Clara and asked for ground to build upon. For them there
was no choice but to settle on the north shore, at Norrmalm, as it is
called. You may be sure that they were not over pleased with this
location, for across Norrmalm ran a high ridge, and on that the city had
its gallows hill, so that it was a detested spot. Nevertheless the Poor
Clares erected their church and their convent on the strand below the
ridge. After they were established there they soon found plenty of
followers. Upon the ridge itself were built a hospital and a church,
consecrated to Saint Goran, and just below the ridge a church was
erected to Saint Jacob.

"And even at Soedermalm, where the mountain rises perpendicularly from
the strand, they began to build. There they raised a church to Saint
Mary.

"But you must not think that only cloister folk moved to Stockholm!
There were also many others--principally German tradesmen and artisans.
These were more skilled than the Swedes, and were well received. They
settled within the walls of the city where they pulled down the wretched
little cabins that stood there and built high, magnificent stone houses.
But space was not plentiful within the walls, therefore they had to
build the houses close together, with gables facing the narrow by-lanes.
So you see, Clement, that Stockholm could attract people!"

At this point in the narrative another gentleman appeared and walked
rapidly down the path toward the man who was talking to Clement, but he
waved his hand, and the other remained at a distance. The dignified old
gentleman still sat on the bench beside the fiddler.

"Now, Clement, you must render me a service," he said. "I have no time
to talk more with you, but I will send you a book about Stockholm and
you must read it from cover to cover. I have, so to speak, laid the
foundations of Stockholm for you. Study the rest out for yourself and
learn how the city has thrived and changed. Read how the little, narrow,
wall-enclosed city on the islands has spread into this great sea of
houses below us. Read how, on the spot where the dark tower Kaernan once
stood, the beautiful, light castle below us was erected and how the Gray
Friars' church has been turned into the burial place of the Swedish
kings; read how islet after islet was built up with factories; how the
ridge was lowered and the sound filled in; how the truck gardens at the
south and north ends of the city have been converted into beautiful
parks o