Our Little Finnish Cousin
THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES
(TRADE MARK)
_Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated, each_ $1.10
By LAURA E. RICHARDS, ANNA C. WINLOW, Etc.
=Our Little African Cousin=
=Our Little Alaskan Cousin=
=Our Little Arabian Cousin=
=Our Little Argentine Cousin=
=Our Little Armenian Cousin=
=Our Little Australian Cousin=
=Our Little Austrian Cousin=
=Our Little Belgian Cousin=
=Our Little Bohemian Cousin=
=Our Little Brazilian Cousin=
=Our Little Bulgarian Cousin=
=Our Little Canadian Cousin of the Great Northwest=
=Our Little Canadian Cousin of the Maritime Provinces=
=Our Little Chilean Cousin=
=Our Little Chinese Cousin=
=Our Little Cossack Cousin=
=Our Little Cuban Cousin=
=Our Little Czecho-Slovak Cousin=
=Our Little Danish Cousin=
=Our Little Dutch Cousin=
=Our Little Egyptian Cousin=
=Our Little English Cousin=
=Our Little Eskimo Cousin=
=Our Little Finnish Cousin=
=Our Little French Cousin=
=Our Little German Cousin=
=Our Little Grecian Cousin=
=Our Little Hawaiian Cousin=
=Our Little Hindu Cousin=
=Our Little Hungarian Cousin=
=Our Little Indian Cousin=
=Our Little Irish Cousin=
=Our Little Italian Cousin=
=Our Little Japanese Cousin=
=Our Little Jewish Cousin=
=Our Little Jugoslav Cousin=
=Our Little Korean Cousin=
=Our Little Lapp Cousin=
=Our Little Lithuanian Cousin=
=Our Little Malayan (Brown) Cousin=
=Our Little Mexican Cousin=
=Our Little Norwegian Cousin=
=Our Little Panama Cousin=
=Our Little Persian Cousin=
=Our Little Philippine Cousin=
=Our Little Polish Cousin=
=Our Little Porto Rican Cousin=
=Our Little Portuguese Cousin=
=Our Little Quebec Cousin=
=Our Little Roumanian Cousin=
=Our Little Russian Cousin=
=Our Little Scotch Cousin=
=Our Little Servian Cousin=
=Our Little Siamese Cousin=
=Our Little South African (Boer) Cousin=
=Our Little Spanish Cousin=
=Our Little Swedish Cousin=
=Our Little Swiss Cousin=
=Our Little Turkish Cousin=
=Our Little Welsh Cousin=
=Our Little West Indian Cousin=
THE LITTLE COUSINS OF LONG AGO
=Our Little Athenian Cousin=
=Our Little Carthaginian Cousin=
=Our Little Celtic Cousin=
=Our Little Crusader Cousin=
=Our Little Feudal Cousin=
=Our Little Frankish Cousin=
=Our Little Florentine Cousin=
=Our Little Macedonian Cousin=
=Our Little Norman Cousin=
=Our Little Roman Cousin=
=Our Little Saxon Cousin=
=Our Little Spartan Cousin=
=Our Little Viking Cousin=
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY (Inc.)
53 Beacon Street Boston, Mass.
[Illustration: "THE REINDEER SUDDENLY SWERVED IN SUCH A WAY THAT JUHANI
WAS PITCHED OUT." (_See page 40_)]
Our Little
Finnish Cousin
By
Clara Vostrovsky Winlow
_Author of_
"Our Little Roumanian Cousin," "Our Little
Bohemian Cousin," "Our Little
Bulgarian Cousin."
_Illustrated by_
Harriet O'Brien
[Illustration]
Boston
The Page Company
PUBLISHERS
_Copyright, 1918_
BY THE PAGE COMPANY
_All rights reserved_
First Impression, April, 1918
Second Impression, July, 1919
Third Impression, January, 1930
PREFACE
FINLAND is one of the little countries in whose struggles for greater
freedom the world is interested to-day. It is situated on the northeast
shore of the Baltic Sea, and is bounded by Russia, Norway and Sweden,
the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. A maze of rocks and small,
pine-covered islands form a ring around the coast. The art of navigating
between these requires much skill and long apprenticeship, so that it is
no wonder that Finland, among other things, is noted for her pilots.
