THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Scene: The living-room of Lofdala, a Swedish manor house. It is the afternoon before Christmas and the room has an atmosphere of comfort and warmth; outside it is snowing. To the left is a large Swedish fireplace, with its hanging black chimney-hood, crane and shining kettles. A high wooden bench, a table and armchair are drawn close to the fire. A heavy, iron-hinged door opens outdoors at the center back. On either side are windows. At the left a door leads into the kitchen, and at the right a flight of stairs leads to the bedrooms. By the stairs stands a Christmas tree as yet unlighted. There is a music cabinet against the back wall, left; and an oblong table at the right; a carved wooden chest stands beside the fireplace.
Time: about 1890.
Olga is discovered arranging candles on the tree. She is slender and moderately tall, with large eyes and rich dark hair braided about her head. She wears Swedish holiday dress.
(Enter Oswald and Sigurd, running downstairs with their hands full of cotton. They are six and four years old, Oswald being a little the taller. They are bright-faced, tow-headed little boys, and are dressed in their embroidered holiday suits. Oswald stops halfway down, and leaning over the banisters drops bits of cotton on the tree.)
Oswald. See, Mother, it’s snowing.
Sigurd. Look, Mother—it’s snowing. (Turns at the foot of the stairs and runs back to Oswald.)
Oswald. Don’t make such big flakes, Sigurd.
Sigurd. But I’m making it snow hard.
Oswald. Oh, look, that fell on a candle.