
A quiet Christmas Eve unfolds in a modest Alsatian tavern, where the glow of a single lamp casts long shadows across wooden tables and a ticking wall clock. Catherine, the mayor’s wife, presides over the room with a calm authority, while Heinrich, a forest guard cloaked in fresh snow, drifts in with his rifle and a playful banter about wine and winter weather. Their conversation, peppered with gossip about the missing mayor, local marriages, and the bustling market stalls, paints a vivid picture of a close‑knit community preparing for the holiday.
As the evening deepens, the characters’ differing motives begin to surface: a mysterious flour sack, a quiet servant named Lois, and whispered plans for a celebratory drink. The atmosphere is a blend of warmth and anticipation, hinting at secrets that may surface once the night grows colder. Listeners are invited to step into this intimate tableau, feeling the crackle of the hearth and the subtle undercurrents of a small town on the brink of unexpected change.
Language
fi
Duration
~1 hours (94K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Finland: Hämäläinen Osake-Yhtiö, 1879.
Credits
Tapio Riikonen
Release date
2022-05-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known as the shared pen name of two French writers, this literary duo turned regional history, folklore, and everyday life in Alsace-Lorraine into vivid novels and plays. Their stories were widely read in the 19th century and often blend humor, patriotism, and sharp social observation.
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