"Forest, rock, and water" is the way in which one writer describes
Finland. This little country, known all over the world for its
progressive ideas, is thinly inhabited, having only one city, the
capital Helsingfors, of any size. Over eighty-six per cent. of the
people are Finnish, twelve per cent. Swedish, and the rest Russians,
Germans, and Lapps.
Little is known of Finnish history before the twelfth century, when King
Eric of Sweden invaded the land to Christianize the inhabitants. Swedish
settlements followed and Finland became a province of Sweden. It
remained that for six hundred years, during which time there were
constant conflicts between the Russians and Swedes for the possession of
Finnish ports.
While Sweden was engaged with Napoleon, the Finns, tired of the
ceaseless disorder, agreed to union with Russia on condition that they
be assured a certain independence. This was conceded, Alexander I, then
Tzar of Russia, taking oath as Grand Duke of Finland and promising to
observe the religion of the country and all the privileges and rights
which it had so far enjoyed. This oath was kept more scrupulously than
by the last two Swedish monarchs, and cordial relations were established
between Russia and Finland. The Finnish people began to take a more
prominent part in their own affairs, for up to that time the Swedes had
had the upper hand everywhere. Alexander boasted with some truth that he
had created a nation.
In 1863 Tzar Alexander II gave a Representative Constitution to Finland.
In 1899, the present deposed Russian ruler, Nicholas II, was ill-advised
enough to issue a manifesto suspending the Finnish Constitution.
Unheeded protests followed, and up to 1904 there is an unenviable record
of oppression and suppression on the part of Russia.
In November, 1906, however, the Tzar was compelled to make the
concessions that the nation demanded.
During the present world conflict the Finns have proclaimed in their
Parliament their right to absolute independence, and their claim is
sanctioned by the greatest of the European nations, which recognize the
Republic of Finland.
C. V. W.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
PREFACE v
I A FARM HOME 1
II SUNDAY 16
III THE END OF AUTUMN 23
IV LAPLANDERS 38
V SCHOOL 51
VI THE DECEMBER VACATION 67
VII CHRISTMAS WEEK 76
VIII SUMMER TIME 91
List of Illustrations
PAGE
"THE REINDEER SUDDENLY SWERVED IN SUCH A WAY THAT JUHANI
WAS PITCHED OUT" (_See page 40_) _Frontispiece_
"THINGS TASTED SO GOOD OUT OF DOORS" 18
"JUHANI WAS LISTENING TO THE MOST MARVELOUS TALES" 45
"WAVING HIS ARMS TO KEEP HIS BALANCE, JUMPED FAR FORWARD" 62
"SHE CARRIED OUT A BASKET FILLED WITH CRUMBS AND GRAIN" 76
"WOUND COLORED YARN AROUND THE RYE STALKS" 95
Our Little Finnish Cousin
CHAPTER I
A FARM HOME
IT was early autumn in the Finland forest by the lake. Gold glistened
from the underbrush, from the great beds of bracken, from the shining
birches, from the paler aspens, and even from the prized rowans and
juniper trees.
On one side where the forest grew thinner, there was a glimpse of marshy
land where big whortleberries grew in profusion. Around this marshy spot
a tiny path led to a succession of fields in some of which were grazing
cattle, in some, queer tall haystacks, and in two smaller ones, grain
still uncut.
Two children--a boy and a girl--made their way from the forest toward
the lake, their hands tightly clasping birchen baskets filled with
berries that they had succeeded in gathering. Reaching the shore, they
silently took their places in a small boat moored under a clump of
trees. Each seized an oar, and began to row with experienced measured
strokes to the other side.
Both unsmiling faces had the same candid capable air, but that was the
only resemblance. Ten-year-old Juhani was like his father who belonged
to the Tavastian type of Finn. He was pale, with high cheek bones, thin
hair, and a strong chin that seemed to say: "I won't give in! I won't
give in!" He might have been taken for sulky until you met the look of
sincere inquiry under his well-formed brows.
Six-year Maja was fairer. She was brown-eyed and brown-haired, like her
Karelian mother who belonged to the other decided type of Finn. Despite
the silent gentleness of her face, she looked as if, on occasion, she
could be high spirited and even gay.
A little crowd was gathered at the landing stage to which they crossed,
and more persons came hurrying up as a blast was heard from a steamer
still some distance away on the lake. There were other children like
themselves with baskets of birch, and women with cakes and cookies and
farm produce for sale. Some of these were busily knitting while they
waited to offer their wares. Most prominent among all thus gathered was
a rather short, sturdy girl, who seemed entirely indifferent to the fact
that the kerchief tied around her head was not at all becoming. This was
Hilja, who, although only eighteen, already held the important position
of pier-master.
