
A bright midsummer day unfolds in the idyllic village of Harhamala, where the forest sings in unison with the chirping of larks perched in the red‑capped fir. The air shimmers with sunlight, and the fields burst into a riot of yellow blossoms, while the shepherd’s flute weaves a gentle melody through the trees. Amid this vivid tableau, a young woman moves through the landscape, her thoughts fluttering like the butterflies that adorn the blossoms, and a local farmer watches her with a quiet reverence.
Their budding affection is set against a backdrop of ancient rites that celebrate love and the bounty of nature. As the community prepares for the “love‑gift” ceremony, the characters sense both the joy and the weight of tradition pressing upon them. The story lingers on the hopeful anticipation of a day when the forest itself seems ready to bless their union, inviting listeners to share in the tender, hopeful pulse of a summer love poised on the brink of fulfillment.
Language
fi
Duration
~17 hours (999K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-06-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1868–1918
Best known as the pen name behind the comic classic Borrowing Matchsticks, this Finnish writer lived a restless, dramatic life that ended during the turmoil of 1918. His work mixes sharp humor with a vivid feel for ordinary people and village life.
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by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila
by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila

by Maiju Lassila