Erik wanted to see the factories, but Herr Banker informed him that it was against the rules for visitors to enter the buildings.
"They guard their secrets," said Herr Banker. Then he asked the boys some questions. "How many people on earth do you suppose use Swedish matches?" he inquired.
They looked at him with blank expressions.
Herr Banker answered, "Two out of every three. And how many different box labels do you think are made?" he next inquired.
Their faces resembled pink zeros.
"Nine thousand, and in different languages," he told them. "Certain uncivilized countries use these match boxes in place of money."
From Jönköping they traveled through the province of Smaland, (smō´länd) where for centuries men have been making glass.
In the south, they visited the Cathedral of Lund, where a sacred grove once grew. London, England, was also built upon a sacred "lund," which means "grove" in Swedish.
At noontime, people flocked to the great cathedral to hear and see a most unusual clock. Mechanical figures marched out, music played, and Erik's mouth fell open.
Inga, who was full of mischief, dropped her rubber ball into Erik's mouth, and he was so wrapped up in the music that he started to chew it. He came back to earth quite abruptly.