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SKETCHES. 395
a thread which unites us to heaven, by which God’s life
and power comes to us. The Lord himself has given this
thread into our hands and bade us use it rightly, that we
through it may get all the good which we stand in need of.
But good is nothing, after all, without God’s life and light
in our hearts.
And the mother prayed for this and for her children, and
for a blessing upon them all. And while she thus prayed,
she became more calm inwardly. She then turned round
to look at her little ones, on whose rosy faces the light from
the fire was dancing, and while she thus lay looking at
them she fell asleep. :
When she awoke it was totally dark in the room, and
she felt fear and anxiety come upon her, and a heavy
weight in her heart and head. It was as if a large, heavy
tear had gathered there and would not drop down, but was
lying heavy as lead. The death of her husband, the
gloomy mind and bitter reproaches of her son Anders,
her loneliness, and the dark future whicli was before her,
all came now upon her like a snow avalanche, and seemed
almost to overwhelm her. She heard in her soul Anders’
bitter words : —
“ Why should one live?” and she thought she would like
never to rise, but lie still forever.
But yet she got up and dressed, and lit the fire as usual,
and put on the coffee-pot. For although she was not one
of the wasteful housewives who drink coffee every day,
still the whole household should now be treated to coffee
in honor of Christmas.
And then she lit the candles in the Yule tree at the win-
dow, which had been prepared the previous evening, and
then she awoke the children.
“ Christmas matins, children ! Christinas matins! ”
The little ones started up bewildered, rubbing their eyes,
opened them wide, and saw the candles burning in the Yule
tree. Then they remembered that it was Christmas, and
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