Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélags Íslendinga - 01.01.1962, Síða 80

62
TÍMARIT ÞJÓÐRÆKNISFÉLAGS ÍSLENDINGA
for when covered with snow, the
prairies are even more terrifying
than the ocean. They are calmer and
more desolate. They give one the
feeling that death is peering at one
from behind every snowdrift. But
that night the vast snow-covered
prairies seemed to be fields of en-
chantment over which Ofeigur and
Solveig flew. The soft snow whirled
up from about the horse’s hoofs and
crunched underneath the runners of
the sleigh. The air, crisp and cold,
made the faces of the two young
people burn and smart, and at each
breath the frost clawed at their eyes
with its furry paws.
There, out in the clean, pure, star-
lit Christmas Eve Ofeigur confessed
his love and got the answer that his
heart desired. And onward they flew
over the soft, snowy fields as if in
a dream, just the two of them, alone
in the glorious world of Christmas
joy and young love with happy,
singing hearts. The snowfields ahead
of them were no longer cold snow-
fields but fields of enchantment
where elves of light had strewn mil-
lions of diamonds which glowed and
sparkled under the starry skies.
The school house was small, its
ceiling low, but the tree was tall
and beautiful, filling the whole
building with its fragrance. There
were few ornaments on the tree—
some candles and homemade baskets
and bags of colored paper filled with
sweets hanging here and there from
its branches. That was all.
The children presented a program
of Christmas carols, instrumental
music and recitations. Afterwards,
the gifts were given out. Ofeigur
still remembered the look of sur-
prise and delight on Solveig’s face
when she got the package he had
secretly slipped under the tree. How
she blushed when she opened it and
found in it silk for a dress and a
little gold broach—from him!
The faces of all the guests were
beaming with joy and goodwill by
the time they prepared to go home.
“Merry Christmas and Good Night,”
they called to each other as they
climbed into the sleighs outside and
started off. “Merry Christmas” the
sleigh bells echoed until their ring-
ing died out in the distance.
❖ ❖ * * * *
When Ofeigur at last drew up
before his home that night, he found
the whole house bright with lights.
He opened the outside door and
walked in. The delightful odor of
Christmas cookery, mingled with
the fragrance of the large pine tree
which his daughter had just finished
trimming in the living room, filled
his nostrils. The Christmas tree
smiled at him, bright and glittering
with lights, bright and glittering
with Christmas gifts. His daughter,
a beautiful gay young girl, attired
in a charming frock, came forward
to meet him as soon as she became
aware that he was home, and helped
him take off his fur coat. He caught
a glimpse of Solveig as she passed
by the door leading out to the
kitchen where she was busy prepar-
ing the Christmas refreshments.
Every room in the house had been
cleaned and decorated. A festive
spirit prevailed. Christmas had come.
Guests, friends and relatives liv-