{Footnote 1: In the Travels of M. Beanjolin into Sweden, he mentions having, in the year 1790, met carriages laden with the knapsacks of Swedish soldiers, who had fallen in battle in Finland. These carriages were escorted by peasants, who were relieved at every stage, and thus the property of the deceased was conveyed from one extremity of the kingdom to the other, and faithfully restored to their relations. The Swedish peasants are so remarkably honest, that scarcely any thing is ever lost in these convoys of numerous and ill-secured packages.}
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
COUNT HELMAAR, a Swedish Nobleman. CHRISTIERN, a Swedish Soldier. ALEFTSON, Count Helmaar’s Fool. THOMAS, a Footman.
ELEONORA, a Swedish Lady, beloved by Count Helmaar. CHRISTINA, Sister to Helmaar. ULRICA, an old Housekeeper. CATHERINE, Wife to Christiern.
KATE and ULRIC, the Son and Daughter of Catherine—they are six and seven years old.
Serjeant, and a Troop of Soldiers, a Train of Dancers, a Page, Peasants, &c.
ACT I.
SCENE—A cottage in Sweden.—CATHERINE, a young and handsome woman, is sitting at her spinning wheel.—A little Boy and Girl, of six and seven years of age, are seated on the ground eating their dinner.
CATHERINE sings, while she is spinning.
Haste from the wars, oh, haste to me,
The wife that fondly waits for thee;
Long are the years, and long each day,
While my loved soldier’s far away.
Haste from the wars, &c.
Lone ev’ry field, and lone the bow’r;
Pleasant to me nor sun nor show’r:
The snows are gone, the flow’rs are gay—
Why is my life of life away?
Haste from the wars, &c.