Because the winter months, when the sun shows his face but a few hours each day, are long and dreary, our northern relatives fairly revel in their short summers. The whole nation lives out-of-doors and rejoices in the merry sunshine. All day excursions, picnics, and water trips are crowded into the brief season. The peasant still owns his little red cottage and the well-to-do farmer and the nobleman live in their old homesteads. The cities continue to be small in number and in size, but slowly, slowly, the great throbbing life of the outside world is creeping in to steal away much of the picturesqueness of this old nation. You will be surprised to learn in how many ways the life of our little Swedish cousin is similar to that of American children. But she is such a very hospitable and polite little maid, I am sure she will give you a hearty welcome if you visit her and see her for yourself at work and at play. Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. THE SKATING CARNIVAL 1 II. THE KNITTING LESSON 14 III. YULE-TIDE 29 IV. AT GRANDMOTHER'S 45 V. MIDSUMMER'S EVE 57 VI. A VISIT TO SKANSEN 68 VII. THROUGH THE GÖTA CANAL 80 VIII. THE NAME-DAY 93 List of Illustrations PAGE SIGRID _Frontispiece_ BRITA AND HER FOOT-PUSHER 6 "A SHEAF OF GRAIN IS FASTENED UP IN THE YARD OF EVERY COUNTRY HOME" 38 BAKING RYE BREAD AT GRANDMOTHER'S 52 "IN A TWINKLING, THE CHILDREN . . . WERE DANCING AROUND THE POLE" 62 THE GÖTA CANAL 86 Our Little Swedish Cousin CHAPTER I. THE SKATING CARNIVAL "SIGRID, Sigrid, hurry and get your skates. The ice is at last safe, and mother says that we may go to the park with Miss Eklund, this afternoon." Erik thrust his head through the nursery door to announce the good news to his sister, who was poring over her lessons for the next day. "Oh!" cried the little girl as she quickly slipped out of her seat at the long table, "I am so glad, for I thought I should never have a chance to wear the new skates that father gave me on my birthday." In a trice, she had gathered up all her books, packed them neatly away, and was off to put on her warm furs. She was a flaxen-haired little maid, with very blue eyes, and plump rosy cheeks as round as an apple, because she lived out-of-doors a great deal and romped with her brothers.