At last, amid much commotion, the steamer came up. The passengers
stepped ashore and bought many of the good things offered. But even
when all were sold there was no sign of the steamer's departure. The big
stacks of wood piled on the wharf, that were to serve the steamer for
fuel, had first to be carried aboard. For this there was help in plenty.
Men, women, and children were eager to have their services accepted. A
couple of foreigners grew restless at the delay, but no one else
betrayed any impatience, having been brought up, no doubt, on the
Finnish proverb, "God did not create hurry."
The pier-master shouted something when it was all in, and the steamer,
with many toots, departed. The people scattered until only Juhani and
Maja remained to watch a heavily laden timber barge go slowly by on its
way to the coast. Before it passed Juhani had nudged Maja to show her
the pennies he had earned by carrying wood. With the slightest possible
twinkle of mischief, Maja at first kept her own fist tightly closed.
"Oh, show what you have!" Juhani exclaimed somewhat contemptuously, at
which Maja opened her hand and showed twice as many pennies that her
sweet face, as well as the nice berries, had brought her.
Juhani showed his surprise by staring and staring until Maja closed her
hand again, explaining half in apology, "It was from the foreigners,"
and led the way to their boat.
Again they rowed silently over, anchored their boat in a little cove,
and then walked rapidly across the fields. Maja began to hum a folk
song, to which Juhani soon whistled a tune while he kept one hand on a
sheathed knife, called a _pukko_, hanging from the belt around his
waist. It was no wonder he was conscious and proud that it hung there.
When his father had given it to him a few days before, he had said, "You
are beginning to do man's work, Juhani, and so I think that you deserve
a man's knife." Nor was it a cheap knife. Its leather sheath was tipped
with brass and very prettily ornamented with a colored pattern.
Both children were barefoot and both walked with equal unconcern over
stubble and sharp stones. At the edge of the last field Maja glanced
inquiringly at her brother and then broke into a run. Juhani did not
follow her example at first, but, when he did, he easily overtook her
near a square farmhouse painted a bright red, but with doors and windows
outlined in white. Against this house, reaching from the ground to the
black painted roof, was a ladder to be used in case of fire. Up this
Juhani ran, waving his hand to his sister when at the top.
Near this house were three storehouses, one for food, one for clothes
and one for implements. Further away were cow houses, and a stable, the
loft of which was used for storing food in winter, and as a bedroom for
the maid servants in summer. There was also a small pig sty built of
granite, a stone of which Finland has so much that it has been said it
would be possible to rebuild all of London with it and still leave the
supply apparently undiminished. Neat, strong fences of slanting wood
enclosed these buildings.
Off by itself was an outbuilding more important in a way than any of
these, the bath-house, which in Finland is never missing.
An older girl of about fourteen with a blue kerchief on her head was
drawing water from a well near the kitchen door. As she emptied the
bucket made of a pine trunk and attached to a long pole weighted at the
end, she called to Juhani, who had just jumped from the ladder: "Hurry!
The pastor has come to stay till we go to church to-morrow and he wants
to ask you some Bible questions."
Without waiting for her, Juhani followed Maja, who had already entered
the kitchen bright with shining copper, stopping first, however, to wipe
his feet on a mat made of pine branches laid one above another.
This kitchen led directly into a pleasant living-room, with a tall china
tiled stove, some chairs, a big sofa, a table, and a carved cupboard.
Here were several odd beds too, that did not look like beds at all. They
were beds shut up for the day. At night they would be pulled open. A
small loom stood in one corner. Strips of home-made carpet were laid on
the yellow painted floor.
On one wall hung a picture which had lately had a peculiar fascination
for Maja. It represented Katrine Mansdottir, a beautiful peasant woman
with a sad romantic history. She lived when Finland was under Swedish
rule. King Eric the Fourteenth had been captivated by her winsomeness
when he first saw her selling fruit on the street. He had her taken to
his castle and educated her like a princess. When she was old enough he
married her, much to the dissatisfaction of his conservative courtiers.
Later the King was deposed and cast into prison. Here his wife showed
her gratitude for all that he had done for her, sharing his imprisonment
and ministering to him until his death. Then she renounced her crown and
retired to live among the loyal Finns who loved her for the friendship
that she had always shown them.
