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THE ROMANCE 
 
 OF 
 
 SWEDENBORG'S LIFE 
 
 BY 
 ANNA CRONHJELM WALLBERG 
 
 <San jFrannsco 
 
 C. A. MURDOCK & Co. 
 
 1890 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1890, BY 
 ANNA CRONJHELM WALLBEKG. 
 
THE ROMANCE OF SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DMANUEL MEETS THE POLHEIM FAMILY. 
 
 " /\ l\ ^^ are y u rea dy ? " called an eager voice 
 A V 1 up the stairs of the large palace-like build- 
 ing at Stjernsund, belonging to the great Swedish 
 inventor, the Councellor of Commerce, Christo- 
 pher Polheim. 
 
 It was his youngest daughter, Emerentia, who, 
 leaning against the balustrade, looked up. She 
 did not notice a young man, elegantly dressed in 
 black velvet, who entered the hall from an adjoin- 
 ing room. He wore a black wig, which, however, 
 did not suit his clear complexion and soft brown 
 eyes as well as his natural auburn hair would 
 have done. 
 
 His eyes fastened on the slender young figure 
 in the white dress, standing with the head bent to 
 one side to catch the expected reply from above. 
 
 u Mother wants you to hurry up/' she continued, 
 " Mr. Svedberg will be here before we know it." 
 
10* " * JjrtHfe ROMANCE OF 
 
 I / *" fc - 
 
 ak' 1 'Vw Jtie' hall, but come up and help 
 
 me," said the voice up-stairs. 
 
 Emerentia turned to run up the stairs, when 
 she saw the young man gazing at her. With a 
 little outcry and a graceful motion she gathered 
 her white skirt and flew up the stairs. He was 
 looking after the fair vision when a door was 
 opened, and Mr. Polheim came to welcome his 
 guest. 
 
 " Mr. Svedberg, I am so glad to see you. I was 
 just told that you had arrived. Very unceremoi- 
 nious of us. I hope you will pardon me, but I 
 was so busy writing, and it slipped my attention." 
 
 The man who spoke was smaller than Emanuel 
 Svedberg. He was about fifty-four years of age, 
 and his small, piercing eyes beamed with genius 
 and good-will. Instead of the conventional wig, 
 he wore a velvet cap over his long hair. 
 
 " Come in and let me introduce you to my fam- 
 ily. My wife and my children have heard so 
 many good reports of you. I hope you will feel 
 at home among us, and will stay for a time." 
 
 Emanuel expressed his gratitude, and the two 
 men entered a large parlor, beautifully furnished 
 after the taste of the time. The straight sofas and 
 chairs were covered with heavy silk. Before the 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 11 
 
 windows hung lined silk draperies, caught up with 
 heavy silk cords. Gobelin tapestries hung on the 
 walls, and some portraits. The carpet was woven 
 in a large pattern. 
 
 " I hope you had a pleasant journey, Mr. Sved- 
 berg ? " 
 
 " Yes, thank you; I rode on horseback all the 
 way rather than have to pay the high rates of the 
 post chaise, as one has to do now, since the last 
 royal decree came out." 
 
 " Yes, the king exacts much of his country. 
 He presses it too hard. One might think, that 
 after all his misfortunes, he would have more 
 generous feelings towards his subjects. With all 
 respect for his majesty, I call him the most fool- 
 hardy person I ever heard of. Here he left his 
 country with a glorious name and army, and came 
 home penniless and alone. And still he requires 
 new armies and is ready for new exploits." 
 
 "Yes, I cannot understand," said Emanuel, 
 " how King Karl can make his people bear all these 
 heavy burdens. There must be some personal 
 fascination about him." 
 
 " Have you been presented to the king since 
 you came from abroad, Mr. Svedberg? " 
 
 " Not yet, Mr. Councellor, but I hope and wish 
 
12 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 to be, for I want to serve my country with what 
 little knowledge I have gained." 
 
 A servant announced that supper was served. 
 
 " I want you to meet my wife," said Mr. Pol- 
 heim, leading Emanuel to an adjoining room, 
 where Mrs. Polheim, a tall, slender, sweet-faced 
 woman, dressed in black brocade, was sitting with 
 her two daughters, all busy with fine needlework. 
 
 Emanuel kissed Mrs. Polheim's hand and 
 bowed before the young ladies, who in their turn 
 made deep courtesies. 
 
 " This is Maja, and this little one is our Mrensa, 
 as we call her for short," said the father, caressing 
 his daughter's curly hair. 
 
 Mr. Svedberg offered his arm to Mrs. Polheim, 
 and the family gathered around a sumptuous 
 supper-table. 
 
 When the meal was finished, Emerentia was 
 told to retire, while the rest of the company went 
 to the sitting-room, where the conversation dwelt 
 upon the working of the new tin and iron mines 
 and works at Stjernsund, which had been devel- 
 oped and established by means of Mr. Polheim. 
 
 When ten o'clock, the hour of retiring, struck, 
 Emanuel went to the pleasant guest-room he was 
 to occupy. 
 
8WEDENBOR&8 LIFE. 13 
 
 It was moonlight without, and he stood gazing 
 at the garden, that was laid out in stiff rows of 
 hedges and with trees cut in peculiar shapes. This 
 was in the summer of 1716. 
 
 He looked up at the sky. " How I love to be 
 back in my native land. The English sky was 
 never so beautiful as this sky. A happiness steals 
 over me in this pleasant home, such as I have 
 never felt. Oh, that lovely girl. How roguish 
 she looked, as she ran up those stairs. She can- 
 not be more than twelve. Maja! What a prosaic 
 name! Maja! Maja! " he repeated to himself. 
 " She has some of her father's preciseness. How 
 carefully she worked every thread in her fancy- 
 work. Were she a man, I think she would be 
 endowed with her father's inventive genius. How 
 well she could speak about the mines. I hope 
 Mr. Polheim will take a kind interest in my 
 projects." 
 
 He stood long absorbed in thought, when the 
 sound of a song startled him. It was a duet of 
 sweet young voices, singing softly an evening 
 hymn, which he recognized as one that his own 
 father, the bishop, had written for a new Lutheran 
 hymn-book, which had been proposed by the 
 king, but was never accepted, because of the 
 
14 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 objections of the envious Swedish clergy. This 
 hymn, though unpublished, found its way to the 
 hearts of the people. The memories from home 
 rushed upon Emanuel, and tears stole down his 
 cheeks. His heart swelled, and he sank on the 
 floor and prayed with a fervor he had never 
 experienced before. As he listened to the pure, 
 earnest voices, his overflowing heart prayed, too, 
 a blessing for the singers. 
 
 That night he had a dream that haunted and 
 puzzled him. He saw two stags of uncommon 
 beauty, with wreaths of flowers around their 
 necks. In his dream he pursued them both, and 
 caught them by the wreaths, but when trying to 
 hold them they both escaped. 
 
 Emanuel Svedberg belonged to a family sus- 
 ceptible to dreams and signs, and to this suscepti- 
 bility he was no exception. This dream he tried 
 in vain to explain to himself. 
 
 At breakfast, which was served at six o'clock, 
 all the members of the family appeared fresh and 
 bright. Mr. Polheim proposed that Emerentia 
 should show Mr. Svedberg the way to the iron- 
 works, arid said that he and Maja would join them 
 a little later. 
 
 When Emanuel and his companion started 
 
SWEDENBORG'8 LIFE. 15 
 
 forth, she asked: "Can you run? Let us run a 
 race." 
 
 He was willing, but the girl left him far behind, 
 and he thought of the stag of his dream. 
 
 11 Oh, Mr. Svedberg," she said, laughing, as she 
 sat by the side of the road, waiting for him, u did 
 the girls in England ha! ha! ha! did the girls 
 in England ever run a race with you?" 
 
 "No, I think I have not run a race since my 
 sister Anna was married." 
 
 ." Sister Anna! Are you very fond of her? " she 
 said earnestly. " Tell me about her. Is she 
 pretty?" 
 
 u Yes, she is the image of my mother, who is 
 dead. She is dearer to me than anybody in the 
 world." 
 
 " Is your mother dead? " 
 
 " Yes, I was only nine years old when I lost 
 her." 
 
 "And is your sister very nice? " 
 
 " She is, very," he said, slowly. He would have 
 added that he thought Emerentia prettier, but he 
 hesitated to whisper words that hid the smallest 
 flattery in the ears of this pure, confident girl . 
 
 " My sister Anna is married, arid has a little 
 son, Eric. I have not seen them since I returned 
 
16 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 from England. s I will help him to make a man 
 of himself, when he grows up." 
 
 Emerentia was picking flowers by the wayside, 
 while she listened. 
 
 " Did your sister have any pet horses when she 
 was little?" 
 
 " Yes, all the animals at home were her pets." 
 
 "I will tell you something," she said, whisper- 
 ing, taking his hand confidently, "if you promise 
 not to tell the others. I want to learn to ride 
 horseback, but father won't let me. It is not very 
 difficult, is it? " 
 
 " No," said Emanuel, hesitating, for he was not 
 an experienced horseman himself. 
 
 " Can you ride bareback? " she asked eagerly. 
 
 " You must not try to ride bareback," he said 
 in a stern tone, that frightened her so that she 
 let his hand go. 
 
 " I am so fond of such things, and I love to play 
 in the waterstreams after a heavy rain. Father 
 whipped me once for doing that. I was only six 
 then; and what do you think I did the same 
 thing the next day, and came home soaked 
 through." 
 
 "What happened then?" asked Emanuel, 
 amused. 
 
8WEDENBOR&S LIFE. 17 
 
 " I was punished again. I did not really think 
 that I had done anything wrong. Would you 
 please pick that flower for me. It is so high up 
 I cannot reach it.' 7 She pointed to a high bank 
 where a rare flower stood nodding alone. With a 
 few long, muscular steps he reached the place and 
 picked the flower. 
 
 He looked handsome as he stood there, flushed 
 from the exertion. 
 
 " If I give you this flower," he said, " you must 
 promise me one thing." 
 
 " Yes," she said, " anything and everything. 
 What in particular do you want?" 
 
 " I want you to promise me, that whatever hap- 
 pens, you will never wound my feelings," he said, 
 trembling with an emotion he could not control 
 or account for. 
 
 " Never to wound your feelings? " she repeated. 
 " Have I ever done so? " 
 
 " No, Emerentia," he said, jumping down, and 
 giving her the flower; " but promise that you 
 never will," he said, looking earnestly and ten- 
 derly into her eyes. 
 
 " Not if I can help it," she said, laughingly, 
 putting the flower in her dress. 
 
 They had reached the mines, where Mr. Polheim 
 
18 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 and Maja, having come on horseback, awaited 
 them. Mr. Polheim was highly pleased with the 
 interest and knowledge Emanuel displayed when 
 shown the works, and here began, in spite of the 
 difference in their ages, a friendship between these 
 two men that never was broken. 
 
 During the three months that Emanuel stayed 
 with the Polheim family he became very dear to 
 them all, even Maja's distant manners softening 
 towards him. 
 
 Emanuel felt happier and more at home at 
 Stjernsund than anywhere he had been. As he 
 allowed himself no idleness, he used the time 
 he did not spend in fishing excursions and 
 pleasure parties with the family, in inventing 
 many useful household articles, in which Mr. 
 Polheim assisted and encouraged him, and his 
 success made him a special favorite with the 
 ladies. 
 
 He invented a flying-machine, which he showed 
 Mr. Polheim. 
 
 " That does very well with a small object," said 
 Mr. Polheim; " but I am afraid it would not be a 
 success with a larger one." 
 
 "I don't see why," said Emanuel, "if the pro- 
 portions are correct." 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 19 
 
 " No, the air could not hold anything heavier. 
 Birds above a certain size cannot possibly fly." 
 
 "Why not? Now, supposing a body of some 
 light and air-tight material should be filled with 
 a substance that was lighter than the surround- 
 ing air," said Emanuel. 
 
 "What is that? " he said, interrupting himself, 
 as a large, white object passed behind the two 
 gentlemen. 
 
 "Why, it is Emerentia," said the astonished 
 father. " She is riding our old white mare. 
 Halloo! What is your hurry?" 
 
 It was impossible even for the dignified Mr. 
 Polheim to restrain a smile. On the old mare, 
 that had been turned loose to spend her old age in 
 freedom, after years of hard toil before the ore 
 wagon, sat Emerentia, holding the rope in one 
 hand, while with the other she grasped the horse's 
 mane in order to keep her seat. The mare, urged 
 on by the hilarious girl, who had long laid plans 
 for this stolen pleasure, had caught something of 
 her spirit. Emerentia was delighted, but she 
 soon felt her dignity slipping from her, when her 
 arms began to flap disagreeably. 
 
 The blanket which she had dragged from the 
 stable and thrown across the mare's back, 
 
20 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 dropped off, and now oh, dear, why have mares 
 no respect for grown-up, scientific, grave people? 
 Emerentia feared that she would ride down the 
 gentlemen, as they stood gazing at the flying- 
 machine. But there was no such thing as stop- 
 ping her steed in its mad course, and she just 
 grazed neatly the backs of the two gentlemen. 
 Emerentia, much relieved, wished she had not 
 been seen at all. She heard a shout behind her, 
 but she flew on, as she was at the mercy of the 
 mare, who had not permitted herself such a 
 prank since she was a colt. 
 
 But even the spirit of an old mare can fail, and 
 horse and rider stopped before a fence that seemed 
 too high to leap, and Emerentia, seizing the 
 opportunity, jumped down. 
 
 She hurried home, and entered her room with 
 disheveled hair and glowing face. 
 
 " What have you been doing? " exclaimed 
 Maja. "Are you hurt?" 
 
 "No! no! Oh, dear, it was such fun! " 
 
 "Are you sure you are not hurt? If you are 
 not, it is all right. Come, I will help you with 
 your dressing." 
 
 This unexpected kindness produced a reaction 
 on the highly-strung nerves of the child, who 
 began to cry and sob. 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 21 
 
 Her sister left her until she became calmer, and 
 the mother came in. 
 
 " Don't cry so, Mrensa, now you are here with 
 us sound and with unbroken bones; we are all 
 happy again." 
 
 " Is father angry?" Emerentia asked, looking 
 through her fingers. 
 
 " No, he was only alarmed." - 
 
 " You see I want to learn how to ride horseback 
 as Maja does," she sobbed. 
 
 "You shall, my child," said the mother; "but 
 I do not want you to make yourself so ridiculous, 
 as you did to-day." 
 
 " Thank you, mother. Did Mr. Svedberg laugh 
 at me?" she asked timidly. 
 
 " Yes; he laughed. He thought you were going 
 to knock him down." 
 
 Emerentia, comforted, took particular pains to 
 dress well in white, and insisted upon wearing a 
 blue ribbon round her neck. Company had been 
 invited this evening in honor of Mr. Svedberg, 
 who was going to leave Stjernsund the following 
 day. 
 
 A fiddler, engaged to play, was sitting in a 
 corner of the large dining-room, which served as 
 a dancing-room. 
 
22 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Your ride this morning did not prevent your 
 dancing to-night," said Emanuel to Emerentia. 
 
 " No, not in the least. Father had to promise 
 me that I should ride horseback. I do love 
 horses so. Didn't that old horse and I have a 
 fine time to day," she said, clasping her hands in 
 childish delight. 
 
 Emanuel looked at her admiringly. 
 
 " Emerentia, do you mind giving me that rib- 
 bon you wear around your neck? Just to remem- 
 ber you by, you know. I have spent such a happy 
 time here." 
 
 She gave him the ribbon, and looking earnestly 
 into his eyes, she said: " I have kept your flower, 
 and I have not forgotten what I promised that 
 day." 
 
 Emanuel bowed, with a happy smile. The 
 dance over, he next asked Maja for a dance. 
 
 " Emerentia likes you, Mr. Svedberg," she said, 
 looking sharply at him. 
 
 Despite himself, he blushed. 
 
 " I am very fond of the child," he said. " We are 
 great friends." 
 
 "If she should hear you call her a child, she 
 would never forgive you." 
 
 " She will be a charming woman when she 
 grows up." 
 
&WEI)ENBOItG' l lS LIFE. 23 
 
 u Yes, she is very pretty and sweet," said Maja. 
 In her inmost soul, she felt a pang of envy to hear 
 her sister praised, for she was well aware, that 
 Emerentia was, even now, the more attractive of 
 the two. 
 
 " Perhaps you would be interested to see a 
 Dalecarlian polka, as it is danced by the peasants 
 here; would you, Mr. Svedberg?" 
 
 "I would indeed," he said. 
 
 She excused herself for a few minutes, and came 
 back with her sister, both dressed in Dalecarlian 
 costumes with black accordeon skirts, variegated 
 striped aprons, that reached to the bottom of the 
 skirts, white shirts, red and green bodices, and 
 silk kerchiefs round their necks. They wore 
 silver belts and buckles, and black sugar-loaf caps 
 on their heads. 
 
 The two girls looked charming in their cos- 
 tumes, while they danced a lively running dance. 
 
 An elaborate supper followed, with toasts and 
 speeches. 
 
 When the last guest had left the house, Mr. 
 Polheim asked Emanuel to come into his study. 
 
 " I wish to see you about something that, prop- 
 erly speaking, should come from you," he said, 
 with a little cough. 
 
24 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 "From me?" said the astonished young man. 
 
 " Yes, let me explain. You are going to leave 
 us, and I want to express to you how much my 
 wife and myself think of you," he said, "not only 
 as the son of one of the great men of Sweden, 
 but for your own sake, and I shall be glad to as- 
 sist you in every way I can." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Polheim. If you would write 
 some articles now and then for my pamphlet, I 
 think it might be of benefit to science and to 
 both of us." 
 
 " Yes, I promise you my assistance with that, 
 and I will also introduce you to the king, who, I 
 am sure, will take an interest in you, and as I 
 think that, with your integrity and your thorough 
 knowledge, you will have a brilliant future, it 
 would please us very much to see you become 
 one of our family." 
 
 " You mean to marry Miss Maja ," stam- 
 mered Emanuel, blushing. 
 
 " Yes, that is, if you two should care for each 
 other." 
 
 The proposal came so suddenly upon Eman- 
 uel, that he was speechless for a moment. 
 He remembered all the little ruses of Mrs. Pol- 
 heim, who, against Swedish etiquette, had often 
 
>S' WED KXB Oil <;' A' L IFK. 25 
 
 left the two young people together. Emanuel 
 had been too inexperienced to understand what 
 it all meant. 
 
 " What has Miss Maja to say about it herself?" 
 said Emanuel, at last. " I am very grateful that 
 you think so highly of me, but my future is 
 somewhat unsettled yet." 
 
 Maja was called in. She was still dressed in 
 her pretty costume, and with more color than 
 usual in her face, she looked uncommonly attrac- 
 tive. 
 
 While Mr. Polheim, in a sober and business- 
 like manner, explained the proposal to her, 
 Maja nervously picked her apron, and constantly 
 changed color. 
 
 " I thank you, father, and you, Mr. Svedberg, for 
 your honorable offer," she said, looking sideways 
 at the latter. " As my heart is free, I may accept 
 your offer, and I hope to learn to love you, as I 
 ought to." 
 
 " Then, perhaps, you will sign this paper, my 
 daughter," said Mr. Polheim. 
 
 It read as follows: 
 
 " I, Christoffer Polheim, promise and give my full con- 
 sent to the marriage between my daughter Maja Polheim 
 and Emanuel Svedberg, whenever the parties concerned 
 agree to become united." 
 
26 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 Maja read it through twice. With a little sigh, 
 she signed her name to it. 
 
 Emanuel, taking it, raised her hand to his lips 
 and kissed her mouth. 
 
 " But," she whispered anxiously, " not for many 
 years yet, Mr. Svedberg." 
 
 " Emanuel," he corrected. " No, our happiness 
 must be completed before long." 
 
 Mrs. Polheim came in. 
 
 "I wish you both joy and happiness, my 
 children. I can not wish you more perfect happi- 
 ness than I have enjoyed myself," she said, with 
 a grateful look at her husband. 
 
 As it was late, they all retired for the night. 
 Emanuel stayed awake many hours that night, 
 thinking of what had happened. Maja did the 
 same, and they both tried to imagine themselves 
 the happiest mortals living. How they suc- 
 ceeded remains to be seen. 
 
8WEDENBOR&S LIFE. 27 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 EMANUEL MEETS KARL XII. 
 
 E MANUEL SVEDBERG was one of nine chil- 
 dren of Jesper Svedberg and his wife, Sarah 
 Behm, who had brought a good fortune to the 
 house. 
 
 After her death, in 1696, Jesper Svedberg, who 
 was an active worker for the church, and a zeal- 
 ous reformer, was appointed one of the commis- 
 sion to revise the Swedish Bible. In order to 
 promote the success of this work, he advanced 
 50,000 daler,* in copper, belonging to his children. 
 His efforts were, however, fruitless on account of 
 the opposition of the envious clergy, and he lost 
 the money, which caused his family much griev- 
 ance. 
 
 Jesper Svedberg occupied a professor's chair 
 in Upsala for ten years, and was afterward ap- 
 pointed Bishop. As such he interested himself 
 much in the welfare of the Swedish colony in 
 Delaware, in America, whither one of his sons 
 emigrated. 
 
 * One daler is equal to ten cents. Money was, at that time, of 
 much higher value than now. 
 
28 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 The Bishop, who was noted for his frankness 
 and courage in expressing his opinion, had many 
 enemies, but he was always upheld by the great 
 King of Sweden, Karl XI, and later by his son, 
 Karl XII. 
 
 It was on the ground of his father's favor with 
 the two kings that Emanuel based his hopes of 
 obtaining some good position, and of winning the 
 attention of Karl XII. 
 
 Emanuel had, in 1709, taken his philosophical 
 degree at Upsala University, after which he spent 
 a few years abroad to finish his education, a finish, 
 at that time, considered necessary to every man 
 of distinction. 
 
 Emanuel arrived at London in the middle of 
 the reign of Queen Anne. Handel, just come from 
 Italy, was composing his "Messiah," Pope was 
 issuing his "Essay on Criticism," and Addison 
 and Steele were publishing the "Tattler" and the 
 "Spectator." A time pregnant with such great 
 thoughts could not but inspire Svedberg. In 
 1711, he wrote home to his brother-in-law, the 
 learned Benzelstjerna, " I am seized with an im- 
 moderate desire to know mathematics," and he 
 mastered the practical trades of watch-making, 
 cabinet-making and mathematical instrument- 
 
8WEDENBOR&S LIFE. 29 
 
 making. Astronomy attracted his attention next, 
 after he had met De La Hire, the Dutch astrono- 
 mer. Svedberg spent some time in Paris, and 
 returned to Sweden via Germany, in 1715. 
 
 The same year Karl XII returned penniless, 
 and without one follower from his adventurous 
 war with Russia. The proud king, who never 
 would admit a failure, and who knew that he was 
 opposed by a strong party and the whole Diet in 
 Stockholm, remained in southern Sweden, mainly 
 in Lund, from which city he directed all his 
 further operations. There he surrounded himself 
 with such men as the cunning Gorz, who aided 
 him in raising money by taking up loans and 
 issuing copper money. As this temporary means 
 was abused, contrary to Gorz's order, it proved to 
 be an utter failure; but it enabled the king to 
 procure new armies, and he rewarded Gorz, by 
 making him Prime Minister. 
 
 The king's headquarters were in a plain wooden 
 house, near the cathedral. It would have been 
 impossible to guess from the simple, bare room, 
 with its long table and wooden chairs, that this 
 was the place where a king made his home, even 
 temporarily, or that this tajl young man, dressed 
 in a simple, tight-fitting, blue military coat with 
 
30 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 brass buttons, and high boots, was the king who 
 once made Europe tremble. 
 
 He was looking attentively at some papers, 
 leaning his head on his hand. His large head 
 was covered with brown hair. He had a full 
 forehead, kind blue eyes; a large nose, broad at 
 the base, and thick, beardless lips. An officer 
 entered, announcing the arrival of two gentlemen, 
 Assessor Polheim and Mr. Svedberg. 
 
