The Scandinavians Arrive
Now sing some more of Morganville
And sing about the Swedes,
Who came in pairs and crowds and ones
Until the other day.
Sing of their neat white houses
Still peaked for Sweden's snow;
Their lutfisk suppers and their church
Proportioned with an artist's sureness,
Put up with craftsmen's hands.
Sing of their coffee and their bread;
Sing of their children's honesty;
Sing of their pale gold hair.
Name all the names like Johnson,
The Berggrens and Brodens,
The Nelsons, Larsons, Carlsons and the Alm,
The Wibergs, Linquists, Alquists, Solts,
Halversons, Wicklunds, Nybergs, Holtes,
Petersons, Olsons, Carpenters, Stroms,
Dahlgren, Swenson, Rundle, Crome.
Sing for yourselves in Swedish!
Comment
Many Swedes settled in and around Morganville after the initial settlers and, like the others, brought with
them things they had been familiar with such as steep peaked homes that allow Sweden's heavy snows to fall
away from the roof and foods such as the dried fish lutfisk.
A number of Swedish stereotypes are also mentioned such as the blond hair and their love of coffee.
In an effort to garner support, Carson may have done her best to include as many family names from the area as she
could fit in.
The Swedish church choir may have performed here.