Heath Cobblers
However, the play's official premiere took place only three years after Kivi's death; it was performed for the first time in Oulu on 24 September 1875.
The story begins with Topias the master cobbler and his irritable wife Martta, who, in their greed, want to marry off their underage and slightly dim son, Esko.
It seems that their orphaned neighbour Jaana, whose father Niko ran off to sea, and who has been raised in Topias's house, might beat them to it, as she has fallen in love with Kristo, a young blacksmith, and the beneficiary of the will.
In the parlour at Karri's house meanwhile the wedding is in full swing, with Kreeta as the bride, but the groom turns out to be Jaakko the clog maker.
Father Topias and Karri's hazy deal at the inn has meant a wasted journey, which ends with Esko being provoked into a fight with the fiddler Teemu.
The old friends start chatting about Niko's adventures abroad and his brief gaol sentence in Turku Castle, as well as about Eerikki's good fortune in becoming a justice of the peace.
[The text of the play indicates an interval] The curtain closes and the scene switches to the Halfway House Inn, where Niko has already arrived, as well as Iivari and Sakeri.
Iivari and Sakeri, who have since fallen out because of the lost money, fall for the ruse and capture Niko as he enters the inn.
After agreeing on how to split the reward, they finally make their way towards home – giving incognito Niko his free ride.
At the beginning of the fourth act, Mikko and Esko, who had fled after the fight with the fiddler, are trudging home along a forest path.
Esko stops to gather some medicinal fir moss from the forest, because he thinks it will make amends for their unsuccessful trip.
The men share stories about their unsuccessful journeys and agree that it will all be worth it once they get home, hand over the thief and get their reward.
As the curtain opens on the fifth act, Topias and cantor Sepeteus are drinking and singing while waiting for the wedding party to arrive.
Unexpectedly, a mixed crowd of people pull up in a cart: Iivari, Sakeri, Esko, Antres and Niko, who everyone still believes is the thief.
The men relate sanitised versions of their journeys – to propose to Kreeta and to go Hämeenlinna to buy things for the wedding- and they proudly present the “thief” who, they assume, will make amends for their wrongdoings.
Jaana arrives and Niko immediately cries out, revealing his true identity as her father, and all hopes the men have of receiving the reward are lost.
Niko gives his blessing to the union, putting an end to the dreams of Martta, Topias and Esko ever getting their hands on the inheritance.
Martta welcomes all to the wedding table she had prepared for Esko and Kreeta: they can celebrate the engagement of Jaana and Kristo with this delicious food.