 " Let them come in," said the king, who im- 
 mediately rose to meet them. "I rejoice to meet 
 you, my dear friend," he said to Polheim. "So, 
 this is Svedberg, son of my father's friend, the 
 Bishop. I hope that you will be as faithful to 
 me, as your father has been. Your name is 
 Emanuel, that means i God with us.' Sit down, 
 gentlemen. What can I do for you? " 
 
 "With your majesty's permission, I will first 
 speak about my young friend, in whom I take a 
 great interest, and whom I love like my own son," 
 said Polheim. 
 
 "Good! I am glad to know you, I need such 
 men as you two." 
 
 " I hope to be able to serve your majesty and 
 my country, with what knowledge I have gained." 
 
 " I hear you have already distinguished your- 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 31 
 
 self abroad, by being prominent among Swedes 
 for your learning. Your paper on the longitude 
 of Upsala is very remarkable. " Emanuel blushed 
 with pleasure at the king's praise. 
 
 "In the interest of the sciences," he said, "I 
 have published a pamphlet since I came home 
 from abroad, which I have taken the liberty of 
 dedicating to your majesty, who I know is a 
 patron of science, and I have named it ' Daedalus.' " 
 " If you have brought a copy, leave it with me. 
 It will give me much pleasure to look it over. 
 And you. Polheim," said the king, turning to him, 
 " you must remain with me for a while, at least. I 
 need your assistance for some improvement plans 
 I have been thinking of. Perhaps we can find 
 something for your friend to do also." 
 
 " I am your majesty's most faithful servant,' 7 
 said Polheim. 
 
 " Call again next week, and we will begin our 
 work," said the king. ''Ah! Svedberg, I want to 
 show you a system of counting that I have in- 
 vented. You are a mathematician, and I know 
 you will see through it at a glance. Take it home, 
 and tell me what you think of it. What kind of 
 a position would you prefer, a college professor's 
 or what?" 
 
32 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 "Your majesty is very gracious," said EmanueL 
 " If I may have any choice in the matter, I would 
 prefer to occupy some place where my knowledge 
 of mathematics could be used to the best ad- 
 vantage." 
 
 " How would you like the assessorship over the 
 College of Mines in Stockholm? It has not been 
 filled for many years," said the king. 
 
 "I thank your majesty most humbly. Such a 
 position would be very agreeable to me." 
 
 " I will see that you have it." 
 
 The audience was over. 
 
 A few days later, after the king had assured 
 himself about the credentials of Svedberg, he sent 
 the following decree to the College of Mines in 
 Stockholm: 
 
 "Karl by the grace of God, King of Sweden, Gotha 
 and Wendia. 
 
 '* Our especial favor and gracious pleasure, under God 
 Almighty, to the true men and servants, to our Council 
 and President, as well as Vice-President, and to all the 
 members of the College of Mines. 
 
 "Inasmuch as we have graciously designed to com- 
 mand, that Emanuel Svedberg shall be Assessor Extra- 
 ordinary in the College of Mines, although he, at the same 
 time, is to attend Polheim, the Councellor of Commerce, 
 and to be of assistance to him in his engineering work, and 
 in carrying out his designs therefore, it is our pleasure 
 hereby, to let you know this with our gracious com- 
 mand, and that you allow him a seat and voice in the 
 
8WEDENBOR&8 LIFE. 33 
 
 college, whenever he be present, and especially, when 
 any business be brought forward, pertaining to me- 
 chanics. 
 
 " We hereby command you, especially arid graciously, 
 to God, the Almighty. CAROLUS.* 
 
 " LUND, Dec. 18, 1716." 
 
 The king and Polheim made plans for the 
 building of salt works in Sweden, and they were 
 both highly interested in the scheme. 
 
 " It is an excellent idea," said the king. " Such 
 works might bring more to the country than the 
 iron mines." 
 
 " I believe so, too, your majesty," said Pol- 
 heim, enthusiastically. " I have received some 
 important news from Svedberg. He writes that 
 in 1516, shortly before the reign of Gustavus 
 Wasa, your majesty's celebrated ancestor, the 
 learned Bishop Brask proposed the building of 
 a canal across Sweden from the west coast to 
 Stockholm. His plans of the canal have been 
 found among old letters by Benzelstjerna, Sved- 
 berg's brother-in-law, and Svedberg has sent them 
 to me, to subject them to your majesty's wisdom 
 and judgment." 
 
 "Ah," said the king, grasping the paper, 
 
 * Historical. The inferior composition was due to the style of 
 the time, and to the short period of instruction the king had en- 
 joyed. 
 
34 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Brask was a genius and you, Polheim, are 
 another. You shall carry out his ideas." 
 
 " But, your majesty, where will the money come 
 from?" 
 
 "Money! money!" he said. "How can I 
 create money! Let me have the plans by the way, 
 why have I not received the ' Daedalus ' lately?" 
 
 "Lack of money," said Polheim, shrugging his 
 shoulders. 
 
 " Eternally the same story. But I will see 
 that he has some. Leave the plans of the canal 
 with me." 
 
 King Karl kept his promise, and furnished 
 money for the building of the canal, which was 
 entrusted to Polheim and Svedberg. 
 
 The Gotha river is the outlet of the large lake 
 Venern, and is navigable to its outlet in Skage- 
 rack, except at Trollhattan, where the river makes 
 a tumble, though not at once, of thirty-eight 
 meters at the Trollhatte Falls. The first of these 
 falls is the Golden Isle Fall, enclosing an inac- 
 cessible little island, also called the Golden Isle. 
 The Top Island Fall is the largest and deepest, 
 enclosing Top Island. The three Hell Falls are 
 the last. 
 
 Polheim had signed a contract, pledging him- 
 
SWEDENBORG'' LIFE. 35 
 
 self to build in five years, a canal and locks lead- 
 ing past these falls. His plan was to build the 
 canal in the midst of the river. When the first 
 locks were completed, they were to be tested, and 
 the occasion celebrated by the presence of King 
 Karl. 
 
 Svedberg stood watching the sun as it sank 
 below the wood-clad shores of the mighty river. 
 
 " This is truly one of the most beautiful scenes 
 of all I have seen in Northern Europe," he said. 
 The water-mark on the high rocks on both sides, 
 showed how much higher the river had been ages 
 ago. As far as his eye could reach, he could see 
 the winding river. Below him rushed the falls 
 madly and with unceasing noise. 
 
 But Svedberg was not in a mood to enjoy beau- 
 tiful scenery this evening. He threw himself 
 down on the grass, and took a letter from his 
 pocket, which he read several times. 
 
 " So Manderstrom, chamberlain of the king, is 
 the lucky one. A title! Oh, yes! Am I not As- 
 sessor of the College of Mines? What is a cham- 
 berlain of the king? She prefers an empty title 
 to knowledge and capacity! Ah/' he said, crumb- 
 ling the letter in his hand, "I understand! I am 
 not of the nobility! I might be some day! How 
 
W THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 humiliating! She does not even write to inform 
 me her promised husband! I happen to learn of 
 it through others. It is true she never loved me. 
 Did I really love her? But to be thus jilted! Ah, 
 my calculating Miss Maj a, Twill have my revenge 
 yet!" 
 
 Two young peasants came to view the locks. 
 They did not see Svedberg. 
 
 " This is wonderful," said one. " See how deep 
 they have cut down here." 
 
 " What is this for?" 
 
 " The king is coming to-morrow, and then Mr. 
 Polheim will strike the rock with a wand as 
 Moses did, and then the water will spout from 
 the rock, and fill this lock way up to the 
 border." 
 
 " But what is it all for?" 
 
 " To let the ships in, and people say that that 
 Svedberg is just such a magician. You should 
 see him! He makes a hole in the rock, and he 
 puts in some stuff that looks like earth, and to 
 that he puts fire, and every man has to run away, 
 and then you should see the stones, how they are 
 flung up, as if a giant had spit them out." 
 
 " Oh, you lie," said the other. 
 
 " No, it is true. He could fling us so high in 
 
SWEDENBOR&S LIFE. 37 
 
 the air, if he wanted to, that we should never 
 come down again." 
 
