p. 345 | THE LAPLAND BIBLE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 22.

THE LAPLAND BIBLE.

THE Lapps have the Bible in their own tongue, and few stories are more interesting than the account of its translation. Over thirty years ago a series of religious riots took place in a number of villages in Lapland, and among the rioters was one Lars Haetta.

"During the riots several homicides occurred, and Lars and some others of his companions were committed to prison on a charge of murder," relates the New York Home Journal. "They were found guilty and several were hanged, but in consideration of his youth, Haetta was condemned to lifelong imprisonment. Commiserating his condition, his keepers and the prison chaplain extended to him such favors as could safely be granted to a lifelong prisoner, and finding them rewarded by good conduct, took especial pains to teach him to read and write.

"Lars became interested in the Bible, grew day by day more fond of reading it, and finally formed the bold project of translating it into his native tongue. Through many weary years the labor went on, for Lars was no great scholar, and the Lapp language, as may readily be supposed, is not a fluent literary medium of thought.

"But finally the work was done, the Bible translated and printed in the language of Lapland, and the remainder of Haetta's sentence was commuted. He was living as late as 1870, and, though an old man, was still active and often served parties of travelers as guide."—Selected.