Utvandrarna

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The Emigrants

This is the story of some people

from Ljuder in Smland, Sweden

-who emigrated to North America

In 1844, Ljuder County had 1925 inhabitants

The population had tripled in a 100 years

In addition to 254 land-owning farmers

-there were 39 craftsmen,

92 landless peasants and 11 soldiers

Further, there were 2 7 4 servants,

23 unemployed, 104 paupers,-

-60 disabled, five slow individuals,

three idiots, three whores and two thieves.

Four men controlled the County by power of their

spiritual or secular authority:

The Priest Brusander, Sheriff Innegren,-

- Lord, Knights and Lieutenant Paul Rudeborg,-

and the church deacon and merchant Per Persson.

It was as in most other Counties at this time.

Everyone must bow down to

the local authorities

-but no authority is without a God.

For what authority there is

has been granted by God.

And whoever opposes those in authority,

defies God's will.

And those who oppose authority will be judged.

For those who have authority do not

strike fear in the hearts of those who do good

-only those who do evil

So, if you do not want to fear authority

you will have to do good

-and you will be rewarded.

For he is God's servant, leading you to good.

Amen.

-Can I have another piece of herring?

-You can't just eat herring

-But it tastes good

-She pickled it last week. .

-How long were you a farm hand here, dad?

-About twelve years.

-But it wasn't in Alarum the whole time?

-No, it wasn't.

- You won't be taking over a Kingdom.

-But there is twice as much land here as

there was 25 years ago.

-If you want to be a farmer you will

need a woman.

- Reckon I could get a good one if I wanted

-Don't sit there and brag, boy.

Kristina!

Eat now.

If only I had a horse. . .

but the farm can't feed a horse.

Dad has ploughed all the land there is,

but we aren't getting any richer.

one should eat ones bread

sprinkled with the sweat of ones face

-Do you have money for the bank?

-We are 22 'Riksdaler' short.

-We could borrow money from Kristina's uncle.

-You can borrow from me.

- I will let Robert know about the cat.

She won't last much longer.

Are you thinking about something?

Midsummer snow. . .

and a lot of it.

-It doesn't look good for the harvest.

-No, it doesn't.

When should we start sowing. If the harvest fails again

this year I don't know what we will do.

-We will put our trust in God.

-Trust?

If trust were enough, we could reap a

hundred barrels of wheat this autumn.

We toil as hard as we can. and even then we only

barely make ends meet.

After four years we have no oxen and we're 70

'riksdaler' deeper in debt.

if only the weather would co-operate,-

-and keep the bounty of the soil from

all kinds of disasters.

bless us with wheat and chaff.

through the power of Jesus Christ,

our Lord. Amen.

-Karl Oskar, I don't know. . .

-What's the matter?

-I'm thinking of the children.

-They're asleep. All three of them.

I'm thinking of food for the kids.

Food?

I mean, if we abstained, there wouldn't

be even more mouths to feed.

Abstain, for the rest of our lives?

Should we stay away from one another, for ever?

I wouldn't be able to.

Not until I get so old that

moss starts sprouting on my ears.

Why can't you work for your food and clothes.

You're fifteen and strong and healthy.

-We can't keep you at home any longer.

-You ought to have left long ago.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Your sister has been a young lady for years.

What book is that?

Natural sciences

I got it from the Schoolmaster.

For he was a good reader, said Rinaldo.

He always said everyone ought to read

the Bible and natural sciences.

It contains everything there is

to know about this world.

It talks about the body.

And about water. Listen to this:

"You can hold a piece of wood or rock

in your hand,"-

-"but you can't hold water in your hand."

"Because water is liquid and runs away."

"All liquid things, such as,

water, beer, milk"-

-"drip, and are called fluids,

because they are liquid."

Ah, look at the boy, yes!

My little lad. .

I couldn't find my way to Nybacken this morning

Stop!

You deserve much harsher punishment,-

-but this time you get away with a slap.

A louse.

I'll teach you to speed up!

aren't you going to teach Robert as well, Arvid?

Aren't you and the heifer going to the priest

to announce your engagement?

"strange exotic plants are:"

"sugarcane, which can grow three

bales tall and get thick as an arm"

read that again, the bit about the rice.

"rice is a grain grown in many warmer countries-

-"but the refined grains are carried all the

way to us, and then they're called 'risgryn'."

"these are boiled with milk to make the

white and delicious rice pudding."

"the best rice comes from the other side of

the ocean, from North-America."

How wide is the ocean?

-It's all the fault of our Lord's weather. .

-Don't blaspheme, Karl Oskar.

Can this be called hay?

or is it cat's hair?

If you've taken the rest,

you might as well take this too.

Karl Oskar! You challenge God !

God forgive you for what you have done.

God forgive you, Karl Oskar.

What have you found?

-Are we going to die too?

-Yes, I suppose so.

-When will we die, dad?

-Not for a long time yet.

If we don't get rain soon,

we will have to do without milk.

you remember how many molehills we had last ye

-Where did you get that?

-I took some of my pay in spirits.

Aaron said there will be a house change next week.

Last year the priest asked me who we call

'our lords'. I couldn't answer.

"our lords are what we call the people, who in

addition to our parents,"-

-"have fatherly authority over us, such

as clergy, teachers and landlords."

Do you know how many nobles and landlords

we have above us in this world?

The first is the King, Oskar I.

The second is County Chief.

The third is tax collector.

The fourth is sheriff Innegren,

and the fifth is the sheriffs deputy.

the sixth is the Priest,

and seventh, Aaron, our landlord.

I have to say. What a mountain of gents!

Do you know it now,

if they should ask you again?

the first is the King. . .

-And what's his name?

-Oskar the 1st.

and then we have. . .

The County Chief.

and then the tax collector after that?

-and then it's the priest.

-No.

The King, Oskar the 1st,

and then the County Chief. . .

Arvid !

-Are you going to chop wood in the middle of

the night?

-Old mother is going to die tonight.

-Put down the axe.

-I'm going to kill her!

-Have you gone insane!

-I'm going to chop her straight in the mouth !

Arvid, listen to me. . .

Don't touch that axe!

Listen to me!

Your making yourself miserable.

-You don't know what you're doing !

-I said, let go of the axe!

Arvid. . . come inside.

-Do you know what she's accusing me of?

-Yes.

It's that women that has made it all up

I have never done anything illegal with the heifer.

I believe you, Arvid. I have never believed the

things they have said about you.

Do you know what they call me?

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