 Svedberg approached to speak to the men, but 
 he had hardly showed himself, before the one who 
 had doubted the word of the other, said: 
 
 u That is he," and they both fled as fast as 
 their feet could carry them. 
 
 " Everybody seems to shun me," he said bit- 
 terly. " How much there is still to be done for 
 these ignorant people !" Under any other circum- 
 stance he would have laughed. 
 
 When he returned to his rooms, Mr. Polheim 
 informed Svedberg, that Mr. Manderstrom had 
 asked for Maja's hand, and that Maja had in- 
 dorsed his suit, providing Emanuel would release 
 her from her promise. It angered the father very 
 much that Maja should not keep her agreement to 
 marry Emanuel. 
 
 "I am sorry, but Maja is very independent 
 as you know." 
 
 u I am sorry, too," said Emanuel, quietly. 
 " But you have another daughter." 
 
 " Mrensa," exclaimed the father. " But she is 
 too young! How old is the child? Sixteen. She 
 is the baby you see, and I can hardly realize her 
 real age. Do you like her?" 
 
38 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " I have always liked her, and would be very 
 grateful, if you would promise her to me, pfo- 
 vided she cares for me," said Emanuel. 
 
 " Very well, then; I will write and ask her. I 
 hope this will not be a disappointment, too." 
 
 The two men shook hands to seal the fate of 
 another woman. 
 
 The next day the people in the vicinity were in 
 an unusual commotion, on account of the arrival 
 of their beloved king. They liked to see one, 
 they were taught to look upon almost as a god, 
 appear like a common mortal. 
 
 They had set aside their common drudgery, and 
 come out with their babies and their lunch - 
 baskets. 
 
 " The king! King Karl!" was the cry, when he 
 at last appeared on horse-back, all covered with 
 dust. 
 
 He dismounted, and followed by Polheirn, 
 Svedberg and others, he walked toward the bank 
 of the canal. 
 
 At this moment a cannon was fired, the lock 
 was opened slowly, and a sailing vessel, which 
 had been placed in the water, sunk as the water 
 fell, to the great astonishment of the people. A 
 tremendous hurrah followed. 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 39 
 
 "King Karl! PolheimI Svedberg!" they cried. 
 The crowd would have carried them on its shoul- 
 ders, but the king motioned for silence. He made 
 a short speech about the significance of this en- 
 terprise for the country, and praised the bold 
 genius of Polheim, whom he wished health and 
 strength to continue his work. 
 
 The king and his party soon retired to the 
 mansion where he w r as staying, and where a big 
 dinner was served on their return. The king ate 
 little or nothing, and seemed absent-minded. 
 After dinner he took Svedberg's arm, and they 
 walked out in the garden together. The king 
 spoke about his campaign to Norway, and wished 
 Svedberg to join him. 
 
 " But Assessor Polheim can not spare me very 
 well," said Svedberg. " Every day and hour is 
 of importance, if he is to finish the work within 
 the appointed time." 
 
 u I have been told that you refuse to pay your 
 men their wages. Is that true, Svedberg?" 
 
 " I have only withheld their wages for a time 
 to keep up the discipline. The long wars make 
 good men scarce, and those that are left, we must 
 manage as best we can," said Svedberg. 
 
 " There have also been complaints made of in- 
 justice on your part." 
 
40 . THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Have I not served your majesty faithfully all 
 these years ? Will your majesty listen to slan- 
 der?" said Svedberg, in an injured tone. 
 
 " A monarch never knows where his true serv- 
 ants are,' 7 said the king. "The air is full of in- 
 trigues to wrest the sceptre from our hand." 
 
 It was not long after this conversation that 
 Karl's life was cut short by a bullet, that, during 
 a siege of a fort in Norway, penetrated his temple. 
 
 With Karl XII, fell the despotism introduced 
 into Sweden by Karl XI. Through the abuse of 
 his power, Karl XII brought the country to the 
 verge of ruin. It took Sweden a century to 
 recover from the effects thereof. 
 
 Polheim's canal-building was discontinued 
 after the king's death, through lack of means, and 
 the entire canal was not finished until 1836. 
 
 Polheim's lock is still in existence, but not in 
 use, as the canal was made wider, and built in a 
 different direction from what he had intended. 
 An arm of the Gotha river rushes to-day through 
 Polheim's lock, and has turned it into a deep 
 cataract. 
 
 Little did Polheim dream that the cherished 
 work of his life should thus come to naught. 
 
SWEDENBORGPS LIFE. 41 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE TWO STAGS. 
 
 IT was in 1721. Ulrika Eleonora had been 
 elected Queen of Sweden after the death of her 
 brother, Karl XII, on the condition that absolute 
 monarchy should be abolished. 
 
 This queen, who had a stubborn disposition, 
 without the ability that marked her brother, 
 reigned only two years, when she abdicated her 
 crown in favor of her husband, Fredrik I. 
 
 Ulrika Eleonora, in recognition of the high 
 merits of the Svedberg family, ennobled them, 
 when they took the name of Swedenborg. 
 
 Emanuel Swedenborg, as we will henceforth 
 call him, now devoted his whole time to his 
 duties as Assessor of the College of Mines, in 
 Stockholm, and he was never absent from his 
 office except during a few weeks in the summer, 
 when he was obliged to examine some mines for 
 the College. 
 
 Emanuel was now thirty-three years of age. 
 The Polheim family had, after Maja's marriage, 
 
42 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 moved to Stockholm, and Emanuel visited them 
 very frequently. 
 
 Emerentia was to be his bride before long, and 
 Emanuel, who loved for the first time in his life, 
 was happy only in her presence. 
 
 One evening, when the Polheim family were 
 assembled in the sitting-room, chatting in the 
 long twilight, the knocker on the outside door 
 was heard. Emerentia rushed to the window to 
 see who it was. 
 
 "Ah, it is that man again," she said, with a 
 little sigh. 
 
 " Mrensa, is that the way you speak about 
 your betrothed," said a voice through the dark 
 room . 
 
 "Brother, have you ever been in love? Tell 
 me, what is it like?" she said. 
 
 "Mrensa, you are incorrigible," he said. 
 
 At this moment Emanuel entered, greeting the 
 company cheerfully. 
 
 "Ah, you are still in the twilight," he said. 
 " Mrensa, I have something for you. But where 
 is she? I know she was in the room when I 
 came in." 
 
 He hunted all over the room, until a titter 
 revealed to him where she was concealed. He 
 
8WEDENBOR&8 LIFE. 43 
 
 took her in his arms, and covered her face with 
 kisses. 
 
 "You naughty baby," he said, tenderly, "come 
 and sit down here, and tell me what you have 
 been doing to-day. Did you read anything in the 
 book Heft for you?" 
 
 "What book? " she said. " Oh, that one with 
 the red cover and gilt edges? No, mother made 
 me sew on my trousseau. Oh, I hate to sew." 
 
 "You need not sew; I will hire all the sewing 
 done for you," he said. 
 
 " It is not that; but you see mother is such a 
 fine housekeeper, and she says she wants me to 
 know how everything should be done. But it is 
 so hard to sit still and be patient. I long for the 
 country, where I can ride horseback, and where 
 we can have dances often." 
 
 " But you can go to parties here. I have 
 brought an invitation for a ball next week." 
 
 "Oh," she said, dancing with delight, "I hope 
 mother will let me go! " 
 
 " I believe the invitation is for the whole fam- 
 ily, from Baron von Sachs." 
 
 " So it is! How lovely! But I do not think I 
 can go," she said suddenly, looking very serious. 
 " I am afraid mother will take away this 
 
44 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 pleasure from me. I am under punishment, you 
 know." 
 
 "What have you done?" asked Emanuel, 
 smiling. 
 
 " I was told to hem two yards on a sheet this 
 morning, and I was sitting up-stairs in my cosy 
 little room, and the sun shone in so pleasantly on 
 my flower-pots, I watered my flowers, and began 
 looking over my pretty things that you have given 
 me, and before I knew it my two hours were up, 
 and mother came to examine my work. She 
 scolded me well, I deserved it and she made 
 me sit down on the stairs, and told me that I 
 could not come down until I had sewed ten min- 
 utes on every step, and if I had finished my two 
 yards by the time I reached the last step, I should 
 be dismissed." 
 