On the most comfortable chair in the room sat the pastor, a man who
looked so serious that one wondered if he ever smiled. No one who knew
his duties and responsibilities could wonder at this. Among them were
visiting the widely scattered members of his parish, comforting them in
sorrow and distress, helping them with advice when needed. Just outside
the nearest village, on the other side of the lake, he had a little
patch of land of his own which he cultivated when he could, to help out
his slender salary.
The children greeted the pastor like an old friend, and seating
themselves sedately on chairs opposite him stiffened up in anticipation
of the questions that he would ask them.
Around four o'clock everything in the room became evening colored, and
the mother came in and invited all into the kitchen for dinner. There
was an abundance of simple food,--salt fish, meat and potatoes, hard rye
bread, mead and coffee, of which latter even little Maja drank her
share.
The first part of the meal made one think of a Quaker meeting, it was so
very quiet; but after the mead had been passed around and the coffee
poured, a sparkle came to the eyes of all, and even the pastor's face
took on a genial glow as, prompted by kind inquiries, he related some of
his recent experiences.
"You know poor old Yrjo (George)," he said, "who is now one of my
people. Well, he's trying to learn to read and write and having a hard
time doing it. You see, he never had a chance earlier in life, for he
used to live way up north on the outskirts of Lapland. He is doing all
this because--well, I guess you can guess why--. Yes, he wants to be
married, and you know how strict our law is that no pastor shall marry
men or women unless they know how to read and write. I think he'll
learn, for he's dogged. He's already built himself a shack on my grounds
not to waste time in coming and going. When I told him this morning that
he was making progress he was as delighted as a child."
Then he told of a recent visit to a big dairy farm, of the long low
buildings with ice chambers here and there. "It was a great pleasure,"
he said, "to see how neatly everything is kept. All the floors and walls
are of blue and white tile, and the windows of stained glass--a pretty
sight. I can't forget the rows of shelves with their big earthenware
vessels of rich-looking milk and cream. In one room women dressed in
white were putting up butter for export. I agree with those who think
that dairying is going to grow in importance here. It certainly seems to
pay our farmers better than farming."
"I am going to be a dairy man," said Juhani.
"And I am going to a University and be an architect," piped in little
Maja quite as decidedly.
At this the family laughed, but the pastor remarked seriously, "It's
well to make plans early. There are many women who are succeeding in
architecture, little Maja."
"Yes," remarked the mother, "and Maja has an aunt in Helsingfors who is
among the number."
As it was Saturday night the usual preparations had been made for a
family bath, and the kindly pastor who was not considered an outsider
was invited to share in it as a matter of course. Every one seemed to
look to this bath as a great pleasure. After the pastor had accepted,
Juhani, with face glowing, ran at once to show the bath whisks that he
had himself made.
"I made a lot of them in the summer," he explained, "for then the leaves
are soft."
"Go take them to the bath house and steep them in hot water," said his
father, "and see that the maids have not forgotten to strew fresh straw
on the floor."
"May I not get ready first," asked Juhani. And when his father nodded,
he slipped off his clothes and ran naked to where the bath house stood
alone not far from the lake.
The little structure was made of pine logs on a foundation of moss and
stones. The roof was thatched. Over the door the farmer had carved the
Finnish proverb: "The Church and the Sauna (Bath-house) are holy
places." Within, on one side, was a stone oven, while opposite this was
a series of wooden steps to the ceiling. These were covered with straw.
When Juhani entered, an old woman servant was already there poking at
the big fire. Now and then she threw on water so that it was quite
steamy when the other members of the family came trooping in. Juhani at
once seized Maja around the waist, all his shyness evidently left
outside, and twirled her around until she shouted for him to stop.
It grew hotter and hotter in the room and more and more steamy as the
different members climbed on the step-like platforms and beat themselves
with the birch twigs which now gave forth a pleasant fragrance.
Juhani and Maja had also mounted the steps, but every once in a while
they would jump down and try to whip each other on the back and legs.
When all had perspired enough, they took turns in sitting on a chair
and letting the old woman give each a quick massage and a wash down with
cold water. Then oh, what a race there was for the lake, into which all
plunged with shouts of laughter! Then out again and a race for home.
Maja somehow got a big start and came in a foot ahead of her brother
who, when he saw what she was after, almost tumbled over her in his
eagerness to win.