CHARACTERS
MATS
KERSTI
The MOTHER of KERSTI
The SOLDIER, her father
The VERGER, her grandfather
BRITA, the grown-up sister of MATS
The GRANDFATHER }
The GRANDMOTHER }
The FATHER } of MATS
The MOTHER }
ANNA }
LIT-KAREN } younger sisters of MATS
LIT-MATS, the small brother of MATS
The SHERIFF
The PASTOR
The FISHERMAN
The MIDWIFE
The NECK
The CHILD IN WHITE
The MEWLER (Mylingen), an apparition
The MOCKER (Skratten), a voice
The HEADSMAN
MATS'S RELATIVES, called the MILL-FOLK
KERSTI'S RELATIVES, called the MEWLINGS (Mylingarne)
FOUR BRIDESMAIDS
SIX SERVANT-GIRLS
TWO FIDDLERS
TWO SOLDIERS
SCENARIO
SCENE I. THE HILL PASTURE
SCENE II. THE FAMILY COUNCIL AT THE MILL
SCENE III. THE SOLDIER'S HOUSE ON THE EVE OF THE WEDDING
SCENE IV. THE WEDDING AT THE MILL
SCENE V. AT THE CHURCH: THE PENANCE OF KERSTI
SCENE VI. ON THE ICE OF THE LAKE
FIRST SCENE
A hill pasture in Dalecarlia. A hut of rough-hewn boards, painted red, Stands at the left. Beside it grow two birches with trunks that are white clear down to the ground.
On the right-hand side appears a sloping hillside covered with spruces. The hillside is cut by a large brook forming a waterfall. At the foot of it is a tarn covered by water-lilies. The background shows a big lake bordered by blue hills. A church is visible across the lake.
A grindstone set in a wooden frame stands in the foreground by the corner of the hut.
It is Sunday evening, about sunset time.
KERSTI'S MOTHER sits on a wooden block outside the hut, smoking her pipe.
KERSTI enters with an alpenhorn in her hand. She stops in front of her MOTHER.
MOTHER. Where have you been all this time, daughter?
KERSTI. In the woods, mother.
MOTHER. Picking strawberries, I suppose. Your lips are so red.