 " Did you succeed?" asked Swedenborg, laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 " Yes," she said, with a comical expression; 
 " but it was so poorly done that I shall have to rip 
 it all up to-morrow." 
 
 u My poor little dove," he said, kissing her. 
 " Your mother will make an excellent -wife of you 
 one of these days. Tell me, Emerentia, when will 
 we be married? " 
 
SWEDENBOR&S LIFE. 45 
 
 " I don't want to marry you at all," she said, 
 impetuously. 
 
 Emanuel turned pale, but said gently: "That 
 is one of your usual cruel speeches, which I know 
 you do not mean." 
 
 " I have had a letter from Maja," she said. 
 " She says that she is as happy as the day is long. 
 I hope she will come and visit us soon. The 
 candles are lit now. Come, let us go where the 
 others are." 
 
 They entered the sitting-room, where Karl was 
 reading aloud to his mother, who was knitting 
 woolen stockings by the light of tallow candles, 
 placed here and there. The room was low- 
 studded; the fireplace, or the tile oven, reaching 
 from floor to ceiling, was made of blue and white 
 porcelain tiles, and in a small opening was built 
 a wood fire. 
 
 " Do not let us interrupt your reading," said 
 Emanuel; "we will listen, too." 
 
 " No," said Karl; " let us have a game of pref- 
 erence. It is a French game that is very fashion- 
 able now at the Queen's card parties." 
 
 " Yes, a game would be a pleasant diversion," 
 said Mrs. Polheim. "It is very good to know 
 that we have some court life again." 
 
46 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Yes," said Emanuel; "but the present court 
 is very dull in comparison with Queen Kristina's 
 brilliant court. The long wars since her time 
 have made everything so sad." 
 
 " Mother, Emanuel has an invitation for us to 
 Baron von Sachs'," said Emerentia, while she 
 helped her brother to arrange the card-table. 
 
 Emanuel handed the written invitation to Mrs. 
 Polheim. 
 
 " Thank you, I hope my husband will be able 
 to come. You are coming, I hope. Emanuel? " 
 she said. 
 
 " I shall be only too glad to escort you," he said, 
 looking at Emerentia, his partner in the game. 
 
 Karl, a bright youth of eighteen, did his best to 
 instruct them in this complicated game; but Mrs. 
 Polheim was thinking of what dresses should be 
 worn at the ball, and Emanuel was absorbed in 
 looking at and thinking of Emerentia, and Emer- 
 entia was dreaming of the pleasures of the ball. 
 
 At last Karl burst out laughing. 
 
 " What is the matter with you all? Your mis- 
 takes are too glaring, even for beginners," he 
 said. 
 
 " Bring us some refreshments, Emerentia," 
 said Mrs. Polheim. 
 
8WEDENBOR&S LIFE. 47 
 
 With a sigh of relief Emerentia went to the cup- 
 board, from which she took out some glasses, 
 which she placed on a silver tray. 
 
 " Brother Karl, help me to pull the cork from 
 this bottle," she said. 
 
 He ran to her assistance. While helping her to 
 mix a cooling drink, she whispered to him: " Do 
 you love me? " 
 
 " What a question! Why, sister, you are cry- 
 ing! What is the matter? Has anybody hurt 
 your feelings? " 
 
 "No. Hush! I want to see you alone to- 
 night," she said, wiping her face, and when she 
 brought the refreshment into the light about the 
 table, she showed her usual happy smile. 
 
 When Emanuel left the house that evening, he 
 whispered to Emerentia: "Good night, my wife 
 to be." 
 
 " Good night, Emanuel," she said, and while 
 she looked earnestly into his face, her eyes filled 
 with tears. 
 
 Emanuel hastened home, feeling unusually 
 elated. Those tears he interpreted as a sign of 
 love. 
 
 His first act on returning home was to open his 
 chiffonier and take out a paper, which he opened 
 
48 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 almost reverently. His beautiful, serene face 
 showed the tenderness of his love, as he pressed 
 the paper to his lips. It was the contract in 
 which Emerentia had promised to become his 
 wife. 
 
 " That sweet, pure child wife of mine, whom I 
 have loved so long! What happiness could sur- 
 pass that of calling her mine! " 
 
 He kissed the paper once more, and putting it 
 under his pillow, he knelt down and prayed 
 ardently, and as he did so, a beautiful child-like 
 expression came over his face. 
 
 " I thank Thee, Almighty Father, that Thou 
 dost care for each one of Thy children, arid that 
 Thou hast granted me such untold happiness. 
 Make me humble and deserving of Thy unceas- 
 ing love." 
 
 Thus he poured forth in prayer his overflowing 
 happiness. 
 
 The next morning Swedenborg was called to a 
 dying friend, and in his hurry he forgot to put 
 away his precious document. He was obliged to 
 stay away several days, and he wrote to Emer- 
 entia, informing her of the fact. 
 
 Emerentia, in a long interview with her brother, 
 told him that she had come to realize how impos- 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 49 
 
 sible it was for her to love Emanuel, as she ought 
 to love her husband. 
 
 " But you do not hate him? " he said. 
 
 "No; I love him as a father; he is so good. 
 But I am afraid of him; he is so much older than 
 I. Wouldn't you speak to father for me, and 
 tell him that I cannot marry him? J> 
 
 " No, Mrensa; I dare not. You know how dis- 
 appointed father was when Maja broke the 
 engagement with Mr. Swedenborg." 
 
 " I wish I were as brave as Maja was." 
 
 "But she had an offer of marriage, which 
 made it easier for her." 
 
 " Oh, Karl," she said, the tears running down 
 her face, " you don't know how unhappy that 
 marriage wou]d make me." 
 
 " Do you love anybody else?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then there is no excuse for such foolishness. 
 Mr. Swedenborg has a title, and ranks among the 
 high nobility at the diet, and he is a man of whom 
 Sweden is justly proud. Women are so strange! 
 Besides, he is good-looking, and loving and 
 kind." 
 
 " But I tell you I do not love him," she said, 
 stamping her foot. " I shall never marry him. I 
 
50 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 will say ' No ' at the altar. Karl, you must help 
 me.' 7 
 
 "Yes; I shall tell mother how foolish you 
 are." 
 
 " I shall speak to mother myself, when I feel 
 like it," she said, proudly. Then, suddenly 
 changing her tone, she said meekly: " Karl, if 
 you have any pity for your sister, do this one 
 thing for me. Go to Emanuel's room and bring 
 me the paper I signed, promising to marry him. 
 I know it is there. He told me he keeps it by 
 him always. Do that for me, and I will thank 
 you all my life." 
 
 " Would you call that honorable, particularly 
 with a man who loves you so? " 
 
 " It is the only thing that can make me happy 
 again." 
 
 Several days passed, and Karl could not make 
 up his mind to secure the paper. 
 
 One day, haunted by Emerentia's haggard look, 
 Karl went to Emanuel's room, where he was 
 admitted without any question. Emanuel was 
 yet absent, and Karl found the document where 
 it had been left the morning Swedenborg went 
 away. 
 
 Karl was rewarded by Emerentia's smiling 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 51 
 
 face, and she made him promise to keep the 
 matter a secret. 
 
 The evening of the same day, Swedenborg 
 returned home, and immediately looking for his 
 precious document, found that it had disappeared. 
 Upon inquiries, he learned that nobody but Karl 
 Polheim had been in the room during his 
 absence. 
 
 When Emanuel, the following day, visited the 
 Polheim family, he looked so wretched, that even 
 the cruel Emerentia took pity upon him, and con- 
 sented to take a walk with him, as he proposed, 
 under the escort of Karl, as Mrs. Polheim was 
 busy. Karl managed to keep at some distance, 
 by looking at shop windows and signs of all 
 kinds. 
 
 The conversation between Emerentia and her 
 betrothed was general at first. 
 
 " Emerentia," he said, slowly, and with effort, 
 " are you aware how much I love you? " 
 
 Emerentia made an impatient movement. 
 
 " Forgive me for asking one question; but do 
 you really love me?" he continued. 
 
 She turned her head away. " Why should we 
 speak about such matters in the street? " she 
 said. 
 
52 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " All you need to say is, ' Yes/ " he said, with 
 bitterness. 
 
