree. The officer went up to her, and told her he came in King Christiern's name to demand the rebel Gustavus, who he knew was concealed under her roof. The dauntless woman never changed colour; she immediately guessed the man whom her husband had introduced as a miner's son, to be the Swedish hero. The door was blocked up by soldiers. In an instant she replied, without once glancing at Gustavus, who sat motionless with surprise, "If you mean the melancholy gentleman my husband has had here these few days, he has just walked out into the wood on the other side of the hill. Some of those soldiers may readily seize him, as he has no arms with him.”

The officer did not suspect the easy simplicity of her manner; and ordered part of the men to go in quest of him. At that moment, suddenly turning her eyes on Gustavus, she flew up to him, and catching the stick out of his hand, exclaimed, in an angry voice: "Unmannerly wretch! What, sit before your betters? Don't you see the King's officers in the room? Get out of my sight, or some of them shall give you a drubbing!" As she spoke, she struck him a blow on the back with all her strength; and opening a side door, "there, get into the scullery,” cried she, "its the fittest place for such company !" and giving him another knock, she flung the stick after him, and shut the door. "Sure," added she, in a great heat," never woman was plagued with such a lout of a slave!"

The officer begged she would not disturb herself on his account: but she, affecting great reverence for the King, and respect for his representative, prayed him to enter her parlour while she brought some refreshment. The Dane civilly complied; perhaps, glad enough to get

from the side of a shrew; and she immediately hastened to Gustavus, whom she had bolted in, and, by means of a back passage, conducted him in a moment to a certain little apartment, which projecting from the side of the house close to the bank of the lake where the fishers' boats lay, she lowered him down the convenient aperture in the seat, and giving him a direction to an honest curate across the lake, committed him to Providence. *

While he made his way to a boat, unmoored it, and rowed swiftly towards the isles, so hiding himself and his course amongst their mazes ; the lady returned to the Dane laden with provisions, and amused him by a well-spread table till the soldiers brought back the disappointing intelligence, that their search had been fruitless. The observations of the officer, and his new directions, soon apprised the heroic woman of the vileness of her husband; and therefore, when he appeared, which was shortly afterwards, even to him she kept true to her first statement, that Gustavus had gone out into the wood. The circumstance of the chastised servant seemed so insignificant to the officer, that, as it had occasioned in him no suspicion, he never mentioned it. And as guilt easily believes itself suspected, Pearson acknowledged with vexation to the Dane, that he had no doubt Gustavus had suspected his design, being aware, notwithstanding their mutual friendship, of his impregnable fidelity to Christiern (measureless liar !); and had accordingly taken

* Though this adventure resembles that of our great Alfred with the neat-herd's wife, no doubts need be entertained of its authenticity; I had it from the first authority; and can only admire, how nearly similar were the histories of these two justly famous men! — R.K. P. 1808.

the opportunity of his absence, to escape. As none were in the lady's confidence, the new retreat of Gustavus remained undiscovered, till, assisted by the good curate, and other friends to liberty, he appeared openly at the head of the brave Dalecarlians, and gave his country

freedom.

So strongly was I impressed with the history of this great Prince, even more invincible in mind than in arms, that I looked on the house which had once sheltered him, and in which female nobleness had also shone so conspicuously, with a kind of holy veneration. We entered this interesting place attended by an old woman, who lives in an adjoining house for the purpose of shewing strangers this relic of antiquity. The room in which Gustavus slept, with his very bed, is most sacredly preserved. The hero's couch is a huge unwieldy square frame of common fir, with a straw mattress: he had no softer pillow. The present proprietor, a descendant from the fair patriot, guards these remains as he would his life; and he is daily adding to them others which formerly belonged to the heroic monarch. One testimony of his respect I do not so much approve: he has put sumptuous hangings on the bed, surmounted by a diadem; and a covering of silk over the rustic couch, embroidered with Swedish crowns. All this may be a demonstration of loyalty, but is the very reverse of good taste; as it breaks in upon the sentiment with which we enter the cottage, and almost destroys the peculiar enthusiasm which the ancient simplicity of his chamber and bed would have increased to a pitch of the purest delight. It is then we view him, without any adventitious ornaments, as the greatest of men: in a peasant's garb, on a peasant's couch (his royalty being proclaimed by his actions alone), he is worthy to be the King of a brave and virtuous

people. The gilded crown and embroidered velvet are common to any Sovereign and the sight of those decorations in such a place, confuses the hero with the trappings of state, and the picture being indistinct, our reflections take the same vague complexion.

Some

In addition to these regal draperies, the present owner has brought together other relics; particularly a suit of armour, surmounted with a sculptured head, &c. which completes a figure in commemoration of Gustavus. Whether the harness was the King's, is a matter of doubt with me, as it bears marks of rather a more modern construction. of the most curious objects in the room, are the effigies of two Dalecarlian peasants, who were the faithful friends and attendants of His Majesty. Nothing can be more characteristic, better executed, or convey a more accurate idea of what these people were in the century so famous for the exploits of Gustavus. They are clothed in white woollen habits, with high-crowned hats; are armed with cross-bows, and all the necessary appendages to such weapons hang from a leathern belt, worn over the shoulders. The quiver is slung to their side, filled with arrows, which are short, and made of fir, even including the feather; their points were iron, mostly spikes; others, of a more ornamented sort, and better finished, were barbed. A portrait of the heroine who saved the King, hangs up in the room. From this interesting personage, I am told, is lineally descended the lady who was the nurse of the present brave Monarch. There are also several copies from originals of two or three of the succeeding Sovereigns. On the same floor which contains this apartment, is the closet whence Gustavus escaped. I enclose a drawing of the house, where you will find this latter little chamber in the projection, supported by two erect beams. Between these he was