A Swedish Home
When we came to Stockholm we were taken to the home of Bro.
Norlin, who, living near the meeting-hall, had secured extra rooms in
order to entertain us. Neither he nor his wife could speak English; Bro.
Matteson, who came with us from Copenhagen, acted as interpreter.
But our good friends had just moved into a new brick house, which
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was not thoroughly dry; in some parts of the building the masons were
still at work, and the chill and dampness rendered it unsafe for me
to remain there, I thought of taking a room at a hotel for myself and
Sister McEnterfer; but neither of us could speak the Swedish, and how
were we to make our wants known? While we were thus in perplexity
considering the situation, Sister Johanneson, who had lived in America
and could speak English quite well, came in to invite us to her home.
This invitation we gladly accepted. Her house was pleasantly situated
on a hill in the suburbs of the city. A cosy little parlor on the third floor
was appropriated to our use. I had become much reduced in strength
by the pain I had endured and still continued to suffer from my teeth,
and the rest and quiet of this home was very grateful.
We were pleasantly surprised to find the table very much the same
as at our Sanitarium at Battle Creek. The dishes were simple and
healthful, and prepared with a skill and nicety that made them inviting
and palatable. There is great need of a more general knowledge of
the science of healthful cookery. There is a wide field of usefulness
open to intelligent, experienced cooks in teaching young ladies how to
prepare plain, simple food in a palatable and healthful manner.
The rooms were warmed by tall, earthenware stoves, reaching
nearly to the ceiling. These stoves are made square or round to suit the
taste, of various colors, and many are more ornamental than our black
iron stoves. The one in the family sitting-room was nearly square, and
set in one side was a large gilt-framed mirror, not less than six feet
long and half as wide. In the morning a wood fire is made, and when
the fire is well under way, the doors may be opened, and we have a
bright, cheerful blaze throwing out its heat into the room as from a
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