 "What makes you ask me?" she said uneasily. 
 
 " I have lost the contract between us in a mys- 
 terious way," he said, hesitatingly. 
 
 "Well, I am here, am I not? What does a 
 contract amount to then? " 
 
 "Yes, but I cannot understand how it hap- 
 pened. My servant told me that none but your 
 brother had been in the room." 
 
 Emerentia dropped her handkerchief, and 
 Emanuel bent down and picked it up. 
 
 "You came to my room yesterday, Karl?" he 
 said. Karl now joined them. 
 
 " Yes, I came to see about a book I wanted to 
 exchange," he said, with a hesitating voice, which 
 Emanuel did not note at the time. Emerentia 
 began to chatter in her old pleasant way, and 
 soothed Emanuel by the power she always 
 exerted over him, and they returned from their 
 walk apparently in good spirits. 
 
 The loss of the document fretted Swedenborg so 
 much that Mr. Polheim asked him the cause, and 
 being told, laughingly said he would rewrite it. 
 When asked to sign the new contract, Emerentia 
 did not dare to oppose her father. 
 
SWEDENBORG'S LIFE. 53 
 
 She could not long conceal her unhappiness, 
 and Emanue] suffered tortures because of her 
 capricious manner, which he could not ex- 
 plain. 
 
 One day he told her that he had a good oppor- 
 tunity to buy a pretty house. " Would you like 
 to see it, Mrensa? " 
 
 She shook her head. 
 
 " Are you sick, Emerentia?" 
 
 She shook her head again. 
 
 " You act so strangely," he said. 
 
 " I am so unhappy," she cried out, bursting 
 into tears. 
 
 Einanuel, who was used to Emerentia's change- 
 ability, asked: "What can I do to make you 
 happy?" 
 
 "If you would go to the moon, and never come 
 back again." 
 
 "But, Emerentia, be sensible. I will not goto 
 the moon, or even out of this room, until I know 
 what makes you so wretched." 
 
 " You are so kind, Emanuel," she said, sob- 
 bing, " and that makes me still more wretched." 
 She threw herself on the sofa and buried her head 
 in the pillow. 
 
 " Tell me all about it, dear. Has your mother 
 
54 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 scolded you? If you marry me, I will never 
 scold you," he said, caressing her. 
 
 She was silent for awhile. Sitting upright she 
 said in a low tone, twisting her handkerchief: 
 " Do you really want to see me happy again? " 
 
 " Yes, you know that." 
 
 " Then give me back the contract between you 
 and me. I cannot marry you. I have tried so 
 hard to please you, and father and mother and 
 all, but I do not love you. That document that 
 you lost I made Karl take away from you, but I 
 had not the courage to tell you about it. I can- 
 not bear it any longer, and I beg of you to give 
 me back my freedom." 
 
 " Emerentia," stammered Emanuel, " and I 
 who love you so! Do you remember that first 
 morning we walked out together at Stjernsund, 
 how you promised me never to do anything to 
 hurt my feelings? " 
 
 u Yes, I remember it very well," said Emer- 
 entia, sadly, "but if you remember, I also said, 
 ' if I could help it,' and that I cannot. But you 
 do not take my feelings into consideration at all. 
 I am so unhappy. I have not a friend in the 
 world," she concluded, breaking down again. 
 
 Emanuel knelt down before her. 
 
X \\~EDENBORG* 8 LIFE. f>5 
 
 " Emerentia," he said gently, " I will go. I 
 cannot see you suffer I suffer so intensely my- 
 self." He kissed her and left the room. 
 
 Emerentia told her mother about her trouble. 
 " What shall I do? " she asked. 
 
 " My daughter, all you can do is to wait and 
 see if Emanuel is willing to give up the contract. 
 He has your and your father's promise." 
 
 The following day, when Emanuel came, Em- 
 erentia received him meekly and quietly. 
 
 " Emerentia," he said, " I have been selfish. I 
 ought to have considered that you and I belong 
 to two different generations. I knew it, and yet 
 I hoped that you would learn to love me. Now, 
 I relinquish all right to you." 
 
 " Forgive me and forget me," she said. 
 
 "Forgive you! I have nothing to forgive. 
 But forget you, never! No woman can ever win 
 my affection, I swear it. Give me one last kiss!" 
 
 He pressed her passionately to his heart. 
 
 " God be with you," he said, tearing himself 
 away from her. 
 
 Emerentia, although afraid of her father's dis- 
 approval, drew a sigh of relief when Emanuel left 
 the room. 
 
 As Swedenborg staggered home, dazed by the 
 
56 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 blow his love and pride had received, he remem- 
 bered the two stags of his dream the first night 
 at Stjernsund. 
 
 " Ah, I understand now, that it meant a warn- 
 ing," he murmured. 
 
HWEDENBORG'8 LIFE. 57 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 EMERENTIA AND EMANUEL ONCE MORE. 
 
 IT was the winter of 1760. 
 A young man of thirty and a young girl of 
 eighteen, both dressed in mourning, were walking 
 together up the hill of the south end of Stockholm, 
 often pausing to take in the view, as if seeing it 
 for the first time. 
 
 " What a beautiful city Stockholm is," said 
 Emerentia to her brother Emanuel, as they 
 stopped to look back. 
 
 " Yes, the new palace adds a great deal to its 
 beauty. The situation is very well chosen, on 
 the top of that island, where it looks over the 
 water in four directions." 
 
 " All these islands will some day be covered 
 with handsome buildings," continued the brother, 
 " but not in our time." 
 
 The hill over which they climbed, was reached 
 by the outskirts of the city. 
 
 " You must not tell father of this, Emerentia. 
 Mother made me promise, before she died, to take 
 you where we are going now." 
 
58 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Are we not going to see the family you spoke 
 of?" said Emereiitia, astonished. 
 
 "I am sorry I have deceived you; but I do not 
 think you will be disappointed." 
 
 " Where are we going? " 
 
 " I promised mother that I would take you to 
 see Assessor Swedenborg." 
 
 " That man who can talk with spirits?" said 
 Emerentia, frightened. 
 
 " Exactly," said Emanuel, smiling and looking 
 down upon his sister, who was a head shorter than 
 himself. 
 
 " You know the clergy call him a heretic. He 
 does not go to any church." 
 
 " No," said Emanuel; "because he says that 
 he can hear the spirits disputing what the 
 preacher says, and it disturbs him so that he 
 does not like to go to church." 
 
 "How queer! And they say that he can talk 
 to the Apostles, and anybody he wishes to call, 
 no matter whether they lived many hundred 
 years ago, and that he speaks as naturally to 
 them as you arid I speak to each other now. I 
 will be frightened. Oh, I don't want to go! " 
 
 " Do you not want to fulfill mother's wish?" 
 
 "Yes, I will go with you; but really I am 
 afraid." 
 
8WEDENBORG J 8 LIFE. 59 
 
 % ' This is Horn Street. He lives at No. 44 on 
 this street/' said Emanuel, as they turned to the 
 right. 
 
 They passed a number of small stone and 
 wooden houses and a large church with a ceme- 
 tery, surrounded by a high stone wall. 
 
 On one acre of garden stood a one-story gambrel- 
 roof house, facing the garden, round which was a 
 high fence, separating the garden from the street. 
 The Baron and his sister entered the gate and 
 walked up the path that led to the house. The 
 ground was covered with soft snow, which had 
 fallen during the night. A red-painted stable 
 and a yellow greenhouse stood at the eastern end 
 of the inclosure. The paths were bordered with 
 low hedges. 
 
 In the middle of the garden were two crossings 
 at right angles. 
 
 At one of those was a rustic summer-house 
 with doors opening in four directions. Opposite 
 this, stood another summer-house, next to the 
 fence. A third summer-house led to Sweden- 
 borg's library. 
 
 " I have been told," whispered Emanuel, as 
 they passed the summer-house in the middle of 
 the garden, " that it is mostly in this place that 
 
60 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 Swedenborg receives his messages from the spirit 
 world." 
 
 Emanuel noted carefully all the details of the 
 place. He lifted the knocker of the house, and 
 the door was opened by a pale little old woman, 
 neatly dressed in a long-waisted black sacque, a 
 white apron and a cap tied under her chin. 
 
