OLGA. A what, dear?
OSWALD. (_Looking up from the floor_) A little Christ-Child we’re going
to make.
SIGURD. A little bit of a baby Christ-Child.
OLGA. (_Kissing his forehead_) That will be a lovely Christmas task.
OSWALD. (_Getting up and pulling at_ LILJEKRONA, _who yields_) Look,
Father! Look at my cookie! To-night I’ll eat it for supper.
LILJEKRONA. Yes. (_Pause._) I wonder how many little boys will be
eating their Christmas cookies to-night, and how many will be without a
bite of Christmas dinner, hungry and cold.
OSWALD. Won’t they have any Christmas dinner, Father?
LILJEKRONA. Some won’t. (_He turns back and continues to put up
boughs._)
SIGURD. Why won’t those little boys have any Christmas dinner, Mother?
OLGA. Father meant, dear, that some children are too poor to buy any.
OSWALD. Where are the poor children?
OLGA. I’m afraid there are some in every village, Oswald.
SIGURD. In our valley, Mother?
OLGA. Yes, dear, I’m afraid there are.
OSWALD. Then, Mother, if Sigurd and I made some good cookies, could we
take them down to those poor children?
OLGA. If only we knew just where we could find them, Oswald. It is hard
sometimes to know where the lonely people are, and the hungry ones.
LILJEKRONA. And when they pass so close as to touch our sleeve on the
way we do not see them, we do not stop them, but let them plod their
path alone.
OLGA. (_Stung by_ LILJEKRONA’S _remark_) It is a good thought, Oswald.
Take them out to Halla now, so she can bake them before to-morrow.
SIGURD. I can’t make a Christ-Child, Mother. _(With a sob._) It doesn’t
look like _anything_.
OSWALD. (_With a laugh_) It looks like a star.
OLGA. (_Rising_) Let me see, dear. I think Mother would know what that
was. Take it to Halla and she will bake it. Then wash those sticky
hands. It is time to light the tree. (_Exeunt_ OSWALD _and_ SIGURD.
_Takes violin from the cabinet and gives it to_ LILJEKRONA.) You will
play for us to dance?--one of the old polkas, Liljekrona.
LILJEKRONA. (_Pettishly_) My E string has snapped.
OLGA. Well, put on a new one. Quick, before the children come back.
(LILJEKRONA _goes slowly upstairs with his violin_. OLGA _pulls
out the tree from the corner and starts to light the candles with
a taper. Enter_ HALLA _with a punch bowl and the glasses, which
she places on the long table_. OSWALD _and_ SIGURD _follow, each
carrying a plate of cakes_.)
OSWALD. Mother! Are you lighting the tree instead of Father?
OLGA. Yes. Do you want to help?
OSWALD. Oh, yes.
SIGURD. And I want to, too.
OLGA. You shall, dear. But first put the cakes on the table. (OSWALD
_and_ SIGURD _deposit their cakes and run to the tree_. OLGA _gives her
taper to_ SIGURD.) Here, Sigurd, first the low ones--there. (_Lighting
another taper._) Now, Oswald. Can you do it, dear?