in Smaland," said she. "You forget entirely how much good soil
there is there. Only think of Moere district, by Kalmar Sound! I wonder
where you'll find a richer grain region. There are fields upon fields,
just like here in Skane. The soil is so good that I cannot imagine
anything that couldn't grow there."

"I can't help that," said little Mats. "I'm only relating what others
have said before."

"And I have heard many say that there is not a more beautiful coast land
than Tjust. Think of the bays and islets, and the manors, and the
groves!" said Osa. "Yes, that's true enough," little Mats admitted. "And
don't you remember," continued Osa, "the school teacher said that such
a lively and picturesque district as that bit of Smaland which lies
south of Lake Vettern is not to be found in all Sweden? Think of the
beautiful sea and the yellow coast-mountains, and of Grenna and
Joenkoeping, with its match factory, and think of Huskvarna, and all the
big establishments there!" "Yes, that's true enough," said little Mats
once again. "And think of Visingsoe, little Mats, with the ruins and the
oak forests and the legends! Think of the valley through which Eman
flows, with all the villages and flour-mills and sawmills, and the
carpenter shops!" "Yes, that is true enough," said little Mats, and
looked troubled.

All of a sudden he had looked up. "Now we are pretty stupid," said he.
"All this, of course, lies in our Lord's Smaland, in that part of the
land which was already finished when Saint Peter undertook the job. It's
only natural that it should be pretty and fine there. But in Saint
Peter's Smaland it looks as it says in the legend. And it wasn't
surprising that our Lord was distressed when he saw it," continued
little Mats, as he took up the thread of his story again. "Saint Peter
didn't lose his courage, at all events, but tried to comfort our Lord.
'Don't be so grieved over this!' said he. 'Only wait until I have
created people who can till the swamps and break up fields from the
stone hills.'

"That was the end of our Lord's patience--and he said: 'No! you can go
down to Skane and make the Skaninge, but the Smalander I will create
myself.' And so our Lord created the Smalander, and made him
quick-witted and contented and happy and thrifty and enterprising and
capable, that he might be able to get his livelihood in his poor
country."

Then little Mats was silent; and if Nils Holgersson had also kept still,
all would