 " Baron Ruckerskold and sister wish to see 
 Assessor Swedenborg," said Emanuel. 
 
 " Be so kind as to come in," she said, courte- 
 sying. " The Assessor expects you. He told me 
 to have lunch ready for you." 
 
 The sister and brother exchanged an astonished 
 look, as they had never seen the Assessor, nor 
 written to him of their visit. 
 
 "Will you come in this way," said the little 
 woman. " This is our part of the house. Let 
 me take your wrap, lady. You see, my husband 
 is the Assessor's gardener, and I am the house- 
 keeper," chatted the little woman, evidently glad 
 to have some one to talk to. " He does not give 
 me much trouble; poor Assessor is growing old 
 now. He eats so little it worries me. He makes 
 many a dinner on nothing but bread and milk." 
 
 The Baron and his sister were now ushered into 
 Mr. Swedenborg's rooms. They entered a large, 
 
8WEDENBORGPS LIFE. 61 
 
 low, square-cornered room with four south and 
 west windows. It had white painted furniture 
 and a mirror in a gilt frame. The sofa and 
 chairs were covered with red and white homespun 
 striped linen goods. A few simple rugs were 
 placed on the clean pine floor. 
 
 The house-keeper knocked on the next door, 
 which was closed, but received no answer. 
 
 " He must be having a vision again, or he 
 would have heard you coming," she said. 
 
 She opened the door, and Emerentia almost 
 stumbled into the room, as she was not prepared 
 to step over the high old-fashioned threshold. 
 Swedenborg was sitting by a table facing them 
 as they entered. He had an animated expres- 
 sion, as if speaking to some dear friend. His 
 visitors were awed by the spiritual, luminous look 
 in his large soft brown eyes. His soul seemed to 
 be utterly oblivious to his surroundings, and now 
 and then a smile rippled over his expressive 
 mouth. He was startled by the entrance of his 
 visitors, but he soon recovered himself. 
 
 " I am very glad to see you, Baron Emanuel," 
 he said, heartily. " Emanuel is my name, too. 
 And you are Emerentia a living image of 
 her only a little shorter. Your mother is here." 
 
62 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 He turned to a third but invisible party. " She 
 has often been here since she died. I can speak 
 to her whenever I wish now,' 7 he said joyfully. 
 Emerentia looked at her brother. 
 
 " If our mother is here, may we be allowed to 
 send her our love?" asked Emanuel. 
 
 " Certainly," said Swedenborg. " She is present 
 with us now." 
 
 The brother and sister felt a sensation of awe. 
 
 " It was long before I saw her. You know, I 
 have known and loved her since she was twelve 
 years old. And this gift from the Lord of reveal- 
 ing the truth to the world, did not come to me 
 until I was fifty-four years old. I am seventy- 
 two now," he added, with a sigh. His thoughts 
 seemed to wander. " I shall not be permitted to 
 go until twelve years from now, I have so much 
 to tell the world yet." 
 
 He was silent a moment. " Matches are made 
 in heaven," he continued. "The conjugial love 
 is the most noble love of all, when it is pure, and 
 exists between two people of the same affinity. 
 But that you seldom find in this world, and I 
 warn you, think twice, before you marry. If you 
 do not marry your conjugial partner, you will 
 find bitter sorrow instead of happiness. Sorrow 
 
8WEDENBOR&8 LIFE. 63 
 
 is a fire it purifies. ' All works together for the 
 good of those who love the Lord.' Your mother 
 was let me see, how old, when she died?" 
 
 " She was fifty-seven," said the young girl. 
 
 u And she had nine children. She named you 
 Emerentia," he said. 
 
 " Father named me so," she corrected, timidly. 
 
 " You are named after me, Baron. Your 
 mother tells me so," said Swedenborg, ignoring 
 Emerentia's remark. " She says, that she loved 
 me, but did not know it, until she married your 
 father. She says that his harsh nature made her 
 realize what a foolish thing she did, when she 
 chose another instead of me. Forgive me for 
 speaking so freely." 
 
 " Will you ask my mother, from me, if she is 
 allowed to be with us whenever she likes," said 
 Emanuel. 
 
 "Yes, she says, she comes every evening, about 
 seven o'clock, when you all are assembled." 
 
 u Does she live in any special place?" asked 
 Emerentia. 
 
 " Yes, she lives on a place corresponding to 
 your home outside of Stockholm. Every large 
 city in the world has a corresponding spiritual 
 city. She stays with her departed children, 
 whom she educates." 
 
<>4 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Does mother take any interest in our lives 
 now?" asked Emerentia. 
 
 " Oh, yes; she sees and knows all your actions 
 and motives, and it is a part of her work to aid 
 you in all your plans, that the Lord approves. 
 She asks me to tell Emerentia to reject the offer 
 of the young man she met at church. He has 
 written to your father for your hand. He is very 
 handsome and fascinating, but he is not true and 
 sincere. A better match is in store for you, when 
 you are twenty-four." 
 
 Emerentia blushed. These facts were known 
 only to herself, and she felt convinced, that this 
 man was endowed with a power beyond her un- 
 derstanding. 
 
 She glanced round the room with a frightened 
 and curious look. In one corner was a single bed 
 with bed-curtains, white as snow. The wooden 
 chairs were old and worn, and the only comfort- 
 able chair was the one Swedenborg occupied, 
 which was covered with leather. The windows 
 were filled with rare flowers in flower-pots. The 
 fire burned low in the tile oven. 
 
 The Assessor followed Emerentia's eyes, in fact 
 he watched her closely every minute. 
 
 " I keep a fire in the stove night and day," he 
 
8WEDENBOR&S LIFE. 65 
 
 said, " so that I can make myself a cup of coffee, 
 whenever I want it, without disturbing my house- 
 keeper. Sometimes I stay up all night, especially 
 when I have interesting spirits to converse with." 
 
 " Did you never marry, Assessor?" asked 
 Emanuel. 
 
 " No, I was always faithful to her," said Swed- 
 enborg, with a tender accent on the word "her." 
 " I have some bulbs here," he said, rising. "They 
 are some very rare hyacinths, that a friend sent 
 me from Holland. Would you like one, Emer- 
 entia?" 
 
 She took the pot, thanking him. 
 
 " Ah, there is Mrs. Peterson with our lunch 
 now," he said, as the house-keeper entered with a 
 tray. She spread the table and in a few minutes 
 fresh biscuits and butter, strong old cheese, cold 
 meats and omelettes, some delicious coffee and 
 cream, and hot cakes were served. 
 
 Swedenborg placed an extra chair opposite his 
 own place at the table. 
 
 u That is for your mother," he said, smiling 
 kindly. 
 
 Emerentia turned pale. She looked at her 
 brother, who evidently seemed to enjoy this new 
 experience. 
 
66 THE ROMANCE OF 
 
 " Assessor," he said, as they were seated at the 
 table, " would you not do us the honor to come 
 and visit us? I know my father would be so de- 
 lighted to meet you. He is fond of a game of 
 cards." 
 
 "Thank you," said Swedenborg. "I like a 
 game now and then; but I am too old now to go 
 so far." 
 
 " Yes, do come," said Emerentia. " Come and 
 stay a whole week, or longer." 
 
 He looked at her, smiling, 
 
 " I think I would like to see the children and 
 the home where your mother spent her life, so you 
 may tell your father that I shall be pleased to 
 accept your hospitality." 
 
 " We will take such good care of you," said 
 Emerentia, heartily. 
 
 As she said these words, a feeling of serene 
 happiness was reflected on his face, and when 
 the brother and sister rose to go, Swedenborg said, 
 with a moved voice: 
 
 " The Lord has been gracious to me, that my 
 eyes have seen you, my son Emanuel, and you, 
 myjiaughter Emerentia." 
 
 He laid his hands on their bended heads, pro- 
 nouncing a silent prayer and blessing over the 
 
SWEDENBOR&S LIFE. 67 
 
 young people. When they had departed, he sank 
 into his worn leather-covered chair. 
 
 " Oh Lord, why dost Thou send pain and suffer- 
 ing and partings? Is it in order to grant us so 
 much greater joy in the next world?" 
 
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