The boy answered, "We shall row across," and he rowed across the rivers and lakes; for wherever they came, they found boats, which seemed to be there just for their sakes. Sometimes the brother swam with his little sister across the rivers and they floated easily on the waves. At their side flew the two little birds. One evening when they were very tired, the children came upon the ruins of burned down buildings. Close by stood a large new farm house. Outside the kitchen door stood a girl peeling vegetables. "Will you give us something to eat?" asked the boy.
"Yes, come," answered the child, "mother is in the kitchen, she will give you supper, if you are hungry."
Then the brother threw his arms about his sister's neck. "Do you hear, sister? This girl speaks the language that our father and mother spoke. Now we may begin to look for the birch and the star." The children then went into the kitchen where they were received with much friendliness, and were asked where they came from. They answered, "We come from a foreign land and are looking for our home. We have no other mark than this—a large birch tree grows in the yard in front of the house. In the morning birds sing in its branches, and in the evening a large star shines through its leaves."
"Poor children," said the people, full of pity, "thousands of birches grow in this country, thousands of birds sing in the tree tops, and thousands of stars shine in the sky. How will you find your birch and your star?"
The boy and girl answered, "God will help us. His angels have led us to our own country. Now we are almost at home."
"Finland is great," said the people, shaking their heads.
"But God is greater!" answered the boy. And they thanked the good people for their kindness and went on their way.
It was fortunate for the children that they did not need to sleep in the woods any longer, but could go from farm to farm. Though there were wide plains between the human dwellings and great poverty everywhere, the children were given food and shelter; all felt sorry for them.