Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 31, 2025
'It's all the fault of those scoundrel Swabians that everything is going wrong with me, he muttered, and began to count his losses on the window-pane: 'Stasiek, that's one, the cow two, the horses four, because the thieves did that out of spite for the hog, Burek five, Jendrek six, Maciek and the child eight, and Magda had to leave, and my wife is ill with worry, that makes ten. Lord Christ...!
Slimak stood rooted to the spot, pondering upon this queer fish, who first was impertinent to his wife, then called her 'Madam', and himself 'Citizen', and praised Jendrek for his cheek. He returned angrily to his horses. 'Woa, lads! what's the world coming to? A peasant's son won't take off his cap to a gentleman, and the gentleman praises him for it!
'You see, he said presently, 'you got hot yesterday and then you would drink water out of the Jew's pewter pot and unbutton your jacket. You have caught cold. 'It's nothing, she said ill-humouredly, pulled herself together and warmed up the supper. Jendrek crept out and took a spoon, but cried instead of eating.
Why did she make such a fuss of it? He put on his boots in a very bad humour. She assisted him to dress; she held his coat for him in her eagerness to help him. "I won't go, all the same. What's the good? We'll set traps yes, we will. Call Jendrek, he can go and buy them two, three, as many as you want. He can fetch them at once from Gradewitz. Call him!"
'Then what are you going to do with her? said Slimak, getting angry. 'I'll take her to the stable, Maciek said in a low voice, lifting the child up awkwardly. He sat down on the bench with it and rocked it gently on his knees. There was silence in the room. Presently Magda, Jendrek, and Stasiek emerged from their corner and stood by Maciek, looking at the little creature.
He returned to the room and threw himself on the bench with such violence that he upset the block for wood-chopping. Jendrek laughed, but his father unbuckled his belt and did not stop beating him till the boy crept, bleeding, under the bench. With the belt in his hand Slimak waited for his wife to make a remark. But she remained silent, only holding on to the chimney-piece for support.
Somebody had already been there yesterday, and the day before yesterday as well. How they all ran after her. But they had no luck, thought Jendrek with a broad grin on his face. The Pani bestowed the kindest look on him, and she gave him bacon every day in the kitchen, and an extra glass of gin as well. God bless the good woman! Böhnke stepped into the stone passage, but nobody came.
'Let's go after them, Fritz interrupted quickly. 'Go on! I... steal your hog! indeed! 'Let me go, father, begged Jendrek. 'Go indoors! We've saved them a hog and the thieves will revenge themselves on us; and here they come and accuse me of being a thief myself. Fritz Hamer swore at the farm-hand for his clumsiness and tried to pacify the peasant, but he turned his back on him.
'Well, gospodarz, what is to happen now? His pity touched Slimak, but failed to rouse him. He raised his head. 'If you should see Grochowski, tell him not to sell the land before Jendrek is of age. 'But what am I to do now, when I get to the village? Slimak had relapsed into silence.
Jendrek, who daily ran over to the settlement reported that there were wooden floors, and that the kitchen was a separate room with an iron-plated stove. Slimak sometimes dreamt that he would build a place like that, only with a different roof.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking